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“It’s pretty impressive. I hope they like it here.”

“They will. We’re planting a few bales of alfalfa around your property so they’ll know this is home.”

“Okay,” she replied. “Oh, this is my friend Annie.”

“Hello, Annie. Are you the friend who’s meeting Steve Casson?”

“News gets around,” Annie said, laughing.

“Yeah, I saw him this morning when I went into town to pick up donuts.” He handed a bakery box to Maggie.

“He’s actually coming here to Bayou Cottage,” Annie said. “I didn’t want to miss the horses’ arrival.”

The horses quickly adapted to their new surroundings, drinking from the trough as it filled, grazing the grasses and ignoring the alfalfa for now. One of the volunteers walked around with a bucket and a scoop to try to keep up with the horse poop, but with all of them in the yard, it was impossible.

“I’m Gloria. I’ll be back tomorrow,” she said. “I live on the other side of the cove, so it’s no problem.”

Maggie really didn’t want Gloria dropping in to scoop, but she would see how it went. Hopefully, it didn’t mean she was going to come by daily.

“Okay, if you’re sure it’s not a problem. I can pick up, too.”

“It won’t be so much after a few days. They’ll venture out to find new grass.”

She smiled at Maggie and walked away with her shovel. In the meantime, Steve had arrived, and Justin introduced him to Annie.

“You met Gloria,” he stated.

“Yeah. Is she another date?”

“Ha! No, I swear. Gloria is married to Bubba. See that guy with the cowboy hat?” He pointed to a tall, massively muscled guy who was looking at a horse’s hooves. “He’s our farrier. I wouldn’t mess with Bubba’s wife, trust me.”

“You seem disappointed,” Maggie said, smirking.

“Naw, I’m looking right at the woman I want.”

She quickly turned her head to see whom he was referring to. Justin’s head was bent down a little bit, so he was up close and personal, almost in her face, his eyes glistening, sincerity written all over.

A current of love for Justin passed through her, and rather than fight it, she turned to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He grabbed her back, smoothing her hair, nuzzling her, taking in everything about her.

They didn’t say anything, but in a minute parted, both wiping a tear from their faces.

“That was close,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

“You never have to say that again. I’m sorry, too.”

“What do we do now?” he asked, pulling her into place at his side.

“Let’s just take one day at a time. It looks like Annie and Steve hit it off, so whatever that will bring.”

“Your aunt is down at the dock.”

“Yeah, I have a bone to pick with her,” Maggie snapped, watching Elizabeth with Gus.

“Aw, babe, they’re in love.”

“I guess so,” she said, doubtful. “She’s always been in love with him, but since he married someone else, not so much the other way around.”

Justin took her hand again. They walked to the dock to meet up with Aunt Elizabeth, who was beaming. It set Maggie’s teeth on edge, and she knew that once again she was being unreasonable. She truly wanted happiness for her aunt. But it felt like so much had happened in the past twenty-four hours that they would never catch up. Was it necessary? It was possible that her relationship with her aunt was on hiatus. She was going to make up for all the years she’d lived without Val, and hopefully, he’d make it worth her while. To expect anything else was selfish and immature of Maggie.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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