Second Chance Rancher

“So Mommy didn’t mean it?” Addy asked.

“Of course not. She was probably tired. I’m sure she would be so proud of you for being such a good girl for your daddy.”

“I am, ’cause he’s so sad. I’m good for Papa Gus, too. I help him with the dishes, and I go get things ’cause his hip hurts a lot.”

“What a good helper you are. And you’re only four years old.”

Kase’s heart tripped at the sight of his daughter’s sudden smile. He moved out of view but listened to the sound of their laughter. Guilt washed over him, thinking about all the selfish choices he’d made in the past ten years. And it’d all started with Laurel Quinn.

* * *

AFTER PULLING HIMSELF TOGETHER, Kase headed back downstairs. If he didn’t have enough to deal with, there was now this to go with his daughter’s adjustment to living here, the legal fight with his in-laws and his father’s hip surgery.

Besides facing the possibility of a pregnant mare, Laurel was in this house. Pretty Laurel Quinn had been his girlfriend when they both were in high school. There had been a time when she’d spent more time here than at her house, especially that last summer before he’d gone off to college. Their relationship lasted for a little while longer until he realized that Laurel would never want the same things he did. He came home for holiday break and ended it soon after.

He shook away the memory of that day when he’d told her goodbye. Several times in the past few years, he’d questioned his decisions, but he couldn’t change them. Now he was back to square one, and living in Hidden Springs again.

Since being back, he’d expected to run into Laurel occasionally, just not having her dumped on his doorstep. And not looking so fresh and pretty, and with a shapely body wrapped up in a pair of snug jeans and a Henley shirt. She’d turned his head a long time ago and nearly kept him from his dream. He couldn’t let it happen again, even if they were tied together with a possible foal.

Kase walked into the small country kitchen and looked around to see the sorry shape of the room. The peeling paint on the walls was the same color as when he left, along with the worn vinyl floor and ancient appliances. If he was going to be home, he needed to do some remodeling.

His father turned from the counter, carrying two mugs of coffee. The older man made his way across the kitchen, his limp more pronounced than earlier. He probably hadn’t taken any pain pills. Stubborn man.

Kase went to him. “Here, let me get those.”

His father glared. “Getting out of my way is the only help I need, thank you.”

Meeting his steely-gray gaze, Kase quickly moved out of the way.

At sixty-five, Gus Rawlins was tall and still slender. His face was weathered from years in the sun and his gray hair was thinning under the battered cowboy hat he wore at all times, except inside. He had a bum hip from his rodeo days long ago, then the years in the saddle, training his quarter horse.

Gus made his way to the kitchen table without spilling a drop. He sat down and doctored his coffee with cream and sugar.

His father nodded toward him. “Aren’t you going to drink yours?”

Kase took a sip, then asked, “How do you feel about what happened with Honor’s Promise?”

The old man tried to hide his grin behind his mug. “I’ve heard good things about that stallion. If I’d been able, I’d have bought that animal myself. We might just get a good colt out of this...accident.” His father raised an eyebrow. “Question is, how do you feel about Laurel being here?”

He shrugged. “We have some history, but that was years ago.”

“All that money spent on your law school paid off,” his father said. “You’ve gotten pretty good at dodging a question.”

Kase refused to rise to the bait.

His father took a hearty sip. “All I know is the smile I saw on that little girl’s face and it made my day. And Laurel Quinn was the cause of that.”

“What about the fact you and the Quinns are dreaded enemies?”

Gus waved a hand. “Things have changed with the passing of the years. The last time Rory and I talked we couldn’t seem to remember what all the hoopla was about.”

Kase blinked in surprise. “It was about land boundaries, which isn’t hoopla.”

His father glared. “Well, it’s settled now. All legal, too. Had a lawyer draw up papers and everything.”

Kase tensed. “You had a lawyer? Dad, I’m your lawyer, and your son. Should I have known about this?”

Gus directed his gaze at him. “I did contact you,” he insisted. “I called your house and talked to your wife, Johanna. She said she’d let you know, but you never called me back.” He shrugged. “I figured you were too busy, so we used Rory’s lawyer.”

Kase cursed, but the fact was he hadn’t been home much. He’d been working twelve-hour days and weekends, trying to make partner. And when he was home, he fought with Johanna. “I’m sorry, Dad. I never got the message.”

“It’s not important now.”

“The hell it isn’t. Dammit, Johanna had no business in keeping your call from me.”

Gus raised his hand. “I won’t speak ill of the dead, and she was your wife.”

If his father only knew. Kase sighed. “And she was Addy’s mother, too.” That had been what Gus had done over the years after Kase’s mother left them. He’d never breathed a bad word about Liz Rawlins.

Gus nodded, then he abruptly changed the subject. “So what do you think of Laurel?”

He wasn’t ready to talk about this. “What’s to think about?”

“Maybe how pretty she is? And how she’s building a pretty good reputation around here with her training horses.”

Kase didn’t want to think about how good she looked, or how he reacted to just seeing her again. “She was always pretty, and she’s always loved horses. Remember how she used to watch you work the horses, and ask you dozens of questions?”

Gus grinned. “That she did. And looks like she got herself a good-looking stallion.”

“He doesn’t seem to be trainable. Look how he took off.”

Gus laughed. “Now, I know you’re not that old, son. That horse caught whiff of a mare in season, and nothing could stop him from getting to her.”

Kase’s thoughts suddenly turned to the teenage boy who had ridden off with his girl to steal some time alone. Laurel Quinn in his arms was like a dream. The taste of her mouth...

Suddenly he heard the sound of his daughter’s giggles as she rushed into the kitchen. “Daddy! Daddy!” The tiny girl stopped in front of his chair. “Laurel and me had so much fun.”

“I’m glad.” He hugged her. But his gaze went to the woman who stood in the doorway, her long slender frame—but her subtle curves were visible to him. Even years later, he remembered her body. Those long legs, and how those firm breasts brushed against his chest. A sudden stirring began low in his gut.

His daughter’s small hand nudged at him. “Daddy?”

He blinked back to the present. “What, sweetie?”

“Can Laurel spend the night with us?”

* * *

LAUREL FELT THE HEAT rush up her neck. She couldn’t even look at Kase. Would he think she put his daughter up to asking? The man holding the child wasn’t the same boy who’d left here years ago, and she wasn’t the same person, either. The last thing she wanted was to get more involved with the man who’d already broken her heart.

She quickly made her feelings known. “Addy, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay tonight.”

The little girl went to her, wrapping those tiny arms around her legs. “But you’re my friend, you said so.”

Laurel knelt down. “I am your friend, but that doesn’t mean I stay here all the time. I have to go work my horses, but I’ll come back to see you. But tonight, I have a date with a very special man.”

Addy’s eyes lit up. “Is he a prince?”

Laurel couldn’t help but smile. “I think he is. He’s my dad, but I have to share him with another princess, my sister, Brooke.”

“Your sister?” Kase said.

She stole a glance at the man and nodded. “A long story, but a happy one.” She kissed Addy’s cheek. “My daddy is taking me out to dinner with my sister.”

Addy jumped up and down. “Can I go, too?”

Kase stood. “Addison Marie, it is not polite to ask to be invited.”

“Maybe another time,” Laurel said, wondering how she would get out of this. “I think your daddy and Papa need you here to help with supper. How about when I come back to check on the mare in a few days?”

“To see if she has a baby in her tummy?”

“That’s right.” Laurel fought a grin as she hugged the little girl. “So we’ll say goodbye for now. You be good and I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll be good, I promise.”

Laurel stood. “I better get back before they send out a search party.”

“Glad to see you again, pretty girl,” Gus said and hugged her. “Don’t be a stranger, you hear?”

She forced a smile. “I won’t. You take care of yourself.”

She looked at Kase. “Goodbye, Kase.” She started for the door.

“Daddy, you didn’t hug Laurel.”

Laurel tensed, seeing the stern look on Kase’s face.

“You’re right, Addy, I didn’t.”

He went to her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. At the feel of Kase’s hard body against her, the years suddenly melted away. His familiar scent, which she’d know in the darkness, nearly brought tears to her eyes.

As he finally released her, he said, “I’ll walk you out.”

“There’s no need, Kase.”

He tensed. “I said I would walk you out.” He opened the screen door and motioned for her to go through.

She stiffened, but she wasn’t going to argue with this man, not in front of his daughter. She stepped off the porch and started toward the corral where the ATV was parked.

“Hey, slow down.”

She didn’t look at him. “I don’t take orders from you or any man.”

“Whoa, I didn’t give you orders... Sorry, I guess I did, but I wanted to talk to you.” His long stride easily kept up with her pace. “I wanted to thank you for what you did for Addy.”

Darn it. That took the fight right out of her. “She’s easy to be nice to. Sorry about your wife. That’s got to be hard on both of you.”

“Yeah, it’s been a difficult year.”

Those gray eyes met her gaze. She could see the pain. He must have loved his wife a lot. She wasn’t sure she could deal with him being around again. Not that she had any remaining feelings for the man. “So being home might help you both.”

“Looks like I don’t have much choice in the matter.”

That bothered Laurel. Seemed he hadn’t changed his feelings about life here. “There’s always a choice, Kase. You could just leave again.”

She started to walk away, then he took hold of her arm and stopped her. His touch seared through her shirt, reminding her of years ago. Although she’d been young, she’d still never experienced the depth of desire as she had with Kase.

“I’m not leaving, Laurel, at least not for now. Dad needs surgery, and his rehab could take months. Then there’s Addy, and her world has been turned upside down. She needs a stable home.”

“As long as you’re there for her, Addy will have all the stability she needs.” She pulled out of his grip. “So, I guess we’re going to be neighbors again.”

He released a long breath. “Look, Laurel, it’s been ten years. I would think we could be civil.”

She smiled to keep from slugging the man. “I thought I was being civil.” She released a breath. “Okay, I’ll admit, you did hurt me. I was eighteen, but don’t think that I’ve been mourning you all these years.”

Kase glanced away, and even his profile was gorgeous. “I know, I heard about you getting married.”

She was trying really hard to keep her emotions in check, but it was difficult. “Then you probably heard the rest of the story. The groom took off before the nuptials. It seems I have that effect on men.” She marched off toward the vehicle, climbed in and started the engine, then shot off. She finally let the tears flow.

Chapter Three

That evening, Laurel sat at the picnic-style table of her favorite restaurant, Joe’s Barbecue Smokehouse. In front of her was a huge sampler platter of ribs. Untouched. The cause of her distraction and her lack of appetite was Kase Rawlins. Seeing him today had caused a reaction she didn’t need or want. Could her personal life get any more pathetic?

“Laurel, you aren’t eating,” her sister said.

Laurel looked across the table at her twin sister, Brooke Landry. They weren’t identical, with Brooke’s hair a darker blond, and her face a little longer, but close enough.

They’d met for the first time only last fall when their biological mother, suffering from Alzheimer’s, told Brooke she had a twin whom she’d given to their father to raise. Seemed their father, rodeo star Rory Quinn, had been in Las Vegas for the NFR and met singer Coralee Harper. Twin daughters were the result of the brief union, but Rory knew about only one of his children, until Brooke showed up at his door. And Laurel was more than happy to have her here permanently. She got her wish when Brooke had fallen in love and married their neighbor Trent Landry, and now they were expecting a baby soon.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about what happened today with Wind.”

Her father spoke in between bites of his ribs. “I told you that horse would be trouble.”

Rory Quinn was a big man with green eyes the same as hers and Brooke’s. He had thick gray hair and a deep, rich laugh. His face was wrinkled from the sun and years of ranching. He and her mother, Diane, had always been there for her.

“Well, he’s worth it,” Laurel said. “And he’s going to make money.”

Rory shook his head. “You’re lucky you’re not getting sued for what that crazy stallion did today. And now that Kase is home, and with him being a lawyer and all, he could cause you problems.”

Would Kase do that?

Brooke’s eyes brightened. “Yes, tell us about seeing Kase Rawlins.”

Even torture wouldn’t make Laurel admit that the man got her pulse revving once again. “There’s nothing much to tell, really. Of course he wasn’t happy about what happened to his mare. What surprised me was that he owns a horse.”

Brooke picked up her short rib. “No, I mean tell me about seeing Kase again. Does he look as good as you remember?”

Laurel glanced at her father and he didn’t look pleased, and she figured he’d probably remain that way no matter what answer she gave. Why would he be? His daughter’s track record with men had been lousy. “It’s been a long time since Kase left, but yes, he’s still a good-looking man.”

Her father spoke up. “Back then, you both were too young to be so serious. I’m grateful you both went your separate ways. You both needed to concentrate on college.”

That had been another sore subject between them. Her parents weren’t happy when Laurel hadn’t finished college. Instead, she decided to come back to breed and train quarter horses.

“You and Mom fell in love in high school. You didn’t go to college.” Laurel didn’t want to talk about this anymore and raised her hand to stop any further comment from her father. “Let’s go to a safer subject.” She turned to her sister. “Has Trent painted the baby’s room yet?”

Brooke beamed. “Yes, he finished the nursery yesterday. Tonight, he’s putting together the crib.” She took a drink of her water. “You know the one we both liked? The Child Craft? Trent liked the dark wood. He said it was more masculine for a boy.”

Laurel had known their neighbor Trent Landry all her life. He’d been like a brother to her, since their parents, Wade Landry and Rory Quinn, had traveled the rodeo circuit in their younger days. After Wade’s death, Trent came home and took over the Lucky Bar L Ranch. Laurel couldn’t have been any happier when Trent and Brooke fell in love last fall. At least sometimes love worked out.

Suddenly Laurel heard her name, and she turned and searched the crowded room. Then she spotted the familiar little girl running toward her. “Laurel! Laurel!”

“Addy?” Laurel opened her arms just as the tiny child landed there. “What a surprise.” A shock was more like it. “What are you doing here?”

Addy stood back. “I did a good job picking up my toys, so Daddy said we could go out to eat, too. He said he needed a break from cooking. Papa Gus, too.” She glanced around the table and saw Brooke, then turned back to Laurel. “She looks just like you.”

The group laughed. “That’s because she’s my twin sister,” Laurel said. “We look alike, just like your dollies.”

The child looked around the table. “Hi, I’m Addy and I’m four years old.” She looked at Rory. “Are you Laurel’s prince?”

Her father seemed to be flustered by the question. “I think I’m too old to be a prince, but she’s my princess. So is my other daughter, Brooke.”

Brooke waved. “Hi, Addy.”

Those big blue eyes rounded as she cupped her tiny hands around her mouth and whispered loudly to Laurel. “She has a baby in her tummy.”

Laurel bit back a smile. “Yes, she does.”

The little girl walked around to the other side of the table, totally entranced with Brooke’s expanded belly.

“I’m having a little boy,” Brooke said. “We’re going to name him Christopher.”

“Oh, I like that name. I have a baby doll named Bobby, and I let Laurel hold him when she came in my room.”

Brooke’s gaze landed on Laurel’s. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

Suddenly Laurel began to search the area for Kase. She finally saw him, helping a slower-moving Gus across the restaurant. He didn’t look happy to see where his daughter had gone.

When they arrived at the table, Laurel couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the man. He had on a pair of dark jeans and a blue oxford dress shirt. His sandy-blond hair was neatly combed, only making her want to mess it up. Whoa. Where did that come from?

“We seem to keep running into each other.” Kase stated the obvious.

“This time it isn’t my fault,” she told him, knowing everyone’s eyes were on them. Darn, did the man have to look so good? “My horse is home in the barn.”

Kase raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

Rory was on his feet shaking Gus’s hand. Then he turned to Kase. “Good to see you again, Kase.” He reached out a hand.

Kase shook his hand. “It’s good to see you, too.”

Rory glared at his daughter. “I also heard about what happened today.”

Kase nodded. “Dad assures me that it’ll be fine, no matter what the outcome.” His attention went across the table to Brooke. “Well, so the rumors are true, there is another one. You must be Brooke.”

Brooke smiled. “Yes, I am. Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Rawlins.”

“Call me Kase, please. This is my father, Gus.”

Kase’s father smiled. “You’re a lucky man, Quinn, to have two beautiful daughters.”

Rory beamed. “That I am. And you have a budding beauty in your granddaughter.”

Brooke spoke up. “She is precious.”

Kase’s attention went to the child. “She may be, but I need to work on her running off.”

“Good luck with that,” Rory said. “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, we couldn’t intrude,” Kase said. “We’ve already interrupted your supper.”

“But, Daddy, I want to stay with Laurel. She’s my friend.”

Laurel felt tension coming from Kase. This was awkward for all of them. “Addy, I’m having a date with my prince. So why don’t you have a date with your prince, your daddy?”

The little girl’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “Oh, can we, Daddy?”

Kase’s gaze went to Laurel. Immediately she felt heat flood through her body. Then too quickly he turned back to his daughter and said, “I would love to be with my princess.” He did a slight bow and held out his hand. “Please allow me to escort you to our table, Princess Addison?”

Addy giggled, then took her father’s hand and strolled off. That picture of the two caused an ache that circled her heart.

Laurel turned back to her family. Both her father and her sister were watching her. “What?”

“Seems you left out a few details about today,” her father said.

“What, my stallion impregnating a neighbor’s mare wasn’t enough?” Laurel pretended to be interested in her food. Too bad her taste buds weren’t cooperating.

“You didn’t say anything about that adorable little girl being with him,” Brooke said.

Laurel was confused. “Where else would she be?”

“According to Gus, she’d been living with her grandparents, the Chappells, in Denver since her mother’s death. There’s a big custody fight for the child.”

Laurel didn’t know that. Okay, she needed to get out more and talk to people instead of horses. “What? How can that be? Kase is the father and he has the right to raise his daughter.”

Rory shrugged. “You would think so, but the grandparents are accusing Kase of causing his wife’s death.”

* * *

LATER THAT EVENING, Laurel walked around her apartment unable to sleep. The space wasn’t large, but she didn’t need much except a bed, a bath and a small kitchen. Not that she cooked much, but she could make sandwiches and fry eggs. That was all she had the energy for after working all day. She didn’t have anyone to come home to, to hold her and love her.

She thought about Jack, and her anger began to stir. How could she have been such a fool? Maybe she hadn’t loved him as she should have, but her loneliness and wanting a family of her own drove her into their arrangement.

Okay, so that wasn’t the perfect scenario for marriage, but they both knew that going into it. And they did have chemistry. What she didn’t expect from her husband-to-be was for him to rob her parents and Trent of their money. And for that she could never forgive him.

Now she had a bigger problem. Kase Rawlins was back in her life. She would most likely see the man when she stopped by the ranch. She wasn’t going to break a promise to a little girl, especially when that child was still getting over her mother’s death.

What about Kase? Was he still having trouble with his wife’s passing? Of course he was. And after her father’s declaration about Kase causing his wife’s death, she was definitely curious to find out more.

Laurel went to the table and opened her laptop and quickly Googled Kase’s name. The first reference showed he was a junior partner with the prestigious Denver law firm of Chappell, Hannett and Caruthers. It showed Kase’s picture as a rising star of criminal defense. It named a famous case involving a son of an oil corporation’s CEO. She moved on to his bio and his five-year marriage to Johanna Chappell Rawlins. She paused to examine the picture of the handsome Kase and his young bride, a beautiful brunette with large brown eyes.

Laurel sighed. “And to think he left a girl who wore jeans and smelled of horses for that life.” Okay, she was more the Calamity Jane type than a runway model.

She quickly did a search for Johanna Chappell Rawlins. Several pictures of the Denver socialite came up on the screen. Seemed Mrs. Rawlins, Jonnie, as her friends called her, liked to be out on the town, whether it was at parties or at fund-raisers. She was also the granddaughter of oil tycoon Henry William Cash. So Johanna Rawlins was wealthy in her own right and her family had connections. Everything Kase had been searching for when he left here ten years ago.

Laurel sank back into her chair. Kase had been right to leave her behind. She would never fit into that life, any more than Kase would fit in back here. He’d proved that when he left and never came back, not even for a visit.

She scrolled down on the computer and continued to read more. She stopped at the headline “Heiress Johanna Chappell Rawlins found dead in drug overdose. Denver Police question the husband as to his whereabouts.”

She continued to read that Kase had cooperated with the police and was never charged with anything. The Chappell family felt differently.

Laurel sighed. No wonder he brought Addy back here. With the Chappells’ accusation and being followed by the media, that couldn’t be good for a child.