Page 18 of Her Second Chance Cowboy

Cody looked like he wanted to press further, but he simply nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. “Okay,” he said, his hand coming up to rest on her shoulder for abrief moment. “Just remember, we’re all here for you, Emma. Whatever you need.”

“I know,” she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Cody. For everything.”

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made her heart skip a beat. “Anytime,” he said, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity.

As they turned back to the group, Emma tried to push away the doubts and fears that were swirling around in her mind. She needed to focus on the festival, on making sure that everything went off without a hitch. She could worry about the future later.

But even as she threw herself back into the planning and the preparation, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that she was standing at a crossroads, that the decision she made in the coming days would change the course of her life forever.

And as much as she wanted to believe that she could have it all, that she could keep the ranch and the festival and the life she had started to build here, she knew deep down that it was impossible. She would have to choose, sooner or later.

And if Jenna’s words were anything to go by, sooner might just be coming around faster than she’d planned.

Chapter Ten

The sound oftires crunching on the gravel drive echoed through the crisp morning air, pulling Emma’s attention away from the task of grooming Daisy. She frowned, wiping her hands on her jeans as she stepped out of the barn to see who had arrived.

A sleek, black SUV was making its way up the drive, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake. Emma felt a sense of unease settling in the pit of her stomach as she watched the vehicle come to a stop in front of the house.

The driver’s side door opened, and a man stepped out, his expensive suit and polished shoes looking out of place against the rugged backdrop of the ranch. He was tall and lean, with a sharp, angular face and cold, calculating eyes that sent a shiver down Emma’s spine.

“Can I help you?” she called out, her voice sounding more confident than she felt.

The man smiled, a thin, insincere thing that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You must be Emma Brooks,” he said, his voice smooth and cultured. “I’m Alexander Blackwell, I’ve been speaking to your estate agent with regards to buying this property.”

Emma felt her stomach drop, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to process what he was saying. “I... I wasn’t expecting you,” she managed to say, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears. “Jenna didn’t mention anything about a visit.”

Alexander shrugged, his eyes roaming over the ranch with a critical gaze. “I thought it would be best to see the property for myself,” he said, his tone almost dismissive. “After all, I’m considering making a substantial investment here.”

Emma bristled at his words, a surge of defensiveness rising up inside her. “I understand that,” she said, her voice growing stronger as she met his gaze head-on. “But this is still my family’s property, and I would have appreciated some notice before you showed up unannounced.”

Alexander’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Of course,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “My apologies, Ms. Brooks. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Emma nodded, her jaw clenched tight as she tried to rein in her emotions. “It’s fine,” she said, her voice clipped and businesslike. “Just... just let me know next time, okay?”

Alexander inclined his head, his eyes glinting with something that Emma couldn’t quite name. “Absolutely,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a look around the property. Get a feel for what I’m considering buying.”

Emma hesitated, a sense of unease prickling at the back of her neck. She didn’t want this man poking around her family’s land, didn’t want him passing judgment on the place that held so many memories for her.

But she knew she couldn’t refuse him outright, not if she wanted to keep the sale on the table. “Of course,” she said, her voice tight with barely concealed frustration. “Let me just... let me just go put the horse back in her stall.”

She turned to head back to the barn, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how to handle the situation. But before she could take more than a few steps, Cody stepped out of the barn.

“Emma?” Cody’s voice was low and concerned as he caught up to her, his eyes flicking over to where Alexander was standing by his car. “Everything okay?”

Emma sighed, running a hand through her hair as she turned to face him. “That’s Alexander Blackwell,” she said, hervoice barely above a whisper. “The potential buyer for the ranch.”

Cody’s eyes widened, his brow furrowing as he took in the man’s expensive suit and polished demeanor. “What’s he doing here?” he asked, his voice rough with barely concealed anger.

Emma shook her head, feeling suddenly exhausted. “He wants to take a look around the property,” she said, her voice dull and lifeless. “Get a feel for what he’s buying.”

Cody’s jaw clenched. “You don’t have to do this, Emma,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “You don’t have to let him push you around like this.”

Emma closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she tried to center herself. “I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t have a choice, Cody. If I want to keep the sale on the table, I have to play nice.”

Cody’s eyes flashed with something that Emma couldn’t quite name, a mixture of frustration and protectiveness that made her heart ache. “This isn’t right,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “This is your family’s land, Emma. Your legacy. You shouldn’t have to bow and scrape to some city slicker who doesn’t even know the first thing about ranching.”

Emma dragged in a shaky breath. “I wish that was true,” she said, her voice filled with a quiet resignation. “But this is the way it has to be, Cody. I can’t... I can’t keep holding on to something that isn’t mine anymore.”

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