Page 32 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

He stopped and turned off the motor a fair distance from Garnet. Then he swung to the ground and offered her his hand. “Are you okay?”

She hadn’t been okay for fifteen years, but she’d made the best of it. So she nodded. They walked toward Garnet who stood peacefully grazing. Would they be able to sneak up on her?

Skylar needed to keep quiet, but she might not have another chance to make things at least somewhat better. “Everything you’ve done for me... It meant a lot to me. And I never meant to hurt you.” She’d give the last drop of blood in her veins for him, but what did it matter if she put poison in his?

“Then why?” His question cut through her.

“I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.” She ducked her head. So much for making things better between them.

“Stay here, okay?” He walked to Garnet while Skylar didn’t move.

Garnet let him get close, and he stroked her gently. The mare seemed to welcome it.

Skylar wasn’t surprised. He was a great guy, kind to people and animals. Even when she’d had doubts, he’d supported her in her art and her dreams, unlike her dad, maybe because it reminded him too much of Mom. Grandma had tried to be supportive, and she had been. But sometimes, Skylar had caught doubt in her eyes. Grandma also probably associated art with Skylar’s mother who’d hurt their family so much. When Skylar had won an art scholarship, Dallas seemed happier than even she’d been.

He gestured for her to get closer, and she stepped carefully forward. The last thing she needed was for Garnet to start running at the sight of a stranger. The mare’s tail swished, but otherwise, she didn’t show any signs of distress.

Skylar whispered, “Beautiful Garnet. Wonderful Garnet.”

Dallas was feeding Garnet a treat, and he handed one to Skylar when she got close enough. “Would you like to give her a treat? But be careful, sometimes horses can bite.”

And based on the size of those teeth, those bites would hurt a lot. But she lifted her palm to him. “Sure. I’d love to.”

His lips slid up a tad. “Here we go.” He handed her a round raspberry-colored thingy. When did he have a chance to get treats? Or did he always carry them?

“Here.” She lifted the treat close to Garnet’s mouth. “Yummy!” Hopefully, Garnet would consider it yummier than Skylar’s fingers.

Garnet nipped the treat from Skylar’s palm, her lips surprisingly soft on Skylar’s skin. No teeth chomping on her fingers. “Good girl. Good girl. We’ll take you home, okay?” She stroked the mare’s gorgeous smooth coat, then her luxurious mane. She used to decorate the Lawrences’ horses’ manes for the town parade. Then she’d watched with admiration while Dallas rode in the parade. All that seemed in another century now.

“You’re great with her.” Dallas’s voice softened. And he’d always been great with her, Skylar.

She’d declared an art major in college but changed it to accounting once she’d started to remember more of that stormy night, and her art scholarship had gone to waste. She’d wanted to paint many masterpieces but hadn’t painted even one.

No, it wasn’t true. Her one masterpiece—on the canvas she’d sliced and ruined later—was her love for Dallas.

Chapter Seven

---