Page 71 of Wounded Cowboy
Spring’s long strides quickly carried him over to Claudia’s cabin. As he came to a stop in front of her door, he took a moment to collect himself before knocking firmly.
Claudia answered with her usual thin-lipped expression.“Mr. Snowberry, what can I do for you?”
“Ms. Harwood, I’ve spoken with my daughters and I’ve concluded that you’re not a good match for our family,” Spring said coldly.“Your services are no longer needed. Please vacate this cabin by the end of the week. I’ll send you a formal termination notice by email.”
“You’re firingme?” Claudia’s eyes flashed with anger.“Well, I was going to quit, anyway! Good luck with your two little brats.”
Then she slammed the door in his face.
Spring fought the urge to laugh at Claudia’s tantrum. Relief washed over him, knowing that he had made the right decision to let her go.
When he returned to his house, he found Grandma Abigail waiting for him in the kitchen.
Before Spring could say anything, she angrily informed him,“I thought you should know I overheard that dreadful woman making a nasty comment to April this afternoon. I don’t want to repeat it, but trust me, it was awful.”
“Grandma, I believe you,” Spring reassured her.“Ms. Harwood looked so good on paper. But she turned out to be meaner than a rattlesnake in a sleeping bag. I just fired her.”
April and Abby, who were still sitting on the couch, cheered and hugged each other tightly. Their smiles were a balm to Spring’s soul, easing some of his guilt and regret.
“Good call,” Abigail said, her shoulders relaxing. She turned to the girls.“April, Abby, your father and I need to talk privately. Will you go play outside for a bit?”
“Okay, Grandma,” the girls chimed in unison. They dashed out to the back yard.
When the sliding glass door slammed shut behind them, Grandma Abigail fixed her piercing blue eyes on him.“You were a fool to let Kelsey leave. Everyone could see how much she cared for you and the girls.”
Spring leaned against the kitchen counter. He heaved a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.“I know I messed up. Kelsey was the best thing to happen to me since Laura and the girls. But I was scared I might lose her like I lost Laura.”
The anger faded from his grandmother’s gaze. Compassion replaced it.
“Life is all about taking risks, my boy,” she said briskly.“You can’t stop living just because everything might go up in flames someday. You and the girls deserve to be loved.” She reached out and patted him on the arm.“Go tell Kelsey how much you love her.”
It was so tempting to take Grandma Abigail’s advice. Spring missed Kelsey with a constant ache. But he shook his head.“No. She’s in L.A. right now, living her best life. She deserves to have the chance to make her dreams come true.” Spring spread his hands.“And even if I was selfish enough to get down on my knees and beg her, why the hell would she want to come back to Montana?”
“Because Kelsey was happy here, and she loves your girls,” Grandma Abigail argued.“And I think she loves you, too. Don’t you think it’s worth at leasttryingto get her back?”
Spring felt an unfamiliar flicker of hope igniting within him. He realized he need to stop letting his fears deter him from pursuing a happier future.
“You know what? You’re absolutely right, Grandma.”
“Of course I am.” Then she beamed at him, her blue eyes twinkling.“And I have some good news for you. I spoke with Kelsey last week. She told me things weren’t working out for her in L.A. She wanted to come back to Snowberry Springs as soon as possible.”
“No shit?” Spring didn’t normally swear in front of his grandmother. In his shock at the news, it just slipped out.
He gripped the edge of the counter, trying to steady himself against the overwhelming rush of emotions.
“I didn’t want to gloat and tell her‘I told you so’,” Abigail continued smugly.“Maybe you can ask her if she wants her old job back.”
Spring barely heard her over the pounding of his heart.Kelsey’s coming back!
Abigail reached out and tapped his cheek.“Don’t waste this second chance, Spring.”
Chapter 19
Home is Where the Heart Is
Snowberry Springs, MT
Kelsey leaned back on Jenna’s couch, a glass of wine in her hand, and laughed at the ridiculous drama unfolding on the TV screen. She and Jenna were watching the latest season ofLone Star Ladies of Dallas, a reality TV series that was a guilty pleasure for both of them.
