Free Maverick (Star Valley Book 3) by Dahlia West Page A

of him and he collapsed against the counter putting his face in his hands. He felt her hand on him, squeezing his shoulder, and imagined it was his mother and cringed at what she’d have to say to him at this moment. “I fucked up,” he said, as much to his mother as to Sofia standing in front of him.
    “Fix it.”

Chapter Ten
    ‡
    L eah leaned back in the passenger seat and tried to relax now that Austin Barlow and the Snake River Ranch had disappeared from the side mirror entirely. She didn’t quite know whether to be relieved it was finally over or angry about how it’d gone. Apparently, it was both.
    She hadn’t expected it to go well , of course, but the disdain with which he’d treated her wasn’t anything she’d imagined, either. She silently chastised herself. Too much whiskey and not enough time spent getting to know someone was a disastrous combination. Apparently Austin’s face was the only thing angelic about him. He had a personality like a rabid badger and a forked tongue capable of slicing to the bone.
    She pressed the heels of her hands over her eyes and willed herself not to cry. It didn’t matter what he said about her. She knew the truth and that was really all that mattered. She was happy just to let it go, but Candace seemed just as upset, or more, than Leah was. The girl slammed her hands on the steering wheel with a huff.
    “I can’t believe it!” Candace cried. “I cannot believe he was such an asshole !”
    “It’s fine,” said Leah, just happy to be going back home to Cody.
    “Leah, it’s not fine.”
    “ It will be .”
    Leah believed that—had to believe it—because there weren’t any other options. She’d just have to take things one day at a time, one test at a time, one doctor’s visit at a time, and she knew all about that, at least. Fortunately or unfortunately, Leah’s entire life had prepared her for this moment. And whether Austin wanted to be a part of it or not was immaterial and frankly, it might be easier to do it on her own, without anyone else’s input or opinions to consider.
    “I can do this,” she said firmly.
    “No one’s saying you can’t. But you shouldn’t have to. I still feel like this is all my fault. Your first big step into the real world and I led you straight into a hornet’s nest.”
    “It is what it is, Candace. And saying it’s anyone’s fault makes it sound like it’s a bad thing. It isn’t bad. It’s incredible! And I’m not going to let Austin Barlow ruin it. Not a chance.”
    “You’re right,” said Candace reaching across the seat and squeezing Leah’s hand. “I didn’t mean like that. Of course this baby is amazing and of course it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you. I just meant I should’ve steered you to a better guy.”
    Leah didn’t know if those existed or, if they did, where she might look for one. She simply had to make do with what she had, which was a life inside her and a ferocious instinct to protect it, even from its own father if need be.
    She flipped the radio on to disengage from the conversation. The drive went smoothly enough after that, with her only needing to stop every few hours for something to eat to quell the roiling nausea. She sniffed at the hot dog which had been roasting in a convenience store warmer, possibly for several days, and couldn’t wait to get back home. She’d endure anything for this baby, though, anything at all, and it wasn’t too bad smothered in ketchup and mustard.
    “Do you think you’ll be sick like this all the time?”
    She glared at Candace over the bun.
    “Sorry!”
    “I can handle being sick. God knows I’ve had enough practice.”
    Candace’s brow furrowed and she picked at her crackers in silence for a while before they climbed back into the car.
    Leah said a silent prayer to make it all the way back to Cody without having to yak. As they rounded the final curve before crossing in to the city limits, she recognized the sparkling green