Page 34 of Maggie’s Match

Maggie’s hand rested on the top of his balled fist. Instantly, he relaxed.

“Becca rushed out and called 911. I held Royce down until the two police officers hauled me off, then I lifted Maggie up and rushed her to the ambulance. I didn’t give them a chance to arrest me. Not until after I was at the hospital, after they’d pumped her stomach and I knew that she was going to be okay.” He said this all while his eyes were locked with Maggie’s. “I knew they wanted to get me. To arrest me. I could see it in their eyes.”

“We’ve watched Becca’s video,” his father said, then he turned to Becca. “It was smart turning the camera on them.”

“My friend Jenna played it on this morning’s news,” Becca said to him. “I’m assuming that has pissed off a lot of people in town.”

“I think the pair of you, actually, the three of you should head to Fairplay for a while until things cool off,” Bryson suggested.

“No,” Maggie and Becca said at the same time.

“I’m not going to give up on our business. Not when things are finally going our way,” Maggie said.

“If you stay, so do I,” Rick said firmly.

Maggie took his hand in hers and nodded.

“The police have dropped all charges against you from last night. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be more,” his father said. “Grant’s going to do his best to make this his priority. He headed home to clear his schedule. He believes that you might have a case against the sheriff and deputy. Something that might add a bigger target on you and possibly the Broken B Ranch.”

“We’re already under fire,” Bryson said. “It will be nice to be in the hairs for something just this time,” he added with a smile.

“Okay,” Rick’s father said as he slapped his knee. “Your mother and I have to get back home, but we’re only a phone call and a few hour drive away.”

His parents stood and he followed them, giving them each a hug, then watched as they hugged Maggie before walking out the door.

The house fell into a quiet stupor after Bryson and Bent headed out to check on the stock. Becca and Bridget went to clean up.

“Would they think badly of me if I took the day off so we could go out for a ride?” Maggie asked him.

He smiled. “No, I think they expect you to take it easy today,” he assured her. “I’ll go out and saddle up some horses.” He started to get up, but she shook her head.

“No, that’s part of what I need. Doing something normal. I wish we were on Saddleback,” she admitted as they walked out. “Riding Tanner Jr. or Daisy.”

He laughed. “Daisy loves going on rides with you.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “My mother claims that the horse won’t obey anyone but you.”

Maggie smiled. “I’ve threatened to buy my own place with a barn and corral just so I can steal her from under your parents’ noses.”

Rick laughed. “Mom would gladly give her to you after what you did last night.” Her eyebrows shot up in question. “Your voice echoed in the station last night. I heard every single word you said. How you stuck up for me.” He kissed her knuckles again, then pulled her into his arms. “Thank you. You saved me from spending a night behind bars.”

“You saved me from…” Her voice hitched.

“Later,” he said when she remained quiet. She nodded and they started walking again.

“Did you know that my mother was sexually abused as a child?” she said as they saddled up two horses, the one he’d ridden a few times since being on the ranch and Becca’s horse, Starburst.

“No,” he answered with a frown.

“By her uncle. The abuse went on for years, starting when she was very young.” She focused on strapping the saddle on the horse. He could tell that she needed to keep busy, to focus on something other than what she was saying. So he continued to work and listen, since it was all that he could do to be there for her. “No one else knew for years. But eventually she got help and he got what he deserved.” She glanced up at him. “Do you think Royce got what he deserved?”

He thought about it for a moment. “Most men who drug a woman so easily have done it before.” He watched for her reaction. When she nodded, he knew she’d thought about it as well. “I bet my uncle is already looking into Royce’s past. Where he went to school. Who he dated before. He’ll find something that will get him put away where he belongs.”

“I think that’s why he didn’t tell you his last name. He knew that if he did, I wouldn’t trust him,” she said quietly as they walked the saddled horses out of the barn.

“Yeah,” he agreed, then he helped her onto Starburst’s back before easily jumping onto his horse. “Where to?”

She glanced around and took a deep breath. “Anywhere, just as long as we go really fast,” she said with a smile.

“Lead the way.” He laughed when she nudged Starburst into a trot.