Second Chance Rancher (6 page)

His daughter cheered.

Laurel stepped in and suggested, “You should bring her by Thursday night.”

“A sleepover? I never had a sleepover.” Addy looked at Laurel. “Can I bring my baby dolls, too?”

Laurel went to the child and hugged her. “Of course. I'd love to play with you. We can sleep in my old bedroom upstairs.”

Laurel's gaze met his. He never stood much of a chance saying no to his daughter, and with this beautiful twosome it was impossible.

* * *

A
N
HOUR
LATER
, they'd cleaned up the kitchen and convinced Addy to finish the puzzle when she came for the sleepover. It was well past the girl's bedtime. Laurel watched as Kase held the sleepy child in his arms. Her heart squeezed at the tender scene. Kase made eye contact with her, then quickly glanced away and headed out the back door.

She was a goner, and sinking further by the second. The more time she spent with this child, she began to think about things she didn't need to think about. Such as starting something with Kase.

Laurel followed the group out the back door. Her mother walked with her. “Isn't she just precious?”

“Yes, she is,” Laurel agreed. “You were so good with her today.”

“I loved every minute of it.” Her mother smiled brightly. “Besides, it's good practice for when Brooke has her baby.”

Laurel hated that she envied her sister so much. Brooke had everything she ached for—a loving husband and child on the way. She walked outside past Gus and her father saying their goodbyes and to the truck where Kase was fastening Addy into her safety seat.

Once finished, he turned to her. “I can't thank you enough for watching her today.”

“Not a problem, Kase. I enjoy spending time with Addy.”
Maybe too much
, she thought.

“Still, it's not easy to take on a four-year-old. Believe me, I know. It's a learning experience every day.”

“We'll learn together.” Her face flamed with embarrassment. “I mean, I need to learn anyway because Brooke's having a baby.”

Kase grinned, loving her openness. “I know.”

When his cell phone rang, he pulled it from his pocket. Seeing the name on the caller ID, he froze. It was his father-in-law, Ben Chappell.

“Answer it,” Laurel said. “I'll stay with Addy.”

He stepped away from the vehicle and out of earshot. “Rawlins here.”

“Kase, it's Ben.”

“What do you want, Ben?”

“You already know the answer, Kase. You need to bring my granddaughter back to Denver. She belongs here. Johanna would want her to be with us.”

“You have no idea what Johanna would want.” He turned to see his dad still talking with Rory and not paying any attention to him. “Or you would have tried to get her some help. So don't throw your guilt on me.”

“You weren't much better,” Ben tossed back. “But exposing Johanna's problems now isn't going to help, either.”

“Then why, Ben? Why take me to court for Addy?” he challenged. “Johanna's secret lifestyle is all going to come out in court.”

He heard Ben's stressed breathing. “And you could lose everything.”

“What am I going to lose? Addy is the only thing that's important to me.”

“You knew about your wife's drug abuse, too.”

“The hell I did. As soon as I learned about it, I resigned from the firm and came home to take care of Addy.”

“I bet I can come up with proof that you knew about the drugs and turned a blind eye.”

“Hell, we'd separated by then. She'd moved home.”

There was a long pause, then Ben said, “Judith and I both feel Addy will be better off with a two-parent family. We'll see you in court.”

Kase cursed as he paced the driveway. His worst nightmare was coming true. He clenched his fists. He couldn't lose Addy. She was his life.

He quickly punched in his lawyer's private number. The phone rang, and Sam Gerrard, his college friend, answered, “Hey, Kase. I take it, since it's after office hours, there's a problem.”

“There is. I just got a call from my father-in-law. Seems Ben's pulling out the big guns.”

Kase told him about the phone call and his threats. “Is there the slightest chance they can take Addy from me?”

There was a pause, and Sam finally said, “I'm going to say if there is, it's a slim one. But Ben Chappell has a lot of influence in this area. He knows people, important people. Both Judith and Ben are well respected in the community. Judith has always been involved with charity work.”

Kase turned and saw Gus heading to the truck with Rory. “And that's a reason I could lose custody of my daughter?”

“No, but with the right judge, he could see that an affluent couple raising Addy might be better than a single dad with no real income...”

Kase raked his hand through his hair in frustration. “Are you saying I need to get married to keep my daughter?”

“Not exactly, but hell, Kase, it wouldn't hurt.”

“This can't be happening,” he murmured. “Look, I need to get Addy home and in bed. I'll talk to you later.”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket as Laurel came toward him. “Is everything okay?”

He shook his head. “That was my lawyer. Seems being a single dad isn't in my favor for my custody suit.”

She cocked her head. “Really? If you were married, your chances would be better to keep Addy?”

He shrugged. “I guess. Why, are you offering?”

Chapter Six

“She's so adorable,” Brooke whispered from the bedroom doorway.

Friday morning, Laurel watched a sleeping Addy curled up on the childhood bed with her baby dolls. Being the child's first sleepover, her excitement had kept everyone awake late last night. By ten o'clock this morning, Addy needed a nap and Laurel needed a break.

Careful not to disturb the child, Laurel stood and headed out the door. Her pregnant sister followed her downstairs and into the large paneled family room.

“I'm exhausted.” Laurel sank into her dad's favorite chair. “I can't keep up with all that child's energy.”

Brooke slowly sank down on the camel-colored sofa, then worked to get comfortable with her oversize stomach. “You wouldn't be so tired if the child didn't cling to you every minute.”

Laurel studied her sister. They looked alike, with their eye and hair color, but they weren't identical. And now her sister was twenty pounds heavier with baby.

“It's because she only lost her mother less than a year ago. Besides, she didn't bother me.”

“That's sad about her mother.” Brooke's gaze met hers. “You know, you're quickly becoming her replacement.”

“I'm her friend,” Laurel clarified, realizing she was getting attached to the child, too.

“Then you better set boundaries because that little girl is looking for a mommy.”

Laurel sighed. “I think she just wants a family.”

“Don't we all,” Brooke said.

Laurel hated that her newfound sister had such a rough upbringing in Las Vegas but was happy Brooke came here in search of her father and her twin. She also found the love of her life, Trent Landry.

Brooke's voice brought her back to reality. “And Addy's daddy is pretty handsome, too.”

“Wait, aren't you married to a handsome, sexy rancher?”

“Yes, and Trent knows I'll love him to the end of time.”

Suddenly Brooke's husband-in-question walked into the room. “Did I hear my name?” A big grin appeared across his handsome face as he looked at his wife.

Ex-army, Trent had warm brown eyes and still wore his dark hair short. When he folded his massive arms across his chest, he intimidated a lot of people. Laurel had known him most of her life, and he was like a big brother to her. She couldn't be happier that the two found each other.

Brooke smiled at him. “I was just telling Laurel that I only have eyes for you.”

He walked across the room and dropped a heated kiss on his wife's mouth. The love these two shared for each other was obvious. She couldn't help but be a little envious of her twin, if it wasn't for the fact Brooke had never had love until she came here.

“Will you be okay if I go into town and look at some outfitter equipment? We have that fishing party coming in a few weeks.”

Laurel was happy the new rental cabins her father and Trent had partnered in were doing well. Their occupancy had been high since they opened last fall. That helped with some of the sting of Jack's betrayal.

Brooke nodded. “I'll be fine here with Diane and Laurel. Then we're going to see Coralee when Addy wakes up from her nap.”

“Enjoy your day.” Trent kissed her again, stroked her belly before he gave Laurel a loving pat on the head, then he left.

Brooke's eyes had a dreamy look.

Laurel laughed. “Yeah, like you'd look at another man.”

Brooke brought her attention back to her sister. “I can still see that Kase Rawlins is a good-looking guy.”

“Yes, he is. And I was crazy about him in high school, but he left me and became a successful lawyer at a prestigious law firm, then he married the boss's beautiful daughter. The perfect life. He didn't give a second thought to the horse-loving tomboy back home.”

Brooke raised a hand. “Wait a minute.” She hated seeing the pain in her sister's eyes. She doubted that Kase Rawlins thought of Laurel as a tomboy. “You're beautiful, Laurel.”

Laurel glanced down at herself. “Yeah, right. I wear dusty jeans and scuffed boots.” She raised her foot. “I rarely take time to wear makeup.” She tugged on her braid. “And this wild hair is...”

No matter if she denied it, Brooke knew that Laurel cared about Kase. And the one time she'd met the man, she wasn't surprised that he couldn't take his eyes off her sister. “Then you need to make time for yourself. Don't hate me, but not everything is about horses.”

Laurel's head swung around to her. “I have to put any extra money back into my business.”

“It doesn't take much money. I could trim your hair and show you how to condition it. And as for makeup, we're Coralee's daughters. I can show you some subtle tips.”

Laurel looked shocked at her suggestion. “I don't want to look like a Las Vegas lounge singer.”

Brooke had been raised by a woman who spent her entire adult life trying to make her big break as a singer. Even after her mother gave away one of her daughters, Laurel, Brooke suffered from Coralee's selfishness and neglect until she came to Colorado and met her family...and Trent.

“I'm not planning on stage makeup, just some highlights for your eyes, and maybe take your hair out of that braid. Men have a thing for long hair, especially when it's free and wild.”

“Wouldn't it be a little obvious what I'm trying to do?”

“Men don't care, they just like the finished product.” Brooke worked to stand up from the sofa, then paused as the baby began moving around.

Laurel came over and gave her a hand. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, little Christopher is practicing football or soccer.” She rubbed her stomach, loving the feel of her child inside her. “Maybe he'll be a bronc rider like Grandpa Rory.”

Laurel laid her hand on Brooke's stomach and smiled. “Yep, definitely a bronc rider.”

Once the baby quieted, Brooke turned to her sister. “Okay, back to you. Are you saying you want Kase's attention?”

“I don't know.” Laurel threw up her hands. “I haven't exactly been on the right track when it comes to men.”

“Then just do it for yourself. I've watched you work so hard, sis, day in and day out.”

“What if Kase leaves again, like before?”

“And what if he stays? People can change careers. Trent did when he retired from the army and came back here to ranch. Even when this place had bad memories, with his brother's death and his parents' divorce, he came back and made a life here. We're building a life together.”

Brooke took Laurel's hand, praying her sister would find happiness. “Now Kase has returned to work with his dad. Maybe he'll decide he wants what was right here all along.”

“I'm worried that Kase's only staying here because his in-laws want to take Addy. He might head back to Denver to practice law again once the custody is resolved.”

“Then convince him to stay here,” Brooke told her. “Make Kase see what's right in front of him.”

Laurel finally smiled. These past several months had been wonderful, having her sister to share everything with. “Okay, start working your miracles.”

She got up and her phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the unfamiliar number and no name.

“Who is it?” Brooke asked.

“I don't know. I don't recognize the number.” She punched the screen to talk. “Hello? Hello?”

She disconnected. “No answer. Shoot, I was hoping it was Kase about Gus.”

Brooke took her sister's hand and they headed up the stairs. “This is going to be a girls' day, a makeover and a trip to see Coralee, and no thoughts of men.” They both laughed, knowing that wasn't true.

* * *

K
ASE
PACED
THE
hospital's waiting room. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Gus had been in surgery for nearly three hours and he couldn't help but wonder if there had been complications. Unable to sit still any longer, he walked down the hall to the large picture window. The sunlight made him squint as he looked out at the majestic Rocky Mountains.

In the past year his life had been in turmoil, from his crumbling marriage, his lost career and his battle for custody of Addy. Coming back to Hidden Springs had been the best decision, but until all the issues got resolved he wouldn't be able to find any solace.

After years of feeling disconnected, he was trying to rebuild a relationship with his father. The once-a-month courtesy phone calls didn't count.

When Kase had left here for college, he thought he knew everything. He hadn't needed his father's advice and told Gus so. How he wished he could take back the angry words. Now he wanted nothing more than to have the old man's guidance.

An overwhelming rush of emotions had him blinking back tears. “Please, God, don't let anything happen to him,” he breathed. “I need him, Addy needs him.”

His thoughts turned to his daughter, and he wondered how she was doing. He knew Laurel would keep Addy distracted, but the child had already lost her mother, and she was scared she'd lose Papa Gus, too.

He thought about how Laurel held his daughter, the loving touches. How he envied the attention the woman gave so freely to his child, and wished he could share in that affection. But he had no business expecting anything from Laurel, especially after the way he'd left her. And the crazy notion of a marriage to her would help his chances for custody. Even if he'd said it in jest, he had no right to even suggest the possibility.

His life was a mess, but he still wanted Laurel, and it was quickly turning into a need to be with her, to want to share things with her. Maybe building a life with her wasn't so far-fetched. He did know she would have to forgive him for the past before they could think of building a future.

“Mr. Rawlins?”

Kase turned to find the doctor dressed in green scrubs. “Yes, Doctor? How is my dad?”

A smile appeared on the man's face. “He did fine. He's in recovery, already awake and wanting to leave.”

His chest tightened as a burst of laughter erupted. Over his professional life, he'd always been able to lock away his emotions. Not today. “I'm sorry.” He wiped at the tears in his eyes. “It's just so overwhelming.”

“No need to apologize,” the doctor told him. “Gus is your father. He's just had major surgery.”

They started walking down the hall, and Kase asked, “But he's okay?”

The doctor nodded. “Yes. He needs pain meds now, but with physical therapy he should be walking fine.”

They walked through the surgical unit and into recovery. Kase paused on seeing Gus flat on the bed. He didn't hesitate as he went to his side. He took hold of his father's hand and squeezed it. “Dad, it's me, Kase.”

Gus blinked his eyes and gave a lopsided grin. “Hi, son.”

He smiled back. “How are you feeling?”

“Like they tried to rip off my leg, but the pretty nurse gave me some kind of medicine. Now I...feel...good. You want to take me home?”

Kase looked at the nurse and she said, “It's the pain medication. They all get a little silly. Your father is doing fine.” She leaned down to the patient. “Gus, we're going to take you to your room in a little while. And feed you some of the wonderful hospital food you've heard about. Best Jell-O in town.”

“As long as you'll serve it to me.”

“Of course.” The nurse looked over to Kase. “Why don't you go and call your family with the news. By then we'll have Gus settled in his room.”

After promising his dad he'd be right back, Kase went back into the waiting area. Even though it had been only a few weeks since he'd reconnected with Laurel, she was the first person he wanted to tell the news. What he'd left behind in search of that so-called perfect life. His thoughts turned to Laurel. It seemed that everything he'd been looking for was right here all this time.

* * *

L
ATER
THAT
EVENING
, Kase pulled into the Quinns' driveway. He was exhausted, but he needed to get his daughter and take her home to bed. He climbed the steps and knocked on the back door, then walked inside.

“Hello?” he called before he went into the kitchen. He found the Quinn family seated around the table.

“Daddy, you're here.” Addy got off her chair and came running. “Is Papa okay?”

He lifted her into his arms and inhaled that wonderful child scent. “He's doing fine, sweetie.”

“Does he have a big bandage?”

“Yes, he does. He said to tell you he loves you and can't wait to see you. How about we go tomorrow?”

Her blue eyes widened. “I get to go to the hospital?”

Kase nodded. “We can't stay long, but I think he'll feel better if he sees you.”

“Can we take him flowers, too? Mimi says sometimes when people are sick it's nice to take them flowers.”

“Sure, we'll take him flowers.” He glanced around the table to see everyone watching them, except for Diane, who went to the cupboard and got him a plate.

“Now, you sit down and eat,” Diane said. “I'm sure you're plenty hungry.”

“I really hate to interrupt your meal.” His stomach growled, and his daughter laughed.

“Daddy, I think you got a bear in your tummy.”

He set her down in her seat. “I guess I wouldn't mind some supper. Thank you.”

He looked across the table at Laurel. Her light blond hair was down and her usually scrubbed-clean face had a little color, especially her eyes. She looked beautiful. “Hello, Laurel.”

“Hi, Kase.”

“Thank you for watching Addy today.”

She nodded. “You're welcome. We're glad that Gus is doing so well. Does he need anything?”

He brushed his hand over Addy's blond hair. “Just this little one.”

“Best medicine ever,” Rory said.