The Rancher's Second Chance (Martin's Crossing Book 3) (4 page)

It was obvious he loved his art, his job. The love he felt for it was in each piece he carved. Before she left Martin’s Crossing, she told him, she’d buy one to take home.

“You’re leaving?”

“I’m not sure,” she answered. She hadn’t really planned how long she would stay or where she’d go next.

“You have time to make plans. Don’t rush yourself.” He snuffed out the candles on the carousel and the figurines stopped spinning.

Before they left the store he picked up one of the carousels and held it out to her. “This one is for you. I’ll box it up tomorrow and bring it to you at Oregon’s.”

“I can buy it.”

“Nonsense. It’s my gift for you.”

She gave him a quick hug. “Thank you.”

A sudden pounding interrupted the peace and quiet inside the shop. Grace glanced around the room, her heart racing as she searched for a hiding place.

“You’re safe.” He pointed to the stool behind the counter. “Sit. I’ll check, but my guess is that it’s Brody Martin pounding my door down.”

He left her alone in the shop, her gaze shifting from the back door to the front door. She calculated how long it would take her to reach the back door and run to Duke’s No Bar and Grill.

The door between the shop and the apartment opened. She collapsed back on the stool, her legs suddenly weak. Brody pulled off his hat and ran a hand through his dark hair. His gaze took in the room and then settled back on her.

“I would have been here sooner but Lincoln stopped me on the steps of Duke’s, and I had to linger over an iced tea.”

“He’s gone?”

Brody nodded, but his attention fell on Lefty Mueller. “Thank you for taking her in.”

Lefty winked at her. “I’m glad you called me, Brody. We had a nice visit over a cup of tea.”

“I’ve had a cup or two of that tea myself, Lefty. I’m sure she enjoyed hanging out with you.” Brody settled his hat back on his head. “I’ll walk you back to Oregon’s.”

“I can walk myself, Brody.”

“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you.”

The two of them stood there facing one another. Grace didn’t want this animosity between them. She’d come to him for help. It had been her choice. It had actually been her first thought, to go to Brody.

Lefty took the tea cup from her hand and she gave him a quick hug. “Thank you for taking me in and for the tea. I enjoyed seeing your shop and talking to you.”

“You’re very welcome, my dear. If you ever need anything, my door is open.” Mr. Mueller smiled at Brody. “And you, young man, take good care of her.”

“I’m not sure if she wants that, Lefty, but I’ll do my best.”

Brody took her by the arm and led her out the back door of the shop, over to the back door of Oregon’s All Things. She unlocked the door with the key Oregon had given her and stepped inside. Brody took off his hat and followed her across the threshold.

It suddenly dawned on her, what Lefty had said. She grinned as she looked at the big cowboy, hat in hand. “You drink peppermint tea with Lefty?”

He shot her a look that was none too pleased but cute, nonetheless. “Men can drink peppermint tea.”

“Of course they can.” She sat down on the overstuffed couch and pulled a pillow to her lap. “Have you eaten? I can make you a sandwich.”

“I thought I’d head over to Duke’s. What about you?”

“I had a sandwich earlier.”

He frowned at that. “That isn’t much of a meal. Why don’t you go to Duke’s with me.”

She sat there, the pillow on her lap, and Brody standing tall and awkward in the center of the small apartment. Finally she nodded, pushing aside fear and misgivings to accept the peace offering he’d extended.

“I think that would be good.”

She followed him out the door. They walked side by side down the sidewalk and across the street to Duke’s. They didn’t touch, not even by accident. They didn’t speak, not even to comment on the weather.

Peace was a fragile thing, she realized.

When they got to the diner, Brody went up the steps slowly, flinching each time he raised his leg to the next step. She wanted to help. But how did she do that without tackling his cowboy pride?

“Have you considered using the ramp?” she suggested, knowing immediately it had been the wrong thing to say.

Brody shot her a look. “I’m perfectly capable of using steps.”

“I know you are, but if it causes more wear and tear...”

He kept going, ignoring her.

When he got to the door he held it open for her. “After you.”

She stepped into Duke’s. The restaurant was long and low ceilinged with barn wood-paneled walls and a tin ceiling. The tables were rough wood. The booths along two walls were wood with rustic fabric-covered seats.

A woman came bustling out of the kitchen. She was nearly as tall as Brody. Her auburn hair, shot through with gray, was pulled back in a tight ponytail. She grinned big as she scooted past them with a tray of food.

“Sit anywhere, kids, and I’ll be back to take your order in a few.”

“Will do, Ned.” Brody led Grace to a table where a half dozen people sat together. There was an older couple that smiled as they continued to bicker over something, a couple of men drinking coffee and a younger couple with a little boy.

“Mind if we join you all?” Brody asked as he reached for a chair.

“Sure thing,” one of the older men said. “Have a seat, and introduce us to your friend, Brody.”

“Grace Thomas.” Brody pulled out a chair for her and took the seat next to it. “This is Ian Fisher and his brother, Bill. That’s their sister, Ava, and her husband, Chuck, and these are the Lansings.” He nodded toward the young family. “Sara and Carl and their son, Clay.”

She smiled and thanked them for letting her join them. They all laughed and made jokes about Brody not giving anyone a chance to say no.

He reddened at the joke and looked as though he might wish he’d taken a seat elsewhere. But this was Martin’s Crossing, and she imagined if they’d sat alone the rumors would have been rampant. Not that there wouldn’t be rumors anyway.

Ned headed their way after refilling coffee for a few diners.

She placed glasses of water in front of them and then pulled up a chair and sat down. “I’m about worn out.”

“Long day, Ned?” Brody asked as he picked up the glass of water.

“Long day, long week and longer year. Do you all know what you want to eat?”

“I’ll take the special.” Brody handed her back the menu.

“I’ll take the same.” Grace smiled and handed the waitress the menu.

“You got it, kids. Do you want something to drink other than water?” She held up the coffeepot she carried. “Or I can get you tea.”

They both declined and Ned pushed herself to her feet and headed for the kitchen. As she walked away, a slim, dark-haired girl came out of the kitchen, a big grin on her face. Grace knew immediately who the child had to be.

“Lilly, what are you up to today?” Brody asked, confirming her suspicions. She watched him change as the girl headed their way. His eyes lit up. He looked amused and protective all at once. The corner of his mouth tilted and revealed the dimple in his cheek.

“I have a horse to pay off, remember?” She sat down next to Grace and studied her long and hard. “So you’re the trouble...”

“Lilly.” Brody cut her off as he chuckled. “This is Grace.”

Grace held out her hand. “Better known as trouble.”

Lilly smirked. “Mom said you’re staying in the apartment.”

“Yes, I am.”

Lilly leaned back in her chair and Brody reached over, putting the chair back on four legs. “Down, killer.”

“I have to get back to work. Mom and Dad will be here soon.” She stood, her attention focused on Grace. “I’m sorry I didn’t meet you earlier. I came here right after school.”

“I’m sure we’ll have a chance to get to know each other,” Grace offered.

“Great,” Brody murmured. “Maybe we should get our food to go.”

“Why would we do that? This looks as if it might be entertaining,” Grace teased. It was easy to do when she knew how much Brody liked his privacy.

“We should leave before the whole family shows up,” he said, leaning in close. “You’re laughing at me now, Gracie, but you wait till you’re face-to-face with Jake, Duke and their women. And then there’s this bunch.”

He inclined his head, taking in the group at the table.

“I do like to see you squirm.”

He leaned back in his chair. “They’ll eat you alive.”

As if on cue, one of the older men turned his attention on Brody and Grace. He grinned as he settled his fishing hat on his head, the stiff bill shading his face but not hiding the teasing glint in his dark eyes.

“Brody, I’m just a wondering when you’re going to hang up your running shoes.”

“Running isn’t good for your knees, Brody.” Grace understood the double meaning but she jumped in anyway. Anything to see his face turn red.

“I haven’t been running, Grace.”

The other gentleman laughed at that. “Brody, as far as I can tell, you’ve been running for a year. Looks to me as if it finally caught up with you.”

Brody shot her an I-told-you-so look. She’d jumped in, thinking Brody would be the target. But it was suddenly clear that in Martin’s Crossing, no one got a break. For the next hour she took her share of teasing. When Brody’s brothers and their wives showed up, they made sure Brody took his fair share of ribbing. It felt good to be a part of that crowd, and to spend time laughing and not worrying.

When Brody walked her back to the apartment an hour later, Grace was exhausted but still amused. She’d learned a lot about Brody Martin in their time with his family and with old-timers who’d known him all his life.

“You really rode a bull through the school?” she asked as she unlocked the door.

Brody lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug and reached to push the door open. He flipped on the lights inside and stepped back for her to enter.

“A friend dared me.”

“Do you always take dares?” For reasons unknown even to her, Grace’s voice softened. She looked up and saw Brody watching her, his blue eyes intent.

She wanted to touch him. She wanted to brush her hands over the dark shadows on his cheeks. She wanted to lean in and inhale his scent.

Instead, she took a step back, knowing that they didn’t have a future. She’d broken his heart once. And Brody didn’t trust easily. She had a baby to think about. This was definitely not the time for distractions.

“Brody, thank you. For letting me stay here and for not being angry.”

“Oh, I’m still angry, Grace. That doesn’t mean I don’t care.” He kissed her cheek and walked away.

She drew in a deep breath as she locked the door behind him, then leaned against it. A tear slid down her cheek.

She brushed it away because crying did no good. She’d gotten herself into this mess and she’d survive. Somehow.

Chapter Four

B
rody sat in the exam room long after the doctor had handed him a sheet of instructions and left. The diagnosis hadn’t been a surprise, but he’d been given a royally good chewing out for putting off this visit for so long. He guessed he’d just hoped it would go away. He’d guessed wrong. Rheumatoid arthritis didn’t go away. Neither would the cartilage damage in his knee. But at least surgery could clean that up. The upside, if there was one, is that it would probably respond to treatment and even go into remission. Men, he’d learned, had less severe cases of RA than women.

At least he knew the prognosis.

He couldn’t sit in this room for the rest of the day, avoiding his life. He pulled on his boots, shoved his hat down on his head and left the exam room behind.

He headed for the waiting room and Grace. He’d stopped at Duke’s for coffee that morning and she’d been there. When she’d found out he was heading to Austin, she’d asked for a ride. Of course he hadn’t been able to tell her no.

He was going to have to practice if she planned on staying in Martin’s Crossing any length of time. He mumbled, “No, Grace,” to himself, then shook his head. He was really losing it.

“No, Grace, I don’t need someone to hold my hand,” he grumbled. “No, Grace. I don’t think I’ll give you a second chance,” he whispered to himself.

“Are you talking to me?”

She was heading toward him, coming out a door near the exit.
No, Grace.
The words evaporated as she stepped close, a sweet expression on her face, lingering dark brown eyes. She could turn a man into a fool with that look.

“Nope,” he said. He’d been talking to himself. It made him half-mad that he couldn’t hold on to his anger when she was around.

His gaze went to the baby bump her loose shirt didn’t hide. Her hand moved to that bump and her smile faltered. He hadn’t meant for that to happen.

“You okay?” Her voice was soft in the quiet room, where a dozen people waited.

“I guess so.” He hooked his arm through hers and they headed for the elevator.

“You’re lying,” she said when the elevator doors slid closed.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

He shook his head and pushed the lobby button. “Nope. Where do you need to go?”

“Brody, we’re at a rheumatologist.”

Yeah, he knew she would put two and two together. That didn’t mean he was ready to talk about it.

“Yeah, I guess we are. Where do you need to go?”

Silence for a blessed moment.

“A department store, please. I need a few things that I can’t get in Martin’s Crossing.”

For some reason that lightened his mood. He doubted she’d planned it that way, but he’d take any rope he could grab hold of.

“What? There are things you can’t get in Martin’s Crossing?” He smiled as he teased her. “I thought the feed store had everything.”

“If everything includes grain, rubber boots, lead ropes and work jeans.”

“Sounds like everything a person needs.”

“Yes, everything a person needs. But what I need the most is my friend,” she said, her amusement fading.

“Don’t.”

He led her across the parking lot to his truck. When he reached to open the door for her, she placed a hand on his arm. He drew in a deep breath and looked down at her. She had a serious look on her face, the kind that went right through him.

“I know you don’t want to talk, but if you change your mind, I’m here.”

“I appreciate that.”

She bit down on her bottom lip as she studied him. “Brody, I do care. We...”

“Don’t. We’re not a ‘we’ anymore. Whatever you do or I do, there’s no ‘we’ involved.”

“I know that. I’m just saying, I know you’re in a lot of pain. And I know your surgery last year didn’t go well. There was a lot of damage that they probably couldn’t...”

He cut her off, motioning her to get in the truck. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Gotcha. But you know as well as I do that you’re going to have to face it.”

“It isn’t fatal, Grace.”

“No, but I’m sure it’s life changing.”

“Yeah, well, there’s been a lot of those moments in the past year.” With that, he closed the truck door.

When they got to the mall, he dropped her at the door, then parked the truck. She waited for him at the entrance. Her hand touched his, but then she must have thought better of it because she walked a little ahead of him. He followed her inside.

The first thing she did was head for the baby stuff. He felt a little itchy when she started touching pretty little dresses and pink shoes. He hadn’t thought about it, really. That baby bump was going to be a little person in a matter of months. It would wear lacy dresses. Or maybe it would wear jeans and cowboy boots. He picked up a pair of miniature cowboy boots and grinned.

“It’s going to be a girl.” She stepped next to him, taking the boots from his hand and putting them back on the shelf.

“It’s a boy,” he teased. “I’ve heard that boys are always right out front and girls spread themselves around their momma’s entire middle.

She looked down, her eyes widening as she covered the bump with her hand. “Do you think?”

He shrugged. “It’s what I’ve heard, but I don’t really know.”

What he did know was that this baby wasn’t his. She wasn’t his. He walked away from miniature boots, tiny Wrangler jeans and T-shirts with cute sayings about tough guys and daddies. He didn’t belong there.

What was he doing with Grace? She was a Fort Worth princess who was waiting for a prince to sweep her away to his castle. He lived in a single-wide trailer, owned some cattle and had a degree that made him feel smart but would never pay much.

She followed him as he made his way from baby clothing, through women’s clothes, and finally to an exit that led to the rest of the mall. He found a bench and sat down. Grace sat down next to him. He glanced sideways at the woman with her softly rounded form in a loose cotton candy pink T-shirt, jeans and boots.

“You go ahead and shop. I’ll wait here for you.”

“Do you want me to go?” she asked, her voice soft, unsure.

Go? He knew she meant permanently, out of his life. What did he want her to do? “You mean, go get your shopping done? Yes, I’d like that. I’m not really up to walking the entire mall. But I can wait here. I’ve heard that’s what men do. ‘Waiting on a Woman.’ It’s one of my favorite pastimes and a decent country song.”

“Brody, I meant I can go home.”

“Yeah, I know what you meant. I don’t know what you want me to say.”

She sighed. “I don’t, either. I’m not sure what my next move should be. I can’t stay here forever. I know that. But I can’t go back to Aunt Jacki’s, and I don’t want to face people in Fort Worth. I’d like my own space, a place I choose.”

“I get that. I guess you’re going to have to remember who you are. And remember that we all mess up.”

She leaned into his shoulder. “But that doesn’t mean there aren’t expectations for Howard Thomas’s granddaughter. My grandfather has built one of the largest churches in the state. He’s respected and known across the country. I don’t want to hurt him. Or hurt my parents.”

“There are expectations for all of us. Ask Jake and Duke. As Martins, people expect something of us. We founded a town and we’re leaders in our community, not that there’s much to Martin’s Crossing. But the expectations are there. And we’re all human.”

He was angry, defeated, half in love and still jealous. He leaned back and pulled off his hat. When he did, a timid hand brushed through his hair, smoothing it back. He nearly closed his eyes at the touch. Not a second too late he remembered why he needed big thick walls between himself and the woman beside him. She was all sweetness and soft touches, but she didn’t know what she wanted. Scratch that. She knew one thing; she didn’t want him.

“Grace, don’t,” he muttered and her hand dropped.

“I’m sorry. Brody, I’m so sorry for hurting you.”

“You’ve said that before and I get it. But I’m not going back. You can sow whatever wild oats you need to sow, but leave me out of it.”

Because that was all he’d been to her. For him, it had been much more. She’d filled in the missing pieces that had kept him strung out and wild for most of his life. He’d started to believe she’d be his life forever, that she wouldn’t walk away. No other woman had ever made him believe he could have it.

“I’m going to finish my shopping. But I want you to know I’m sorry. I can’t undo what I did last year.” She touched her belly. “I can’t undo this. I also can’t give this baby up. She’s mine and I won’t let her down, even though I seem to be letting everyone else down these days.”

“That’s the most important thing, Grace. Be there for him, and if you do that, you’ve done everything right.”

“She,” Grace said as she walked away. “My baby is a girl.”

“Nope, that’s a boy you’re carrying, Grace Thomas. I’ll eat my hat if it isn’t,” he called out after her.

The thinnest laugh carried back to him as she walked into the department store. He watched her go, thinking back to when he’d first met her. She’d been traveling with her aunt Jacki, who trained barrel horses. Grace Thomas, socialite, nursing student and granddaughter of a man who pastored one of the biggest churches in Fort Worth, Texas. She’d had it all, but she had wanted to spend a year being a cowgirl on a ranch in the heart of Texas.

He’d loved her fearlessness. And then he’d just plain loved her.

He still loved her, but he was determined not to let it show.

* * *

Grace piled everything on the counter at the register. Socks, T-shirts and a tiny sleeper in pale green. It was soft and made her think she could do this. She could hold a little baby in that sleeper and be a mom.

The cashier smiled at her as she lifted the sleeper. “This is sweet. When are you due?”

Grace blinked back tears. “February.”

In a matter of months everything would change. Again. She would be someone’s mother. She managed a smile for the cashier, who continued a steady stream of conversation about babies, clothes and the weather. Grace tried to keep up but her thoughts were trailing far behind, still caught up in the thought of being a mom.

The cashier looked up, her eyes locking on someone just beyond Grace’s left shoulder. Grace knew from the appreciative look on the other woman’s face that it was Brody. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that she’d been right. She also saw the slightest grimace on his face just before he winked, pretending everything was fine.

She wasn’t fooled. Not by a long shot.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes. I just have to pay.”

The cashier watched them, and Grace knew the other woman thought they were a couple, parents-to-be. At any moment she would say something, maybe congratulate them.

Brody picked up her bags as she paid. Just when Grace thought they would escape, the cashier called out, “Best wishes to you both with that new little one.”

Grinning, Brody turned back to the lady, a big grin on his face. “Thank you, ma’am. We’re both real excited.”

As they headed toward the exit Grace glared at him.

“What?” His eyes widened and he stopped walking. “Did I do something?”

“You’re terrible.” But she didn’t feel even the slightest bit of irritation.

Instead, she laughed.

Brody chuckled, the sound rumbling over her.

“Were you going to break her heart?” he asked. “She was all excited for us.”

“I know. It’s just I’m not sure what to say to people.”

“Thank them and move on. You’re having a baby. People are going to comment.”

“Yes, I guess they will. The hardest thing is...” She shrugged and couldn’t admit it to him.

He opened the truck door for her to get in, and as she got settled, he opened the back door of the extended cab Ford. As she buckled up, he leaned in the open door. His hands were now free of her purchases. He must have put them in the backseat.

“The hardest part is what?” he pushed.

She avoided looking at him.

“Grace?”

“I’d like to go to church. But...”

“But you’re afraid of what people will say?”

“Yes, and how they’ll look at me.”

He stood there for a minute looking at her, and her heart stumbled over his nearness. His spicy scent wrapped her up, and slowly her hand stole to his face. His eyes closed, then opened. He shook her hand off his cheek and backed away.

“Probably best not to do that,” he said as he put a few feet between them. “You were telling me about church?”

“I want to go to church. I
need
to go to church.”

He sighed. “I’ll take you Sunday. It’ll be easier to walk in with someone.”

The offer unsettled her, but she knew it would be easier to walk in with him. The next time she could do it on her own.

“Thank you.”

The door closed softly. For a moment she was alone in the quiet of the truck.

“It’s all about you now, sweet girl,” she told the baby bump beneath her hand.

Brody got in and started the truck. His quick glance landed on her belly. “You okay?”

“I’m good. She’s starting to move. It’s only a flutter, like butterfly wings brushing my abdomen, but it makes it all very real.”

He reached into the backseat and tossed her the bag he’d carried out of the store. “I bought these for him.”

Him
. She shook her head and laughed a little. When she opened the bag she wasn’t surprised to find a tiny pair of cowboy boots.

“She’ll look cute in these.”

He shook his head. “He. I kinda like the name Lyle.”

She didn’t know what to say, and he was looking at her so intently, so seriously, she couldn’t laugh.

“Lyle? For a girl?”

“For a boy. After Lyle Lovett. You know he’s from Texas, right?”

“So is George Strait.”

“I guess you got me there. You could name him George.” He grinned as he eased into city traffic. “So have you called your folks?”

“I’ve talked to them, I just...” She glanced out the window at city traffic and the Austin skyline. “They’re going to be disappointed.”

“Maybe, but they won’t be devastated. Your parents are good people.”