Every Good Cowboy Deserves A Second Chance

by Maggie Miller

  I’m pleased. “Really? Why do you say that?”

  “Everything,” he says, waving a hand at the furniture and the walls. “The colors, the style. It’s what you always said you wanted. This house is all you.”

  “It’s a small house, tiny by most people’s standards,” I say. “Big enough for one person though. It would be a tight fit for a family with kids. It’s only a two-bedroom with one bathroom.”

  “That would be plenty big enough for a couple and one kid. How many kids do you need?” He turns to look at me because he already knows the answer to the question. We’d talked about it a million times before, about how many kids we wanted and all the family trips we’d go on together with them.

  “Three,” I say.

  “Yeah, I remember,” he says, his eyes going soft. “I just wanted to see if you’d changed your mind. Three is a good round number to me. An only child might be lonely without siblings to play with. Having two children causes too much competition. Three sounds about perfect.”

  For a moment, neither of us speaks. We’re both thinking the same thing. If we hadn’t broken up, would we have the three kids by now? Or at least one? The thought makes me sad and leaves me feeling a little hollow inside.

  “How does Matthew feel about me stealing you away from the family for the evening?” I ask, changing the subject. “Did he mind?”

  “No, Matthew thinks the world of you. He’s all up for us spending time together, as long as I don’t borrow Dad’s truck again. Apparently, it caused a big problem the last time. That’s why I had to rent a vehicle of my own.”

  “What happened?”

  “The other night after you turned me down flat, I didn’t feel like going straight back to the house. I drove out an old road to sit alone with my sad thoughts. Instead, I was so exhausted that I fell dead asleep. When I woke up, it was five am. Matthew was mad because Dad stayed up all night worrying about his missing truck. He thought it had been stolen.”

  “Oh no,” I say. “Well, you can’t blame Matthew for getting upset. Didn’t you have your cellphone with you?”

  “I’d turned it off because my manager has been bugging me about coming back to Nashville. That made Matthew mad too when he couldn’t get in touch with me.” He rubs his jaw with his knuckles. “I’m so used to being on my own that I’ve forgotten how to report to other people about where I am or what I’m doing. It’s the same as having a curfew all over again now that I’m back in Sweet Rose Canyon.”

  “I can well imagine,” I say “Matthew can get a little heated at times. Just remember to cut him some slack. He’s been having it rough for several months now.”

  He shoots me a curious glance. “How do you know so much about Matthew? You’ve mentioned talking to him before. Do the two of you get together often?”

  “He’s been coming into the pharmacy every week to pick up meds for your dad for quite a while,” I explain. “We usually talk for a few minutes to catch up on things.”

  “Wait a second,” he says slowly, his expression growing worried. “Hang on. A thought just occurred to me. Should I be jealous of my big brother? Please don’t tell me that.”

  “Over me?” I laugh at his ridiculous question. “Absolutely not.”

  “Whew! Well, that’s a huge relief,” he says, making a face. “Truth is, I would hate to go up against Matthew when it came to getting a girl. Matthew is a far better man than I am. Something tells me I might come up short if a girl started comparing the two of us.”

  “Not where I’m concerned,” I reassure him. “Hopefully he’ll meet someone special one day. He certainly deserves it, if anyone does.”

  “That’s for sure,” he says. “Especially after his no-good wife left him with a little girl to take care of all by himself. Every time I think about what she did, it makes me furious.”

  “Does he ever hear from Sheila?” I ask.

  “No, thank goodness,” he says, shaking his head. “Not a word since Lily was a toddler. If she ever comes around again, she won’t be welcome. Matthew will show her to the door in a heartbeat. He’s a great father to Lily. He would never let Sheila come back into her life and screw things up. Lily doesn’t even remember her mom. That’s a chapter in their life that’s shut for good.”

  “People like Sheila never change,” I say. “She was a selfish, self-centered girl back in high school. Getting married and having a baby wouldn’t change her for the better.”

  “You’re right,” he says. “All it did was bring out her worst qualities. I don’t know what Matthew ever saw in her in the first place. I guess love is blind. Her leaving town was for the best. Otherwise she might’ve stuck around and made Matthew and Lily’s life miserable.”

  “Maybe we should volunteer to take care of Lily and your dad one night to give Matthew a break,” I suggest. “Or a weekend day. I’m sure there are things Matthew needs to do or errands to run. He could use a night off to clear his head. I’d be glad to help you if you don’t feel comfortable watching after the two of them all by yourself. They might be a handful.”

  “Thanks, that’s a good idea,” he says, nodding his head. “Matthew needs a breather. Of course, talking him into taking the time away will be a whole other issue. We’re still trying to figure things out. Right now, we’re taking it one day at a time.”

  Luke walks across the kitchen to peek at my backyard through the kitchen window over the sink. “Wow, Ginny!” he says. “Your backyard is loaded with flowers too. How many kinds of rose bushes do you have? They’re beautiful. I can smell their sweet scent from inside the house.”

  “More than a few,” I reply. “Gardening is my hobby. Being able to take a seed or a small plant and nurture it to life is fulfilling to me. I enjoy my flowers, especially the roses. They’re my hobby. Your mom used to grow old English roses by the side of the house too. They were pink and white. She always kept a vase full of them on the kitchen table.”

  “You remind me of Mom in that way,” he says, turning back to look at me. “She always loved her flowers too.”

  “I remember,” I say quietly.

  “I like it here,” Luke says, sending a warm glow spreading through my heart. He moves around the kitchen, examining the cabinets and running a hand across the large wooden butcher block my dad made for me. “Your house is a real home. Full of bright sunlight and color. Maybe it’s because you live here. You always did light up a room like no other person ever could.”

  “I’m glad you approve,” I say. “I always enjoyed spending time out at the ranch too.”

  “Dad told me to bring you around more often. He remembers you well, believe it or not. In his mind, we never aged and are permanently nineteen.”

  “You mean we aren’t?” I joke. “That’s a bummer!”

  “In my mind, we still are. Funny how things don’t feel as if they’ve changed much now that I’m back in town.” He leans back against the sink and crosses his arms to study me carefully, then reaches out to touch a strand of my hair that’s fallen across my face. A shiver runs through my body at his touch, but I don’t pull away. I glance up at him and our eyes lock.

  “I’m glad you didn’t cut your hair,” he says. “I always loved it long, loose, and free.” He lets a strand of my hair drift slowly through his fingertips as he talks. “Never cut your hair.”

  “Misty talked me into cutting it once to give me a more mature, professional style,” I say. “It wasn’t me, so I let it grow back out again. I thought I looked dorky instead of stylish with short hair.”

  “Do you remember when I used to braid your hair?” he asks with a chuckle. “You made me practice on my horse’s mane and tail because you said I might need to know how to braid our daughter’s hair one day. If we had one. You seemed to think it was an important skill for me to learn. I’ve no idea why I did it. I never argued with you because I always knew you were the smart one. If you thought I needed to do something, I did it.” He reaches out with both hands and grabs two big strand
s of my hair. Quickly he braids them together into a long pigtail. “Ha! See?” he says, clearly pleased with himself. “I can still do it. Turn around and let me do the other side. I’m on a roll here now.”

  “No!” I say, laughing and backing away from him. “I’m not ten years old. Though I will admit your skillset is impressive,” I say. “What else can you do?”

  “Watch out now,” he teases, a twinkle in his eyes. “That sounds like a challenge.”

  The sudden flare of heat in his eyes makes my stomach do flip-flops. Instantly the chemistry between us changes from teasing and fun to something else completely. In a flash, I remember exactly how it felt to be loved and cherished by Luke Collins. From the smolder in Luke’s eyes, I can sense he remembers it too. He suddenly reaches out and pulls me tight against him. The abrupt movement catches me by surprise, and I clutch his broad shoulders to keep from stumbling.

  “I can do this, for starters,” he says before leaning down. His lips lightly touch mine a split-second before he deepens the kiss.

  Whoa.

  My knees go weak and I instinctively cling tighter to him. Luke kisses me with a hunger mixed with years of pent-up longing. His kiss hits me hard. The taste of his lips gives me a rush so powerful that for a moment I forget where we are or how we came to be here together again. And I don’t care. All I know is that I’m back in Luke’s arms again. Nothing else matters.

  Long minutes pass before he draws away slightly, just enough for me to try to catch my unsteady breath. His mouth moves to kiss along my jawline and continues lower to nuzzle the soft skin of my neck. I close my eyes and sway closer against him. After a while, he leans his forehead against mine and draws a shuddering breath himself.

  “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?” he murmurs. “What you’ve always done to me?” He lifts the hair from my neck and trails a line of kisses down to my shoulder. “You smell exactly the way I remember in my dreams. Like sunshine and yellow roses.” He closes his eyes and inhales deeply. “For years I’ve told myself that all I needed was time to get you out of my system, out of my mind,” he says. “I almost believed it too. Until I saw you again. But we need to protect your good reputation in this town, so we’d better stop this and leave now for our drive.”

  My eyes fly open and I stare up into the green pool of his eyes. I catch the glimmer of amusement in them. It would be nuts to think things would be any different now that we’re older and more mature. The crazy attraction between us is as strong as ever. My eyes stare blankly at him, my mind still muddled from his kiss. Reluctantly, I pull back slightly and slide my hands from his shoulders down to his forearms.

  “You’re right,” I say. “We’d better get going on that drive you promised me. I can’t wait to show you around town. Things have changed a great deal since you lived here.”

  He chuckles and I resist the urge to move in closer again. He leans over and softly kisses my lips one last time then ruffles my hair playfully.

  “Do you want a drink before we go or one for the road?” I ask, reaching for the refrigerator door. I could never resist Luke when he was in a playful mood. My willpower only goes so far. “It will have to be a soft drink or sweet tea.”

  “No, I’m good,” he says.

  “I saw that you’re driving a rental truck.”

  “I thought it would be more practical,” he says. “Are you okay with going out on a date with me in a truck?”

  “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. I drive a Jeep.”

  “You do?” he asks in surprise. “Where is it?”

  “Parked around back. No fancy cars for me either.”

  “Maybe we should just take your Jeep then.”

  “No way, buddy. You asked me out, so you’re doing the driving. That is if you can still drive? Or have you forgotten how since you have a limo and chauffeur now?”

  “You know I can. Come on, let’s go. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on a drive with my girl.”

  “Your girl?” I joke, raising my eyebrows at him.

  “Sorry, my woman,” he corrects.

  I roll my eyes at him. “I wasn’t talking about the ‘girl’ part. I was talking about the ‘my’ part,” I say. “I didn’t know I was your girl.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, you never stopped being my girl,” he says, suddenly serious again. He takes my hand in his and squeezes it. “Let’s blow this popsicle joint and take a ride.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Wherever the open road leads us,” he says. “And as far away from people as we can possibly get.”

  18

  Luke

  I open the passenger door of the truck and help Ginny inside then go around to the driver’s side.

  “Ouch! These leather seats are blistering hot,” she yelps when her tanned legs touch the seat. Quickly she pulls her bright yellow sundress down lower to cover as much of her legs as she can.

  “You can always sit in my lap,” I offer with a chuckle. I slap my thighs. “Come on. There’s plenty of room.”

  “Like I did when you taught me how to drive in the pasture?” she asks. “We were a little bit smaller then since we were only twelve. Both of us won’t fit behind the steering wheel now.”

  “That’s too bad,” I say, shaking my head in regret. “In that case, slide on over here closer anyway. That’s my favorite thing about trucks. A big old bench seat without a stupid console in the middle to keep me from holding hands with my girl. You’re too far away over there hanging onto the window pretending like you’re afraid of me. Don’t worry. I don’t bite. Get over here.”

  Ginny gives me a shy smile and slowly slides closer. I drape my arm down on her left leg just like old times. “You still fit,” I say, giving her leg a gentle squeeze.

  “What do you mean?” she asks, giving me a curious glance.

  “Your body always fit against mine as if you were made exactly for me. We were two parts of a whole. Even now, after all this time, when you lean against me, it seems as if it’s the only place you were ever meant to be.”

  She leans her head against my shoulder with a contented sigh. I pull out of her driveway and onto the main road. “I know,” she says, snuggling closer under my arm. “How is that possible after all this time?”

  “Some things never die,” I tell her. “All we did when we broke up years ago was hit the pause button. We never ended. Heck, I can’t even tell you exactly what happened to us.”

  “Maybe we needed time to grow up apart,” she says. “We were always together and assumed we always would be. Maybe to mature into individuals, we needed to go our separate ways. You weren’t meant to go off to college with me and I couldn’t follow you to Nashville. It was inevitable our relationship would change at some point.”

  “No, I sure wasn’t going to college.” I can’t help chuckling at the thought. “And you sitting in smoky joints watching me sing wouldn’t have been right either. Those were no kind of places for a lady.”

  “I’m glad you came back to Sweet Rose Canyon, Luke.”

  “Me too,” I say, reaching over to turn on the radio. “Do you still love country music?”

  “I’ll never get tired of it,” she says.

  We spend the next hour driving around Sweet Rose Canyon to revisit old sites. Our first stop is the high school still perched on the top of a steep hill with a stunning view of the town below. I slowly drive through the parking lot then around the back of the building where the smokers used to hang out.

  “I see the stadium bleachers are still as raggedy as they were when we were here,” I say, pointing to the football stadium. “It’s a wonder someone didn’t fall through the rotten wooden slats. How did the football team do this year?”

  “Pretty good,” she replies with a shrug. “They won about half of their games.”

  “Sounds about right,” I say. “Sweet Rose Canyon was never known for its sports teams.”

  “With the factories shutting down,
the players can barely come up with enough money for uniforms,” she says. “On Saturdays, they do fundraisers selling donuts on the town square. One of the Booster Club moms told me they didn’t have enough money to send the players to camp this year for the first time.”

  “That sucks. No wonder our teams lose. They’re not playing on equal footing due to lack of funds.”

  “The economy is bad here,” she says. “It was never great, but after the textile mills shut down, it changed everything.”

  I motion toward the stadium’s ticket booth. “Look at that piece of junk. The door is almost falling off the hinges. It doesn’t seem fair how the big city schools receive all the state’s funding for fancy stadiums when the little towns struggle to pay for simple uniforms.”

  “That’s rural America for you. We can’t be the only small town that’s hurting.”

  “And here I am, buying a big mansion in Nashville, being a royal jerk when my local townspeople are hurting. I need to talk to my manager about doing a benefit concert or something. There must be a way for me to help out. The longer I’m in town, the worse I feel.”

  “You’re not responsible for solving Sweet Rose Canyon’s problems,” she says. “Though I’m sure nobody would turn down a benefit concert or help of any kind for that matter.”

  I continue driving around the parking lot until I find my old assigned parking spot. The number fifty-four painted in dull yellow is barely visible. “This spot brings back memories,” I say, cutting off the ignition and pulling Ginny closer against me. “The day the principal’s office assigned me my own parking spot was one of the highlights of my life.”

  “Why was that?”

  “It meant I could pick you up for school in the mornings instead of both of us having to ride the school bus with the little kids.”

  “I didn’t mind riding the bus,” she says with a smile. “The first thing I did every time I stepped on the bus was search for you. You always saved me a seat. Sometimes, I volunteer as a chaperone when the kindergarten class goes on a field trip. Once or twice, I’ve caught myself still searching for you when I step on the yellow bus. It’s crazy.”