The Rancher's Second Chance (Martin's Crossing Book 3) (15 page)

All of her life people had counted on her to do the right thing. She’d done her best for all of them. This time it was different. This time it was for her.

But her heart broke a little as she watched a cowboy walk away from her for the second time.

Chapter Fifteen

B
rody missed his trailer. It wasn’t that Lawson and Elizabeth’s house was at all bad. No, it was the opposite of bad. It looked like something out of a magazine. Stone and wood floors, big windows, a kitchen that a man could get lost in, even if he could only cook scrambled eggs. It had a great stable. He guessed the stable was the biggest attraction for a guy wanting to start a riding camp.

As he walked out to that stable on a morning in early November, Sally following, he thought about checking on Grace. But he wouldn’t. He saw her from time to time, but he was giving her space. Even though that space left a big hole in him.

At least he knew where she was and that she was safe.

From the field his horse Jaz whinnied. And then Earl Grey took a turn, whinnying and heading toward the fence. Brody waited for the two animals. In the distance he heard a truck. Sally had plopped to the ground next to him but she jumped up and started barking.

“Hush, crazy dog.”

A minute later Jake’s truck pulled up the drive. Brody shook his head and gave his attention back to the horses. Jaz got to him first, pushing against his hand looking for a treat.

“Sorry, Jaz. I’m out of carrots. I’ll get some at the store today.” Earl, usually the dominant animal, pushed Jaz away and came in search of a treat. “You two don’t give up.”

“Hey, how’s it going?” Jake walked up, petting Jaz first and then reaching out to Earl. “He’s a good-looking horse. Nice of Rockhurst to give him to you.”

“Yeah, it was. I have another gelding on the line, too.” Brody backed away from the fence and headed toward the barn. He knew Jake would follow. “What brings you out here today?”

“Not much. I have to run to town for antibiotics for some calves and thought I’d stop by and see if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight.”

“Sounds good. Scrambled eggs get old after a while. I’d offer to bring something but I’m sure you’d rather I stay out of the kitchen.”

“I think we’ll be good. Thanks for the help yesterday with that heifer.”

They’d had to pull a calf the day before. It hadn’t been easy and they’d almost lost the momma in the process.

“That’s what I’m here for.” Brody waited, because he knew eventually Jake would get around to his real reason for being here.

“Have you talked to Grace lately?” There it was. Jake’s reason for showing up. His family had taken to not mentioning Grace. There had to be a good reason for bringing her up now.

“No. I see her at church, and every now and then in town. She’s busy taking online classes and getting ready to have a baby.”

“Yeah, I know. I guess it probably isn’t easy for you that she’s having Lincoln’s baby.”

Brody stepped into the barn, flipping on a light as he went. Jake followed, waiting for an answer. As if Brody had one.

“I guess it doesn’t really matter. It isn’t my baby and she isn’t my concern.”

“You know, Joseph had a similar situation with Mary,” Jake interjected, as if that made sense.

Brody groaned and put a hand up to stop his brother. “For a smart man you come up with the strangest analogies. Do not even try to compare this to Joseph and Mary.”

“I’m just saying you can love a woman and the child she’s carrying, even if the child isn’t yours. I love Rosie and Violet...”

“We all do. And I love...” He shook his head and walked away. “What do you want?”

“I wanted to tell you that Grace is alone. She’s having an ultrasound today and she wouldn’t let Oregon go with her.”

“Women have ultrasounds all the time. What’s so special about this one?”

“She had an appointment last week and they’re concerned, so they scheduled an ultrasound.”

That stopped him in his tracks. The baby. He still didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl. He hadn’t asked because it wasn’t his business. Now his heart kicked in and he tried to brush it off, to tell himself it wasn’t his problem.

“You don’t know what they’re looking for in the ultrasound?”

“No, I don’t. I just thought she shouldn’t be alone. Breezy is strong, Brody. She’s as independent as a woman comes. But she doesn’t like to be alone when she goes to the doctor. I hold her hand every time she has an ultrasound.”

“She’s your wife. You have that right.”

“Guess I’m pushing where it’s none of my business.”

Brody carried a few flakes of hay to the corral where the horses were waiting for breakfast. “I guess you are. If Grace wanted someone with her, she would have asked.”

“You’re right.” Jake put a booted foot on the bottom rail of the corral.

“I know I’m right. You came out here thinking if you told me she needed someone, I’d go running and suddenly we would be all fixed. We don’t need that, Jake.”

“What do you need, then?”

“I guess space. And time. Grace has a life to figure out. I have to get this camp organized and horses bought. I have to deal with my health issues. She doesn’t need that on top of what she’s going through.”

“I’m not sure I’m following,” Jake said as they turned away from the fence.

“I don’t know if you haven’t noticed, but I’m having some health issues.”

“And you think that’s going to be a deal breaker for a woman? Brody, you look for reasons to sabotage relationships.”

“Well, I guess I learned from my more experienced older brothers,” Brody shot back.

“If you want to learn something from us, learn this before it’s too late—don’t push away the people that mean something to you.”

“I’ll take that into consideration.”

Jake headed for his truck. “Right, you do that. Take into consideration that someone might need you today.”

“I’ll take that into consideration, too,” he muttered as he walked back down the driveway to the house. The big, lonely house. Yeah, that was what he missed about his trailer. It had been small but it hadn’t felt empty.

When Lawton and Elizabeth had been alive, this house had been full of people, full of laughter. Now it was hollow with the distant memory of their family echoing in the halls. Their family pictures were still on the walls. Their things were still in the closets.

A few days ago he’d been going through some stuff in one of the rooms upstairs and he’d found a gift that Elizabeth had bought for Lawton but had never got the chance to give him. He shook his head, remembering how he’d sat there crying over the vinyl records she’d meant for Lawton to add to his collection.

Later he’d gone downstairs and played them on the old record player. He’d sat in the big leather chair in front of the fireplace and listened to George Jones.

This house deserved people. A family.

Not a lonely cowboy who gimped around and wished he had a life.

Brody watched his brother drive away, then he went inside. He made a few phone calls, put Sally in her kennel and headed out.

Grace might not welcome him at her side, but he’d take his chances. If something was going on, she shouldn’t be alone. After all was said and done, if she wanted space, he’d give it to her again.

But today, she wouldn’t be alone.

* * *

Grace closed her eyes and prayed. Again. She’d prayed a lot in the past few days. She’d prayed for her baby. She’d prayed that she’d have strength to face whatever came her way. She opened her eyes, aware that a few people in the waiting room were watching her. A woman about her age gave her a sympathetic but understanding smile. They were both alone. Grace smiled back, drew in a deep breath and somehow felt a sense of peace that had been evading her. She wasn’t alone. Not really.

God would not leave her or forsake her.

The woman sitting opposite her looked toward the door and smiled. Grace glanced that way and for a moment everything went fuzzy. Her eyes filled with tears that she fought back. Brody. Six feet of cowboy and the quiet strength she suddenly needed. He closed the distance between them and took the seat next to hers.

She hadn’t wanted anyone here. She had been determined to do this on her own. That suddenly didn’t make sense.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” The words rushed out.

“You should have called. You know I would have driven you. As it is, I had to bring Duke with me to drive your car home. He’s waiting outside for your keys.”

“You don’t have to do that.” She brushed a hand across her eyes. “You really didn’t have to come.”

He picked up her purse. “Find your keys, Gracie.”

She nodded and dug through her purse, found the keys and handed them to him. He left her briefly and when he returned to sit next to her, she thought she’d never been so glad to see anyone.

“Thank you.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

His arm circled her. “Anytime, Grace.”

When they called her name she froze, and the peace she’d been clinging to fled. She didn’t want to face this diagnosis. She closed her eyes and Brody’s arm tightened around her.

“Grace, whatever it is, I know you can get through this. I know God can get you through it.”

She nodded. “You’re right. I’m afraid, but I can do this.”

“That a girl. And I’ll be right here if you need me.”

She stood, reaching for her purse. He handed it to her.

“Brody, I need you. With me, back there. Please. I know that’s a lot to ask. I know it isn’t what you planned. But I can’t do this alone.”

He went with her. She held on to his hand as the nurse led them to the exam room where they would do the diagnostic ultrasound.

“Go ahead and lie down, Grace.” The nurse straightened the paper sheet and pillow. “It isn’t comfortable, but it won’t take long.”

Grace knew it wouldn’t take long. In a matter of minutes they would be able to tell her how her life would change. Brody held her hand as she took her place on the exam table. She leaned back, closing her eyes, wishing this moment away and knowing she had to face it.

This was when parenting began, she realized. Long before a baby came into the world, mothers made choices, faced sickness and fought for their child.

The doctor and an ultrasound tech entered the room. Grace smiled at Dr. Patterson. He wasn’t a tall man, just a few inches taller than she was. He had sandy-colored hair and an easy smile. She had liked him immediately. And she trusted him.

“Grace, I’m glad you brought someone with you.” Dr. Patterson patted her leg. “I know you’ve probably been worried, but I want you to relax. Take good deep breaths and remember that faith you told me you have. The tests the other day were inconclusive, so we want to take another look at this little person so we can know what we’re dealing with.”

Grace could only nod. Her hands shook. Her body trembled. She didn’t trust that she could open her mouth without her teeth chattering. Dr. Patterson turned up the heat in the room.

The hand holding hers gave a light squeeze, remind her she wasn’t alone. She opened her eyes and his gaze held hers. She nodded and just one corner of his mouth tilted up, showing that dimple. She loved that dimple.

Dr. Patterson took the seat where the ultrasound tech should have sat. He squirted gel on her belly and started to roll the ultrasound wand, catching the image and a heartbeat almost immediately. The tech leaned in, watching as he clicked for measurements. Grace looked for something, anything. And then she looked to Brody, catching his lean-cheeked profile as he studied the images in shades of gray and black. Her baby moved, a small hand grasping at nothing, a foot lifting.

“It’s a girl, Brody,” she whispered. A tear slid down her cheek.

“Are you sure that’s not a boy?” he teased.

Dr. Patterson captured a few more images and then hit a button to eject the photos he’d taken. He handed one to Grace. And he smiled. “Nope, that’s a girl.”

He continued to take photos. He clicked measurements. He sat back and let out a sigh. And then he turned, smiling.

“Grace, I think we’re just fine here. There was some concern about head size and growth, but I think your little girl is healthy, and when you hold her in a few months, you’ll both be happy.”

Hold her. Grace’s eyes filled with tears. Happy tears. She would hold her baby. “Thank you.” The words came out on a sob. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He handed her a tissue for her eyes and a towel. “And now I have a baby to deliver. Your little girl is healthy. Schedule your next appointment and I’ll see you in a month. Of course, if you have any concerns, call us.”

She nodded, watching as he left. The technician followed. She and Brody were alone. She sat up, her legs dangling over the side of the table. Brody was still looking at the picture she’d handed him.

“A girl.” He grinned at her. “That’s pretty amazing, Gracie.”

“I know.” She started to hop down from the table. Brody stopped her.

“Shoes?” He picked up her shoes and carefully slid them on her feet. And then he took her hand and helped her down.

Someday Brody would be someone’s husband. He would be a father. Her heart tripped over that thought. She closed her eyes, willed those images, the ones of him in her life, away. It was too easy to visualize him holding a baby girl close. It was too easy to imagine him with her.

Life wasn’t that easy.

A few minutes later they walked out of the clinic. Sunshine and blue skies greeted them, always a surprise after being in a windowless office. The air was cool, the way fall air should be.

“How is school going?” Brody asked as they headed for his truck.

“Good. I added some psychology classes. I realized that I love nursing, but I want to make it the career I choose. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know that there are things I want to do that I hadn’t considered before.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said as he opened the truck door for her.

“And you, Brody. How are you doing?”

“Good. I’m in remission. As long as I wear the brace, my knee isn’t too bad. And I’m having surgery in January.”

He stepped back to close the door.

She stopped him. “Brody, I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“Do you think...” She sighed. “Do you think we could still be friends?”

He glanced away, leaving her with just the view of his profile and a jaw that clenched as he studied the horizon.