“I don’t think that’s wise.”
“It would be good, you know that. Since you’ve been back, I think we’ve established just how good.”
“I don’t doubt that, as we both know you’ve had plenty of practice.”
“That’s insulting, and you know it.” He looked seriously pissed with her now; all that lovely heat had gone from his eyes.
“I know, and I’m sorry. Can we just go, please?”
“This is not done, Maggie. Any of it.” He gave her a hard look before turning away.
Maggs exhaled slowly. For now she’d kept her secrets safe.
“Put this on.” He handed her a helmet. “Do you have gloves?”
She opened her bag and dug them out. When she was done, she slung it over her head so it hung at her side.
“Where am I going?” His words were cool as he climbed on.
“Straight ahead until you see a sign with the letters SRR on it, on the right.”
“Your family home?”
She nodded.
“Okay, climb on.” He straddled the bike.
“I need you not to tell the others, Fin,” Maggs said before she did as he asked.
“About what just happened and the fact you won’t tell me why it happened or how you got that scar on your arm? Why you don’t want to be shot—”
“Yes!” Maggs interrupted him.
“For now I’ll keep what happened to myself, but they know something’s off with you, Maggs. None of them are fools.”
“I know.” And she did. Had seen the questioning looks in her friends’ eyes. She should tell them, just as she should tell her family. What was stopping her?
“The others are there for you too, Maggs. You have to know that, right? You’re not in London now. Here you have people in your corner, lots of them.”
“I know.” His words subdued her, because he was right. The guilt settled heavily on her shoulders.
“Just like you’re always there for them.”
“Sure. Now, can we go? It’s freezing out here.” She climbed on behind him, and much to her relief, he started the bike. Seconds later, she was clinging to him as the engine gave a throaty purr and they took off down the road.
She’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit to enjoying this. Holding Fin and flying down the road with beauty all around them. She felt free, which was of course a lie; no one was truly free. And after what she’d just experienced, Maggs knew it would take time for her to ever feel that way again.
Too soon, he slowed and turned.
“You can stop at the gate. I’ll walk.”
He hadn’t heard or simply ignored her and turned into the driveway. Huge stone pillars marked the property she’d been born and raised in. The land went for miles, and she’d spent her childhood riding and running over some of it with her siblings. Fin pulled the bike to a stop halfway down the drive.
“What does SRR stand for?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Sleepy River Ranch.”
“Because?”
“Weirdly it’s because a sleepy river runs through it.”
“Such the wiseass.”
“I try,” Maggie managed to get out through her dry throat. She was nervous at seeing her family again. Would they notice the changes in her like Fin had? Should she have told them? She didn’t seem to be able to come up with the rational arguments anymore as to why she’d kept the shooting to herself.
“So this was your family home growing up?”
“Yes.”
“Is this the first time you’ve been home?”
“For two years.”
“You’ve been back five days. How come you haven’t been home yet?”
“They were busy and away at a cattle sale. They only got back day before yesterday.”
“You guys close?”
“Yes. Why all the questions?”
“Just being polite.”
“And yet you don’t talk about your family.”
“We’re not talking about me.”
Maggs could tell by the clenching of his jaw it was a sore point. Pip had told her Fin’s family life had been a shitfight.
“So how come you never told me about your family, Maggs?”
“You never asked.”
“I’m not really the asking type. I don’t have a ton of questions all lined up to be asked like the Trainers. Those guys know a man’s shoe size before he’s been in town a day.”
“Yeah, real Chatty Cathys, those three,” Maggie said as he rolled on slowly down the drive. She found a smile as the large house came into view. She’d loved living here growing up. The riding, the fun, all of it had been the best playground a child could have.
“Nice place,” Fin said, stopping. They both then just sat there looking at the house.
The roof was high and pitched, the house natural stone