Page 33 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

WORKING IN THE FIELDwas peaceful for Dallas. Usually.

But Skylar’s arrival turned his world upside down.

“Hello! Earth to Dallas.” Kai tapped Dallas’s shoulder as they finished putting up hay the next day, the scent calming and refreshing.Usually.

Dallas frowned. “Why are you saying that?”

“Because I asked you three times if you want to check the bridge over the creek, and you didn’t answer.” Kai winked. “Thinking about Skylar, aren’t you?”

Dallas shook his head so vehemently that he rocked his brown cowboy hat askew. “What? Of course not. Why would I? There’s nothing between us now. There can’t be. At all. Ever.”

“A simplenowould’ve sufficed. And that’s the way you’d normally answer a yes-or-no question.” Kai nodded at the vehicles. “Do you want to take four-wheelers?”

The memory of Skylar’s arms around his torso sent a wave of apprehension through him. “No!” How about that answer to a yes-or-no question?

The creek sparkled in the afternoon sun. The wooden bridge he and his brothers had constructed years ago disappeared around the bend far enough from here not to be seen. “Let’s take horses.”

He saddled Garnet and sank into memories of Skylar with the mare while Kai got an Appaloosa.

The horses started slowly, but neither he nor his brother nudged them into a gallop. The view from horseback was much better than from the ground. A breeze stirred, swirling the tall grass across the lush green hills and sending pink, blue, and white clusters of flowers dancing. Languid herds lolled below an endless azure sky, and a familiar sense of awe shivered over him.

God’s gorgeous creation.

Once upon a time, Dallas had thought the same about Skylar. Oh, and she’d captured the beauty of nature perfectly on canvas. “God-given talent,” his mother used to say. His heart skipped a beat.

Why did his thoughts keep returning to Skylar now? He cringed, and Garnet looked back when he had pulled the reins too much. He patted her to prompt her to keep moving.

Forgive me, Lord. I know we’re supposed to be more forgiving. But even thinking about Skylar hurts too much.

His mother was a much better Christian than he was. She’d seemed to forgive Skylar fast enough. Darius was angry with her for that, and Dallas did harbor some resentment but tried to do better.

Lord, what am I supposed to do now? Why do I keep meeting Skylar?

“What are you going to do about it?” Kai asked.

Dallas sent his brother a sidelong glance. Did he miss a question again? “Do about what?”

“About Skylar’s return.” Kai’s expression grew uncharacteristically serious. Something must be on his mind.

But Dallas wasn’t one to pry.Unlike some people.

He stared at the line where the sky met land. This was his place, where God meant for him to be. And once upon a time, he’d thought God had meant for him and Skylar to be. “There’s nothing to do. And she didn’t return, not really. She just came to help her grandmother with the wedding. After it, she’ll drive off to her life in Charleston. Besides, did you forget she broke up with me?” And it still made his heart ache. “Years ago.”

“I didn’t forget. I just thought... Do you want a second chance? You’ve been hanging around her a lot since she got here.”

“By accident! Well, and because someone tried to run her off the road.” His stomach clenched. He must’ve stiffened in his seat because Garnet halted as if he’d sent her a stop cue.

“It’s okay, Garnet. It’s okay.” He leaned forward, patted her again, and relaxed into a go motion, urging her forward. Then when she did, he straightened. “Whatever happened between us, I still don’t want someone to harm her.”

“So you volunteered to be her bodyguard.” Those teasing notes in Kai’s voice sure were irritating.

“I didn’t! And she might not need a bodyguard. Can we talk about something else?”

“Sure. Just a sec. Let me check on 128.” Kai veered off the path to check on a cow that had looked off yesterday, then galloped back.

Do I want a second chance with Skylar?Dallas’s heartbeat increased in rhythm with the gallop. It wouldn’t matter even if he wanted it. Skylar had shown she didn’t love him any longer. They were done. Over. More than over, if there was such a thing.

Now he could see the small bridge.

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