The Rancher's Second Chance

by Victoria James

  Her father backed up a step. “Forrester, this is a family matter; it has nothing to do with our deal.

  “Melanie has everything to do with me. I should have listened to her.”

  Cole turned around to look at her. The anger in his body was obvious from the tightly wound posture, the straight line of his mouth, and in the brown depths of his eyes. But as she made eye contact with him, willing herself not to bawl like a baby at the sheer humiliation she felt at having him witness her being struck down like a worthless human being, she saw the anger drain from his eyes and to be replaced with something else.

  “Mel, are you all right?”

  She nodded and looked away.

  “She’s fine. Let’s not get carried away,” her father snapped. “I can explain.”

  “There is no explanation, no justification for what I just saw. Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time. Get. The. Hell. Off. My. Property.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cole shoved Melanie’s father so that he was forced to stumble back, away from Melanie, and onto the porch. Every muscle in his body ached with need to make this man feel the humiliation he just witnessed from Melanie. He wanted to make him feel small and weak and insignificant. And then he wanted to spend the rest of his life making sure Melanie knew just how important, strong, and significant she was.

  “You can’t afford to throw a deal like this away. Not over her.”

  “You don’t know anything about me. If you did, you’d know there would be no way in hell I’d ever go into business with you after what I just saw.”

  “What you saw was a personal family issue that I needed to resolve.”

  Cole grabbed a fistful of Phillip’s shirt and twisted it, forcing himself to stay controlled as he leaned in close to his face. “You have no issues to resolve with her anymore. You stay the hell away from her, from my ranch, from my family.”

  Phillip’s eyes narrowed to nasty little slits. “You’re going to regret this. I’ll tell you this, Forrester. You can keep Melanie. She’s dead to me. But if my daughter, Meredith, shows up here looking for her sister, I will be back.”

  Cole tightened his hold on him, ignoring the man emerging from Phillip’s limo. “Go ahead and try, but the next time you set foot on my property I swear to God my fist will make contact with your face until you can’t utter another goddamn word from that mouth.”

  “You don’t know who you’re threatening, boy. You take in Meredith, and I will take you and your company down.”

  Cole unclenched his fist and released him. “Try me.”

  Phillip turned and walked away and Cole forced himself not to reach out and hit him. But as he watched Phillip get into the waiting limousine, his rage for the man was slowly replaced by his own self-loathing. He turned around, needing to see the woman he’d failed.

  With every step he took toward her, he shut down all the doors of his past to fully let Melanie in. He stood in front of her, hating that her head was bent. He reached out to cup her face, tilting it gently to look at her cheek. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.

  “Mel, I’m sorry. I’m so goddamn sorry. You asked me not to do this deal and I said no. If I had known all of it, how he really was…” His voice trailed off, and he couldn’t speak.

  She pulled back from him slightly, her eyes not meeting his. “I’ve never told anyone. It’s so hard to talk about, to people like you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She looked up at him then and the longing in her eyes made his gut twist until he couldn’t breathe. “People who value each other. Real family. This hurts. It kills me, and I want the floor to swallow me up so you can’t see me. This side of me. I am so embarrassed.”

  He pulled her against him so that at the very least his body could give her the comfort he didn’t know words would ever be able to achieve. “Don’t ever be ashamed with me,” he whispered against her soft hair.

  “And I’m so sorry you lost this deal.”

  “I have no regrets. Actually, I do. I regret I didn’t see this, that I didn’t just take your word when you asked me. I’m sorry, Melanie.”

  “And what about Sarah?”

  “Hey, you two know there’s a wedding today? Cole, your sister is looking for you.” Gage’s loud voice startled them as he bounded down the stairs toward them. Melanie straightened out her hair and took a deep breath. She forced a smile in his general direction that was so goddamn pitiful he wanted to yell at Gage for interrupting them. They were nowhere near done.

  “I’ll get to Cori in a few minutes.”

  “Seriously, man, she’s crying upstairs, something about missing your parents. I told her you went to the cemetery but you gotta speed things up.”

  Cole barely managed to hold onto every curse he wanted to fling at his obtuse friend. Melanie’s face was already a few shades paler at the mention of Sarah. No wonder; he couldn’t blame her. He hadn’t made it clear to her that he had said good-bye to Sarah. But now the wedding day was here and his little sister was crying and Melanie was hurt and vulnerable.

  “Hurry the hell up and haul your ass upstairs, you smell like a horse.”

  Melanie touched his arm. “He’s right. You should go see Cori. You’re not even dressed yet. I’ve got so much to take care of still,” she said, walking backward.

  Cole frowned slightly and turned so that his back was to Gage. He ignored the irritated sound that his friend made. “So, I’ll see you in the sleigh?”

  Melanie shook her head, not making eye contact with him. “No, you’re going with Cori. I’ll be following along in another one. You should really go,” she said gesturing to the staircase.

  “This isn’t done. We still need to talk. Tonight, okay?”

  She gave him a small nod, and he forced himself to walk away.

  …

  Candles flickered, soft music played, and the crystal sparkled. Guests were all seated, enjoying the food and ambiance in the great room. Melanie had picked up on many conversations about the venue, the atmosphere, and what a romantic wedding it was. She glanced down at her watch and her heart skipped a beat. Cole should be standing soon, ready to make his toast to Cori.

  Melanie smoothed her hair over the side of her face, hoping it would be enough to cover the bruise she knew was threatening to appear. She held the polite, static smile that had stayed in place all day, as though it had been ironed on. She kept replaying Cole and her father’s confrontation. But more than anything, she replayed Cole’s words.

  She leaned against the wall slightly, happy to be away from the table. He stood, not saying a word. His tanned skin stood out against the crisp white shirt. His wide shoulders perfectly framed in the impeccably tailored charcoal suit. The corner of his mouth tilted upward slightly and he held up a glass of champagne, giving it a light rap to get everyone’s attention. Not that he needed to. He was a man that got noticed.

  “I’d like to begin by thanking everyone for being here today.” He scanned the room, and Melanie retreated farther into the corner. “Corrina has been the sweetest sister I could have ever asked for. And I’m so proud of the woman she’s become. You know, growing up, being the older brother, I was occasionally asked for advice. And I was happy to oblige—especially when it came to dating advice. But Cori grew up into one of the most compassionate, loyal, and loving people I’ve ever known. My late wife, Sarah, loved her like a sister. I know she’d be so proud of you today, Cori.”

  Melanie hastily swiped the tears from her cheeks as she listened to Cole’s poignant speech, heard the emotion in his voice. “You were there for me at my darkest moments, and I have no doubt I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for you. You’re the best little sister a guy could ever ask for, and I love you dearly. You deserve all the happiness today and always. You’ve made us all proud, and Mom and Dad must be watching over you today, filled with joy. Adam, take care of my little sister, and treat her well. I w
ish you both a lifetime of happiness together. Congratulations,” he said, holding up his glass of champagne.

  Melanie glanced over to the corridor as a sick foreboding gripped her and the sound of clapping and well-wishes faded. The flickering candlelight made it difficult to see in the distance, but she slipped out of the room. She didn’t look over at Cole, didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Her eyes were on the doorway of the house. Gage filled the entry with a woman in his arms.

  Melanie cried out, reaching the front door as she recognized Meredith’s lifeless body in Gage’s arms.

  “Merry,” she whispered.

  “She’s passed out,” Gage said in a harsh whisper. He was heading toward the study, away from the possibility of any guests seeing them.

  “What’s wrong with her?” she asked, terrified as she looked at her sister’s pale face.

  “I don’t know. I was out on the porch when I saw the cab pull up. She opened the door, took a step, and she just collapsed,” he said gruffly. He lowered her onto the leather couch. Melanie was relieved to see her sister stir. She knelt beside her, taking her hand, alarmed by how cold it was.

  “Merry, it’s me, Melanie. You’re here.”

  Her sister’s eyes opened, and they immediately filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Mel. I’m sorry for what I said to you the other night. I was wrong. You were right. And you need to know I did miss you. Every day since you left. You’ve always been my best friend. Last night was the last straw. I finally reached my breaking point and left. I left him,” she said on a sob and curled her body toward Melanie. Melanie instinctively embraced her, smoothing her hair and saying a silent prayer of thanks.

  “It’s going to be okay. You’re safe here. Come on,” she said helping her sister into a seated position. “Come up to the guest room; you can relax there until the wedding is over. Then you can come back to my place,” she said, holding onto her sister’s arm as Meredith slowly stood. Once again Melanie was struck by how thin her sister was, how worn she looked.

  Gage’s arm came around the other side of Meredith and he made eye contact with her. She had never seen that look on Gage’s face before. The cowboy she’d come to know always had a smile, a laugh. But he looked protective. Fiercely so. “I’ll help you up the stairs,” he said in a low voice.

  Minutes later, Melanie was drawing back the covers on the bed of the spare bedroom she’d slept in not that long ago.

  “Really, no need to fuss over me. Honestly. I’m fine. I’ll just rest here for a few minutes,” her sister said, shooting her and Gage a wan smile. Meredith sat on the edge of the bed and slipped her feet out of her black patent heels. Melanie didn’t stop staring at her, and she was positive she could hear her sister sigh with exhaustion as she drew her legs up onto the bed.

  “Settle in. It’s not a bother. Mrs. Harris loves company. Take a nap,” Melanie said gently.

  She looked over at Gage who hadn’t spoken a word. He was now standing over by the window, his back turned to them. His posture was rigid and his hands were tucked into his pockets.

  “Rest,” Melanie urged. She drew a deep breath of relief when Meredith finally agreed and laid her head back on the pillow. Melanie gathered the sheet and quilt, placing it on top of her. “Everything will be fine. You’re safe here. Go to sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s time to go,” she whispered. She stared at her sister’s face, not quite believing this was happening. Meredith had finally left. Meredith could be the woman she wanted to be. They would be sisters again.

  “Come on,” she whispered to Gage, who glanced over at Meredith, giving her a nod. They walked in silence to the door and she stopped when her sister called her name. She turned around to look at her. Meredith stared straight into her eyes, her chin quivering.

  “You were right. I had given him the test. He failed.” She tucked the blanket under her chin and shut her eyes. Melanie stood still, not quite ready to leave, hating that she’d been right. But her sister admitting it was the final piece of evidence she needed.

  …

  Low chatter and laughter followed Cole out onto the porch. He didn’t know what to make of anything. He hadn’t counted on Phillip Anderson being the monster in Melanie’s childhood. He knew, the moment he’d seen that bastard’s hands on her, that there was no going back for him. Oh, he had come to terms with the fact that he loved Melanie. He knew that. But when he saw Phillip touching her, he knew the depth of it, because at that moment he knew he’d be capable of anything to keep her safe. And he had no doubt that the dissolution of their business deal was the right thing to do.

  He’d wanted to die, or to kill, when he witnessed Phillip’s hand strike Melanie. A rage he’d never known before engulfed him, challenging all his beliefs, and for the briefest of seconds had justified how he wanted to hurt her father. To make him pay. Every god-awful word, story that Melanie had confided, and all the ones he knew she had kept to herself, throbbed in his ears as he stared at her tormentor. Her father. The man that should have been her protector. And he knew he wanted to make him pay. He wanted him to feel as small and insignificant as he’d made his daughter feel. He wanted to hurt him.

  With every aching part of his body, he wanted to hurt him until he couldn’t stand. And yet he knew he wouldn’t, not with Melanie there. Phillip Anderson wasn’t a man. He was merely the image of a man with an empty soul.

  He frowned, wondering where the hell Melanie was. He couldn’t seem to get her alone all day. He took a deep breath of the cold night air and looked out into the darkened landscape beyond him. Night had set in and the lanterns were already twinkling up the drive. Melanie had coordinated a stunning event. He glanced over at the trail leading to the stable. It was a long shot, but worth a try. The cold night air beat against the thin fabric of his suit jacket, and he hoped to hell his hunch was right. He let out a long sigh as he rounded the corner, the light from the barn on and the door slightly ajar. It had to be her.

  He stopped at the entry. Melanie’s silhouette was outlined by the dim light in the stable corridor. His heart swelled; it occurred to him she was standing in front of Rusty’s stall. He walked forward, her soft voice becoming clearer as he approached. A raw, gnawing ache pulsed through him.

  She shot him a sidelong smile when he stopped a few feet away, which only intensified the ache.

  “I, um, thought I’d come out and say hello to Rusty. I wondered if he was insulted he wasn’t asked to pull any of the sleighs today. I didn’t want him to feel like he wasn’t good enough.”

  Just when he thought he couldn’t hurt more for her, he did. He took a few steps forward, tensing when she still didn’t turn to face him fully. He wanted to talk about today. She’d been on her own, taking charge of the wedding, mingling with guests, and offering her gorgeous brave smile to everyone. And it killed him knowing she’d had to keep her wounds hidden. It killed him that they couldn’t have spent the day together, hiding from the world.

  It had killed him not to tell her he loved her.

  “I’ve figured out that Rusty and I are actually quite alike.”

  She stood there, in her pink silk dress, the graceful curve of her bare shoulders highlighted as moonlight seemed to hug her body. She was poised, elegant, and lovely. All of Melanie was out of place in the earthy, rustic stable, yet at the same time was completely perfect. He had never seen anyone more perfect. And nothing like this damn horse she was insisting she had so much in common with.

  “You must be freezing out here.”

  She shrugged. “It’s not too bad.”

  “Mel?”

  She stilled her hand on Rusty’s mane. “Yes.”

  “Mel, are you all right?” He enveloped her into his arms and kissed her silky hair. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

  “Don’t. Don’t apologize. I’m fine. Really.”

  He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. He had come out here to tell her how he really felt about her. “We need to talk.” Hi
s eyes went from her red, swollen eyes to her full lips.

  She nodded. “I need to tell you everything. I’ve been standing out here thinking how unfair it was for me to demand you not go through with that deal without knowing why. It wasn’t a family quarrel. I grew up in a dysfunctional family with an abusive father and I refuse to hide from it anymore. Or you. I refuse to be ashamed because of something I had no control over.”

  Cole held his breath and waited. He thought when she moved that she was going to step closer to him, but instead she rested her hand on the bar of Rusty’s stall. She tilted her head forward, and Rusty nuzzled her face. And then the goddamn horse had the nerve to look him in the eye and he could swear those lazy eyes of his were filled with smug satisfaction.

  “You remember when I started to tell you about that weekend that my family had to attend that getaway?”

  “Yes.”

  “We all had hair appointments made. New wardrobes purchased for the weekend. The night before we were to leave, he ran down this long checklist of things to remember and he mentioned horseback riding. Since he really didn’t pay attention to anything about Meredith and me, he had no idea that since I was little I’d had some irrational horse phobia. He just assumed Meredith and I were both competent riders since the school’s program offered riding lessons. He didn’t know I had refused all riding lessons after trying it a few times. So I told him. I told him I didn’t know how to ride a horse and he went ballistic on me. I looked over at my mother, hoping for something, but she just sat in silence not making eye contact with me.”

  He swore under his breath. The damn horse. Jeezus he was an ass.

  Melanie shook her head and held up her finger. “Don’t. Don’t say it. Let me finish. It was late at night and he drove me out to the stables where Meredith had her horse boarded. I was shaking the entire ride. I remember sitting there, counting on my hand how many more years I needed to live with them until I was an adult. With each curse he threw at me, I shut down, word by word. I swore I’d find a way out. He hauled me out of the car and all but dragged me to the stable. He barked out an order to one of the stable boys to saddle up a horse for a beginner. Luckily, there weren’t too many people there at that time of night.”