Page 25 of Chloe's Christmas Cowboy: A Festive Second Chance Romance

He nodded. “It was Lightning.”

She stared at him.

“She went down that evening. I was there. I called the veterinary out and we did everything we could. We spent hours trying to get her back on her feet but it was too much for her. Your Uncle John was devastated, and he knew you would be, too.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Of course, Tyler would try everything to save her beloved horse; he loved those horses, too.

“I told him you’d want to say goodbye, but he wouldn’t have it,” he went on. “It was your graduation day and he knew this would spoil it. You’d been so happy and everyone was so proud of you. He said he couldn’t let this be the end to your special day. No way could he risk you coming home and wanting to say goodnight to your horse only to find her lying there like that.

He knew it was getting late, but he said it would be better for you to be a little disappointed that I was late for our date then you should hear about your horse that night. He asked me to take her away so you wouldn’t be upset by her.”

Chloé noticed tears in his eyes as he spoke, and reached out and held his hand.

“Your uncle was a stubborn man,” he said, ruefully.

“I know.” She nodded.

“I pleaded with him to let me just take her away for the night but keep her someplace so you could go and say your goodbye the next morning. He thought it would be too traumatic for you.” He sniffed. “I’m sorry. I should’ve...”

“What? Argued with him? I’d like to see you try.” She wiped her face with her free hand. “If Uncle John had made his mind up then no one would get to change it.”

She recalled all the times she’d tried to win an argument with the old man – never once had she succeeded. She didn’t know anyone who had. Apart from Aunt Brenda, of course. But that was a long time ago.

Even when it was obvious to everyone around him that he was wrong, Uncle John would never admit it. A thought suddenly occurred to her.

“The note,” she said. “Mine said ‘sorry’. Maybe that’s what he was apologizing for.”

Tyler stared at her. “Mine said the same. And, yes, that would make sense. He must have realized afterward that he’d been wrong, especially when you left home like that.”

Chloé smiled, relieved that they’d solved the mystery.

“I couldn’t believe it when they told me you hadn’t turned up at the restaurant,” he said thoughtfully, shaking his head.

“But you believed it when Bill told you I was with someone else?” She tried not to sound judgmental.

He let out a long breath. “I suppose it was my greatest fear,” he admitted. “I knew it was possible you’d find one of your college or uni friends a better catch than me – I’m just a cowboy.” He looked at his clothes, deprecatingly. “It’s what stopped me from asking you out before. I was sure your uncle would prefer you get with someone more educated, too. So I kept my distance. Then, when you graduated I was so thrilled when you asked me to be there. I thought then that maybe you did have feelings for me – that you might want me, after all.”

“I did.” The words fell out of her mouth and she noticed how grateful he looked.

“When it all went wrong I suppose I let my doubts get the better of me. Bill told me exactly what I was afraid of hearing. I felt that I had to accept it once and for all. I hoped to get the chance to talk to you about it the next day; let you know I understood. Then I heard you’d left. Your uncle said he didn’t even have a forwarding address for you.”

“This is such a mess,” she said, as more tears poured down her face.

“It was,” he said, taking her in his arms. “But it’s all sorted now.”

“Yeah, when it’s too late,” she moaned.

“It’s never too late,” he whispered, before kissing the top of her head.

She turned her face up to him and he took her lips in a lingering kiss; the type she wished could last forever.

“I love you so much,” she said, when it finally ended.

“I know.” He sniggered and she swiped him, playfully.

“Big head,” she said, giggling.

“I know that, too,” he admitted with a nod. Then he laughed. “And I love you back.”

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