Page 12 of Savage Heart

“From what I could tell, she really liked it,” Billie says. “She licked his whole arm!”

“It was her way of thanking me,” Grady insists.

Teddy, one of our wranglers, leans forward to look at Grady. “She was thanking you, all right!”

Grady rolls his eyes as the table loses it again. His gaze meets mine, and he smirks. And because I know him so well, I can tell what he’s thinking.

He’s happy to be the butt of any story if it makes me laugh at the end of a hard day.

I wouldn’t survive without this family surrounding me.

When I go to bed, my phone won’t stop buzzing.

Billie: Romeo, wherefore art thou?

Cameron: Out in that barn feeling so lonely

Charlie: Where, oh where has my little Grady gone?

I snort.

Me: Licking his wounds. Wait . . . they’ve already been licked

Grady: Shut up. All of you. You’re an evil, evil family.

I sigh, and Pickle looks up at me from his place on the floor next to me.

“We’re one crazy bunch, Pickle,” I tell him.

He sighs like he agrees and gets up to do a circle before settling back down.

Chapter 3: Just Try It

Maverick, age six

Why does it have to be a perfect day outside? I peek out the window and shake my head. Seeing the sunshine just makes me madder.

I sneak out of the house and run to Lincoln’s window, tapping on it three times. That’s our thing. He looks out a few seconds later, and his eyes go wide.

“Come on,” I say, motioning with my hand.

He lifts the window and climbs out.

“Where are we going?” he asks.

“If we go for a ride, maybe they won’t find us in time,” I whisper.

“Good idea,” he says.

We run to the barn and hide in an empty stall when we hear Teddy whistling. Lucky sees me and says hello. It sounds like a long mrrrrrrr when a horse says hi.

Normally, I would feed Lucky while my dad, Lincoln’s dad, and Teddy feed the rest, but this morning is different. I poke my head out and look both ways. Safe. I motion for Lincoln to follow me, and we run across the barn to Lucky’s stall and duck inside.

“What do you boys think you’re doing out here?”

Hell’s bells.

That’s my dad.