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“Drew, can I borrow your truck?”Maisie sat at the breakfast table, hiding half of her face behind her coffee mug. She wished the mug was twice the size, and not just because the breakfast blend coffee from Claire’s shop was the best Maisie had ever tasted. The way Drew’s mood had soured since the day of the farmers market was frightful to witness and even worse to get in the way of. They were approaching a week of it, and Maisie wasn’t sure she could take much more scowling.
“Why?” It was a simple question, but it seemed to hold multiple layers that put Maisie even more on edge. Drew set down her fork, the scrambled eggs uneaten, which was never a good sign, because this was her second breakfast after returning from the morning chores. The first usually consisted of an energy bar and coffee from a thermos, consumed in a rush before the sun was up. Maisie could understand being in a bad mood over an energy bar in the dark, but eggs and sunshine were the antithesis of grumpiness. Unless you were Drew Campbell, apparently.
“I need to do some shopping in Gillette.” Maisie offered her best Campbell shrug. “The battery’s dead on my Honda. Cord said he could fix it later in the week.”
“Don’t you know how to jump a car battery?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” Maisie clenched the handle of her mug, improving her mood by imagining it was Drew’s neck. “But Cord says the battery is toast and won’t hold a charge.”
“I can take you later.” Drew picked her fork back up, conversation closed.
Only Maisie didn’t want the conversation to be over, and she was tired of tiptoeing around Drew’s miserable mood. Besides, there were more vehicles on this ranch than people by a five-to-one ratio. If Drew didn’t want Maisie driving the pickup, she’d be more than happy to take the fucking fire engine, as long as it meant leaving the house and escaping the dark storm cloud of Hurricane Drew.
“I wanted to get an early start,” Maisie pressed.
Drew snorted, but it was too mocking to be in good humor. “Some of us have been up for hours already.”
There it was, the most obnoxious manifestation of this new and decidedly not improved Drew. This was at least the third time Drew had managed to imply, without coming right out and accusing, that she was the breadwinner while Maisie, the secret-wifey, sat on her duff all day eating bonbons and enjoying the fruits of Drew’s labor.
“Meanwhile, I was up until three in the morning, building the ranch a new e-commerce website. One from this century, that can actually handle product orders.” Maisie glugged her coffee, wishing she dared point out there were twenty-four hours in every day and all of them counted equally, not just the ones Drew was awake to witness.
“No fighting at breakfast.” Hannah chuckled, shaking her head as she entered the kitchen. She was only just rolling out of bed herself, this being her first week of summer vacation, but Drew didn’t accuse her sister of being lazy. “I need to head into town to pick up some things I left in my locker on the last day of school. Why don’t I drop you off wherever you need to go on my way, and then my peach of a sister can pick you up?”
Maisie and Drew had their eyes locked on the other, but Drew caved first, nodding her agreement.
Soon enough, Maisie was in Hannah’s light-blue pickup, a vehicle that was definitely older than the sixteen-year-old. When the girl wasn’t looking, Maisie snuck two ibuprofen into her mouth, washing them down with a swig from her water bottle in preparation for a bumpy ride ahead. Nobody could accuse her of not learning a thing or two about country life during her time on the ranch. She still might not be able to light a fire on her own, but Maisie liked to think her survival skills were improving daily.
“What’s going on with you and my sister?” Hannah asked once they were on the road. “The tension this morning was off the charts.”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Maisie replied, wishing her own anxiety would take her seriously about this. “Ever since the farmers market last weekend, she’s been cranky, and she has a way of getting under my skin in a nanosecond.”
“Probably the whole Jolene thing,” Hannah said.
Maisie sat up a little straighter, recognizing the name. “What Jolene thing?”
“Well, Jolene was the wife of the neighbor who died, Bob,” Hannah began.
“That part I know,” Maisie said quickly, “but I thought Jolene was long gone.”
“She’s been back in town this past week, causing all sorts of problems.” Hannah frowned. “I would’ve thought Drew would mention it to you. I got the impression she confided in you, more than she does the rest of us anyway.”
“When it suits her.” Maisie tried not to sound bitter, but there was no denying it stung the way Drew had been shutting her out. Until now, Maisie had thought it might be her imagination, but Hannah’s news about Jolene was solid proof Drew was keeping secrets. “What kind of problems could Jolene be causing, though?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard Drew talking to Dad, saying whatever it is would ruin the whole valley.” Hannah gripped the steering wheel, slowing down as a tractor pulled out onto the highway. She gave a friendly wave as they went past, which the tractor driver returned. “If something happens and we lose the ranch, I don’t know what I’ll do. The ranch is my life.”
“About that,” Maisie said tentatively, uncertain how to gently ease into the topic of Hannah’s future but not wanting to let the opportunity pass her by. “Have you given any more thought to what you’re going to do about college?”
Hannah’s face brightened. “Actually, after we talked about it, I started looking into large animal veterinary programs, and there’s one in Texas I’m really excited about.”
“Hannah, that’s great!” Maisie beamed. “Have you brought it up to your dad or Drew yet?”
“Hell no.” Some of the brightness in Hannah’s smile dimmed. “I already know what they’ll say.Too far. Those two words will decide my entire future.”
“Have you at least contacted the admissions office, maybe asked for some information on financial aid?”
Hannah shook her head. “I don’t know if I’m ready for the drama. It’s so stupid. It’s not like Texas is a foreign country or anything. My options here are limited. For someone who doesn’t want me to stay on the ranch, Drew can’t see she’s making decisions that will ensure I do and not in the capacity I want to.”
Maisie absorbed Hannah’s words, hearing both the dedication and desperation. “Can I give you some advice? I think you should apply to the program and see what happens. If you don’t get in, and I’m not saying you won’t, but if you don’t, case closed. If you do, Drew will have to see it’s important to you. Then, she’ll listen.”
