Proposal at the Lazy S Ranch. Patricia Thayer

Josie. I would like a s...second chance.”

      His words about threw her over the edge. She raised a hand. “I can’t deal with any more right now. We’ll talk later.”

      She managed to get out the door and headed toward the staircase. She hopped up the steps on her good leg until she got to the second floor. Using her crutch, she made her way down the familiar hall to the third door on the left that had been her and Tori’s bedroom. She stepped inside and froze. It looked the same as it did when she’d left here.

      The walls were still pale lavender and the twin beds had floral print comforters with matching dust ruffles. She walked to her bed against the far wall and sank down onto the mattress. Taking a toss pillow from the headboard, she hugged it close against the burning acid in the pit of her stomach.

      Great, this trip was supposed to help relax her. This time when tears welled in her eyes she didn’t stop them. Colt wanted to rebuild their relationship. What relationship? They’d never had a father/daughter relationship.

      Memories of the lonely times welled in her chest. She’d been grateful for her sisters, especially Tori. When something wonderful happened to them, they’d been each others cheerleaders, along with Kathleen, the housekeeper and their surrogate mom, replacing the mother who’d disappeared from her kids’ life when Josie had been only three years old. It had been pretty clear that neither parent wanted their children.

      Josie wiped a tear from her cheek. Dang it. She thought she’d gotten over all this. Leaving here and the pain behind, she’d gone off to L.A. and worked hard on a career, building a successful business, Slater Style.

      She got up and hobbled to the window and looked out at the ranch compound. From this room, she had a great view of the glossy white barn with the attached corral. There were many outbuildings, some old, plus some new ones that had been added over the years. Her attention turned to the horses grazing in the pasture. There were mares with their foals, frolicking around in the open field.

      Smiling, she pressed her hand against the cool glass, knowing cold weather was coming, along with unpredictable Montana snows. Surprisingly, that had been what she’d missed since moving to L.A.

      She caught sight of her car coming down the road and watched as it pulled up in front of the house. Good, she had her vehicle back.

      Then she caught sight of two men stepping off the porch below her, Vance and Garrett. She felt a sudden jolt as she got the chance to observe the man she had once called her boyfriend. Both men were about the same height, and drop-dead handsome.

      Josie hadn’t been surprised at all when she learned Ana and Vance had fallen in love and planned to marry soon. The guy had been crazy about Ana for years, since he’d come to live at the Lazy S when he was a teenager.

      She smiled, happy for her sister.

      Josie looked back at Garrett. She couldn’t help but take notice of the man. He’d filled out since college, and he still had those incredible eyes and sexy smile. And she hated the fact that just seeing him again still had an effect on her. She released a breath, recalling how it felt when he carried her in his arms.

      After Vance shook hands with Garrett, her future brother-in-law headed off toward the barn. Garrett went to her car and spoke to the driver, one of the men on his crew.

      Then as if Garrett could sense her, he looked up. Their eyes locked, and suddenly she felt her heart pounding in her chest. She finally moved out of his sight and went to lie down on the bed.

      What was she doing? She didn’t need to rehash her past. All there was here were the memories of the pain and heartache over her father. Now she also had to deal with Garrett. It had taken her a lot of time to get over him. She’d only been back a few hours and he was already involved in her life again.

      Why, after all these years? Normally she never let men distract her, mainly because she hadn’t met anyone who could stir her interest. She hadn’t met anyone in L.A. she wanted to have a relationship with. She thought about the times she’d tried to find a man. Problem was she’d compared them all to Garrett Temple.

      She thought back to the kind and considerate man who’d showed her in so many ways how much he loved her. How Garrett had told her they were going to marry and build a life together after they’d graduated college. Then all too quickly she learned that all those promises were lies when it all came crashing down around them that day....

      There was a knock on the door.

      She wiped away tears as she rolled over on the bed. “Come in,” she called, thinking it was Ana.

      The door opened and Garrett stepped inside, carrying her suitcases. “I figured you might need these.”

      Her heart leaped into her throat. She sat up. “You didn’t need to bring my things up.”

      He set the bags over by the closet. “I told Vance I would. He needed to check on one of his horses.”

      She nodded. She wasn’t sure she believed him. “Thank you.”

      “How are you feeling?” he asked as he crossed the room.

      “I’m fine.”

      Garrett paused, his gaze searching her face. “I’m sorry I pushed you so hard. I was only trying to get you out of the way.” He frowned. “I was worried the truck would hit you.”

      She nodded. “I should have been paying attention. But I’m fine now, so you can stop feeling guilty.”

      He still didn’t leave. “Some habits are hard to break.”

      She knew what he was talking about, but their past was the last thing she wanted to rehash. “Well, stop it. I’m a big girl.”

      He studied her for what seemed to be forever. “Since you’re still angry, maybe it’s time to clear the air.”

      “I don’t think anything you have to say will change a thing.”

      He was big and strong, and he seemed to take up a lot of space in the room. “Josie, I don’t blame you for not wanting to see me again.”

      She raised a hand, praying he would just disappear. “I don’t want to talk about this, Garrett.”

      “Well, if you want me to leave then you’re going to have to hear me out first.”

      His gray gaze met hers, causing her pulse to race through her body. Darn the man. “Okay, talk.”

      “First, I’m sorrier than I can say for what happened all those years ago. I regret that I hurt you. But we broke up, Josie. We hadn’t been together all summer, and you wouldn’t even talk to me.”

      Just as it had been all those years ago, Garrett’s words were like a knife slicing into her heart. “Feel better now?”

      He released a breath. “Although I have many regrets about how things happened between us, what I’ll never regret is my son. He’s the most important thing in my life.”

      A son. She had to remember the innocent child. “I’m glad, Garrett. I’m glad you’re happy.”

      He gave a nod. “I just want us to be able to work together on this project.”

      She wasn’t even sure she could stay here. “Is that all?”

      He nodded, then turned to leave, but for some reason she needed to know. “Was she worth it?”

      Garrett paused and glanced over his shoulder. “I take it you’re talking about my wife.”

      Another pain shot through Josie. “Yes.”

      “Natalie was my son’s mother, so yes, the choice was worth it.” She saw the pain flash through his eyes. “But our marriage didn’t survive.”

      * * *

      The next day at the Temple Ranch, Garrett forced himself out of bed after a sleepless night. Josie Slater was back. He knew he couldn’t