Page 30 of Her Second Chance Cowboy

After lunch, the group walked to the barn, and there was a general hush when Nancy pushed open the doors. She hadn’t been down here much since that first time. After that, Colin had been in construction mode and had kept her away. She was glad that he did so because she was able to get the full effect of this moment with the girls. The barn looked fantastic: he’d installed the dance floor in the exact place they’d discussed and polished it until it shined. There was a full bar along one wall that had an overall rustic feel that fit into the “barn chic” aesthetic. The lighting was immaculate; he’d installed overhead lights, but also an array of pendants that could be turned on separately for a more intimate atmosphere. She felt a little hiccup in her chest: it was beautiful. “This is even more than I could have ever hoped for,” Evie said in an awed tone. They all agreed.

As they were walking the space, and Nancy explained where tables would be and whatnot, they heard a terrified scream. Turning, Bex was on the dance floor, hand clamped over her mouth. “Bex?” Nancy felt true panic wash over her. She rushed over. “Bex, honey, what happened?”

“I…I had a…tooth, and…and—” The girl was sobbing in earnest now. Nancy did her best to understand her words, but it was tough. “It’s gone!” she wailed, and Nancy was able to see that her front tooth was missing.

She didn’t see a tooth anywhere. “Did you swallow it, honey?” she asked, which set off even louder cries. Nancy was at a loss at what to do. She tried to soothe the girl, but her words did little to comfort her.

Lila came over and knelt on the ground, getting eye level with Bex. “Sweetheart,” she said gently, “I know it’s scary when you lose a tooth for the first time, but we talked about the tooth fairy in class, right? How she’ll come to visit you and leave you a reward for your tooth.”

Fresh tears trickled down her face. “But I don’t have my tooth. I swallowed it. That means it’s biting my tummy now, right?” She rubbed at her belly.

Nancy watched as Lila took her words in stride. “Your little tooth isn’t biting your tummy, I promise, and the tooth fairy will know what’s happened to it. She’ll still come tonight.”

“Really?”

Evie joined them. “Absolutely, kiddo,” she said, and Bex threw her arms around Evie’s middle, holding tightly to her.

Nancy knew that Bex was only seeking comfort from the adults that she knew the best, but she felt stung that she couldn’t be the one who helped calm her down. She knew that she froze up—she hadn’t seen Bex so upset before, even when Colin caught her trying to saddle one of the horses. She felt awkward, hovering on the outside and not knowing what to do. “Can you call her dad?” Lila said to her. “He should know about the tooth.”

“Sure,” she said. “Sure.” The barn didn’t have the best reception, so she stepped outside. Colin picked up after a single ring.

“What’s wrong?” His words were clipped, and Nancy knew that was what he did when he was panicking and trying to hide it.

Nancy relaxed a little. She could handle this. “Bex lost her tooth,” she told him. “She accidentally swallowed it and went into panic mode for a sec. She’s absolutely fine—Lila and Evie got her all talked down—but I’m sure she could use a hug from you.”

“I’m coming,” he said, and then more quietly, “Thanks, Nance.” She hadn’t done anything—Bex hadn’t really wanted her—but his voice was a balm on her raw feelings.

* * *

Later that night, after the drama had well passed and Bex was in bed, Colin asked Nancy for help in writing a note from the tooth fairy that he could slip under Bex’s pillow with four quarters. She got a slip of paper and sat at the table to compose the little note. While she was working out what to say, Colin came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You look stressed,” he said.

It had been a tumultuous day, but Nancy didn’t want to go into all of that. “I think the wedding is getting to me,” she said, and it wasn’t entirely a lie. Making sure Evie’s wedding was perfect, not only for the bride but for the soft opening of the dude ranch, was definitely stressful, but it certainly wasn’t her only source of anxiety.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Colin said reassuringly. He leaned down and kissed her neck, a soft brush of lips against her skin that made her shiver. “I could rub your back, if you want.” Nancy nodded, and her head slumped forward as his fingers began to knead at the knots in her shoulders. She finished up the note from the tooth fairy and held it up for his approval. “It’s great,” he said and kissed her neck again.

Nancy leaned into him. She wanted to tell him about the offer Reagan made her, but she didn’t want to spoil this moment. And she wanted to feel him out a little, get a sense of what he saw for the future. Did he see a place for her on the ranch? As casually as she could, she asked, “So what are the long-term plans here? After the wedding when you’re officially open?”

“The plan is to save money for Bex,” he told her. “I definitely didn’t dream of running a dude ranch, you know? I’m not sure my parents would have approved of it, and at times, it does feel like I’ve sold out in some way, but I want Bex to have a college fund and options in the future.”

Nancy couldn’t find any kind of fault in his words. He was changing his entire way of life for exactly the right reason, but his words didn’t bring her any more clarity. “Your parents would have approved,” she told him, attempting to shove down her growing confusion over what to do next.

“You think?”

She nodded. “They would’ve wanted you to do everything in your power to give that little girl every opportunity, and that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Colin hummed. “Want to help me put the note and quarters under Bex’s pillow?”

Nancy smiled. “Yes, please.” She wanted to help him with a lot more than that. But she just wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted, too.

NINETEEN

Colin woke up to a squealing Bex. He smiled and slipped out of bed so that she wouldn’t come looking for him to show him the note from the “tooth fairy.” Bex was used to Nancy joining them for breakfast, but the girl hadn’t caught on yet that Nancy was spending her nights in Colin’s room. He made his way down to the kitchen and started making noise loudly enough that it would attract Bex. She came running in, letter clutched in her hand. “Where’s Nancy? I want to show her!”

He shrugged. “I think she’s still sleeping,” he said with a shrug, knowing full well that she was. “She’s been working really hard on Evie’s wedding.”

“You should take her breakfast in bed,” Bex suggested. “That’s what you do for me when I’m not feeling good.”

Not a bad idea, Colin thought. “I think I’ll do that, darlin’. Why don’t I get you situated in the living room; Jessie’s doing laundry down the hall.”

---