Second Chance Rancher. Patricia Thayer

how long are you staying?”

      He hesitated, not sure how much he wanted to tell her. “Not sure... I need to help Dad with the ranch.” Maybe by then, he’d figure out what to do with his life and handle the problems he’d left back in the city.

      He saw Laurel’s surprise. There had been a time when he’d sworn he would never set foot on this ranch again. He was going to be a big-time lawyer and make a name for himself. Well, that dream had cost him dearly, and it’d cost Addy even more.

      “But I thought... Aren’t you practicing law in Denver?”

      “Not at the moment. I’m taking some time off.”

      She glanced around. “Is Gus okay?”

      In a town the size of Hidden Springs, there weren’t many secrets. “He needs hip surgery. So he will be out of commission for a while. I came back to stay and help out.”

      He couldn’t stop watching as she stroked the stallion. This wild beast had suddenly become docile with her touch. He remembered those hands on him... His attention went to her mouth. At eighteen she hadn’t been experienced with anything but horses. Yet her innocent kisses had turned him inside out.

      He’d heard at the local diner that she’d nearly gotten married a few months back. Then the bridegroom had run off with her heart and the family’s money.

      “Daddy! Daddy!”

      Kase turned to see his father, Gus, bracing his four-year-old daughter, Addison, on the middle rung of the corral fence. Addy had sunny-yellow hair that lay in ringlets against her tiny shoulders. Several curls had escaped, probably because he couldn’t fasten the clips correctly. Her blue-gray eyes were wide with excitement, and her big smile melted his heart. She’d been wearing jeans, T-shirts and new cowboy boots since they’d arrived home. She told him she was a cowgirl now.

      “Hey, sweetie. What are you doing out here?”

      “Papa said I could come out if I stayed out of the way.”

      He looked at his dad. The cagey old guy had a grin on his weathered face. “We saw you had company and we wanted to come out and say hi. Didn’t we, sweet pea?”

      His daughter’s head bobbed up and down. “And to see the pretty horsey.”

      He wasn’t sure if he was ready for this introduction, but he might as well get it over with. “That’s Capture the Wind, sweetie.”

      Addy’s attention went to Laurel. “Who’s the lady, Daddy?”

      He glanced over his shoulder to see Laurel’s surprised look. “This is Laurel Quinn, our neighbor and the owner of the horse. Laurel, this is my daughter, Addison Marie Rawlins.”

      Addy waved. “Hi, Laurel. I’m four years old.”

      “Hi, Addy.” Laurel finally smiled back. “I’m twenty-eight.”

      “Laurel, can I pet your horsey?”

      Gus nodded toward Wind. “I wouldn’t mind a closer look at that animal myself.”

      Laurel looked at Kase, and at his nod she tugged on the reins and started across the corral. “You stay right there and I’ll bring him to you.” Then she said to the stallion, “Mind your manners.”

      Kase watched Laurel’s movements as she walked the large animal across the corral. She matched the spirited animal with her long strides. No doubt she was the boss and Wind was doing her bidding. He followed her like a gentle lamb.

      Of course, he was more interested in the woman. Captivated by those long legs and full hips encased in a pair of faded jeans. She still wore the standard cowboy uniform, manure-caked boots and that old battered straw cowboy hat. She was a working cowgirl, and everything he’d never wanted. Then why did she still get to him?

      Laurel was nervous. A few months ago, she’d heard that Kase was back in town. She thought it was for only a short visit. It was hard to believe the big-time Denver lawyer had moved his entire family back here. No sign of his wife—maybe she’d stayed in Denver.

      She put on a smile and looked at Gus. “Hi, Gus.”

      “Hey there, Laurel. Haven’t seen you in a long time.”

      She nodded. “A few years.”

      “You’re still as pretty as a picture, and I hear good things about you and your horses.”

      “Thank you. This guy might get me to change my mind.” She patted Wind’s neck. “So sorry about what happened. I can guarantee if your mare ends up pregnant, you won’t be disappointed. If so, I’ll buy the foal.”

      “Whoa, darlin’, let’s wait and see what the outcome of today is first,” Kase said.

      “Papa, is the horsey going to have a baby?”

      “We’ll see.”

      The girl clapped her hands. “I hope so.”

      Addy reached out and petted Wind. “Your horsey is pretty.”

      “Well, that’s the only thing saving him right now. But he’s still in trouble because he ran off and broke down a fence.”

      “Are you gonna put him in a time-out?”

      She smiled. “I should, but I’m not sure he’ll understand that he did anything wrong. Horses are different from people.”

      Addy smiled. “I’m glad because Wind is a good horsey and he’s soft.” The horse bobbed his head as if to agree. The girl continued to stroke the animal without fear. “Papa Gus says you should never treat animals bad.”

      The child’s blue eyes were so expressive. “Do you have any little girls that I can play with?”

      Laurel felt a pang of envy and avoided making eye contact with Kase. “No, I don’t have any children.”

      “Oh.” Her lower lip came out in a pout. “I got twin Bitty Baby dolls for my birthday. You want to see them?”

      She started to decline when Kase stepped in and said, “Laurel can’t stay today. She has to take her horse back home. Maybe another time.”

      She didn’t like anyone answering for her. Just then she saw Chet riding over the rise toward them. “Seems I’m not so busy after all. I’ll come see your dollies.”

      “Yeah!” Addy cried.

      She avoided looking at Kase but could feel his disdain. “Let me send Wind home with Chet.” She led her horse through the downed fence and handed the reins to the foreman. “Hey, Chet.”

      The young man smiled atop his big black gelding. “So you caught the bad boy.”

      “Not before he did the damage, and I’m not talking about the fence.” She told him about the mare and Chet laughed.

      “It’s not funny,” she argued, but found herself smiling, too. What choice did she have? It had been the way her life had been going lately. Now she was here with the once love of her life.

      Chet looked up and studied the threesome at the fence. “Is that Kase Rawlins?”

      Laurel avoided eye contact. “Yeah, and his little girl.”

      The ranch foreman frowned. “Do you think it’s a good idea that you’re staying?”

      Chet was in his midthirties, and he’d been around the Bucking Q since he was a teenager, as far back as when Kase had left. “I appreciate your concern, Chet, but I’m a big girl. So do me a favor, and take Wind back to the barn, and I’ll be home in an hour.”

      She waved and headed back toward the man who’d walked out of her life without a second glance. So why was she putting herself through this again? Good question. Even after all these years, she couldn’t think of an answer when it came to Kase Rawlins.