The Second Chance Bride (Country Brides & Cowboy Boots) Read online

  Savannah could still smell the clean scent of pine mingling with the new sharp aroma of sage that accompanied Alex.

  “Are you ready to eat?” Aaron asked.

  Savannah cleared her throat. She was famished. “Yes. Thank you.”

  Aaron spread a white-and-red checkered cloth on the ground and produced sandwiches and salads from Blossom Café—one of the premier delis in town. Olives and cheese along with sparkling cider rounded out the meal.

  “This is lovely,” Savannah breathed.

  Aaron grinned. “I’m so glad you like it.”

  “I love it.”

  Aaron offered Savannah his hand as he helped her to the ground before they began to eat. The air was light and warm.

  “I haven’t been up here in years,” Aaron whispered, his voice mingling among the pines. “I’ve forgotten how beautiful it is.”

  Savannah pushed at the memory of Alex. “I’m ashamed to say, it’s been a while for me, too.”

  Aaron turned toward Savannah. “I’ve always admired you, you know. In high school, you weren’t like those other girls, who were giggling one minute and snobby the next. You were kind. We weren’t necessarily friends, but you were always nice to me, even though I was a total geek. During our senior year, when your mom passed away, I thought you were so brave.”

  Savannah blushed in the cooling evening. “You’re very kind, but--.”

  Aaron interrupted her. “I also appreciate how you’ve been able to give back to your family business.” He laughed a little. “You make me feel guilty.”

  “Oh?”

  Aaron turned toward the view. “I left my parents to fend for themselves when I should’ve stayed and helped. I’m their only child, and they needed me. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t wait to get out of Mission Canyon, and I stayed away too long.”

  “I’m sure they’re happy to have you home, now.”

  “Yes, and they can’t wait for me to settle down, get married, and put down some roots.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  Aaron turned from the vista and looked right into Savannah’s eyes. “Yeah. It’s what I want,” he said. “I’m done running away from home. I want to bring a wife home to the Rocking R, and I want to care for the legacy my family left me. I’ve crisscrossed this country, and there’s no place I’d rather be.”

  Savannah smiled. “It’s a lovely place to call home.”

  Aaron agreed.

  Savannah turned toward the view as the lights began to wink from the city, but she could still feel Aaron’s lingering gaze. She turned toward him.

  Aaron reached out his hand. “We should finish up and head back.”

  Savannah appreciated Aaron’s sensitivity. If she wanted to get home before dark, they would need to start their ride soon.

  Pulling together their trash and leftovers, Aaron placed everything in the saddle-bags carried by Roller before helping Savannah to her horse. Standing there, Savannah’s fingers stayed entwined with Aaron’s. Her first instinct was to pull away, but instead she allowed him to linger close. His lips brushed up against her cheek, and the clean scent of him mingled with the smell of horse and pine.

  Gently, Aaron stepped back and brushed her hair away from her face. He said nothing. Savannah smiled into Aaron’s eyes. He returned the look before giving her face one last caress and moving toward his own horse. Turning, he looked at her. “Do you have any idea just how lovely you are?”

  “You’re very kind.”

  “I suspect you don’t. It’s one of the things I remember loving about you.” Aaron cleared his throat.

  Savannah gave him a puzzled look.

  He smiled sheepishly. “You weren’t supposed to know that.”

  “Know what?”

  Aaron held his breath. “Please don’t laugh, but I had the biggest crush on you in high school.”

  “Why would I laugh at that?” Savannah asked. “I find it…endearing.”

  Aaron let out a big sigh. “Then I’m glad I told you.” He mounted Roller. “Let’s get you home,” he said as they turned their backs on the setting sun.

  Chapter 19

  Savannah waved Aaron out of the drive and quietly entered the house through the front door, hoping to escape up the staircase before being noticed.

  “Vannie? Is that you?” Charles called from the living room.

  “Yes, Dad.”

  “Come here for a moment, will you?”

  Savannah rubbed the back of her neck as she made her way to where her father was sitting. Her ride with Aaron was a step in the right direction in starting a new life and healing from Alex, but the evening exhausted her. She wanted a hot shower and to find her sanctuary in a deep sleep.

  Savannah stood in the open living room with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.

  “Have a seat.” Her father folded the newspaper he was holding as he motioned to the chair next to his. It was separated by a small end table.

  She folded herself in the deep leather chair, finding it inviting and comfortable. It cushioned her and surrounded her with ease. She took a deep breath.

  “How long have you been seeing Aaron?”

  “I’m not really seeing him, Dad. This was the first time we’ve gone out.”

  Charles leaned back in his own chair, stroking his chin. “Will you be seeing him again?”

  Savannah shrugged. “He said he’d call. If he does, I’d go out with him again,” Savannah decided in the moment.

  “Do you believe him when he says he’ll call?”

  “Yeah. I do.”

  “Good.” Charles leaned toward Savannah. “It makes me happy to see you with someone of his caliber.”

  Savannah studied her father. It was the first time she remembered seeing him so relaxed since before her mother died. His eyes looked soft and almost happy. Savannah sighed and bit the thoughts that wanted to trip out of her mouth. Instead, she chose her words carefully. “I don’t really know him, Dad.”

  Charles’s eyes snapped. “Of course you don’t. Not yet. But I’m telling you to give this some effort. His family is of impeccable standing, and he’s the perfect fit for you. He’s quiet and respectful.”

  “He is respectful,” Savannah said. “And I like that about him--.”

  Marissa walked into the room. “Oh! Look who’s back from her evening ride. How did you manage to snag a date with the richest kid in Mission Canyon?”

  “He’s not a kid, and I haven’t snagged anyone,” Savannah said.

  “No? Well…”

  “That’s enough, Marissa,” Charles thundered without raising his voice. “I’m asking Savannah to see if this can work out.”

  Marissa appeared to be in tears.

  Charles softened. “Oh, now, Marissa. Don’t cry. You and Brittany are heading for Denver tomorrow, and I gave you permission for your party. That should be fun and give you something to plan.”

  “But you won’t let me invite Alex. He’s the whole reason I wanted to have this party.”

  Charles tightened his jaw in a way that told Savannah a fight was brewing. She hated how her father infantilized Marissa and how Marissa never seemed to learn when she needed to re-assess a situation. Ever since her mother died, Savannah learned to read the signs of her family while Marissa whizzed right by them, never understanding the language that so clearly was telling her to stop. Now.

  “I wish you would just let this Alex thing go. I do not see him as worthy of my girls,” Charles stated in an even tone.

  The leather chair that encompassed Savannah in comfort pulled at her now, making her slow in her effort to escape. She managed to stand. “I think I’ll head up to my room now, Dad.”

  Charles dismissed her with a wave of her hand.

  Savannah brushed past Marissa, giving her a look of warning, but Marissa continued to focus on their father. Hurrying from the room, Savannah listened as her sister’s voice followed her. “I don’t know why he isn’t suitable. He owns a huge pecan orch
ard down in Texas. He’s wealthy!”

  Savannah retreated up the stairs, knowing her father’s patience was at an end.

  “That’s enough, Marissa!” Charles roared, filling the whole house. “Pecan orchard,” he spat out. “Listen to yourself. Are you so desperate that you’d go out with a nut farmer?”

  Savannah listened as Marissa started to cry. Her father murmured a few words Savannah could not hear as she shut the door to her room and leaned against it, letting out a long sigh of relief and stress. Quietly, she locked her door before stepping into her bathroom. She didn’t want to be greeted by Marissa sitting on her bed when she got out of the shower.

  Stepping into the hot streaming water, Savannah let the warmth soothe her tight neck, shoulders, and headache as her thoughts wandered over her evening with Aaron. He was the perfect gentleman, and it was nice to see her father happy. It brought back some dim memory of how things were before her mom died. Could Aaron’s presence in her family help her dad recover from his grief?

  Stepping out of the shower, Savannah toweled herself dry and dressed in her favorite pajamas before heading toward her window seat. Night had fallen across the landscape which was now bathed by the white light of the moon. Her gaze fell to the maple and its strong branches that reached to the moon and cast its shadow to the earth. Savannah longed for her mother’s guidance. No one could explain love so well.

  Savannah opened her window before settling amongst the cushions. The evening breeze rustled through the leaves and added its comfort to the serenade of crickets and frogs.

  Her mother wasn’t here, so she was going to have to make the best of her own wisdom, but all she had were questions. Why did Aaron’s company exhaust her when Alex’s presence offered vitality and liveliness? Savannah thought back to her first meeting with Aaron just a few days ago. She enjoyed his company but was ready to leave the party early in order to come home. Perhaps learning about someone new was just hard. But there wasn’t anything hard about her first meeting with Alex. Everything came to them organically as they fell into each other’s orbit.

  Savannah shook her head. That wasn’t fair. Comparing Aaron with Alex wasn’t doing anyone any favors. Aaron offered different things. Her father liked him. He was from Mission Canyon and understood what it meant to be the child of a rancher.

  Savannah turned her gaze toward the maple tree. “What should I do, Mom?” she whispered.

  The evening breeze mingled with the maple leaves, before a breath of it wafted through Savannah’s open window and played with her hair. She breathed deep the scent of the cooling summer evening mingled with the warm aroma of sage.

  Chapter 20

  The following morning, Alex was peeling linoleum from the kitchen floor when he heard the doorbell. “Finally!” Alex muttered. The cabinets were supposed to arrive yesterday morning, and when they didn’t show, he had a terse phone conversation with the shop. The receptionist informed him they would be a day late but would arrive first thing the following morning. That was today, and already it was eleven o’ clock with no sign of cabinets. The white quartz countertop waited against the wall of the dining room for its kitchen partner, and Alex was worried something would happen to it before it could be installed. Ben and Steve were running down permits while Amy was in town, choosing fixtures for the bathrooms and kitchen.

  Alex stepped away from his work and placed his breathing mask on his forehead. Opening the door, he found Chantelle standing on his front porch, looking contrite and nervous. She held a plate of cookies.

  Alex leaned against the door-frame, deciding if he should invite her in. She wasn’t the cabinet maker, and he wasn’t in the mood for any sisterly drama.

  “I’m so sorry.” Chantelle thrust the plate of cookies at Alex. “I’ve acted like such a...a twit.”

  Alex blinked and found himself working his face to keep from smiling before he was able to give her a blank expression. He took the cookies.

  Chantelle breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve given this a great deal of thought, and I wouldn’t blame you if you never stepped another toe onto our property. I’ve disgraced my family. I’ve hurt my sister—literally. And I’ve betrayed my fiancé. None of that is flattering.”

  Alex risked a glance to Chantelle’s left hand and noticed a huge diamond on her ring finger.

  “His name is Mason, and he’s an ER physician at Mission Valley Medical Center. That’s why he’s never there on Friday nights. He works that shift.”

  Alex nodded.

  Chantelle rushed on. “I want you to know that I’ve had a long talk with Mason, and I’ve come clean with how stupid I’ve been. He’s a good man, and we’re in good shape. I’ve also apologized profusely to Shelby for pushing her into the water.” Chantelle paused before muttering under her breath, “And a myriad of other things.” She blinked. “But my work wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t apologize to you, too.”

  Alex moved from the door-frame and stepped aside for Chantelle to enter. She gave him an appreciative smile and walked past him into the house. Then, she turned to face him. “I hope you’ll forgive me, and we’ll be able to start over.”

  “And what does starting over mean to you?” Alex placed the plate of cookies on the fireplace mantel.

  Chantelle sighed and looked at Alex. “I hope it means we can be friends. I think you could like me, if you ever got to know the real me, instead of the façade I was pretending to be. And I think you could like Mason, too.”

  Alex studied Chantelle. In all honesty, he liked her more this minute than ever before. Her unvarnished and truthful apology touched him. She wore no makeup and her skin radiated good health and honesty. She truly was a lovely girl. “Do you mind if I ask what brought about this change?”

  “When Shelby landed in the water, it shook me up.” She looked away from Alex. “There’s something else, too,” she said softly as she returned her attention back to Alex. “Savannah was able to rise above everybody’s bad behavior and find a way to offer something meaningful. She outshone us all that night. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but I saw it, and it made me ashamed of myself.”

  “I noticed, too,” Alex replied as he offered Chantelle a seat.

  She moved to the couch, where she sat on the edge with her hands on her knees.

  Alex let the silence hang in the air, hoping she would offer something more about Savannah. When she remained quiet, he looked directly at Chantelle. “I have to admit, this has been very awkward.”

  Chantelle’s face colored as she nodded and looked at the floor. “I know, and that’s mostly my fault.”

  “I don’t know if it’s entirely your fault,” he said. “But I don’t see why we can’t start over and be friends.”

  Chantelle smiled. “I was hoping you’d agree. Thank you. And thank you for letting me tell you how sorry I am.”

  Alex returned Chantelle’s smile. “I know how hard that can be. I admire your courage for coming here.” He moved to the mantel, where he took a cookie from the plate. They looked heavenly with huge chunks of dark chocolate in soft dough. “Where did you get these?”

  Chantelle gave him a puzzled look. “I made them.”

  “You? You made these?”

  “Yeah. Why are you so surprised?”

  “Uh…well, all of your dinners are catered. I just figured…”

  “You figured none of us could cook?”

  Now it was Alex’s turn to be embarrassed. “Yeah. I guess that’s what I figured.”

  Chantelle’s eyes turned merry. “All of us can cook and bake, and we’re good at it, too. Just try one.”

  Alex bit into the soft texture of the chocolate chip cookie. The dough and chocolate were still warm and melted in his mouth. He turned to Chantelle with his mouth full. “You could sell these.”

  Chantelle gave him a satisfied grin. “I know. It’s a family recipe that only the Foss and Thomas families know. Anne and my mom created it.” A cloud of sadness passed over Chantelle’s fe
atures.

  “Savannah’s mom?”

  “Yeah.”

  Alex allowed the silence to linger.

  “We used to have the best times. All of us girls were either in somebody’s kitchen, on somebody’s horse, or out in the pool. All of that stopped when Anne died. Mom hardly cooks anymore. She has almost everything catered, and none of us have the energy to talk about it.”

  Alex listened intently. Of course the death of Savannah’s mother would affect everyone who was close to the family. He wished to hear more, but he was afraid by asking he would reveal feelings he was trying to hide, even from himself.

  Chantelle continued, “Marissa turned to shopping to numb her pain, and Savannah…Savannah just turned inward. She quit seeing her friends. She got through school through sheer force of will and then dedicated herself to her family and the ranch. She’s sacrificed the most, I think.” Chantelle sighed. “We think she fell in love several years ago, but she never talked about it. Kelly told us it was an unsuitable match, but wouldn’t go into detail, except to say Charles was completely against it.” A hard look came into Chantelle’s face. “But if Anne were alive, it would’ve turned out differently. She would’ve helped Savannah stand up to Charles, if that was even necessary, and if indeed she was truly in love.” Chantelle hugged her knees. “And I believed she was in love. She was inconsolable when that relationship fell apart. She did nothing but cry for a solid year.”

  Alex kept his breathing steady. Swallowing, he asked, “What part does Kelly play in all of this? She seems to always be hovering over Savannah.”

  Chantelle gave a short laugh. “Kelly? She’s been hoping for a proposal from Charles since Anne died. She says she’s looking out for Savannah and Marissa’s best interest.” Chantelle became thoughtful as she sat back in the couch. “And to be honest, I think she believes it. But her feelings for Charles overrides everything else. She’d side with Charles regardless of what’s best for Savannah.” Chantelle shook her head. “My mom worries about Savannah, but I guess she’s finally starting to reconnect with some old friends, and the news around town is that she’s been seeing Aaron Richards from Rocking R Ranch. That should make Charles happy.” Chantelle sighed. “We love Charles because of who he used to be, and we don’t give up on people. But I’m not sure who we miss the most: Anne, or her family.” Suddenly, she stood. “Gosh, listen to me. That’s all so depressing. I didn’t mean to go into any of that.”