Page 68 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

Chapter Fourteen

“GRANDMA, WOULD YOUlike to stay with Mrs. Lawrence for a few days?” Skylar asked the next day while washing dishes after breakfast.

Grandma still didn’t allow her to install a dishwasher at the cottage. The golden specks on one of the saucers caught the sunlight filtering through the small kitchen window and sparkled. The elegant porcelain saucer boasted a gorgeous cobalt pattern and was made by a factory that existed since the eighteenth century.

This, like Grandma’s many treasures, would one day pass to Skylar. She’d rather have Grandma, though.

Not hearing an answer, Skylar wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, an anchor printed on its wavy blue background, and turned around. On the floor, Breeze stretched on a sunspot that filtered through the window, a chew toy nearby.

Her grandmother, the reigning queen in her teapot kingdom, blinked at her from the breakfast nook, sipping the second cup of tea, this time raspberry. “Why would I stay with her?”

Good question.

Skylar put fresh water in Breeze’s bowl, then sat on the oak chair next to Grandma to be on the same level. “Well, I need to do a few things, and I’d love for you to have company in the interim.” More importantly, Skylar wanted her grandmother to be safe in case Skylar’s search took her too far.

Or should she stop what she was doing?

Alarms sounded loud and clear inside her, but she raised her chin. She needed to do what she should’ve done fifteen years ago. She’d take her punishment for keeping silent. But before she could go to the police, she needed more information. Because how much would they be able to do with the fuzzy memories of a traumatized child for events from over a quarter of a century ago?

And the only place Skylar knew where Grandma could be safe was the ranch with a family of grown-up, muscular cowboy brothers—all well-trained to shoot. “Please?”

Breeze lifted her head as if asking how Skylar could forget about her. Breeze was a great dog, but she wasn’t a guard dog. And she was expecting puppies. Not that Skylar would ever put Breeze in danger to start with. Tenderness spreading inside, Skylar bent to stroke Breeze’s soft fur, and the golden retriever’s tail thumped on the tile floor.

“Okay. I understand if you’re busy.” Grandma’s eyes dimmed. “And with Earl still missing, I guess I’d better put the wedding plans on hold.”

Skylar hated causing Grandma distress, and her stomach twisted. But if she told her grandmother the truth, Grandma would never let her only granddaughter get into any kind of peril. And what if Skylar’s suspicions were wrong? She could bring Grandma lots of heartache for nothing.

Skylar moved to her favorite woman in the world, sank before her chair, and grasped her wrinkled hands. “Sorry. It’s just for a few days.” She hoped.

Grandma nodded, her eyes warming up. “I understand. But shouldn’t we ask Amelia first if she’s okay with me dropping on her head?”

“I’ll do it.”

While her grandmother started packing, Skylar changed her silk cream pajamas to jeans and a T-shirt for convenience, then pulled on sneakers, ditching her ironed slacks and flats.

Then she stepped out to the terrace and found the familiar number. Breeze followed her, and Skylar tensed, afraid the dog would run to the beach. Instead, Breeze stretched on the terrace, soaking up the sun.

“Hello, Mrs. Lawrence. I have a huge favor to ask. Can my grandmother stay with you for a few days?”

Mrs. Lawrence laughed. “It’s not a huge favor at all. We’d love to have her. I have a guest room she’s welcome to use any time. You’re welcome here anytime, too, you know.”

“I know.” Skylar’s heart warmed as she stared at turquoise waters wearing white foam like a blue dress with lace cuffs and collar. Her grandmother still had such a dress in the attic, the lace yellowed by now, but the velvet fabric soft and dreamy. “You have no idea how much that means to me. But here’s why it’s a huge favor. And why I’ll need some of your sons on guard. Remember Grandma told you the reason I couldn’t stay in Port Sunshine?”

“Yes, but not details.” A note of indignation raised Mrs. Lawrence’s voice.

Skylar squatted to pet Breeze, then straightened out. “I’m here now anyway. And I need some answers. I’m doing an investigation someone might not like, and I want to continue it. For that, I need my hands untied.”

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