by Leann Harris
“A lovers’ spat?”
“I wish.” Beth couldn’t tell Susan the guilt riding Tyler.
“Riley told me about hearing what Tyler said.”
Beth’s eyes widened. “He did, and Tyler and I talked.” Susan’s mouth trembled. “I told him he wasn’t the person responsible for what happened.”
Beth could only gape at Susan.
“Don’t walk away from Tyler, Beth. I like seeing him smile, and I think you are the reason for his smiles.”
Hope shined in her misery. Beth grasped Susan’s hand. “Thank you.”
The door opened and Riley barreled into the room. “Hey, Mom. Beth, you’re here.” He threw himself at Beth and hugged her. “I missed seeing you this week.”
His actions so startled Beth that for a moment she froze. Tyler stood in the doorway, looking too tall and too handsome.
Shaking off her stupor, she hugged Riley. “How are you?”
“I’m great and have lots of news about school and the new volunteers from the church youth group and the new riders I helped, but you haven’t been by the ranch, so how could I tell you?”
Guilt shot through her.
“And you know what,” Riley continued, “Tyler just got a new cell phone so he could call you. And I helped him pick it out. It’s just way too cool.”
Beth’s gaze flew to Tyler’s. He smiled and shrugged.
“Mom, how are you today? I’ve got lots of stuff to tell to you. School is so cool. I was telling kids about the ranch and everyone is interested and wants to come out and volunteer. We have to do community hours and several of the kids in my class want to come to Second Chance.”
Beth moved away from the bed to allow mother and son to talk. Tyler motioned for her to follow him.
She glanced over her shoulder at the two talking. Before she could move or decide anything, Tyler took her hand and led her into the hall. He didn’t stop but walked to the stairwell and opened the door.
The moment the door closed, he turned, cupped her face and kissed her, knocking her socks off.
Stunned, Beth remained still for a millisecond, then returned his kiss. When he drew back, his eyes were dark with passion.
“Thank you, Beth McClure, for taking me to task. You hit the nail on the head. I was wallowing in self-pity.”
She opened her mouth to object, but he laid a finger over her lips.
“I was being selfish. All I can say is Paul’s death knocked the foundation out from under me. I turned my back on God. But He sent this little ray of sunshine into my darkness, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She made me face those ugly memories and managed to get me back to church.” He rested his forehead against hers.
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” she explained. “That little speech I gave you was as much for me as it was for you. I realized that I was holding on to a past bad relationship.”
He pushed back several strands of her hair that had fallen on her face. “Have anything to do with that showdown Riley and I witnessed at your store?”
“How did you know?”
His brow arched. “If looks could kill, that guy would’ve been laid out there on the men’s department floor.”
Beth blushed.
“Want to tell me about it?”
She remained quiet.
“I’ve discovered confronting those demons is better than hiding from them.”
She couldn’t refuse to tell him when he’d opened his heart to her. “Okay.”
She opened her mouth, but he held up his hand. He pulled her toward the steps and sat down, patting the area beside him.
She settled by his side.
“Now, talk to me.”
She took a deep steadying breath, launching into her explanation, “The man you saw was Gavin Humphrey. He was star quarterback and my boyfriend my senior year. Every girl in our high school drooled over him—”
“Really?”
He looked so puzzled that Beth had to laugh. “You had to be there. Now, where was I? Oh, when Gavin asked me to homecoming, I was the envy of all the girls, and not just the seniors, but every female in that school.”
He shook his head.
“After I got over my starry-eyed rush, I discovered Gavin was a control freak. He tried to control all the things in my life. He was very clever and didn’t ever say anything in public that would warn others, but when we were in private, he’d tell me he didn’t like this person or I shouldn’t associate with another person. If I wore something he didn’t like, he’d tell me about it. Didn’t I know those stripes made me look fat? I had a green sweater that he hated and he told me not to wear it. The second time I wore it, it accidentally got caught in the car door and dragged all over town.
“I didn’t want to tell my parents and I couldn’t tell my brothers, because I know they would’ve gone after him. I convinced myself just to endure until the summer. Gavin was going to a different college than me. When I bucked him after the senior prom, not leaving when he wanted to go, he slapped me.”
Tyler’s eyes flamed with anger.
She held up her hand. “I never saw him again after that night.”
“That’s what Kelly meant,” Tyler whispered.
“What?”
“Kelly warned me, along with Pastor Mike, not to hurt you.”
Beth nodded.
“What happened with Gavin?”
“I never saw the man again until the other day in the store. He called after his summer vacation, but I never accepted his calls. He never got close enough to me to hurt me again.
“After Gavin, I haven’t let any man close to me, that is, until you came along. I ran into this cautious dog and his equally cautious owner. I was instantly intrigued. How could I know you used your dog to reel me in?”
“So does that mean you love me?” Hope filled Tyler’s dark eyes.
“Yes.”
“Then you might consider getting married.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he shook his head. “I’m making a mess of this. I love you, Beth McClure, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Her heart swelled in her chest. This amazing man cared so much for his friend that the grief nearly killed him. But he was faithful to his friend, trying to help a family that wasn’t his. No matter, through thick and thin, he’d been there. He never demanded perfection, or criticized anything anyone did, which was the main fear of her heart. She threw her arms around his neck. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
Applause rang in the stairwell, followed by a good job and congratulations. Riley opened the stair door and grinned.
“’bout time.”
They laughed.
“Let’s go back inside and tell your mother the good news,” Tyler urged.
Beth’s eye glistened with happiness. “Let’s do it.”
Tyler opened the door, and led them back to Susan’s room and a new life.
Epilogue
Tyler looked around the large dinner table set for a big Easter luncheon. After attending the sunrise service, they went back to the ranch to get ready for the meal. He stepped up behind Beth, slid his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.
“Happy Easter, Mrs. Lynch.”
She rested her hands over his. “It is a blessed Easter.”
He buried his face in her neck.
“Hey, you two, stop that,” Zack protested. “You’ve got kids in the room.” He held in his arms his two-month old son. “Ignore them, Adam. They’re newlyweds and dumb.”
“Oh, the perils of fatherhood.” Beth laughed. “Let me have that little one.” She walked out of
Tyler’s arms and took the baby from her brother. “Why don’t you help your wife with dinner? Company will be here soon.” Beth headed for the living room, cooing and talking nonsense to the baby.
The changes in Tyler’s life still startled him. Beth had filled his days with laughter and aggravation. She got him to talk about his parents, his grandmother and the painful years of wandering from foster home to foster home. She gave him a new guitar for a wedding present and had encouraged him to play for her.
He missed her the days she traveled for her job. He still worked here on the ranch, but the city of Albuquerque had a job opening in the police department. They needed men to work in the bomb disposal unit. He hadn’t talked to Beth yet, but he knew his talent was needed there. He’d talked with the guys in the bomb unit, and they were ready for him to go through training so he could join them.
A car stopped outside and he heard the car doors slam shut. Beth’s parents were here, but he heard others talking to them. They opened the front door and walked inside.
“Tyler, I’ve got someone here you might want to see,” Lynda McClure called out.
Stepping into the foyer, he saw his foster parents and siblings. He waded into the group and hugged each of them. They had driven to Albuquerque to attend his wedding on the last weekend of January. After the ceremony they’d talked with Tyler about legally adopting him. The notion floored him, and he questioned if they could do such a thing, given his age. Yes, indeed they could. They had the papers and with his permission, they’d file them. His life overflowed with love and blessings.
“What are you doing here?” he asked his mother.
“We’ve got a court date for the final adoption hearing. I wanted to tell you in person. Besides, we all wanted to visit the ranch again.”
He pulled her into his arms, his emotions overflowing. “Thanks.”
Another car pulled in, and Tyler heard Riley calling out. “We’re here.”
Beth appeared in the foyer, holding Adam. The women oohed and aahed over the baby. Tyler opened the door and watched as Riley helped his mother out of the front seat. Her car had been fitted with hand controls, allowing her to drive. Today would be her first therapy lesson.
The dinner table filled with family and friends. As he looked around the table, his heart swelled. Beth slipped her hand in his.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” she whispered.
“It is a gift beyond understanding.”
Zach tapped his water glass with his fork. “Let’s say grace before we eat. Tyler, would you bless the food?”
Everyone held hands.
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for every person here at this table. You have brought us through many trials, but You’ve always been here for us. Your gifts and grace are beyond understanding. Thank You for your precious Son who gave His life for us. Thank You for this bounty. In Jesus’s name.”
“Amen,” came the united response.
He closed his eyes, letting the Amen wash over him.
His life had been restored.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I hope you’ve enjoyed Beth and Tyler’s story. This story was inspired by a TV special, The Dogs of War. It was about how the U.S. Army in WWII asked people to volunteer their dogs to be trained to work with the soldiers. It was followed by an update on how several soldiers found dogs in Iraq and brought them home. Those dogs were a comfort to the soldiers. The story grabbed me by the heart.
I knew immediately when Tyler appeared at Second Chance Ranch he would be the hero in Beth’s story. Beth is a woman who doesn’t believe in defeat, and if things aren’t going as she thinks they should, she wants “to help.” She learns that only God can heal the heart, no matter how good the intentions are. I hope you enjoyed their story.
Leann Harris
Questions for Discussion
What did you think of Dogger introducing Beth and Tyler?
What do you think of Tyler’s reaction to Dogger wanting Beth to pet him?
Tyler is consumed with guilt. Do you think his feelings are rational? Legitimate?
Do you know someone who blames themself for a tragedy they couldn’t control? How did you handle it? What do you think of the way Beth handled it?
What do you think of Tyler reaching out to his buddy’s
family (the Carters)?
What’s your opinion on how Beth handles the situation with Riley, not allowing him to pout?
Beth accidentally says something that blows up in her face when she asks about Riley’s brother. What do you think of her reaction? Has that happened to you? How did you handle it?
The all-night lock-in is an experience for Tyler and Riley. Have you gone to a lock-in? As a participant? As the chaperone?
Tyler’s guilt eats at him. When he confesses it to Beth, Riley overhears. What was your reaction? What do you think of Beth’s response to Tyler’s feelings?
Beth doesn’t tactfully handle Tyler’s guilt after Riley disappears. What was your reaction to her blurting out the truth? Did she have a point?
Tyler’s foster family adopts him as an adult. Have you ever heard of that? What do you think of Tyler’s reaction?
What did you take away from the book?
ISBN: 9781459226531
Copyright © 2012 by Barbara M. Harrison
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