"Jake--" Letti said. Jake held a hand up to her mouth, not quite touching them. She could feel the warmth radiating from his fingertips.
"I am sorry," he said, his voice soft. "More sorry than you could ever imagine. I have no excuse for my behavior. And I don't expect you to even forgive me, but I hope you might one day. The truth is..." Jake shook his head at her. "I panicked. I saw how wonderful you were for my mother, felt how wonderful you were to me again, and I panicked. I didn't want to lose you again, so in the end, I pushed you away."
Letti's throat burned with tears, but she swallowed hard against them. Then she reached up and clasped his hand with hers. "Of course I forgive you," she whispered, a tear escaping, followed quickly by another. "I love you."
Jake's eyes widened as his hand tightening around hers. He pulled her close.
"I love you, too," he whispered, before lowering his head.
Letti's heart soared as their lips met. Finally, after all these years, she had her cowboy back. In that moment, she knew this was exactly what had needed to happen, that God's timing had been perfect, just as always. Warmth spread through her as Jake's arms wrapped around her, easing the tired ache from her bones.
When he withdrew, Jake said, "Guess Morris will have to be disappointed that I'm declining his job offer."
"What?" Blinking, Letti stepped back. "Job offer?"
"Morris offered me the job of foreman on the ranch," Jake explained with a shrug. "But I have a better idea."
"Oh?" Letti asked, frowning. "What's that?"
"Marry me?" Jake dropped to one knee in front of her. "I know I'm just a simple country man and I don't even have a ring to offer, but I've loved you since before I can even remember. We missed our chance once before, but I believe God wants us to have a second one. So, Letti, will you marry me?"
Letti's heart threatened to burst from her chest as she grinned down at Jake. "Yes, of course. Yes!"
At that Jake leapt up from the ground and encircled his arms around her, lifting her into a twirl. They laughed together as they swayed in the empty apartment.
"I love you," Jake said into her hair.
"I love you, too," she whispered back, holding him close.
And she thanked God for second chances.
About the Author
Brenna Welles is a Pacific Northwest native and an avid romance reader, with a particular soft spot for sweet and clean romances. After earning her master of arts in creative writing and literature, she decided to follow in her favorite authors' footsteps and begin writing her own stories. When she's not reading or writing, Brenna can be found hiking, on the beach, or at home crocheting the next big blanket on the list.
Letter from Brenna
I hope you enjoyed Taking Their Second Chance as much as I did writing it! For the first book in the Greene Pastures Series click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NLXT1R
Find me on Facebook or send me a message via email ([email protected]) and let me know how you liked the story! I'm always looking for ways to learn and improve my writing. And taking the time to leave a review helps us authors more than you could know. I wouldn't be here without you! Take a moment and rate this story so I can keep writing more of them for you!
For more Happily Ever Afters: Sign up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/c2DXer) and be the first to know when a new story is coming. You will also receive periodic updates and messages from me, sharing with you my progress on upcoming projects. I promise, I won't fill your inbox. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/c2DXer
Taking Their Second Chance Page 8
