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“This…” Drew wanted to stomp her foot to prevent everything from changing too quickly and it needed to stop. But with the way her sister looked at her, as if everything hung in the balance, Drew shifted course mid-sentence. “Can we discuss it more when I’ve had time to think? This is a lot to process.”
If Drew’s arms hadn’t been sore from a morning spent training Stormy, she would’ve patted herself on the back for that one.Process. That was one of those top-tier grown-up words right there. Maybe she hadn’t totally screwed up raising her sister after all.
Hannah lit up, presumably because she’d been expecting Drew to say no out of the gate. It was no lie Drew had really wanted to. No was the easy solution. Not simply for practical reasons but because change was becoming Drew’s nemesis, stalking her every thought and move. All the generations of Campbells had relied on steadfastness over flexibility.
However, Maisie had been coaching Drew on how change was a constant, and simply stomping one’s foot and throwing a tantrum didn’t make it stop. There were times, like when they were naked in bed, that Drew couldn’t believe her luck that Maisie had come to live at the ranch. And there were other times, like when she said shit likethat, where Drew knew every good thing came at a price.
Still, Drew was trying.
Drew put her hat back on. “Now, I really do need to check on the fence.”
“I’ll go with you,” Maisie volunteered in a way that made it clear she had two missions, only one of which was to help. The other, no doubt, was to plead Hannah’s case.
“Great.” Drew did her best to sound enthusiastic, but the thought of her little sister wanting to move so far away was taking the fight right out of her. First, her mom had left. Now, Hannah wanted to bolt as well. Sure, she said she’d come back, but what were the odds? If she got all the way to Texas, she’d never want to come back.
Since Maisie was coming along, Drew opted to take the Gator instead of riding Stormy—although punishing Maisie for her interference by making her talk while riding Tarzan briefly crossed Drew’s mind. They were mostly silent as they rode to the part of the fence Drew had spied earlier. Sure enough, it was down.
Knowing the drill, Maisie hopped out, grabbing the tool kit. “I never knew fences would become such a big part of my life.”
Drew chuckled, trying to shake off the earlier conversation. “Cows aren’t very bright as a rule, but somehow those little buggers can take down a fence like they’re fucking Einsteins.”
Maisie set the toolbox down and put her hand on Drew’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I know it’s hard to think about, Hannah growing up and going away to school.”
Drew nodded as she grabbed the mallet, thwacking the post harder than necessary.
“Hannah’s done her research. The program is solid.”
“I don’t like that the two of you have been conspiring behind my back.” Another whack of the mallet.
“Conspiring is a bit of a stretch. She’s like the sister I never had. We talk sometimes.”
Drew snorted, but technically, they were sisters now, even if Hannah didn’t know it. “Any time you start talking, I get nervous.”
“Well, I know what it’s like to have dreams and not be able to fulfill them.” Maisie’s sadness was palpable, catching Drew by surprise. She held the mallet still and waited for Maisie to say whatever it was she was holding back. “I probably shouldn’t admit this, considering I haven’t been completely honest with you…”
Drew put a hand on the fencepost, feeling as if everything around her was going fuzzy. Maisie was keeping secrets?
“I know you think I’m going for my MBA in the fall, but the truth of the matter is, when my dad got sick, I had to quit college.” Maisie’s head dropped like she’d confessed her deepest shame. “I’m not going back as a graduate student, but as an old student who still wants her undergraduate degree ten years late.”
“You don’t have a college degree at all?” Honestly, Drew didn’t know what to make of the revelation. It didn’t matter at all to her. If anything, it made them a little more equal since Drew had barely scraped through school and never contemplated college. But clearly, Maisie was very upset.
“I’m sorry. Given our pact about the ranch, I should have told you from the start. It’s just…” Maisie dragged one foot in the dirt. “I’m embarrassed. I’m twelve credits short, which isn’t a lot, but I’m still without that piece of paper. If I don’t return this fall, I won’t ever get to go back.”
Drew went cold inside at the mention of this fall, which was rapidly approaching. “Why?”
“They only allow a leave of absence for ten years. After that, I’d have to reapply and be subject to the new catalog requirements. A lot of my credits probably won’t transfer over to the new program, and there are some other things I’d rather not do, too.”
“So, no matter what, this fall, you’re leaving for school?” It’d be a lie to say Drew had hoped for a different outcome, like Maisie staying forever. Drew bit the inside of her cheeks to keep from screaming. First, Hannah wanted to leave, and now, Maisie had to? Her father was out of commission, and Cord wouldn’t be there forever.
Drew would be alone.
“I have to. I promised my dad, Drew. On his deathbed. I can’t break that promise. I just can’t.” The tears flowed steadily, and Drew rushed to comfort Maisie, drawing her into an embrace, regardless of the hollowness growing in her.
“It’s okay. I understand,” Drew whispered. She ran her hand through Maisie’s hair as the woman burrowed her face into Drew’s chest.
She understood, and she would do whatever she could to support Maisie and Hannah. But it didn’t change how abandoned Drew felt deep inside. Not only was her sister plotting her Texas escape, but Maisie had one foot out the door. No one wanted to stay with Drew, and that stung a great deal.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
