Page 5 of Forever Enough

Rolling my eyes, I started the truck. “If you say so.”

The drive back to the Shaw ranch was a bit slower with the snow coming down like it was. To take our minds off of the worsening conditions, Maverick asked me questions about the PBR. How I liked doing all the sponsorship commercials and ads.

“They’re not my favorite part,” I said, silently trying to figure a way to change the subject. I loved bull riding. I hated doing the sponsorship stuff, though, and my agent knew not to overload me, but still. For one, my schedule hardly allowed it, and two, I really hated being the center of attention. But, being pretty popular on the circuit, I was offered too much money to turn them down.

“What made you take a few weeks off? I mean, I know you don’t have to do the smaller events, but Brock said a lot of guys do anyway, to keep up in the standings and stay on top of things,” Maverick said.

“This last year was insane. I was short of winning the championship, and I know it was because my head wasn’t totally where it needed to be.”

“I could see where that would impact your riding for sure. You still enjoy it though, right?” Lily asked.

How could I explain that I still loved riding, but a part of me felt like maybe my love of the professional sport was slipping away? Riding was something I’d always wanted to do…but suddenly I felt like I no longer wanted to do it.

I decided to go with an easier answer. “I’m just tired and my body needs a break.”

She returned my smile with one of her own, but I could see the concern in her eyes, and I loved her for that.

“Do you want to come in for a bit?” Lily asked when we got to Maverick’s place.

I was positive the last thing they wanted was for me to come in. I grinned at my cousin and replied, “No. You two enjoy the rest of the evening. I’m going to head on back. By the time I get there, I’m hoping the game is over.”

Lily paused. “Bradly…is everything okay? You don’t seem like yourself today.”

I reached for her hand. “Everything is great, Lily. I’m just tired and still feeling a bit bruised from this past season.”

“Okay. But if there was something wrong, you know you can talk to us, right?”

I gave her hand a light squeeze. “I know. Love you.”

Lily leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “I love you too.”

Maverick reached up and helped Lily out of the truck, then said, “Thanks again, Bradly. Be careful driving back to your folks’ house.”

“Will do!”

The snow had started to come down faster and harder, and on the way home, I passed a few familiar cars heading back to Shaw Ranch. Looked like the family finally conceded to the weather and decided to call it a night. In a way, I was glad. I wasn’t sure I was entirely in the mood to mingle with everyone, which wasn’t like me. I loved my family. Loved being home and seeing everyone. But today had worn me down for reasons I wasn’t entirely sure of. My body was battered and bruised, that was no lie, but being surrounded by family made me realize that my life wasn’t what I expected it to be at my age.

It was crazy to think that way. Hell, I was only twenty-three, almost twenty-four. I had plenty of time.

Frowning, I rubbed at the still-aching rib I had bruised months ago.

By the time I pulled up to the house, it was clear everyone had left. I put the truck in park and was about to turn it off before I noticed a light on in the barn across the pasture. On that side of the ranch was the pick-your-own farm. The barn had been remodeled years ago, and Mom and Uncle Michael had added an apartment above it, where Uncle Michael lived. When Grandma Eden had gotten remarried, living in the house on the farm with her new husband, Uncle Michael had wanted his own private place.

“Who in the hell would be in the barn on Christmas night?” I asked myself, putting the truck back into gear and heading that way. I pulled my phone out and called my father.

“Hey, are you back yet? Brock said it was really coming down out there, and now they’re calling for blizzard-like conditions. Everyone headed on home before it got too bad.”

“Yeah, I’m back. Dad, someone’s in the barn on the farm side of the ranch.”

“Really? That’s strange. I guess it might be Mackenzie.”

“Who?”

“Mackenzie Reeves. Have you not met her yet?” Dad asked, sounding surprised.

“I don’t really go to the farm much, or at least I haven’t since I’ve been home. I figured it was staffed lightly during the winter months.”

“It is, but they have the greenhouse now, so your mother and Michael keep someone on full time, who lives on the farm to help out Lou.”