Page 46 of Second Chance with the Rancher

“Yeah, it is. But I’m hoping to get an air cast soon. There are pins and plates in it, which should speed up the healing process.”

“Well, I wish you a speedy recovery and that you’re able to get back to dancing again soon. Tell Triss I said hi and that I just put the kale seeds she gave me into the ground yesterday, so we’ll have to see who yields the biggest crop this year.” She rested a kind hand on Mieka’s unbroken arm, gave it a squeeze, then disappeared out into the bar.

Mieka turned back to face the mirror once more, touched up her lipstick, and with a defeated sigh, left the bathroom.

She was just passing the bar when a hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm. Instinct had her jerking it away, but the look of alarm on the man’s face had him releasing her immediately. That’s when she noticed that it was the handsome, neck-tattooed, redheaded ranch hand, Hank, from earlier that day. “Sorry, ma’am,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to get your attention, and it’s really busy in here.”

She eyed him warily, but nodded. “It’s fine.”

He was sitting at the bar, nursing a pint of dark beer. “I’m Hank, I work at the ranch for Nate and Asher.”

She nodded. “Yes, I remember you helping catch Fumble today.”

His head bobbed and he scratched at his rust-colored beard. “That’s right. Um … Nate said you’re a dancer?”

“Was,” she corrected, which hurt her to say out loud more than it had to break her arm.

His face fell. “You don’t dance anymore?”

“Not at the moment, why?”

He licked his lips and cast a worried glance around the bar. “I um … I need to learn how to dance.”

“Like line dance?”

He shook his head. “No, I tried that, but I couldn’t get the moves down and kept knocking into people.” His cheeks turned ruddy under his beard. “More like, uh ...ballroom, or … or something.”

“Why?”

“My little sister is getting married next month and since our dad died when I was nine and she was four and we don’t have any uncles or a stepdad or anything, she’s asked me to walk her down the aisle. I’m fine doing that, but then the wedding planner asked if she is going to do a father-daughter dance, or in this case brother-sister dance. She laughed and said that her brother was born with two left feet and couldn’t dance to save his life.”

“That’s awfully mean.” Mieka’s brows scrunched.

He shook his head quickly, his gray eyes going wide. “Oh no, Sherise didn’t mean it like that. I think it was more to just let me off the hook. She’s also not wrong. I can’t dance and probably couldn’t do it to save my life. I don’t want to break my sister’s toes on her wedding day.” His lips twisted, and he looked at her pleadingly. “I’d love to surprise her on her wedding day and actually give her that dance without stepping on her feet or embarrassing her. Do you think you could help me?”

What had started out as a scare with Hank grabbing her arm, quickly turned into a cry for help and it melted Mieka’s heart. This man wanted to learn how to dance for his little sister.

That depressing, sinking feeling she’d had in the bathroom slowly started to fade, and in its place a warmth grew. A sense of purpose. She nodded. “I can try. Sure.”

Hank’s face lit up. “I’ll pay you, of course. And we can do it on your schedule, ma’am. Early mornings, late evenings, whatever works. I can probably do it on my lunch break, too, if you want.”

She chuckled. “Do you live on the ranch, Hank?”

He shook his head. “No, ma’am, I live about a mile away, but I don’t mind driving.”

“Stop calling me ma’am, please. It makes me feel old. We’re probably the same age.”

“I’m thirty, ma—Miss Young.”

“I’m thirty-four, so yeah, stop calling me ma’am and start calling me Mieka, please.”

He nodded. “Okay … Mieka.”

She grinned. “Let me find a space we can use to practice, and I’ll let you know a time and where to meet me. Give me a day or two to get it sorted, but I’ll be in touch, okay?”

Hank’s nod was so enthusiastic Mieka thought his head might snap off his neck completely. “Okay. That sounds great. Thank you. Thank you.”

She smiled at him, wished him a good night, then made her way over to the table where Nate, Asher and Triss were all watching her curiously.

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