Chapter 43 Part 43
Maggie
She watched Asher drive away from the guest bedroom window. Something was very wrong, and she had no idea what it was. He’d smelled faintly of bleach, and she’d seen him burn his shirt. Her mind was working overtime trying to come up with answers to all her questions.
His eyes had seemed hollow, dead almost. It was a look she wasn’t used to, and it scared her. She hurried through her morning routine, knowing that Melody would only sleep for another half hour or so. Once she was dressed warmly, she woke Melody and dressed her.
Thomas didn’t venture out as much in the colder months as he did in the summer, so Maggie dropped Melody off with him for breakfast. She and Eden always went to the main house for lunch, then she took Melody with her for the rest of the afternoon.
“Good morning, little lady,” Thomas said, kissing Melody’s cheek as he took her. “Now you only need to learn to say Grandpa.” Dakota’s tail wagged as he sat patiently, and waited for Thomas to call him.
“Is everything okay on the ranch?”
Thomas frowned slightly. “Far as I know. Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing; maybe, I’m just paranoid,” she said. “I’ll see you at lunchtime.” She kissed Melody’s head, and was back in the truck before Thomas could say anything else.
The moment she switched her laptop on, she forgot about everything else, and focused on work. It was a busy time at the ranch. Blair and Asher were out on the ranch most days, checking fences and fixing whatever needed fixing. The hands stayed close to the cattle pens, looking after the animals.
Colt and Dylan had made a killing with a few of their stallion’s live coverings; a lot of breeders had paid top dollar for it. Maggie had been surprised to discover that Colt and Dylan were basically famous for their breeding lines.
“Hello, Maggie,” Colt said, waving his hand in front of her face.
“Sorry, what?”
“Are you okay? I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes,” Colt said, with a smile.
“Just thinking,” she said, quickly. “Did you need something?”
“It’s noon, Maggie. Dad already called,” he said.
“Oh, wow, I didn’t even realize.” She grabbed her purse, and drove over to the main house with Colt.
Everyone seemed quieter than usual, and lunch was over quickly. Blair arrived when they were almost done, but Asher wasn’t with him. Maggie couldn’t get the image of that burning shirt out of her head.
“Where’s Asher?” Thomas asked.
Blair shook his head, and sat down with a sigh. “Said he had a migraine, and went home.”
“Well, work’s pretty much up to date. Why don’t you go home too, Maggie? Go check on Asher. First time he’s ever gotten a migraine,” Dylan said.
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
Maggie wasn’t surprised when she got home with Melody, and Asher wasn’t there. She was disappointed, though. She needed to know what was going on with him, and she needed to know now.
Near dusk, Asher opened the front door, the gaunt look gone from his face. His eyes seemed more alive than that morning, and he kissed her cheek, before hanging up his hat.
“Blair said you had a migraine.” She regretted it the moment she said it, because her tone was accusatory.
“I took Comet out to the mountain. Fresh air did wonders for the migraine. Maybe I also just needed to clear my head a little,” Asher said.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Maggie. Just starving,” he said.
“That’s good. Dinner’s almost ready.”
Asher nodded his head. “I’ll just shower and change.”
Maggie listened to his footsteps going up the stairs, and she closed her eyes. She didn’t want to pry. She knew Asher had his own demons that he was struggling with. He still had nightmares; though they were better now, they were still there. She didn’t want to say, or do, anything that might trigger him.
She pushed the scent of bleach and the burning shirt out of her mind to focus on getting dinner ready. When Asher emerged a few minutes later wearing comfortable sweats, the table was set, and the casserole was ready.
Asher asked about her day, listening intently as she talked. He told her about Bear Claw, the half-Indian boy in town, and his struggles with acceptance.
“You should invite him to the ranch. Maybe he just needs someone to show him how acceptance works,” Maggie said.
Asher thought about it for a moment, and smiled. “You’re right. I should take him hunting or something. Frank doesn’t fish or hunt. He barely leaves his store.”
“He sounds like a good kid.” Maggie looked thoughtfully at Asher, and when their eyes locked, she realized just how much she did love him.
“What?” Asher asked, with a chuckle.
“Nothing. I was just thinking how lucky I am.”
“We’re both lucky,” Asher said. “Have you thought about the wedding at all?”
“The wedding?”
“Uh…yeah. Usually when people get engaged, they start planning the wedding.”
Maggie stood up from the table, and put their plates on the counter. “I haven’t really given it any thought. I didn’t think you were in a rush.”
“I’m not in a rush. I just know I want to marry you,” he said.
“What about mid-spring? It’ll be beautiful outside.”
“Now there’s an idea. Get married on the ranch.” Asher smiled, as he stood up, as well, and started to fill the sink with soapy water.
“Why not? We both live here. You grew up here. This is where our life is. I think it’s the perfect place to get married,” Maggie said.
“Pops will love the idea. He married my mother in the town church, but they had the reception here at the ranch. I could build a gazebo for the occasion.”
“I like that idea,” Maggie said.
“I think it’s time to head upstairs. I’m exhausted,” Asher said, yawning.
Maggie lay awake for a long time after Asher fell asleep. He looked almost innocent as he lay there. She liked the idea of a Spring wedding, getting married under a gazebo that he built. It was beautiful and romantic. That night she envisioned herself in a wedding gown, a few actually, but none of them suited a ranch wedding.