Page 28 of Chance

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he’d known that. Though he hadn’t wanted to pull it out and look at it until it had been thrown in his face. She was pregnant with another man’s child. Worse, she didn’t even know if she wanted it.

He cursed. Life was precious, even precious enough to die for. Hadn’t every person who served in the military thought another’s life was important enough to die for?

Even his own service, as a sheriff, showed that he was willing to die protecting others.

Furious, he walked through the back sliding glass door, letting his feet take him across the pool area and then to the little gate that led to the beach. He slid his shoes off, and it startled him when he saw a familiar figure. “Trey?”

Trey jolted and turned back. He was in a swimming suit and sitting on the beach, next to the waves. “Hi. How’d the date go?”

“Okay.” Unable to resist the cool water, Chance tugged off his shirt, leaving him wearing just his khaki shorts. He dove into the water and swam hard and fast as long as he could.

When he emerged, Trey was next to him. “You’re a fair swimmer.”

They were both treading water.

Chance shook his head. “I’d rather be left alone.”

Trey grunted. “You know what they say about small towns. You’re never alone.”

Chance dipped back into the water and swam out further. The ocean was quiet and he could swim for a long time.

Again, when he emerged, Trey was next to him. “Dang. The date went that well?”

Chance cursed.

Trey turned serious. “Let’s swim back in and talk.”

Chance agreed, mostly because he couldn’t tread water in the middle of the ocean that long. They swam back, but he stayed to his neck in the water, his feet touching the sand.

Trey emerged and only stared at him.

For several minutes, there was silence. Chance bobbed up and down in the water. The waves were kicking up.

Trey looked at him. “So you got everything square with her? She’s not gonna say anything?”

For some reason, Chance found himself telling the truth. “She’s pregnant. With her ex’s child. Fourteen weeks. She’s afraid of him. She wouldn’t give me all the details, but she wanted to disappear here and was surprised when I showed up.”

Trey didn’t act shocked, Chance was pretty sure Trey Stone wasn’t easily surprised. “Are you worried about it? We should tell Tim, just so he’s aware that there might be someone after her.”

Chance shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s give it…time. I ticked her off, though.”

“How?”

“She told me she might not keep the baby and I told her to pray about it.”

Trey sucked in a long breath. “I can imagine telling someone to pray that would tick them off.”

“Yeah, probably not the best thing for me to say.”

“I didn’t say that. But maybe we should do something.”

“What’s that?”

“Maybe we should say a prayer for her.”

Chance was shocked that he hadn’t thought of that. “Okay.”

Trey stood taller in the water and bowed his head. “Want me to say it?”

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