The Rancher's Second Chance

by Victoria James

  “Oh God, not the teenage pictures,” Cole said with a groan as he walked up to her.

  She forced a smile and turned to him. He placed a platter of crackers, cheese, and fruit on a side table. “I’m impressed,” she said with a nod in the direction of the tray.

  “Don’t be. Mrs. H left it for me in the fridge.” She passed him the picture in her hands and watched as a smile played on his lips. “This picture was taken right before I got my driver’s license. I almost didn’t get it because the night before I had taken one of the ranch pickups out for a spin without telling my father.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He was pissed as hell,” he said with a chuckle. “But he let me take the test and then didn’t let me drive for two weeks.”

  Melanie forced her smile and the innocence of the comment to remain, even though it triggered memories of her adolescence and upbringing. She never would have even contemplated doing something like that. And the punishment would have been disastrous.

  Cole put the picture back on the shelf. “Hey, you okay, Mel?”

  Melanie tried to blink away the image of her father and focus on the handsome man beside her. This man was nothing like her father. She nodded. “I’m fine, just tired. Long day.”

  He tugged her over to the sofa and she sat down beside him. “Did you manage to get through to your clients?”

  “I did and was lucky. They both rescheduled.”

  He handed her a plate with an assortment of food from the tray. “That’s great.”

  “Thanks,” she said. Her father never would have prepared a plate of anything for her mother. He would have sat and waited, and then if her mother picked the wrong cheese or the wrong cracker would have chastised her.

  “Why does it feel like you’re a million miles away tonight?”

  She drew a deep breath and turned toward him. She didn’t know what to say, or why all these memories kept popping into her head. It must be the fact that she knew Cole was doing business with him, and she knew her father was either in town or coming to town this week. But how could she tell Cole any of this? She was saved having to give him a fake answer when his cell phone buzzed.

  “Shoot. Hold on, I need to check if this is Adam or Cori.”

  “Oh I hope it’s good news.”

  “Dammit. Not them. But I need to take this. I’m sorry, it’ll be quick, okay?”

  She nodded.

  “Phillip? How are you? Absolutely. I can have my foreman available, and we’ll see you at the ranch at nine o’clock.”

  Melanie spilled her plate of food and cursed herself. Get it together. And get out of here.

  “Here, let me help you, sweetheart.” The tenderness in his voice made tears sting the back of her eyes. How was it possible her father still had this hold on her life?

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “Cole, I’m sorry I’m really out of it tonight. It’s been a long day, and I think I should just get back to town.”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Okay.”

  “Okay?”

  He nodded, standing. “You want to go, Mel. I’m not going to force you to stay here. I’m also not going to let this end. I know what happened the other night is scaring the crap out of you for some reason and I’m not going to push you. But I’m not going to walk away from this either. I’ll wait for you.”

  Chapter Nine

  Melanie stared at the numbers on her spreadsheet, wishing somehow that numbers did lie. This was the year her business needed to make a big jump in profit. Year five was supposed to be an important year for a small business. If she didn’t have the business loans and student debt, she’d be turning a healthy profit. Realistically, it would take her at least two more years of serious scrimping and saving.

  She leaned back in her chair, twirling her pen between her fingers. She could cut the part-time help, put in more hours herself. She leaned forward and adjusted her numbers again to see how much of a difference that would make. Not bad. Really what she needed was a partner. Someone who’d be willing to work for crappy pay with the promise that one day the business would be profitable. Not profitable—very successful. She needed to keep focused on that. Despite the lack of cash flow, her business was on its way to being a huge success.

  She needed her sister. Meredith was the one with the head for numbers. Melanie had always been the more artistic, creative type. Together they would have been able to make this something huge. She glanced at the display on her phone again. She hadn’t heard back from Meredith. On her way to work she kept looking for any sign of her or their father, but so far nothing.

  Her other problem, of course, was the handsome cowboy and his surprising connection to her father. What were the odds that Cole’s deal was with her father? Everything about him was perfect. And she was running away from it, because of her father. I’ll wait for you. Those words and his face had played in her dreams the entire night.

  She looked up startled as the chime to her store rang.

  The sound of feminine voices and laughter wafted through the quiet store, and Melanie remembered who it was. How could she have forgotten her meeting with her friends, Piper and Kira? Piper owned Silver Bells and Cockle Shells and Kira owned All Fired Up, a pottery studio, both in downtown Passion Creek. The three had first met for business, but friendships formed and they now got together whenever they could. Melanie was glad for the distraction.

  “Hey, girls,” she said, rising to walk over to them. She forced an extra-chipper smile on her face, knowing how astute these two were at reading her expressions.

  Once they were all settled in chairs, coffees in hand, she looked at the favors they’d brought for Cori’s wedding. Melanie inhaled sharply at the stunning silvered tea-light holders Piper had created. “These are so perfect. Just perfect. They’ll all go on the altar, between the silver buckets of roses and then at the reception.”

  Piper leaned forward in her chair. “I’m thrilled you love them. Not that I’m complaining about the business, but kind of curious they’d want seashells for a winter wedding, isn’t it?”

  “The groom proposed on the beach in the Caribbean, so it’s a sentimental addition to the decor,” she said with a smile.

  Melanie poked her head into the bag Kira brought. “I’ve been dying to see these,” she whispered, carefully pulling out a small pot from Kira’s pottery studio.

  “What do you think? Do you like them?”

  Melanie took a deep breath as she held the pot in her hand. “Kira, this is exactly what I wanted.” She tried not to get choked up at the significance. Cole was going to be touched by the gesture. Cori planned on surprising him with it.

  Kira smiled. “And you’re putting flowers inside?”

  Melanie nodded vigorously, placing the pot back in the bag. “I just need to pick up the boxes and then each one will be wrapped with a pink satin ribbon and a card indicating the significance of the flower and the donation that will be made on the guest’s behalf.”

  “I think that’s such a wonderful gesture,” Kira said, watching her a little too closely. Melanie averted her eyes. She was already giving herself away.

  Piper frowned. “Wait, what’s this gesture?”

  Melanie took a sip of coffee. Do this without crying. “Corrina’s sister-in-law died of cancer five years ago. Her favorite flowers were hydrangeas. We’re going to place white hydrangea plants in each pot and then tie a small note saying a donation to the American Cancer Society was made in each guest’s name. They were really close, and Cori thought it would be a nice tribute.” She looked into her coffee cup and cleared her throat of the emotion that had clogged there.

  Piper sniffled. “Oh that’s so sweet. And so sad.” She took a sip of her coffee, and the three of them sat in silence longer than they had ever sat quiet together before. “So this was Cole’s wife, right?”

  Melanie stared into her cup. She knew both of them were watching her closely. They should have had this little get-together
at The Loft where drinks might have lessened their curiosity and the dim lighting hidden her expressions.

  “Um, yup,” she said. “You know, enough about this wedding. How are you two doing? You both survived that blizzard?” She narrowed her eyes as both her friends shiftily looked in opposite directions.

  “We’re fine. Well, what about you, Mel?”

  “Me? I was stranded in some backwoods, mountain-man cabin with Cole. He’s about to sign some contract connecting him to the father I no longer speak to.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Piper said. Melanie held up her hand.

  “Sympathy not needed. Appreciated, but not needed,” she said, forcing a casual smile on her face that neither of them was buying judging by the pity still entrenched on their pretty faces.

  “We should go for drinks,” Kira announced, standing.

  Melanie smiled. “Agreed.”

  The door chime sounded, and Melanie darted her head in the direction of the front of the store. She could have sworn all her meetings were done for the day.

  “Melly?”

  Melanie frowned at the sound of that voice. She stared at Piper and Kira, blinking repeatedly, trying to process.

  Hesitant footsteps approached and Melanie slowly rose, her heart throbbing with a steady ache. And there she was. In her store. In real life.

  Meredith, her sister.

  Melanie stared at her sister. Her long brown hair, shiny and straight, fell to her shoulders. Her brown eyes, the delicate bone structure, the perfectly applied makeup. She gave Melanie a small smile as she walked forward, poised and elegant in her designer coat and matching bag.

  “It’s really you, Merry?”

  Her sister looked over at her friends, and Melanie remembered they were still here. “Kira, Piper, this is my sister, Meredith,” she said, her voice sounding shaky to her own ears. Both her friends knew of her severed relationship, and they offered up cheerful greetings for a few awkward minutes.

  Kira cleared her throat and pointed at the door. “So, um, we’re going to leave now.”

  Piper nodded. “Yes, leaving,” she said, hastily grabbing their coats before they both backed out of the room. Once they were out of Meredith’s sight line they motioned to Melanie to call them. She gave them a smile and then turned to look at her sister.

  Melanie didn’t know what to do. Could she hug her? Was Meredith mad at her still? But she couldn’t. She couldn’t stand here, across from the sister she’d grown up with and not reach out to her. Melanie took a step forward, and Meredith met her halfway. Melanie felt the years, the distance, dissolve as her sister clung to her. How she’d missed her. How she’d longed for their nights of whispering and plotting and daydreaming.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” her sister whispered, her voice hoarse with tears.

  “Me, too.” Melanie didn’t want to let her go; she just wanted to stay and imagine that they were still the best of friends, united against their father.

  Finally, Melanie pulled away. She looked at her sister’s tear-streaked face and passed her a tissue, grabbing one for herself as well.

  “I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch, Mel, but there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought of you or wished we still lived together.”

  Melanie wanted to cry all over again. “Really?”

  Meredith nodded, smiling. “I thought you hated me, or were disappointed.”

  Melanie shook her head, unwilling to tell her sister she’d been upset. For a long time, she’d felt as though her mother and sister abandoned her, but she wasn’t going to blow her second chance. The entire family had seen her as the child who didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. Well now she would. She’d do anything to have a relationship with Meredith again.

  “We all made our choices, and my choice couldn’t have been easy for either of you, I know. I’ve felt so much guilt for leaving,” she said, her voice cracking.

  “Forget it. We can’t do this, not now, or we’ll never have a nice visit.”

  Melanie’s mouth dropped open. Her sister was staying? “How long are you here?”

  “I can only stay an hour,” she said softly.

  Melanie’s smile vanished. An hour.

  Meredith looked over her shoulder at the store window. “Dad is in town.”

  “I know. Does…does he know I live here?”

  Meredith nodded slowly. “He knows you live in Passion Creek.”

  “Does he know about my business?”

  She nodded again, but didn’t elaborate. It shouldn’t bother her. She shouldn’t care that her father was in the same town as her and couldn’t even be bothered to see her. Or see what she’d accomplished. Or that her mother hadn’t used the opportunity to come and visit. “Does he know you’re here, with me?”

  “No. Right now he’s with my fiancée, Ron.”

  Melanie dropped into a chair and forced a smile on her face. “Fiancée?”

  Meredith nodded. “He’s in town on business, and Ron is one of the VPs, so we’re all here for a few nights.”

  “I can’t believe you’re getting married. Congratulations.” She tried to sound happy. Her sister was getting married and she knew nothing about her future husband. She wouldn’t be invited to the wedding. They would have kids…and she would be…nothing.

  Meredith nodded and smiled tightly. “Thank you, I’m very excited.”

  Melanie knew that smile. It wasn’t the smile of pure, unadulterated joy. It was the smile of a woman holding on to secrets and pain.

  “Come, sit.” Melanie gestured to the two white upholstered chairs in front of her desk. “Actually, why don’t we go out for dinner?” she asked, excited by the possibility of catching up with her sister.

  Meredith was already shaking her head and sat down in one of the chairs. “That’s okay, let’s just stay here, it’s so lovely.” She didn’t look at Melanie as she untied the belt on her coat, taking it off and carefully draping it on the armrest. Her black wrap dress hung on her painfully thin body, and Melanie was torn again by whether or not she should say something. Her sister had never been so thin, her cheekbones noticeably high, the hollows beneath them pronounced.

  Shut up, Mel. Mind your own business. Don’t ruin this. Melanie forced herself to look natural. “Sure, we can stay here. How about I make us a coffee? Cappuccino?”

  “Coffee would be great. Black, please,” she said, smoothing her already perfect dress.

  As she waited for the single serve coffee to brew she wondered about Ron. What kind of man was he? If he knew their father that well, then surely he must have some inkling of what he was really like. And if he did, what would that say about the kind of man he was?

  She placed a floral china mug under the drip and waited for her coffee. After she added the right amount of milk to her coffee she picked up the two mugs and walked back to the chairs. She handed Meredith her cup and settled into the seat beside her. “I’m so happy you came to visit me.”

  Her sister smiled at her, taking a sip of the coffee. Melanie glanced at her sister’s hand, the massive diamond ring on her thin finger commanding notice. “What a gorgeous ring.”

  Meredith touched the ring absently, her voice devoid of any excitement. There was no waving of her hand, no arms flailing. Just a muted, “Thank you.”

  “So, come on. Fill me in. How are you? Mom? And this man you’re about to marry? Is he the hero we both dreamed up way back when? I believe your hero had blond hair and blue eyes, right?”

  “Wow, how do you remember all that stuff? You always were the one with the vivid imagination. I just went along with everything you said and did. But I guess he’s my version of the perfect hero,” she said, breaking Melanie’s stare.

  Melanie ignored the sting of her sister’s flippant dismissal of one of their childhood memories. She tightened her grip on the mug, wanting the warmth from the coffee to seep inside and ease the sudden chill. Her mother and her sister chose to stay behind and continue livi
ng a life where submission was the only game. She didn’t want to lecture her sister; she didn’t want to beg her to leave again. She would keep her mouth shut in order to spend this time with her.

  “So tell me about him; what’s he like?”

  Meredith crossed one long leg over the other and furrowed her perfect brows as she picked at some imaginary lint on her pristine dress. “He’s very smart. He comes from a very good family, long line of successful people. Old money.”

  “Oh, Merry,” she said, unable to keep her big mouth shut. “Why are you doing this? Do you love him?”

  “Of course I do. Don’t start judging me. You made your choice, and I made mine.”

  “Hey, we’re on the same side. I’ve got your back.”

  “My back? How can you have my back if you walked out?”

  “That’s not true. I had to leave and you could have come with me.”

  “You turned your back on us.”

  “No,” Melanie said, standing. She couldn’t believe Meredith still thought this way. Finally her sister had reached out to her and this is what she had to say? So nothing had changed. “No. I turned my back on our father. I defended you and Mom. I asked, no I begged, you to come with me. And you both refused. Dad is the one who cut me off and wouldn’t allow me back. I would have come to visit. I was alone.”

  “Stop it. I know more than you’ll ever know what went on there. I was there with mom when you left. And I took care of her when he unleashed all his anger on her after you walked out. I’m the one who watched her cry when he removed all your pictures from the house and forbid us from speaking about you.”

  Melanie stared at her sister, her words destroying the defenses she’d carefully constructed. It shouldn’t hurt. Her father’s actions should have no effect on her. He took down all the pictures of her, like she didn’t exist. And their mother had let him? She drew a long, shaky breath, forcing herself to speak instead of cry.

  “You’re a coward,” Melanie whispered, hating that she said that aloud. “At least I have something for myself. I’m not an object, a pawn for Dad to use when he needs to project what a great family man he is.”