The Rancher's Second Chance (Martin's Crossing Book 3)

by Brenda Minton

  He headed out the door, sorry that he had to walk away but knowing it was the smartest thing he’d done all day. Unfortunately he did look back, and people were right, looking back was never a good idea. She stood at the door watching him leave, the border collie next to her. The ring hung cold against his chest as he climbed behind the wheel of his truck.

  Chapter Eight

  Ever since Grace had found the ring on Monday, the chain had felt cold and heavy around Brody’s neck. It was time to let go of the past. He pulled the silver chain off his neck, then tossed it on the counter of the trailer. The cross and the ring skittered across the countertop. He picked them up and put them in a cup so they wouldn’t get lost.

  A truck pulled up outside. That would be Jake, wanting him to help load cattle for the livestock auction. Brody grabbed his cup of coffee and headed out the door. His dog followed him down the steps, chasing a barn cat across the yard. The yellow tabby swiped at the dog, sending it yelping back to his side.

  “I told you to leave that cat alone. That’s a fight you won’t ever win.” Brody eased down the last step. “Come on, girl. You can come with us, but you’ve got to stay in the truck.”

  “Ready to go?” Jake shook his head at the dog. “A Maltese? I can’t even imagine what brought you to this point.”

  “Sally’s a good dog.”

  “Yeah, and she serves a dual purpose. Dog and dust mop.”

  “Original,” Brody muttered. “Did you look over my proposal for making the riding school a nonprofit?”

  “Yeah I did, and it looks good. I’m going to look over our books and see how much we can funnel into it.”

  “I don’t think it’ll take much to keep it going once we buy the horses and tack. And there’s a certain amount that can be written off,” Brody offered.

  “I told you it’s a good plan.”

  Brody leaned against the truck, his hat pulled low to block the morning sun. He gave Jake a long look. “Then, what’s the problem? I can see it in your eyes.”

  “The problem is that you aren’t being honest with any of us about your health, and that concerns me. This is a huge undertaking. There are going to be lots of kids counting on you.”

  “You think I won’t stick with it?”

  Jake shook his head. “That isn’t what I’m saying. Do you have to turn everything I say into a fight?”

  “No, I guess I don’t have to.”

  Jake headed around the front of the truck. “Get in.”

  Brody climbed in the truck, Sally hopping in after him, then taking a seat between the two men. Jake started the big old dual-wheel diesel that they used for pulling the stock trailer.

  The truck eased down the drive, the stock trailer rattling along behind. Jake finally glanced his way. “You got a letter from a rheumatologist. That doesn’t surprise me, but it would be nice to know what’s going on.”

  “Really? It sure surprised me.”

  Jake shifted and eased the truck through an open gate onto a dirt road that led to the field where they would load the cattle they were selling. “I think we all put two and two together. So you’ve been to the doctor.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been to a couple. I have rheumatoid arthritis. It isn’t the end of the world, and the medication they’ve got me on is helping.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Jake said as he pulled the truck around and backed the trailer to the gate. “Did they tell you what to expect?”

  “Pain, a lifetime of medication and hopefully bouts of remission. It’s all good.”

  “All good?” Jake asked, a brow shooting up as he asked.

  “Yeah, all good. I’m not going to let it knock me down, and I’m not going to get so bad that I can’t work with these kids. Like you always told me, I just need to put on my big-boy pants...”

  “And get over it.” Jake finished the sentence. “Brody, I was a kid back then, and I didn’t know what to say.”

  Brody opened the door to get out. “We were all kids doing the best we could. Don’t beat yourself up. You got me through the worst of it.”

  “We got each other through,” Jake replied. “About the riding camp, though.”

  “Jake, I’m going to do it. It isn’t something I came up with overnight. It was my plan in college. It was my plan while I was riding bulls. I’ve got a pretty good bundle of savings. I can buy horses and saddles, and I can keep building my herd. With or without you, I’m doing this.”

  “I’ll do what I can to help.” They were walking through the gate when Jake grinned, a sign that the heavy conversation was over. “So what about Grace?”

  “Grace is a lesson learned. I got over it. Got over her.”

  “I can’t imagine you wanting to get over her.”

  “Yeah, well, she isn’t interested. The night I was going to propose...”

  Jake cut him off with a choked sound. “You proposed?”

  “No, I was going to. But before I could she broke it off. Said she wasn’t ready for anything serious and she was sorry if she gave me the wrong idea. She just wanted to have fun before she went back to school. And the next week she was dating Lincoln, and I was heading home because I couldn’t ride until the surgeon cleared me. Which he never did.”

  “That’s pretty rough.”

  “No big deal. Let’s load these cattle.”

  They had penned the herd the night before. The Angus moved around the small enclosure. Jake’s attention refocused on the cattle.

  “Yeah, I guess we’d better get to work. But, Brody, if you need to talk...”

  Brody walked off, shaking his head. “Getting married has made you and Duke soft. You want to talk about things now. I can do without that.”

  Jake laughed. “Yeah, it’s a whole new world. But I can tell you, marriage has a lot to recommend it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Now keep your focus on these cattle and we’ll get them off to market.”

  Jake opened the back of the trailer, still laughing. Brody had put up with sullen, moody brothers for most of his life. Now he had to put up with the opposite. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

  The cattle went in the trailer with few problems. Jake was latching the door when Brody’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and then took a few steps away from Jake, because he didn’t need his knowing looks or comments.

  “Oregon, what do you need?”

  “Brody, I’m leaving for work in a few minutes, but I wanted to see if you could come by and check on Grace. She isn’t feeling too great. I told her I think she needs to make a doctor’s appointment soon. Morning sickness is normal but she’s in her second trimester and it should be...”

  “Uh, okay, you can stop with the pregnancy talk. I don’t know anything about trimesters or morning sickness.”

  “No, you don’t, but she needs someone.”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t check on her, just, you know, the pregnancy stuff. It’s a little above my pay grade.”

  Oregon laughed. “Gotcha. No pregnancy talk. But you will check on her.”

  “I will check on her.”

  He slid the phone back in his pocket and headed for the truck’s cab. Jake joined him, sending him a sly look. “She okay?”

  “Far as I know. I’m not the pregnancy expert.”

  Jake started the truck and pulled out slowly. The cattle weighed down the trailer and made it a little wonky as the animals shifted. “You know, when you took that vow at sixteen, I didn’t think you would stick with it.”

  Another subject he didn’t want to talk about—that vow he’d taken during a youth service at church. “Well, I have. It’s not a big deal.”

  “It’s pretty commendable.”

  “This is why I keep things to myself,” Brody grumbled. “Because my brothers ha
ve turned into women.”

  Jake laughed, the way Brody had known he would. That was a perfect example of how a woman changed a man. Maybe he should be glad he’d dodged that bullet.

  Jake pulled off the dirt trail and onto the driveway. “So I’ll drop you at Oregon’s?”

  “That would be good.”

  “It’s been an enlightening day,” Jake said as he pulled down the drive to the stone cottage. “Think about moving into Lawton and Elizabeth’s place. It’s empty and has a lot fewer stairs.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, but I kinda like my trailer.”

  “Lawton’s is just as far off the beaten track. Duke and I wouldn’t be in your business there anymore than at the trailer.”

  Brody grinned. “I guess that’s true. And it has that handy walk-in shower for a guy with bad knees. See you later.”

  He jumped out of the truck and headed for the front door of Oregon’s place, his dog racing ahead of him. Oregon’s car was gone. When he opened the door he saw Grace curled up in the big, overstuffed chair, an afghan covering her still form.

  “Bad morning?” he asked as he sat on the arm of the chair.

  “She didn’t have to call you. I’m fine.”

  “Of course you are. You’re pale.” He put his hand on her forehead. “And clammy. Symptoms that definitely point to a person who is fine.”

  “I can’t argue with you right now.”

  “Another sign of illness—a woman who can’t argue.”

  He slid down next to her in the giant chair and pulled her onto his lap. Sally, not taking the hint, jumped up in the middle of them, licking Grace’s face, then curling in a ball on her lap.

  “You smell like cattle.” She leaned into his neck. “I like it.”

  “That’s really strange, you know.” He tucked her head under his chin and inhaled. “You smell like spring.”

  He should stop, because this wouldn’t end well. He knew the signs just as well as he knew signs of illness.

  “Today you make a doctor’s appointment. If you don’t do it, I’ll do it for you.”

  “I’ll call.”

  “I’ll go with you,” he whispered into her hair, into the scent of springtime and jasmine. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

  It was a mistake. A big mistake.

  But before he could dwell on it, she was off his lap and running down the hall.

  * * *

  Brody’s words were so sweet, so sincere. Grace wanted to stay in his arms, in the comfort of his embrace. But that was wrong for many reasons. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, a wave of nausea rolled through her stomach. Brody’s hand held her arm and she twisted, trying to move away. He let go and she hurried down the hall to the bathroom.

  She didn’t get sick. The nausea passed but her skin was cold and clammy, her eyes unfocused. Water ran in the sink and Brody moved around the room. He placed a cool, damp cloth in her hand and she settled it on her eyes for a minute, taking deep breaths and letting her stomach settle.

  “Come on, I’ll help you up.”

  She didn’t look at him, but he took her hand, hauling her gently to her feet. He let go of a ragged sigh and pulled her close, holding her against his shoulder as she breathed and the world righted itself.

  “You have to go to the doctor.”

  “Oregon gave me the number,” she told him as they walked back down the hall.

  “Have a seat and I’ll get you a glass of water. I’m sure you need to stay hydrated.”

  “Water is pretty hard to keep down.” She sank into the chair and reached for the afghan. “Brody, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Do what?” he said as he walked away.

  “Take care of me.” She didn’t want him to feel responsible for her. She could see the pain in his eyes. She’d betrayed him. She’d showed up on his doorstep carrying his best friend’s baby.

  “Right,” he called out from the kitchen.

  A few minutes later he returned, a cup in his hand.

  “Drink this.” He placed the cup in her hands.

  “Brody, I don’t want you to think you have to stay here all day. I know you have things to do.”

  “Can we just forgo the arguments for now, Grace?” He sat down on the edge of the nearby couch. “You’re here. I’m here...”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, closing her eyes against another wave of nausea.

  “Drink your tea,” he ordered.

  She held the cup up to her nose, inhaling the scent of ginger. She looked up at him, questioning what definitely wasn’t a glass of water.

  “It’s ginger tea. I found it in the cabinet and I’ve heard it’s good for morning sickness.”

  “This is just something you know off the top of your head?” She sipped the tea. It was peppery but good.

  “A friend in college said it worked for her.”

  She sipped more of the tea and felt better as the tea settled her stomach. Unfortunately the nausea ended with sudden cramps. Brody took the cup from her and set it on the table as she pulled her legs up, closing her eyes as the pain held on.

  “That’s it. We’re going to the hospital. Right now.”

  “I don’t need the ER. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “I’m not willing to take that chance. Wait here while I go get my truck. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

  She nodded. What else could she do? As much as she wanted to spare Brody, she knew he was right. She needed help today. She needed to see a doctor. And she needed Brody.

  * * *

  Grace somehow dozed in the emergency room, even on the rock-hard bed with the IV in her arm. Even with the sound of people going back and forth, coming in and out of the cubicle to check on her. She woke up when the door slid open. Brody gave her a cautious look and she motioned him in.

  “Have you heard anything?” he asked as he took a seat on a nearby stool.

  “I’m dehydrated and slightly anemic. Or I was dehydrated.” She pointed to the IV bag. “Now I’d just like to go home.”

  The word home took her by surprise. Especially when the word brought forth images of Martin’s Crossing and not Fort Worth.

  “But you’re okay? The baby is okay?”

  “We’re both okay. I should have known, though. Shouldn’t I have known the symptoms of dehydration?”

  He grinned. “Calm down. You’ve been through a lot, and I doubt you were thinking about the symptoms of dehydration.”

  She closed her eyes. “I’m hungry.”

  “Good to hear. You haven’t been eating much. As soon as we leave here, I’ll get you whatever you want to eat.”

  “Chocolate cream pie from Duke’s.”

  “Not until you eat your dinner.”

  She lifted a brow at that. “Wow, you sound like someone’s dad.”

  As the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted them. “I’m sorry.”

  He didn’t say anything. She opened her eyes and reached for his hand.

  “It’s okay. We men all come programmed with the twenty phrases dads are supposed to say.”

  A nurse entered the room, smiling first at Brody, of course, and then at Grace. She held out a clipboard with discharge papers. Her gaze slid to Brody as she spoke to Grace. Grace’s eyes followed the same path, and she didn’t blame the nurse. What woman wouldn’t be drawn to a gorgeous cowboy with his handsome face and a smile that melted a woman’s resolve to be strong?

  “Did you tell Daddy we couldn’t tell yet if this is a little boy or girl?” The nurse held out a pen for her to sign the papers.

  Grace peeked at Brody, watching as his cheeks turned red beneath his tan. She hid her smile.

  “I’m not...” he started.

  Grace
cut him off. “He’s positive it’s a boy, and he’s already bought cowboy boots.”

  “Of course he has.” The nurse handed her a stack of papers. “Don’t forget to make that appointment with Dr. Aarons. And remember, drink more water. Let this handsome cowboy take care of you.”

  “Of course, thank you.” Grace started to sit up. The nurse shook her head.

  “I know you’re in a hurry, but you have to leave the IV with us.” The nurse removed the port and put gauze on Grace’s arm, holding it tight. “There you go.”

  She gave them a final smile before leaving them alone. The mom and the cowboy who wasn’t the baby’s daddy. Grace slid off the bed, unprepared for the hand that reached to steady her.

  “Take it easy. And remember, I was right when I said you had to go to the ER. So let this handsome cowboy take care of you,” he joked, stepping a little too close.

  She sighed and slipped her feet into the shoes she’d left next to the bed. “Yes, oh, wise one. Now get me a piece of chocolate cream pie.”

  Last year her heart had broken a little when she’d ended their relationship. Now, knowing this wasn’t real between them, it broke her heart a little bit more.

  She couldn’t let him take up room in her life that she needed for herself, to be strong, to be a mom. She had to get back on track, back to the plan that had always been there, just put on hold.

  As much as her heart wanted him, she couldn’t. Not only because of her plans, but because she’d hurt him once. She knew that being here, pregnant, was hurting him all over again.

  It didn’t matter that he smiled as if this wasn’t hurting him. It did hurt. And she knew in his heart it mattered.

  A lot.

  Chapter Nine

  Fall should bring cooler weather, Brody thought as he headed up the sidewalk toward Duke’s No Bar and Grill. This close to October there should have been some relief from the summer heat. Today there was none. The temperature was in the nineties and humidity was high. He took off his hat and swept a hand through his hair as he reached the steps.