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

  One morning, Savannah was late to the barn. She was sure the calves would be bawling for their breakfast, and Alex would be gone. Instead, she discovered Alex feeding the calves, and her heart filled with a familiar gentle calm that came whenever she was in Alex’s presence. Without any words, she hurried next to him and began working with the babies. They shared nothing more than a quiet smile and a sweet kiss until the work was finished.

  After that morning, they spent as many free moments as they could string together. They met at the barn just before daybreak, and on Alex’s afternoon off, they would ride the Lone Pine Trail.

  Everything about Alex invited Savannah to open herself in ways that were new and profound. Closely held secrets about her hopes for the future and the pain of her past were safe within the circle of trust he provided with his unfailing ability to listen and understand. Savannah wasn’t used to such affectionate and devoted attention or the peace it offered. Those opalescent mornings became the highlight of Savannah’s day.

  Now, six years later, while looking over the deepening twilight, the memory of those fresh mornings was so close, Savannah could almost taste their first kiss, the flavor of his morning coffee and the way his lips lingered on hers.

  A knock on the door jarred Savannah out of her memories. Moving from the window seat, she opened the door to find her father.

  “What on earth are you doing in here?” Charles asked.

  “I’m resting, Dad.”

  He took a step back and sized her up. “You look fine to me. Don’t run out on our hosts like that again.”

  Embarrassment engulfed Savannah. She loved Lily and Keith Thomas. They were their closest neighbors and her friends. In many ways, they were her family since her mother passed. “I hope--.”

  Charles shook his head as he brushed off Savannah’s words. “All I heard from Lily and Keith for the next five minutes was how you’ve never been the same since your mother died. As if that’s somehow my fault, and your grief is deeper than mine. I was mortified. Marissa wanted to crawl under the table.”

  Savannah pursed her lips, as she tried to swallow her words, but they refused to be dismissed. “Well, of course they worry about me, Dad. Do you know what Lily and I talk about when I go by myself? We talk about Mom.” Savannah looked up at her father. “Why don’t we ever talk about Mom?” she softly implored.

  Savannah immediately regretted her words as a cold fury of emotion came into her father’s face. “Don’t ever ask me that again.” Charles left her room, leaving behind a vacuumed silence.

  Savannah quietly closed the door before moving to her bed. Memories of her mother tentatively wrapped her in their gauzy cocoon. When her mother was alive, her father was a different man. She could still picture her parents standing on the back lawn, watching a summer thunderstorm move through the land. Her father’s arm wrapped around her mother’s waist, while her mother leaned against her father, her head tilted upon his shoulder. Savannah was six years old, and she and her mother had just planted her first tree.

  Even though almost twenty years passed since that stormy day, Savannah could feel the cool air of the storm mixing with the warmth of the land. Peace stole into her child’s heart as she watched her parents. It was the same peace that enveloped them, even in the face of black clouds and heaven’s rumbling.

  Savannah joined them on that day. Came to stand between the two of them to take in the magnificence that had the power to frighten. But she wasn’t afraid, safely tucked between her parents. She could weather this storm, and her first, newly planted little seedling would also come out all right, even though it bent nearly to the ground as the wind tore at all of them.

  If she breathed deep and focused, Savannah could still remember her father’s heavy and affectionate hand on her shoulder, while from behind, her mother gently cupped Savannah’s neck within her palm, pulling her to lean against her leg. Savannah recalled the warmth of her mother’s skin through her summer dress, as she wrapped her arms around her mother’s leg.

  Savannah moved to her window seat and watched as her father strode from the house and into the darkening backyard. He stood in the same space where she and her mother were rooted next to him all those years ago while that storm rolled through. Now, he stared blindly over the darkening land with fists clenched.

  Sitting in her pillowed nook, Savannah drew her knees to her chest. Another storm raged now. Even though there wasn’t any wind, Savannah’s father was still bent under fierce grief. Eight years was a long time to carry such anger over loss, and Savannah longed for her family to be free of it. But her father clung to it, as if somehow the anger would keep the memory of her mother alive.

  Placing her fingertips on the window, she longed to reach him. As dusk turned to night, Savannah turned from the window. She was desperate to save her father, but at the same time she wondered, how much of him was left to save.

  Chapter 3

  The following morning, Savannah woke to the sun slanting through her bedroom window. A sense of dullness overcame her from last night’s tension, and her head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton. She was glad it was Saturday, so she wouldn’t have to spend any time in the office.

  The house was still. Marissa probably was still sleeping, but Savannah wondered about her father. Did he ever come in from his walk last night? Pulling herself out of bed, she headed toward the en suite bathroom when she heard the doorbell ring and the front door open. Savannah smiled as she pulled on her robe. That would be the twins. Chantelle and Shelby were making good on their promise to look after her. Savannah glanced at the clock. Nine-thirty. Goodness! Normally, she would’ve been up at least two hours ago.

  Quietly padding down the hall, she met Shelby and Chantelle on the stairs.

  “We were coming to see if you were all right,” Chantelle said as she handed Savannah a bag from the local drugstore. “We thought you might need some of these things.”

  Shelby looked at her with concern. “You don’t look very good, Vannie. Are you worse than last night? Maybe you need to see the doctor.”

  Savannah shook her head. “No. I think I just slept really hard.”

  “Well, these things should help perk you up,” Shelby said.

  Savannah looked inside the bag to find a small bottle of aspirin, and something for her stomach. There was also a new lip balm and a small bottle of her favorite sunscreen, along with a loofah sponge in her favorite color of powder blue tied to a small container of linen-scented shower gel.

  Savannah was overwhelmed with gratitude toward Shelby and Chantelle for their thoughtful gifts. She gave each girl a hug. “Thank you so much,” she whispered with a smile. “I feel better already.”

  Marissa’s door opened a crack. “What is going on out here?”

  “We’re just checking on Savannah,” Shelby said.

  “Well, as you can see, she’s just fine,” Marissa said. “Now, go talk somewhere else. I’m not ready to wake up.” She closed her door.

  Chantelle and Shelby gave Savannah a conspiring smile, which she returned.

  “Oh, and one more thing,” Shelby said. “If you’re up to it, Mom wants you to come to the house when you’re dressed.” She squeezed Savannah’s arm. “After you left, you were missed.”

  “And you missed my news,” Chantelle said. “Mason and I are engaged!” She wiggled her fingers in front of Savannah.

  A new pang of regret coursed through Savannah as she remembered the sweetness of Alex’s proposal all those years ago, but she smiled through it. “I heard the rumors, but I didn’t want to ask.” She took Chantelle’s hand and gazed at the huge diamond that threw clear prisms onto the girl’s tanned fingers. “My goodness. That’s some rock.”

  “No kidding. It’s a carat and a half,” Chantelle boasted. “You should see the wedding band. Another carat of diamonds in an emerald cut. It’s so beautiful.”

  Savannah gave the diamond another long look. “I’m so glad Mason proposed. I wish we could see more of
him.”

  Chantelle pouted. “Me too. But he’s the ER doc in charge of Friday evenings. I hope someday he can get the night off and join us.”

  “When is the wedding?” Savannah asked.

  “Next June.”

  “Well, that will be a party worth planning. I’m thrilled for you, Chantelle.”

  The twins nodded before reaching in to give Savannah a hug. She pulled both girls close. “Tell your mom I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

  “Will do,” Chantelle said. “Now, go take a couple aspirin and a luxurious bath.” Both girls turned and began hurrying down the steps.

  Shelby stopped and turned to face Savannah. “And you might consider a nap later on. You still look a little pale.”

  Savannah stood on the balcony of the stairs and waved to the girls as they walked out the front door. Maybe she was loved after all.

  Chapter 4

  One week later, Savannah checked herself in the mirror for the tenth time while trying to come up with an excuse she could offer her family as to why she shouldn’t attend Lily and Keith’s usual Friday night dinner.

  For the last seven days, she resisted the desire and curiosity that pulled at her around Alex. Meeting his sister tonight would certainly give her some of her answers to long-buried questions. Did she want to know want he was doing? Since she turned down his proposal six years ago, she had pushed the memory of him into the far corners of her mind. Some desperate part of her wished he would stay there. That would require her to find a reasonable excuse that would satisfy her father, and that had proven impossible. If she begged off this evening’s dinner, he would want to know why.

  Savannah didn’t know why her presence was so important to her father. It wasn’t a desire for family time. She rarely saw him during the week, even though there was ample opportunity to visit. Through her job as the accountant for Foss Ranch, Charles could check in with Savannah any time, but she spent more time with the foreman, Luis, than she did with her father. Under her father’s direction, Luis ran the ranch. The small, weathered Mexican understood the land and the cows, while she kept the books. It wasn’t the life she expected, but it was what her family needed. It kept her busy, and that was enough…until today.

  Today, she would meet Alex’s sister, Amy.

  “Savannah!” Charles yelled from downstairs.

  Savannah turned away from the mirror, grabbed her purse, and hurried down the stairs.

  “Really, Savannah,” Marissa said. “I don’t know why you can’t just be down here on time. Why does Dad have to call you every single time we go someplace?”

  Savannah didn’t answer, but instead followed them to the black Mercedes parked in the garage.

  Once arrived, her family didn’t bother to knock, but instead they walked through the great house to the deck, where the table was beautifully presented. Spring flowers in colors of lavender, pink, and white graced the centerpiece while candles flickered on smaller tables.

  Charles, Marissa, and Savannah were greeted by Kelly, who kissed Savannah’s cheek before moving into a deeper conversation with her father.

  Savannah watched their exchange for a moment, adding to her certainty around Kelly’s feelings for her father. Her love for him showed in the way Kelly’s face lit up when he entered a room and how she cut him from the crowd for time alone.

  Savannah glanced at the others in attendance and wondered if anyone else noticed Kelly’s efforts. Her father was oblivious, which suited Savannah.

  Lily came and stood beside her, causing Savannah to study the older woman, whose graying short ringlets framed her plump rose-petal face and blue-gray eyes. Everything about Lily was soft and nurturing.

  “It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it?” Lily asked as she placed her arm through Savannah’s.

  Savannah turned her attention to the pond. Sunlight dripped gold through the cattails and willow that swayed with the gentle evening breeze that caressed Savannah’s cheek like a lover.

  “I love this time of day,” Lily said. “It’s so peaceful.”

  “It won’t be peaceful for long,” Savannah replied. “Come twilight, the frogs will start their chorus.”

  Lily smiled. “I look forward to them every spring, and I know you do, too.”

  The doorbell interrupted Savannah’s reverie.

  “That must be the Jensens,” Lily said. “I believe Amy’s brother is with them tonight. Amy said he was in town and asked if he could come to dinner. I told her I’m happy to have him.” She moved away from Savannah as she went to open the front door.

  Savannah’s heart fluttered in her chest at this unexpected turn of events. All week she went through mental calisthenics in order to prepare to meet Alex’s sister and brother-in-law. But all of that washed away with the wave of Lily’s news. Alex was here, and he would arrive in less than a minute!

  The hurt over their last parting rose in Savannah’s memory and mingled with a swirl of old emotions and new questions. Was he married? Would he bring his wife? Oh gosh! Did he have children?! The thought sliced through her carefully planned defense and a bright anxiety burst in its place. Oh, why hadn’t she considered the possibility that Alex would be here to help his sister with the move?

  Standing in the gilded light of the evening, Savannah willed herself to breathe while the commotion of Lily greeting her guests filtered through the evening air. Savannah strained to listen for Alex’s voice, but in the commotion of introductions, she could only hear a mix of voices.

  The newly arrived guests came out to the deck with Lily, who beckoned Savannah. “Come, dear,” she said. “Meet our new neighbors.”

  Savannah turned. As her balance tottered, she accidentally bumped a chair and began to fall, placing her hand on the seat. Color rushed to her face as Lily rushed to catch her. Alex was just a step behind.

  “Oh, my,” Lily said. “That chair certainly needs to find a new home.” She placed her arm around Savannah, who stood and leaned against the older woman.

  “Here, let me.” Alex Steele picked up the offending chair and moved it from their tight circle without looking at Savannah.

  When he returned, Savannah found his blue eyes looking directly into her own. Her fluttering heart stopped as she gazed back at him, afraid to blink for fear he might disappear, while at the same time hardly believing he was so close. Joy coursed through her while uncertainty and fear circled.

  Lily pulled Savannah close, and Savannah was grateful for the older woman’s comforting presence.

  “This is Amy and Steve Jensen. I was telling you about them, Savannah.”

  Savannah tore her eyes away from Alex to look at his sister and her husband. Amy was older than Alex by at least fifteen years, but her blue eyes were kind and her smile genuine. She moved toward Savannah, taking both of her hands. “I’m so pleased to meet you,” she said. “Lily has spoken so highly of you, and it’s nice to finally see the lovely girl behind the name.” She turned toward Alex. “This is my brother, Alex.”

  “We’ve met,” Alex said.

  Once again, Savannah turned her gaze in Alex’s direction. There was no betrayal of his feelings in his eyes. In fact, if it weren’t for his words, she would guess they were complete strangers. Disappointment and sadness dampened her earlier joy and settled like a shroud of fog.

  “Why, Alex. You never told me. Did the two of you know each other when you worked here?”

  He looked at Amy and nodded. “Yes.”

  “Well, it’s nice that you know someone in the country. It helps me feel less lonely.”

  “Oh, we mustn’t have that,” Lily said. “Come, let me introduce you to Savannah’s father and sister and the rest of the family.”

  Amy, Steve, and Alex followed Lily, leaving Savannah, who carefully watched the stiff introductions with her family from the corner of the deck. Charles did not offer Alex a handshake and turned away from him as soon as names were exchanged. It was Marissa’s greeting that surprised Savannah. Cheerful and
bubbly, she gushed over the Jensens and Alex.

  Chantelle and Shelby rushed to Savannah and whispered, “Vannie, can we talk with you for just a minute?”

  Savannah was grateful for the distraction, and she followed the girls inside the house.

  Shelby reached for Savannah’s hand and whispered, “Have you ever seen such a gorgeous man? And I hear he’s rich, too. Well, maybe not as rich as Mom and Dad, but he owns his own pecan business in Texas.”

  Thoughts and questions continued to pile up inside of Savannah. How did Alex come to own a pecan business? Were there orchards?

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Chantelle, who gushed, “All that blond hair and those eyes. Have you ever seen eyes so blue?”

  Savannah noticed Chantelle wasn’t wearing her new engagement ring, but said nothing.

  “And his sister is so nice. She’s a dream.” Shelby leaned in. “She said Alex worked here one summer. Do you remember him?”

  Lily called from the deck. “Girls, it’s time to eat.”

  Savannah was grateful she was spared any further conversation. At the table, she sat between Kelly and Lily while the rest of the young women tried to crowd around Alex. Chantelle sat on one side while Shelby sat on the other. Marissa made sure she was directly across the table from him.

  Throughout the meal, Savannah listened but offered little conversation. She learned Steve and Amy chose Mission Canyon, Colorado, and the Dempsey house because it offered them everything they wanted in a destination bed and breakfast. The old Victorian was a historic fixer-upper that would allow them to keep much of the original charm while integrating their own style and modernization, and the beautiful surroundings were a natural draw for visitors.

  Savannah watched her father as his eyes narrowed and his mouth turned into a thin line over their plans. She was grateful when he chose to remain silent. She stole a glance at Kelly, who met her eyes with a quick look of her own.

  Amy continued, “And Alex is here to help us get the house in shape. Ben, a friend of his, will be coming as well. They’ll both help with construction. Then, when the time comes, they’ll help us buy a few cows and get the ranch set up.”