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

  Alex laid the cookie back on the plate, the taste of it turning to sawdust. Who was Aaron Richards? Was Savannah’s relationship with him serious? Alex put those questions out of his mind and faced Chantelle. “You must love Savannah very much.”

  Chantelle nodded, her face softening. “I do. I love her like my own sister, really. She’s always there for me, and even in moments of chaos, she shows me how to behave.”

  “I’m very sorry they’ve had such a hard time. Losing a loved one is the worst kind of pain there is.”

  Chantelle gave him a curious look. “It sounds as if you’ve lost someone, too.”

  Alex looked down. “Yeah, but it was a long time ago. I don’t talk about it, but I appreciate your willingness to listen.” He paused and looked at Chantelle. “I guess that means we have to be friends, now.”

  Chantelle gave him a bright smile. “Yes, I believe it does.” She moved toward the door. “Thank you so much for your thoughtful forgiveness,” she said. “I appreciate you letting me grow up.”

  Alex walked her to the door. “That’s what life is about, isn’t it? We’re all just practicing on each other as we grown-up.”

  Chantelle nodded in agreement. “Give Ben, Amy, and Steve my best, will you?”

  Alex grinned. “I will, but I’m not giving them any cookies. In fact, I don’t think I’ll mention them at all. I’m not that grown-up.”

  Chantelle laughed. “If you can live with your secret, it’s not my place to get in the way.”

  Alex continued to grin. “I’ll find a way to live with myself.” He reached out his hand. “Thanks for coming by.”

  Chantelle took his hand and gave it firm shake. “And thanks for letting me in.” She gave Alex a look of warmth mingled with regret. “I’ll be seeing you,” she said as she released his hand and moved toward her car.

  Chapter 21

  Less than a week had passed since Savannah and Aaron’s ride, but the setting for tonight’s date with him was very different. Holding her hands away from her lap, Savannah allowed the waiter to unfold her napkin and lay it across her legs. Candlelight flickered on the table, showing Aaron’s face in rugged shadow and light. His brown curly hair shone in the dim beam and his eyes looked as deep as any forest.

  As an invitation, he reached over and opened his hand. Savannah placed her palm against his. “This is lovely,” she said. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “I couldn’t wait for you to see this place,” he said. “I know it’s quite a drive from Mission Canyon, but I really wanted this to be special.”

  Savannah looked around. Couples were engaged in hushed conversations throughout the small restaurant. She and Aaron had the best seat in the house with the windows that faced west, looking at the Rockies in all their summer splendor.

  When she told her father that she and Aaron were going to Denver for dinner, he was pleased. When she named the restaurant, he was impressed.

  “He’s very determined in wooing you,” Charles said with a smug expression. “This is a step in the right direction.”

  “Yes, he’s very nice.” Savannah didn’t share her misgivings with her father. In spite of the lovely evening planned, this kind of date was too much for the nature of their relationship. Shouldn’t they still be concentrating on meeting for lunch or a leisurely dinner close to town? Still, it was nice to see her father happy and interested in what she was doing. It was part of the reason she accepted this invitation instead of asking for something closer to home.

  Looking over the menu, Aaron leaned over his plate. “I would suggest the lobster,” he said. “It’s flown in live from the East Coast. It doesn’t get any better than fresh lobster.”

  Savannah turned her attention to the menu. She loved lobster, but not the mess that came from eating it. Cracking shells and pulling out meat just to dunk it in greasy butter and wiping everything up with copious napkins wasn’t exactly how she wanted to spend this evening. “Lobster is really good, but it’s so much work. I think I’d prefer a filet mignon.”

  “Most likely from one of your own cows,” Aaron said.

  “Or yours.”

  Aaron laughed. “Maybe so.”

  When the waiter returned, Aaron ordered for Savannah before requesting his own filet mignon.

  After the waiter retreated, Aaron reached his hand across the table and offered it to Savannah once again. She hesitated for a moment, but then placed her fingers within his grasp.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Aaron said.

  “Oh?”

  “You’re thinking our relationship is moving too fast.”

  Savannah couldn’t deny Aaron’s assessment. But there was more. Did all relationships start out with such polite effort and conversation? She longed for the familiar comfort she and Alex shared. Looking out the big window that framed the Rockies, she sighed before turning her attention back to Aaron. “Yes,” she said. “I am thinking that.”

  “I’m not surprised, and I can understand why it would seem that way for you. But for me, it’s completely different. You have to remember, I’ve waited a long time for this opportunity. I still can’t believe I get to take you out.”

  “Really, Aaron. I’m just a young woman like millions of others. I’m sure you’ve dated between now and high school.”

  “Yes, of course. But nothing ever worked out, and I’m just beginning to understand why.” He stopped.

  “Yes?”

  He squeezed Savannah’s fingers. “I don’t believe I’ve done this consciously, but I think I’ve been waiting for this very moment.”

  Savannah shook her head. “Can’t you see the pressure this puts on me? I’m not the kind of girl who wants to be flattered into a relationship, and I certainly don’t want to be placed on a pedestal.”

  Aaron laughed. “It’s not like that, and I don’t mean to put any undue pressure on you. So, please, don’t think of it like that.”

  “And how would you have me to think of it?”

  Aaron thought for so long, with his face turned toward the window, Savannah wondered if he lost the question. But after several minutes, he turned to her again. “It’s not about flattery. It’s about finally being able to be truthful after years of waiting. In all honesty, Savannah, I feel like a dam that’s ready to burst. I know it’s too early for me to ask for any kind of commitment from you. That wouldn’t be fair. But, can you at least let me know if I’ve got a chance of winning you?”

  Savannah sucked in her breath. “I can promise you only one thing,” she said. “For now, anyway, we can keep seeing each other.”

  “Is there—Is there someone else?”

  Savannah wondered how to answer as thoughts of Alex stirred in her heart. “I’m not seeing anyone else right now.”

  Aaron gave a relieved sigh. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

  Savannah studied him. What else did he want to say that he kept hidden?

  The waiter came and silently placed their meals in front of them.

  Aaron smiled as he picked up his silverware. “Now, let’s see if we can determine which side of town this cow came from.”

  Savannah grinned. “Want to take bets?”

  Aaron’s face lit up. “Now you’re talking! How much?”

  Savannah was a little taken aback. “How could we ever really tell?”

  Aaron’s tone grew conspiring. “We could ask the waiter. I bet he knows where the beef comes from.”

  Savannah laughed. “Maybe it’s from Texas or Nebraska.”

  Aaron pulled a face. “Then we’d both lose.”

  Savannah shook her head. “Or we’d be even.”

  The waiter appeared, and Savannah looked up. “On the menu, it states that your beef is the best beef in the western states. Can you tell me where it’s from?”

  “Oh, yes,” the waiter replied. “Our beef comes from Grass Valley Beef Co-op. They’re a small group of ranchers located in central Oregon. It’s flown in fresh, every day.”

 
; “Ahhh. Central Oregon. Thank you,” Savannah said. Was Grass Valley Beef close to Alex’s hometown of Bend? She closed her mind to those questions and bit into her steak. “You know, this is really good.”

  Aaron put down his silverware. “Excuse me for a moment.”

  “Are you okay?” Savannah asked.

  “Yeah. I just got a text from my mom. I want to make sure she’s all right. She’s been…sick.”

  “Of course. Do we need to go?”

  “No. Nothing like that. I just want to see if she needs me to pick something up for her on our way home, and I think it’s rude to text at the table. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

  “Of course.”

  Savannah took small bites while waiting for Aaron. She did not want to finish her meal before he was able to eat his, but the steak was one of the best she had ever eaten.

  Aaron returned a few minutes later in much better spirits.

  “How’s your mom?” Savannah asked.

  “She’s much better. She didn’t want me to worry about her while we were out.” He sat down. “I hope you can meet her soon.”

  “Yeah. I’d like that,” Savannah said before taking another bite of steak. “Really, you’ve got to try this,” she said. “It’s delicious.”

  Aaron took a bite. “You’re right,” he said. “This is really good.”

  Savannah relaxed as her time with Aaron lengthened over the meal. They spoke of growing up on a ranch and the feeding of cows and horses and the coming and going of seasons. Appreciation filled Savannah over their shared similarities and the layer of comfort it provided her. Aaron understood what it took to run a ranch. Now that he was home, he didn’t shy away from the work. She admired that quality, and it helped overshadow some of his pushy behavior.

  Dipping into the caramel pear bread they were sharing, Savannah said, “I’d love to hear more of your time in Vegas.”

  A slight hesitancy on Aaron’s part caused her to look up from their dessert.

  “There’s nothing really to say. I worked as a contractor in IT.” He laughed. “My life was so scattered with travel and appointments, I barely had any furniture.” He laughed again. “No wonder I wanted to come home. I needed a good meal and something other than a mattress flopped on the floor.”

  Savannah laughed. “Certainly, you could’ve afforded furniture.”

  Aaron’s eyes darted to the side. “Yes, of course. But I was just too busy to buy it or worry about it.”

  “What did you do for fun while living there?”

  “Everybody thinks Vegas is all about the Strip and downtown, but there’s a lot more to it than that.”

  “Like what?”

  Aaron grew tense. “Oh, I don’t know. There’s the mountains--.”

  “Mountains?”

  “Sure, Mt. Charleston isn’t too far away.”

  “Did you ever go?”

  “Me? Oh, sure. Lots of snow in the winter, and it’s cooler in the summer.”

  The waiter came and discreetly placed the check next to Aaron’s elbow. Aaron turned and looked at him. “Oh, thank you,” he said as he placed his credit card in the folder.

  Savannah noticed that Aaron didn’t even look at the bill.

  The waiter bowed and disappeared, but within seconds he reappeared. “I’m sorry, sir, but this credit card was denied.”

  A jolt of alarm went through Savannah.

  Aaron picked up the card and scrutinized it. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I gave you the wrong card.” He placed it the card back in his wallet and fished out another. “This should do the trick.”

  The waiter gave him a tight smile before moving away from the table.

  “I need to destroy a couple of cards,” Aaron explained. “I no longer carry some of these accounts, but after I cancel it, I forget to cut up the card. I hope this didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. Not at all. I--.”

  The waiter returned with the bill. “Here you go, sir. Everything is taken care of now.”

  Savannah swallowed the seed of anxiety that sprang up.

  Aaron smiled and wrote out the tip and sighed without any concern. Turning toward Savannah, he stood from the table and held out his hand. “Are you ready?”

  Savannah stood also. “Yeah. Are you sure everything is all right?”

  Aaron nodded. “It’s fine.”

  “What about your mom?”

  “She’s fine, too,” Aaron said as he took Savannah’s elbow, and they made their way to Aaron’s truck. Turning toward the mountains, he said, “This is a beautiful place to live, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Aaron brushed her hair from her face. It was still a new gesture but also familiar. This time, though, he leaned in for a kiss as he placed one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her neck, pulling her close.

  Savannah folded herself against Aaron. She entwined her arms around his neck as Aaron gently pressed his lips to hers.

  Within a long moment, Savannah pulled away. This first kiss needed to be sweet and bonding with a sense of excitement and desire, but none of that moved within Savannah. Aaron’s arms were inviting, and his kiss was pleasant, but there was no fire kindled in her heart.

  “Did I--?” Aaron began to ask.

  “No,” Savannah whispered. “You’re fine. In fact, it’s been a nice evening, and I appreciate the effort you’ve made to bring me here.”

  Aaron smiled. “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself.”

  “I have. Thank you.”

  Aaron seemed pleased with her reply as he helped her into the truck. Once he was behind the wheel, he reached over and took her hand, and Savannah freely offered it. But as they drove into the deepening night, Savannah found herself with more questions than answers and a heart that refused to rise above Alex’s ashes.

  Chapter 22

  The following morning, Savannah let herself into Strider’s stall and placed the apple under his nose. The horse nickered and finished the apple in two bites while Savannah ran her hand along his warm neck. Although she exercised Strider regularly, she had not taken him on a morning ride since Alex left, even though it was her favorite time of day. Today would be their first ride at dawn.

  After brushing Strider, Savannah made her way to the tack room for the saddle and bridle. Standing in the aisleway, she heard the slurping of milk coming from the milking pens. She listened carefully as the hired hand in charge of the calves began talking to one of the little ones in Spanish. She missed feeding orphaned calves and wished she could continue the work. But once she began her job as the accountant, her father insisted the foreman, Luis, find someone else to take over the calves.

  Savannah considered visiting them, but the bond would not be the same as if she were their nursemaid, and the babies became one more reason to stay away from the barn in the morning.

  Now, as she stood with a lump in her throat, she was beginning to wonder if this visit was a mistake. She missed her calves. She missed Alex. And, she missed herself, or the person she was with Alex. He brought all of her warmth and tenderness to the surface and gave her free space to offer it to others, simply because he noticed it.

  Moving away from the sounds of the milking pen, Savannah turned the corner into the feed room and sat on the hay as it was warming under the new sun that spilled from the open doorway. This barn was so full of memory.

  Folding her legs underneath her, she leaned back against the stacked bales of hay, allowing last night’s dinner with Aaron some small space. The evening was pleasant enough, but there wasn’t ever any rush of excitement or longing to be in his company.

  During the drive home from dinner, she casually mentioned her plan to go riding this morning, just to make conversation. Aaron offered to join her, but she kindly turned him down. By the time he dropped her off at home, she was ready for him to leave and did not invite him inside.

  Things were different with Alex. His com
panionship was like water in the heat of summer. Every time they parted, she longed to return to his presence. She thrilled at his affection and thought of him constantly when they were not together, always looking forward to the next meeting. Sometimes, she counted the hours until she would see him again, and when his hand finally entwined with hers, she was alive in new and exciting ways.

  None of that happened with Aaron.

  She chided herself. She needed to give Aaron a chance. After all, Alex was her first love. Perhaps it was expecting too much from life to think she could love someone like that again. How she longed to confide with her mother about the constant tug and pull going on inside her, ever since Alex came to town. She wished her mother was alive, so she could ask her.

  Even now, sitting among the familiarity of hay, horses, and leather, it was Alex who occupied her thoughts. Her heart reached out to those earlier days when she and Alex spent their small amount of free time together. Even though six years passed since their last ride, the memory was still fresh. Their last ride embodied everything about their love. It was full of anticipation and hope as they tentatively began to explore the idea of getting married.

  The summer ranch work was winding down, and the late September morning held a new tinge of autumn coolness. The brassy light of the sun was replaced with a deepening gold while the light summer air gave way to the heavy scent of dew on brown stubbled fields.

  Savannah and Alex left the horses in the barn and chose to walk along the banks of the Mission River that cut through the Foss Ranch. Savannah was silent. With the autumn chill came an end to the summer work that employed Alex. Within a couple of weeks, he would be given the last of his wages and move on.