Second Chance Rancher

by Brenda Minton

  He patted her arm, then he helped her sit.

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “You’re welcome, honey.” He pulled up a chair and sat down. “I lost my only child to a situation like yours. She didn’t leave him, and in the end he killed her. I want you to live, Willa. You deserve to live.”

  She nodded and tears flowed down her cheeks. Doc Parker handed her a box of tissues but he pulled one out for Lucy and one for himself.

  Lucy stood there holding that tissue, her eyes dry but her throat tight. When Doc Parker asked Willa if he could pray, Lucy wasn’t surprised. She bowed her head and listened as he asked God to guide Willa, to keep her safe and to help them all to find healing in all areas of their lives.

  If she hadn’t felt compelled to stay in Bluebonnet for her little sister, she might have jumped in her truck and driven off into the proverbial sunset to escape the emotions that were battering at her heart.

  But she had promised Maria. So she stood there in Doc Parker’s office, praying for Willa. Praying for her sister. And praying for herself.

  * * *

  When they got back to the church, Dane watched as Lucy loaded Willa and Seth into her truck. She’d made the plan on the way back from Doc’s to take Willa home with her to the ranch. Dane wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but he knew he didn’t have a say.

  That didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to talk her out of it. Once she had Willa and Seth loaded, she walked back to where he stood leaning against his truck. Before he’d even had a chance to say anything, she gave him a look that told him she didn’t want his advice or interference. He was going to disappoint her.

  “I know you can take care of yourself,” he started.

  “And I know that you believe that,” she replied. “Dane, I’m fully capable of keeping Willa safe. It’s what I do for a living. I protect people. She’ll be safer with me than she will at the church. And the women at the church will be safer because she won’t be there. A complaint has been filed. They have a warrant for Johnny’s arrest. Willa is taking steps to make sure he doesn’t hurt her again.”

  “I know.” But he realized he had to admit what he really felt. Deep down felt. The confession was as much for him as it was for her. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Lucy.”

  Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, and for the first time she didn’t have a ready response.

  “I know, I’m speechless, too,” he teased.

  “I have to go.” She shook free when he tried to reach for her hand. “No. Don’t.”

  “I’m too old for games, Lucy. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not attracted to you or that I don’t enjoy being around you. I’m also going to be honest and tell you that I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”

  She didn’t look up at him. “I know you’re not. And neither am I. Which is a pretty good reason for us to keep things in perspective. Once upon a time a lost girl thought you would save her, and then she realized she could save herself. I’m not that girl anymore.”

  “I know you’re not. And I’ve got my own baggage, too.”

  “We’re moving in opposite directions, you and I,” she reminded him. “I have a business that I love. You’re trying to sell your ranch.”

  “All valid points,” he said.

  “I have to get Willa to the house,” Lucy retorted.

  “I know you do. And I’ve got to get home and work cattle. But, like it or not, I’ll be by later to check on you.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Dane.”

  “No, I don’t. But I’m going to, anyway.”

  He walked her to her truck. Their shoulders touched and he let his hand brush against hers. When she didn’t protest, he slid his fingers through hers. Baby steps. For both of them.

  “I’ll see you later,” he told her as he opened her truck door.

  “Go home,” she commanded with a not so subtle glare. “You have a daughter who needs you.” She climbed behind the wheel and he closed the door.

  He watched until the truck was safely on the road, and then he walked back to the church. Pastor Matthews was waiting for him. “Did you see them off?”

  “Yes.” He hoped there weren’t more questions to follow that one. Difficult questions he wasn’t quite ready to find answers for.

  “Where’s Issy?”

  Dane sat down at the table, across from the pastor. “She’s with Haven. They went to Dallas to visit our folks.”

  “Do you think Willa is safe at Lucy’s? I can have the local deputy take a drive by the Palermo ranch.”

  “I think Lucy would hate that. But then, what she doesn’t know can’t make her mad.”

  “That’s a good motto. I’ll let the county guys know.” Pastor Matthews headed for the door. “I have a wife who is going to send out a search party if I don’t get home.”

  Dane turned off lights as he walked out the door. “I’m sure your wife will be glad to see you. Even if you have caused her a lot of grief.”

  Pastor Matthews laughed. “You’re an encourager, Dane.”

  “I do my best. See you later.”

  On his way home, Dane took the side road that led past the Palermo ranch. The drive was long but he could see the dark silhouette of the house, a few lights glowing yellow in the windows. He slowed, watching for anything out of place, anything that didn’t make sense.

  The only thing that didn’t make sense was that he was sitting at the end of the road looking at her house, worrying about her.

  But all he knew was that since she’d come home, he’d felt a lot less alone than he’d felt for the past couple of years. That had to mean something, didn’t it?

  Chapter Twelve

  The smell of bacon frying and coffee brewing woke Lucy from a deep sleep. She forced herself out of bed and down the hall to the kitchen. The sun was barely over the eastern horizon but Maria and Willa were at the stove, talking quietly and making breakfast. Maria waved a spatula when she saw Lucy.

  Her sister, her baby bump more obvious in a tight T-shirt, stood next to Willa with a spatula in hand. For years Lucy had lived a very solitary life. She could admit now that it had been more selfish than solitary. She hadn’t wanted to be here, hadn’t wanted to be involved with her family. Keeping to herself had meant not getting pulled in to the needs of others.

  It had always felt safer that way.

  Now she called it what it was. Lonely.

  “Coffee is done and breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”

  Lucy glared at her cheerful little sister. “How is it I didn’t know you cook?”

  Maria flipped eggs and gave Willa a conspiratorial look. “I wasn’t trying to hide it from you. I just thought you should work on your own cooking skills. I didn’t know how that would affect me, though.”

  Lucy poured coffee and glanced toward the living room. “Did you know Isabelle is sleeping on our couch?”

  “No way? Really?” Maria slid eggs onto a plate. “Yes, I know she’s there. It isn’t as if we have a cat burglar who brings small children and leaves them. Dane is moving cattle this morning. And then he wants to use our bush hog.”

  “And Issy?”

  “She and Haven got back from Dallas late last night, then Haven got called in for an extra shift.”

  Lucy watched as the child moved on the couch, drawing a blanket up to her chin and putting her thumb into her mouth. “How are you this morning, Willa? And Seth?”

  “We’re real good, Miss Lucy. And thank you again for taking us in like this. We haven’t slept so good in a long time.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Just make yourself at home and let me know if you need anything.” She returned her attention to her sister. “Where’s Alex?”

  “Still in Stephenville.”

  Sh
e nodded, accepting the information. “And how are you feeling?”

  “I wasn’t sick this morning.” Maria handed her a plate. “Eat.”

  “I’m not a breakfast person.” But she had to admit the food looked good. She accepted the fork her sister offered and took a bite. “I’m also not cooking another meal.”

  Maria looked pleased as she headed for the table with her own plate. Lucy joined them. It was hard to sit at that table and not think back to all the silent meals with their father at the head of the table. She must have glanced at his empty seat because Maria cleared her throat and tapped the table in front of Lucy.

  “What?” Lucy asked, getting up to refill her coffee. Everyone else in the Palermo family might like to avoid the topic, but not Maria. The past. Their family. All topics were fair game.

  “You have to let it go. Forgive him because if you don’t, it’ll eat you alive.”

  “Says the eighteen-year-old.” Lucy refilled her cup, regretting the harsh words as soon as they left her mouth. “Sorry, that wasn’t fair. You’re a much wiser person at eighteen than I am at twenty-nine.”

  “That goes without saying.” Maria grinned, but the gesture dissolved into a serious look. “Lucy, I know he’s gone and I know you have bad memories, but forgiving him will help you move past this.”

  “We have company right now and she doesn’t want to hear our family stories.”

  Willa, her hair pulled back from her bruised and broken face, shrugged. “I don’t really mind. I guess it makes us a sisterhood. We’re survivors.”

  “Yes, I guess we are.” Lucy carried her plate to the sink and headed for the back door. “I’ve got to feed, and then I’m going to work on the garden. Did Chuck Nash come over yesterday to till it?”

  Maria, mouth full of egg, nodded. Lucy headed out the back door, eager to be in the fresh air and sunshine. She breathed in deep and looked up at the deep blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. If God was out there, she wondered if He realized how much she appreciated a perfect morning such as this.

  She also wondered if it had been God’s plan to bring her back here and make her confront not just her past, but the life she’d been living. A life she’d been perfectly happy with, or so she thought.

  Because she hadn’t truly been happy. When this was all over maybe she’d go back to her job and her life with a different perspective.

  Or she’d return to Austin and be homesick. For the first time ever.

  * * *

  After lunch Lucy led Issy to the garden so they could take advantage of the unseasonably cool day. Issy held tight to her hand as they crossed the yard and jabbered about kittens, puppies and the pony.

  “I wonder if there are little saddles for little ponies.” Issy said it softly, almost to herself.

  “I know there are little saddles. We have one in the barn. It’s just the right size for a pony like Cobalt.”

  “Is it the right size for little girls?”

  Lucy smiled down at the child. “It is definitely the right size.”

  When they got to the garden spot, Lucy spread an old blanket on the ground under a tree.

  “Issy, you sit here with your baby doll. I’m going to get the plants for the garden.”

  “Are there apple plants?” Issy asked.

  “No apples,” she said as she sat down next to the child. “But there are cucumbers, tomatoes and green beans. Apples grow on trees.”

  “Oh.” Issy’s little mouth turned down in disappointment. “I like apples.”

  “Me, too.” Lucy pushed to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”

  A door banged shut. Lucy glanced toward the house. Willa waved and headed their way. She was walking slowly, her hand to her side, but she was smiling. She met Lucy at the shed.

  “Seth is taking a nap so I thought I’d help you out.” She looked down at the jeans and T-shirt she wore. “I hope you don’t mind. Maria found something of yours for me to wear. We’re about the same size. Maria is a little taller.”

  “I don’t mind at all.” Lucy handed her a tray of plants. “But I don’t want you to overdo it. I know your ribs are only bruised but you’ve been through a lot.”

  Willa’s expression fell and her eyes glazed over. “Yes, well, today is a new day. I haven’t worn pants in a long time. Johnny wouldn’t let me.”

  “Well, Johnny isn’t here to tell you that you can’t.”

  “No, I reckon he isn’t.” Willa followed her to the garden. “Is there a church near where that apartment is?” Willa asked as they made a second trip for shovels and tomato cages.

  “I’m sure there is. I’ve never really looked. There’s a small community college nearby, Willa. You might want to take some classes.”

  “I might do that. I made good grades in school.” She picked up a hoe and started making rows in the garden. “I always wanted to be a nurse. Guess I wanted it, but I didn’t believe I could do it.”

  “I think you can do anything you put your mind to.”

  “I’m not so sure. It scares me, just thinking about walking away from Johnny. I guess as bad as life was at home, and then with my husband, at least I had people. At least I knew what to expect.”

  “It’s frightening to step into the unknown.” Lucy handed her a set of tomato plants for the holes she’d dug. “What was your home like, Willa?”

  “It wasn’t always bad.” Willa chewed on her bottom lip as she thought of an answer. “I grew up outside of Killeen. My parents worked and sometimes they would take us to the park or the lake. But they were drunks. Mean drunks. And then I married a mean drunk. As much as I said I would escape that life, I married and just kept right on living the nightmare.”

  “But now you’re making an effort to break away,” Lucy encouraged. “Sometimes it’s about having support.”

  “Support and a lot of faith,” Willa told her. “Johnny can have the stuff. What he can’t have is me. He can’t take my pride. Or my life. And he can’t take my faith.”

  Moved beyond words, Lucy stepped forward and hugged the other woman gingerly. “Willa, you might think I’m strong, but you’ve got me beat.”

  When Lucy had run away from home she’d also run away from her faith. She’d left it in this house with all of the other bad memories. Willa might feel as if she was the one being helped but Lucy had just been given a lesson in letting go.

  They returned to the garden and the conversation turned to lighter topics. Willa made straight rows while Lucy started digging holes for the plants. Issy had tired of playing on the blanket and she sat next to Lucy, occasionally testing the depth of a hole with tiny fingers.

  After digging a row and planting several tomato plants, Willa stood and tentatively touched her side. “I think I’m done.”

  “You should definitely rest.” Lucy handed Issy a tomato plant. “Issy and I can finish up out here.”

  “I’ll rest, and then I’ll see what Maria and I can do about supper.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Willa,” Lucy assured the other woman.

  “But I want to. It makes me feel better if I have something to do. And I have an aunt who says I can come stay with her. What would you think of that? I’m afraid if I’m alone, the minute Johnny calls, I’ll go back.”

  Lucy smoothed the curls of the little girl sitting next to her. “I think that sounds wise. The most important thing is that you do what’s best for yourself and for Seth.”

  “I think it’s best.”

  “We’ll do whatever we can to help you.”

  Then Willa left, walking slow and holding her side as she crossed the yard.

  Issy tugged on Lucy’s sleeve. “Is there a watermelon?”

  Lucy looked over the plants. “I don’t think so. But if they have plants at the feed store, I’ll get one a
nd plant it for you. Do you want to plant these tomatoes?”

  Issy nodded. “Yes. I like to plant gardens.”

  Lucy placed the small tomato plant in her little hands. Issy pushed her nose into the plant.

  “I like the way it smells.”

  “Really?” Lucy leaned to take whiff. “Interesting. Do you like the way it feels?”

  She guided Issy’s hands to gently touch the leaves and stems.

  “Yes, but I like the smell better.”

  Lucy guided her to the hole in the soil for the plant. “It will have flowers on it. Tiny flowers that become little tomatoes.”

  Issy settled the plant in the hole, then they brushed soil around it. “Will we water the plants?”

  “Yes, we will. Plants need a lot of water to grow.”

  Issy patted the soil around the plant. “And little girls need hugs to grow.”

  “Yes, they do,” Lucy agreed.

  The little girl grinned up at her. “My daddy told me so.”

  Then Issy stood, wrapped her arms around Lucy’s neck and hugged her tight.

  * * *

  Dane walked around the corner of the house and spotted Lucy and Issy in the garden. He stopped to watch as his daughter patted soil around a plant she’d just placed in the ground. Lucy spoke to her and Issy hopped to her feet and wrapped her arms around Lucy’s neck.

  His little girl needed those hugs. Lucy had a deep down kindness. She appeared distant and even cool at times, but she cared about the people in her life. She cared about little girls. She cared about women who needed protection and a fresh start. She cared a lot.

  Issy might never know that kind of caring from her own mother. Tamara might visit. There might be lunches or even meetings at a park. But he didn’t see Issy’s mom taking on the role of mother that she had rejected three years ago.

  Lucy spotted him. She said something to Issy and his daughter raised her hand to wave. He headed their way, watching as they eased another plant into the ground and Issy pushed soil around the roots.

  “You girls look like you’re working hard.” He reached for a plant and knelt next to his daughter.