Second Chance Rancher. Patricia Thayer

took off before the nuptials. It seems I have that effect on men.” She marched off toward the vehicle, climbed in and started the engine, then shot off. She finally let the tears flow.

       Chapter Three

      That evening, Laurel sat at the picnic-style table of her favorite restaurant, Joe’s Barbecue Smokehouse. In front of her was a huge sampler platter of ribs. Untouched. The cause of her distraction and her lack of appetite was Kase Rawlins. Seeing him today had caused a reaction she didn’t need or want. Could her personal life get any more pathetic?

      “Laurel, you aren’t eating,” her sister said.

      Laurel looked across the table at her twin sister, Brooke Landry. They weren’t identical, with Brooke’s hair a darker blond, and her face a little longer, but close enough.

      They’d met for the first time only last fall when their biological mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s, told Brooke she had a twin whom she’d given to their father to raise. Seemed their father, rodeo star Rory Quinn, had been in Las Vegas for the NFR and met singer Coralee Harper. Twin daughters were the result of the brief union, but Rory knew about only one of his children, until Brooke showed up at his door. And Laurel was more than happy to have her here permanently. She got her wish when Brooke had fallen in love and married their neighbor Trent Landry, and now they were expecting a baby soon.

      “Sorry, I was just thinking about what happened today with Wind.”

      Her father spoke in between bites of his ribs. “I told you that horse would be trouble.”

      Rory Quinn was a big man with green eyes the same as hers and Brooke’s. He had thick gray hair and a deep, rich laugh. His face was wrinkled from the sun and years of ranching. He and her mother, Diane, had always been there for her.

      “Well, he’s worth it,” Laurel said. “And he’s going to make money.”

      Rory shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re not getting sued for what that crazy stallion did today. And now that Kase is home, and with him being a lawyer and all, he could cause you problems.”

      Would Kase do that?

      Brooke’s eyes brightened. “Yes, tell us about seeing Kase Rawlins.”

      Even torture wouldn’t make Laurel admit that the man got her pulse revving once again. “There’s nothing much to tell, really. Of course he wasn’t happy about what happened to his mare. What surprised me was that he owns a horse.”

      Brooke picked up her short rib. “No, I mean tell me about seeing Kase again. Does he look as good as you remember?”

      Laurel glanced at her father and he didn’t look pleased, and she figured he’d probably remain that way no matter what answer she gave. Why would he be? His daughter’s track record with men had been lousy. “It’s been a long time since Kase left, but yes, he’s still a good-looking man.”

      Her father spoke up. “Back then, you both were too young to be so serious. I’m grateful you both went your separate ways. You both needed to concentrate on college.”

      That had been another sore subject between them. Her parents weren’t happy when Laurel hadn’t finished college. Instead, she decided to come back to breed and train quarter horses.

      “You and Mom fell in love in high school. You didn’t go to college.” Laurel didn’t want to talk about this anymore and raised her hand to stop any further comment from her father. “Let’s go to a safer subject.” She turned to her sister. “Has Trent painted the baby’s room yet?”

      Brooke beamed. “Yes, he finished the nursery yesterday. Tonight, he’s putting together the crib.” She took a drink of her water. “You know the one we both liked? The Child Craft? Trent liked the dark wood. He said it was more masculine for a boy.”

      Laurel had known their neighbor Trent Landry all her life. He’d been like a brother to her, since their parents, Wade Landry and Rory Quinn, had traveled the rodeo circuit in their younger days. After Wade’s death, Trent came home and took over the Lucky Bar L Ranch. Laurel couldn’t have been any happier when Trent and Brooke fell in love last fall. At least sometimes love worked out.

      Suddenly Laurel heard her name, and she turned and searched the crowded room. Then she spotted the familiar little girl running toward her. “Laurel! Laurel!”

      “Addy?” Laurel opened her arms just as the tiny child landed there. “What a surprise.” A shock was more like it. “What are you doing here?”

      Addy stood back. “I did a good job picking up my toys, so Daddy said we could go out to eat, too. He said he needed a break from cooking. Papa Gus, too.” She glanced around the table and saw Brooke, then turned back to Laurel. “She looks just like you.”

      The group laughed. “That’s because she’s my twin sister,” Laurel said. “We look alike, just like your dollies.”

      The child looked around the table. “Hi, I’m Addy and I’m four years old.” She looked at Rory. “Are you Laurel’s prince?”

      Her father seemed to be flustered by the question. “I think I’m too old to be a prince, but she’s my princess. So is my other daughter, Brooke.”

      Brooke waved. “Hi, Addy.”

      Those big blue eyes rounded as she cupped her tiny hands around her mouth and whispered loudly to Laurel. “She has a baby in her tummy.”

      Laurel bit back a smile. “Yes, she does.”

      The little girl walked around to the other side of the table, totally entranced with Brooke’s expanded belly.

      “I’m having a little boy,” Brooke said. “We’re going to name him Christopher.”

      “Oh, I like that name. I have a baby doll named Bobby, and I let Laurel hold him when she came in my room.”

      Brooke’s gaze landed on Laurel’s. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

      Suddenly Laurel began to search the area for Kase. She finally saw him, helping a slower-moving Gus across the restaurant. He didn’t look happy to see where his daughter had gone.

      When they arrived at the table, Laurel couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the man. He had on a pair of dark jeans and a blue oxford dress shirt. His sandy-blond hair was neatly combed, only making her want to mess it up. Whoa. Where did that come from?

      “We seem to keep running into each other.” Kase stated the obvious.

      “This time it isn’t my fault,” she told him, knowing everyone’s eyes were on them. Darn, did the man have to look so good? “My horse is home in the barn.”

      Kase raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

      Rory was on his feet shaking Gus’s hand. Then he turned to Kase. “Good to see you again, Kase.” He reached out a hand.

      Kase shook his hand. “It’s good to see you, too.”

      Rory glared at his daughter. “I also heard about what happened today.”

      Kase nodded. “Dad assures me that it’ll be fine, no matter what the outcome.” His attention went across the table to Brooke. “Well, so the rumors are true, there is another one. You must be Brooke.”

      Brooke smiled. “Yes, I am. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Rawlins.”

      “Call me Kase, please. This is my father, Gus.”

      Kase’s father smiled. “You’re a lucky man, Quinn, to have two beautiful daughters.”

      Rory beamed. “That I am. And you have a budding beauty in your granddaughter.”

      Brooke spoke up. “She is precious.”

      Kase’s