Page 41 of Second Chance With a Cowboy

Leni glanced around the barn. “Where is she?”

“She who?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. You said you weren’t seeing anyone, that you didn’t have a girlfriend. Yet, within a week of us getting back together, which, by the way, isovernow, you’re back with your old girlfriend.”

“Leni, please. Slow down. I don’t know what you heard, but Idon’thave a girlfriend. And I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Stop lying!” she screamed at him, hot tears pricking her eyes. “Dodge already told me you were out here withher. He said you just got back from a ridewith Jolene.”

The horse let out a whinny and stomped her foot.

Chevy’s eyes widened, and he breathed out one word. “Oh.”

Before he could answer, Ford walked into the barn. He stopped when he got to them, and his gaze went back-and-forth between Chevy and Leni and then landed on his brother. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Oh no,” Leni spat, still fuming as she planted one fist on her hip. “Chevy was just about to introduce me toJolene.”

“Oh yeah? That’s great. I’m surprised you haven’t met her before.” Ford crossed behind Chevy to give the horse he’d been brushing a pat on the neck. “She’s a great girl. Aren’t you, Jolene?”

Leni sucked in a breath, and her stomach churned. She bent forward and grabbed her knees, afraid that she might vomit.

“Whoa. You okay?” Ford asked, taking a step forward, but Chevy reached out to hold him back.

She stood back up, but pressed a hand to her chest, pushing against it like she was trying to hold her heart inside, as if the shattered pieces might ooze out between her fingers.

“Jolene?” she said, her voice coming out in a whisper. “That’sJolene? Thathorse?”

“Yeah,” Ford said, clearly confused as he rubbed her neck again. “Isn’t she a beauty?”

She swallowed, anger taking the place of the nauseous feeling that had her stomach roiling. “Justwhendid Chevy acquire this beautiful horse?”

Chevy stood stock still, his face as green as her stomach felt.

Ford shrugged. “I don’t know. About ten years ago, I guess.” He turned to Chevy. “You got her towards the end of that summer you graduated high school, wasn’t it?”

Chevy looked at Leni, not answering his brother out loud, but slowly nodded his head.

Every emotion was tearing through Leni—sadness, nausea, disbelief, fury. The tears she’d been holding back finally broke as she sobbed out, “A horse? You broke up with me—broke my heart into a million pieces—fora horse?”

“Leni.” His voice was pleading as Chevy took a tentative step toward her.

But she held up her hand as she took a step back. “No. Don’t.”

She pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to hold back more sobs as she turned and ran out of the barn.

Chapter Twenty

Chevy felt like he was going to puke. He knew having Leni Gibbs back in his life was too good to be true.

“What in the Sam hell just happened?” Ford asked, the expression on his face showing the shock that Chevy felt.

“I think what happened is that Leni just broke up with me.”

“What? Why? And what the hell does she have against Jolene?”

Chevy scrubbed his hand over his face, suddenly weary to his bones. “You remember how I pushed her away that summer when she got into MIT? Broke up with her? Told her I didn’t love her anymore?”

Ford winced. “Yeah, I remember.”

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