Читать книгу Second Chance Rancher - Patricia Thayer - Страница 13

Chapter Five

After two heaping bowls of Diane Quinn’s beef stew, Kase had been easily convinced to go out to have a look at one of Laurel’s mares. Even suspicious that his dad was playing matchmaker, he followed Laurel out the door, leaving Addy happily occupied by Diane, Rory and Gus.

Kase stepped inside the immaculate barn with only a faint scent of horses and hay. Impressive. He looked around to see several enclosed stalls and the tack hung neatly on the wall. With Laurel’s arrival, he heard several equine whinnies.

He followed her as she greeted her horses. Suddenly she stopped and he ran into her. Trying to keep his balance, he quickly grabbed her waist. But the close connection made him very aware of those once-familiar curves.

“Whoa there.” Feeling the softness under his hands, it was impossible not to react, or to let her go. It had been a long time since he’d had any interest in a woman. Johanna had made sure of that.

Laurel quickly pulled away. “Sorry.” She didn’t look at him, just walked to one of the stalls, where the horse came to greet her. The rogue stallion’s bobbing of his large head and familiar wild mane made Kase quickly recognize him.

“You already know Wind,” she said.

He nodded, making eye contact with Laurel, and another zing hit him. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing those markings on his foal in about eleven months.”

Laurel smiled as she rubbed the horse’s nose. “Would that be so bad?”

He realized her smile had him thinking about something other than horses. “According to my dad, no. And since Gus is the expert, I’ll let him handle Honor’s condition.”

“Isn’t she your horse?”

Kase leaned against the post and nodded. “Gus was the one who suggested I buy Honor. He said she was a good investment, so I went along with him. You and I both know that Dad runs the operation. I’m still learning and adding some backing to jump-start Rawlins Horse Ranch.”

“What about when Gus has his surgery? Who’s going to run things then?”

“Well, there won’t be much training unless I hire someone, but Dad doesn’t want anyone else messing with his horses. That’s why he’s been so stubborn about having surgery. He refuses to be away from the ranch for any length of time.”

“Then why can’t you take over? As I remember, you were pretty good at working his stock.”

He frowned. “I only did what Dad told me, but he did all the intricate training. Besides, who’s going to be caring for Addy while I’m spending time with the horses?” He shook his head. “No, I’ve missed too many years with her. I refuse to hire a babysitter to be her parent. She’s had too much of that already.” He started off down the aisle.

Laurel stood there in shock. He’s missed too many years with her. What did that mean? She wanted to ask him more questions, but it wasn’t her business.

She caught up with him as he reached the next stall. The chestnut horse with a white star on her forehead appeared at the gate and she watched as Kase stroked her forehead. The pregnant mare ate up the attention.

Laurel immediately went to her, letting the horse nuzzle her chest. “This is Starr Gazer, my championship cutting horse. I recently bred her with Wind. She should have her foal in about six months.” Laurel wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck and hugged her close. “Going to be a mama soon, huh, girl?”

“I can see why Dad wanted me to see her. She’s a beauty.” Kase rubbed the animal’s head. “What are your plans for the foal?”

“I’d love to keep her, but I’ll need to sell.”

She didn’t miss his questioning look. “Why not hang on to the foal and train it?”

“Because I can’t afford the time.” She hated that she’d gotten in this position. “I have loans to pay back.”

“That’s rough.” His gaze met hers and immediately her body shuddered, reacting to this gorgeous man. “I’m sure your dad doesn’t expect you to pay him back.”

Laurel glanced away, embarrassed that she’d been so gullible over Jack. “So you’ve heard the gossip in town about my runaway groom.”

He shook his head. “Dad told me. I wondered why you never married.”

She was surprised by his answer. “It seems I’m better off with horses than men.”

His mouth twitched in amusement. “If that’s how you feel, then you’ve been with the wrong men.”

Her gaze shot to his, her throat suddenly dry. A flash of memories of a younger Kase appeared in her mind. That cocky grin, his tempting mouth and his tender touch... She swiftly shook them away. “Seems I have a habit of choosing wrong. You’d think after all these years, I’d learn my lesson.”

Kase saw the hurt on her face, knowing she’d included him in that group. He’d give anything to take away her pain. He wanted to reach out and touch her, remembering how soft and giving she’d always been with him. He ached to find out if her mouth still tasted as sweet...

He pushed aside the image. Now wasn’t the time to rehash the past.

“Look, Laurel, I know we’ve been thrown together these past few days, but if you want me to stay away, I’ll do it.” He held his breath, hoping that she wouldn’t send him packing. The last thing he needed was to include her in his crazy life.

She placed her hands on her hips. “Now you tell me. Now, after I finally get a new best friend to share my dolls with. And then there’s Gus. Who can give me his expertise on training? And you want to take that away.”

He smiled at her joking, then he grew serious, realizing that his daughter was getting very attached to Laurel. Besides being beautiful and sexy, he’d seen how loving and caring she’d been with Addy.

“Look, Laurel, my life is unsettled to say the least. I have a daughter to raise, and a father facing surgery.” He sighed. That was only the tip of his problems. “As you’ll soon learn, my in-laws are suing for custody of Addy. So everything I do is under a microscope.”

He saw the compassion in her eyes. “Is that because they believe you’re the cause of their daughter’s death?”

“Where did you hear that?”

“A newspaper article on the web.”

“We’d already separated before her overdose.” His gaze met Laurel’s interested look. “I tried to help her, but she wouldn’t go into rehab. Not even for Addy. I even went to my father-in-law, but he refused to help have his daughter committed. Bad for business, he said. So I resigned from the firm and filed for divorce.”

“Was Addy living with her mother then?”

He nodded. “I’ll regret that until my dying day. The only consolation was her nanny, Mary Beth, who’d been with Addy since birth and had gone with her when they’d moved into the cottage on Johanna’s parents’ property. At least Addy and Johanna had supervision.” He stole a look at Laurel. She had every right to judge his parenting skills.

“Two weeks later, I got the call about Johanna’s drug overdose.”

He felt her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Kase.”

He shrugged, ashamed that he couldn’t give his wife what she needed. And questioning himself if he even tried enough to make the marriage work. “So am I.”

“So you came back here?”

“Since Addy had already been staying at her grandparents’, I had a tough time getting physical custody. Ben and Judith refused to give her up, but I finally got a lawyer to help me and removed her from her grandparents’ home.”