Page 53 of A Forgotten Heart
It’d taken Isaac seconds to understand what it had taken Nick years to admit.
More pieces fell into place as what she’d told him about her childhood resurfaced in his memory.
She’d been unwanted. Abandoned. Her desperation to please her adoptive parents made more sense now.
And Nick had walked away from her.
Shame and guilt clawed at his gut.
Isaac scratched the stubble along his jaw. “Seems to me she’s sticking up for you now.”
Nick couldn’t answer him, not with the way his emotions were knotted.
Isaac stared out the window like Nick had earlier. “You told me I deserved a second chance. Maybe the two of you deserve another chance?”
Nick was already shaking his head. What was done was done. He couldn’t open his heart to Elsie again.
Isaac went on, “And why don’t you deserve to go back to school?”
Why not go back to school?
Nick cleared his throat. “I have responsibilities here. And Pa warned me to not chase after rainbows.”
He could still see the disappointed expression on Pa’s face every time Pa had found him reading instead of tossing hay bales or finishing another ranch chore.
Isaac shook his head. “You think Pa never had to tell Drew to get his head out of the clouds? You know how he was horse crazy. Or that he didn’t warn me off being marshal? Pa had his own way of thinking. Doesn’t mean it was right for me. Or for you.”
Silence stretched between them.
Nick appreciated Isaac’s advice, but he was too old for normal school now. Most people there were fresh-faced kids.
Isaac thumped Nick’s back. “Try and get some sleep, little brother. This thing with Quade ain’t over.”
Nick watched Isaac leave.
For the first time, Nick wanted to forgive Elsie. Maybe already had. But that didn’t mean there was a future for them.
As Nick trudged back to the bunk house, the echo of second chances rang in his ears.
The difference between Isaac’s second chance and one for Nick was the timeline. Forgiveness was one thing, but going back in time…impossible.
Besides, Elsie had been so passionate about teaching, she wouldn’t let anything stand between her and her dream.
Including Nick. She’d never choose him over being a teacher.
Chapter 11
Morning came, and the sleepless night had left Nick sluggish and hungry.
He crossed the threshold to the kitchen, then froze at the sight of Elsie standing at the counter and rolling out biscuit dough. Alone.
Where was everyone else? He blinked hard to make sure he wasn’t still dreaming.
Last night, he’d fallen into a restless sleep, thoughts of forgiveness and second chances spiraling through his head.
Now, watching Elsie fidget with the roller in her hands, he waited for the sharpness of his anger to return. But it didn’t.
He just felt resigned.
