Page 5 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

The canine barked as if to protest.

“I’ll take care of you,” Austin said to the dog, then shook Skylar’s hand. The brothers’ hands were always callused. “We don’t hate you. Besides, I’d never refuse an animal in need. Welcome back.”

“Thank you.” She exhaled, and grateful tears prickled at the back of her eyes. “Thank you so much.”

Of course, Austin had become a veterinarian. He’d always loved to help animals, from farm animals to a bird with a broken wing. And of course, he’d come back. Only three brothers had left the ranch for a long time, and two hadn’t returned. The rest had stayed, calling it the call of the land.

Her heart shifted. She didn’t have the call of the land, but the call of the ocean, with all the mysteries and bright hues it had to offer for inspiration. And the call of Dallas...

“Did you and Dallas...?” Austin eyed her, then Dallas, and her again. His eyebrow rose further.

Uh-oh. Flustered, she couldn’t keep her hands still, and they waved in front of her almost of their own accord. Austin knew their history, and she didn’t want him to think things that weren’t there. “Dallas and I just met here in the building by accident. He helped me carry the dog.”

“Yup.” Dallas placed the pet on the examination table. He’d never talked much, while Skylar talked a mile an hour. Well, sheused to.

The dog gave out a low growl at the medical instruments but behaved otherwise.

Was she familiar with a vet’s office? Just notthisvet’s office? On a closer look, the dog appeared less like a stray and more like an abandoned pet.

Austin nodded. “Hmm. Okay. My assistant is out today, so I’m flying solo. Thankfully, we had a slow day so far. That’s going to change once the tourist season starts. So what do we have here? What’s her name?”

Skylar shifted her weight from one foot to another. “I, um, have no clue about the name. I found her at the gas station. So we’ll need a full exam.” She scratched her arm again, hoping it wasn’t what she thought. Maybe she should’ve warned Dallas. “Um, including for parasites. And she favors her right front paw. I’m afraid it’s broken.”

If she could still pray, she’d ask for the paw to be okay. But she was all prayed out after... She flinched. Best not to think about it. One more reason Dallas would be better off without her. His family were all devoted Christians. Grandma had raised Skylar to have faith, as well. But that faith was nearly nonexistent now.

“You picked up a stray?” Why was there so much disbelief in Dallas’s voice?

She faced the accusation in his eyes. “I’m not a cruel person.”

Except for what she’d done to him.

Why do we hurt the people dear to us?

She ducked her head. Her relationship with Dallas was irreparable. She needed to concentrate on the things that could be helped. Like her grandmother’s wedding or the dog’s well-being. She stepped away from Dallas to Austin. “Could you also please check for a microchip? In case she wasn’t always a stray?”

“Of course.” With careful but confident motions, he examined the dog.

“Sorry about the mess.” She waved at her ruined blouse. It looked as if she’d rolled in the mud. Her hand flew to her face and chipped some dirt. It must also look like she’d rolled in the mud.

She cringed. Why did it matter that she presented well? She couldn’t get together with Dallas again. Not only because she’d broken her promise to him. But also because of her secret.

He cleared his throat. “Um, you still have some dirt on your face.” He didn’t step to her to remove it. He clearly didn’t want to touch her. Not any longer.

“Th–thanks.” Her heart sank to the tiled floor where tiny cracks were visible now, like a spiderweb that trapped her mistakes instead of flies.

And now she weirdly, ridiculously craved his touch. Though why weirdly and ridiculously? He’d been the first boy she’d kissed. He’d been the first boy she’d loved. All these years later, he’d remained theonlyman she’d ever loved.

She jerked her gaze away from his face, afraid he’d read it all in her eyes. Then she scratched her itching arm and sent him a sidelong glance. How long before he started itching, and Austin, too, for that matter? She should’ve bathed the dog before coming here.

She could already imagine the conversation at the Lawrence family dinner table.“Skylar is back in town, and we wish she wasn’t. She only brings bad things to us.”

“No microchip. But thankfully, no parasites, either,” Austin said.

“Great!” Skylar stopped itching.

After an X-ray, Austin announced the paw wasn’t broken or otherwise injured, either.

Skylar blinked. “But... but... I saw the dog lifting her paw as she walked.”

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