Second Round Cowboy (Second Chance Series)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  They did as she requested, leaving her alone with the mare who was on her side.

  Fifteen minutes later, Leslie finished examining Frances and found the men standing by the fence leading to the pasture. She met Stryker’s gaze as she made her way toward them. “It doesn’t look good, Duke.”

  “What do you think is wrong?” Duke scrubbed his jaw with the back of his hand.

  “She has a high fever, weakness, swelling of the abdomen and an irregular heartbeat, which leads me to believe it’s EIA, equine infectious anemia. They get it from an infected mosquito. ”

  “Swamp fever?” Stryker asked.

  “Yes, that’s what I believe it is,” she said. “There is a test that can tell us if she does have EIA, which I’ll get a blood sample, and we can give the other horses treatment for prevention.”

  “Is there medicine, a shot, anything we can do for Frances?” Duke asked.

  “I’m sorry, Duke. She’s in a lot of pain and I don’t know a lot about EIA, but I don’t think she’ll live into the evening.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  She swallowed, hating this part of her job. “I’d recommend putting her down. She’s suffering.”

  Duke’s jaw tightened. “I trust your judgment. Do you have what you need?”

  “I do. It’ll be over in minutes.” Leslie loved working with animals, healing them, keeping them healthy, but unfortunately, losing animals came with the position.

  Back in the stall with Frances, Leslie got the blood sample and stored it in her bag. She prepared the needle for the injection when she heard footsteps behind her. She looked up and found Stryker crossing the barn. Relief spread through her.

  “Thought you could use some support.” He knelt beside her.

  “Is it that obvious how much I hate doing this?”

  “I know, but you can put your emotions aside for the humane treatment of the horse. She’s in pain, obviously.”

  His words eased some of her agony. “It seems like such a sad waste to put down a beautiful mare like her.” Leslie stared into Frances’s milky brown gaze.

  “Are you ready, Lesi?”

  Inhaling deeply, she forced her grief aside and did what she knew she had to do.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ON HER WAY back to the house with Stryker to get Lilly, Leslie saw Dillon heading her way. She glanced at Stryker to see if he’d noticed Dillon.

  “Hi, Leslie.” Dillon pushed his hat back on his forehead.

  “Hi, Dillon.”

  “Can I talk to you a minute?” He didn’t even acknowledge Stryker.

  “I don’t know. We need to get Lilly before it gets much later.” And I’m drained.

  “I’ll go on and get her. It’ll give you two a chance to talk.” Stryker was already three steps ahead before Leslie could get a word out.

  Leslie swallowed. “I don’t know what to say, Dillon.”

  “I’m not a bitter man. I see the way you look at him—” He glanced into the distance where Stryker had disappeared inside the house. When he brought his gaze back to her, she could see genuine kindness. “And I’m happy for you.”

  “I haven’t returned your calls, and I’m sorry. Things are a bit hectic at the moment.”

  He pushed his hands deep into his pockets. “I understand. You have a lot on your plate. I wanted to catch you before you left to make sure you’re okay, about Frances and all. I could see that you were torn up over putting her down. You know it is the right thing. She was a damn good horse and didn’t deserve to suffer, not for one second.”

  She nodded. “Will you be at Lila and Duke’s wedding?”

  He shrugged and scuffed the toe of his boot against the rocks. “I dunno. Maybe. Lila and Duke sure have been good to me. I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful, but I’m not into weddings much.”

  “Why is that?” Even though the prior attraction between them had fizzled, she still had a level of friendship with him that she didn’t want to lose.

  “You probably didn’t know but I was almost married once, a long time ago.” He shifted his gaze.

  “You were? It couldn’t have been that long ago. You’re still young.” She’d never asked how old he was, but as they spoke, she gathered he was a lot more mature than she’d realized.

  He chuckled. “I guess. You better go.” Dillon gave his head a quick nod.

  Leslie followed his gaze. “Oh, there they are.” Stryker and Lilly were heading to the truck. “Yes, I should go, but I do hope I’ll see you at the wedding. I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely day of celebration.”

  “I’ll think about it. You take care of yourself.” He smiled and she left him standing at the edge of the driveway.

  “Is he disappointed?” Stryker asked as she joined him and Lilly in the cab of the truck.

  “Disappointed? About what?” Leslie patted Lilly’s hand in greeting.”

  “That your heart isn’t with him.” Stryker backed out and gave Dillon a curt nod as they drove around him.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.” She did have a clue though.

  “Sure you don’t.”

  “He’s a big boy and he understands.” Leslie rolled down her window and breathed in the fresh air. “Anyway, he only wanted to ask how I was doing after…well, with Frances.” She didn’t want to mention the horse’s demise in front of Lilly.

  “That was nice of him.”

  “And you should lose the underlying tone. It’s unnecessary.” She gazed at his profile.

  “I don’t have an underlying tone. I’m worried about you, though.” He gave her a quick glance.

  “Worried? Why?”

  “You took the situation hard, Lesi. You can physically hold yourself together, but I can see straight through the windows into your soul.” His husky voice, and the concern he showed, made her want to go fragile and cry like a baby.

  Instead, she turned her cheek and stared out of the window at the passing scenery, but saw nothing through the turmoil in her mind and heart.

  Why was she suddenly emotional?

  A lot had happened in the last week and she guessed she deserved a little chaos of feelings. One could only be strong for so long before they toppled over a heap of weakness.

  She was toppling…hard.

  Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes, and as always, thoughts of Stryker’s touch invaded her mind. It was a hot day, but it was a different heat that made sweat bead between her breasts. After what she’d shared with Stryker last night, she doubted her body would come to a normal temperature ever again. He was an amazing lover. She’d lost count of the number of times he’d brought her to orgasm. She was as satisfied as a cat slurping warm milk.

  Giggling, she quickly stifled the sound, not even looking to see if Stryker was watching her.

  He had a talent, always had.

  She was caught, and she didn’t care to fight the hook that held her.

  And what if he left? He would eventually because he had a ranch to run and other responsibilities that involved Lilly. Her throat tightened.

  How does one step back into a life of loneliness?

  What could life have been like for her if she’d stayed in Hollyville and married Stryker? She had a feeling they’d have faced adversity but would have been happy.

  There were moments in everyone’s life when uncertainty got the best of them. She’d been unsure of herself, unclear of her ability to be a good wife and a mother. There’d never been a question regarding her love for Stryker.

  Their lost child would have been only a few months younger than Lilly. Leslie thought about the pregnancy often, haunted by “what ifs.”

  The future offered pleasure and all she needed to do was reach out and touch the possibilities. She couldn’t dwell on the past any longer.

  ****

  STRYKER PULLED IN front of Leslie’s house and turned the engine off. She didn’t move. He wondered if she’d fallen asleep. Lilly had drifted also. “Leslie?”

  S
he stirred and mumbled, “I love you.”

  His grip tightened on the steering wheel. Damn! “Leslie?”

  She jerked awake, confused as she glanced around the surroundings. “I must have fallen asleep.” She rubbed her eyes with her fingers.

  “It appears so,” he said.

  “I had the wildest dream.”

  “I believe you.” He chuckled.

  “Why? Did I say something?”

  He could tell her, but he didn’t. “No. You needed your rest. And apparently Lilly did also.”

  Leslie glanced behind her. “She played hard today.”

  “Lilly and I will be heading home,” he said.

  “I…I’m sure you have to get back to the ranch.”

  “I do and Lilly needs to get back to her day-to-day activities. She has an appointment with Tessa in the morning. You could come with us.” A crack of thunder sounded in the distance and he looked through the window at the sky. The black clouds were rolling in. “Looks like a bad one coming.”

  “Yes it does.”

  “Any thoughts?”

  “I can’t today,” she said.

  “Can’t or won’t?” They’d come too far to mince words. “I’m getting the idea you won’t.”

  She turned in the seat. “I said I’d come when the child worker will be there.”

  He nodded. “You’ll sweep in only to sweep back out?” Hell, where am I headed with this?

  “That’s unfair.” One corner of her mouth lowered.

  “Come when you can.” What more could he say?

  “I don’t have a job that I can drop at a whim to run off at some spur of the moment fancy.” Her face paled. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Don’t explain. I understand. I wouldn’t want you to drop anything for an impulsive act. I think Lilly and I will head out now. I’d like to try and beat this storm coming.”

  She opened her mouth as if to say something but snapped it shut. Her fingers were on the handle and he had a feeling she wanted to run, maybe he did too. Words could be weapons and he’d been wounded.

  “I’ll call you this evening,” she said.

  “Okay.”

  Once she was out of the truck and the door closed behind her, he took a long inhale of breath. He started the engine, caught one last glance of her walking up the sidewalk then squealed out onto the street.

  Why did it feel like he was leaving his better half behind?

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE SILENCE GREW louder as Leslie ambled through her small house, not sure what to do. She’d paid bills, washed dishes, started a load of laundry and now the quiet seemed to remind of her of everything she didn’t have.

  Stryker and Lilly had left two hours ago, and Leslie had held her tears until she was alone. She’d grown to care for the little girl who had nestled her way into her heart. Lilly had looked at peace sleeping in the back seat, hugging her teddy against her body.

  There was more to her sadness though.

  She’d allowed Stryker in as well.

  The teakettle burst into a wet whistle and she quickly grabbed it then turned off the heat. Maybe a hot cup of tea would settle her nerves. A long soak in a bubble bath would ease her tense muscles. An early night to bed would erase the dark circle under her eyes…

  Who am I kidding?

  She grabbed the bottle of Merlot from the cabinet and poured herself a glass. She’d cry in her wineglass if she must.

  Starting down the hall, with the bath idea in mind, she believed she’d soak the rest of the night.

  “Mama!”

  Leslie jumped and wine sloshed over the rim of the glass. She’d stepped on something soft lying by the door. She turned on the light and saw that Lilly had left her doll that Leslie had given her.

  Leslie picked up the toy. “Lilly will miss you.” She gave it a squeeze.

  “Mama!”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she placed the doll against her chest.

  Downing the liquid from her glass in two gulps, she pitter-pattered into the bathroom and laid the toy on the sink. She started for the tub then stopped. Stryker’s white T-shirt was hanging on the hook. She took it down and held it against her nose, inhaling —rewarded with a lingering scent of his cologne. She missed him.

  Tossing the shirt into the wicker basket, she forced her mind to concentrate on running water, but it was no use. She grabbed the T-shirt from the hamper, shut the water off and went into her bedroom.

  What had come over her?

  She couldn’t let guilt needle its way into her independence. She was happy in Shelby. It wasn’t possible for her to pack up and leave whenever she felt the itch for one sexy, brawny cowboy who melted her with a flash of his wide smile and a blink of clear blue eyes.

  It didn’t matter that he’d awakened her—made her feel more alive than she had since, well, the second she’d left Hollyville.

  Her gaze fell on the unmade bed. He’d made love to her here, discovered her, explored her. Heat spread through her body.

  No, she wouldn’t go to him. She wouldn’t fall into the web of madness.

  ****

  Stryker pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the floor then unbuckled his belt. He started to turn on the water in the shower when he heard the doorbell. It was late and he wasn’t expecting anyone. Unless…

  His heart pounded as he made his way down the stairs and through the darkness. He flipped on the light, opened the front door and pleasure boiled over in him. Leslie stood on the porch, her overnight bag at her sandaled feet.

  He’d hoped she would change her mind.

  Dressed in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt with more holes than Swiss cheese and sweats, she looked like she’d made a rash decision to come. He liked impulsiveness, especially when it landed in his favor. “What took you so long?” His palms itched to touch her and his lips ached to kiss her pouty shell-pink lips that he knew tasted like cherry pie.

  Fuck! He’d have to let her catch her breath.

  “I didn’t want to appear too anxious.” Her sweet chuckle glazed through him like warm honey.

  “Playing hard to get?”

  “If that were the case, I wouldn’t have come at all.”

  He grabbed the small bag she’d brought. “By all means, come in.” He stepped back for her to pass. Seeing her walk through his door, flesh and blood, after so many dreams, felt surreal. He kicked the door closed with his foot and moved into what he hoped was a good night.

  “Is Lilly already in bed?” she asked.

  “You missed her by fifteen minutes. She was beat.” The dark circles lining Leslie’s eyes told him she was exhausted too.

  “She forgot her doll at my house. I have it in my case.”

  He hoped that wasn’t the only reason why she’d come. “I’m sure she’ll be glad to see it. Are you okay?”

  She shrugged. “It’s been a day, that’s for sure.”

  “I understand, but as good as you are, you can’t save them all.”

  Her chin tilted. “But I can certainly try.”

  And knowing her, she would do just that. He’d always respected that ambition in her. She always was confident when it came to animals, but she’d lacked the sureness in relationships. His chest tightened. He’d known her childhood wasn’t easy. Her dad had left when she was young and her mother had lacked nurturing, although she’d loved Leslie.

  No excuses, though.

  He set her bag by the hall. “I was going to take a shower.” Her eyes smoothed downward across his bare torso and his cock twitched. He needed a cold shower.

  “Go ahead. I can wait on you.”

  He hated to leave her, but he’d worked in the barn when he’d gotten home to relieve some stress. “I think you’ll thank me in the long run.” He swallowed. “I didn’t mean to assume that you and I…well, that you’d sleep with me. You can sleep in the guest room, I mean, only if you want to.” He darted his hand through his hair. He just ripped his intention all to hell.

  She laug
hed. “It’s okay, Stryke. I realize what you meant. Take a shower.”

  “Okay. If you want anything the kitchen is…shit, you know where the kitchen is.”

  “I sure do and I know that I can help myself.” She dropped her gaze over his body again and his restraints popped—one by one. He couldn’t move too fast, not wanting her to think all he wanted was a bed warmer.

  Inside the bathroom, he slid off his jeans and boxers, climbing into the hot spray of water. His muscles were tired and the steam felt great. He’d stacked enough bales of hay to make any man sore.

  He closed his eyes and submerged his head under the stream.

  “Need help?”

  He jerked his eyes open. Leslie held one side of the shower curtain open, peeking in. “I sure could, unless you’d rather watch.”

  “Stryke, you know I’m not one to stand back and watch. I like to get my hands dirty.” The curtain slid further, exposing her naked body.

  His cock stood in record time. She stepped in and he took in every inch of her beauty—wide eyes, puckered bottom lip, erect nipples, flat stomach and long legs. “I’m glad to see you’ve gotten over your modesty.”

  “I suddenly had a craving for a hardworking man. Patience has never been my best virtue.”

  “Patience is overrated.” He couldn’t keep his hands to himself another second. He grabbed her waist and pulled her against his body, his cock wedged between her thighs.

  She slid her palms along his chest. “My, oh my, what large muscles you have.”

  “Are you trying to give me a big head?” He forced the words through his tight lips.

  “Yes, I am.” She dropped her hand to his erection and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. “Mmm…”

  “Pump that too many times and I may embarrass myself, sweetheart.” He bent his face and planted kisses along her jaw.

  She removed her hand, turned and splayed her hands on the wall. Her legs spread in a wide V, inviting him to sample her offering. He moved himself against her tight, round ass and entered her with two digits, testing her lips for moistness. Her hot, wet pussy was ready for him as he replaced his hand with his eager cock.