by Iris Abbott
SECOND CHANCE BRIDE AND GROOM
Rancher’s Bend Bride and Groom Series
Book 2
Iris Abbott
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WARNING:
IRIS ABBOTT
Books by Iris Abbott
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
EPILOGUE
Thank you
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
SECOND CHANCE BRIDE AND GROOM
Copyright © 2012 by Iris Abbott
First E-book publication: October 2012
Cover design by Iris Abbott
Photos obtained from bigstockphoto.com.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters in this book are fictitious and exist only in the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
IRIS ABBOTT has always enjoyed reading, especially romances. She grew up in North Carolina and has also lived in California and Georgia. She travels extensively throughout the United States and enjoys sharing the ambiance of some of her favorite places through her stories. When she’s not writing emotion packed romances with a happily-ever-after ending, this former high school science teacher is traveling with her husband, taking photos, bird watching, riding her bicycle, or taking care of one very spoiled and demanding cat. She loves to hear from readers and fans. She can be reached at [email protected]. Please check out her website irisabbott.com and the Facebook page for Iris Abbott (author).
Books by Iris Abbott
A VERY VEGAS CHRISTMAS
Montgomery Family and Friends Series
A MONTGOMERY HOMECOMING
AUBREY’S SONG
A MONTGOMERY MARRIAGE
CAROLINE’S SEDUCTION
EVAN’S SURRENDER
LAURA’S STORM
FAITH’S SHERIFF
Enigma, Maine Series
A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE
A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CLAIM
A PIRATE’S LOVING KISS
A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
LITTLE RED VALENTINE
OCEAN’S LOVING EMBRACE
A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS
A WOLF’S LOVING VALENTINE
EAGLE’S EMBRACE
MAGIC’S EMBRACE
HUNTER’S EMBRACE
VAMPIRE’S EMBRACE
GUARDIAN'S EMBRACE
Rancher’s Bend Bride and Groom Series
ACCIDENTAL BRIDE AND GROOM
SECOND CHANCE BRIDE AND GROOM
EXPECTANT BRIDE AND GROOM
SURPRISE BRIDE AND GROOM
Island Medical Series
LOVE CURES ALL
ISLAND CHRISTMAS
Metal Cowboys Series
COPPER
MERCURY
STEEL
CHROME
GOLD
IRON
TITANIUM
Warm Hearts Series
GIVE ME HEART
GIVE ME LOVE
GIVE ME SHELTER
ONE
Mandy looked down at the bridal bouquet that had flown straight into her lap. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think that the bride had thrown the flowers there on purpose. That wasn’t likely as Mandy had never even met the bride. Any other time the cheerful mix of a large bright yellow sunflower surrounded by dainty lavender and yellow roses would have made her smile. Not this time, however.
She’d seen the glare Jackson Walker threw her way when she caught the bouquet. He acted as if it was her fault Landon’s wife didn’t have good aim. Mandy hadn’t even been a part of the mass of single women gathered behind the bride in hopes of snagging the flowers and what little bit of bridal magic they might possess. She was too busy trying to keep the family ranch afloat and comforting her mother. She didn’t have time to date, much less husband hunt. And she wasn’t one to harbor romantic dreams, at least not anymore. Those days were years behind her now. Jackson had certainly seen to that. It had taken him only five minutes to shatter her romantic illusions into too many pieces to put back together.
Mandy gripped the floral arrangement with shaking fingers. She lifted it to her nose and smelled the fresh, crisp scent of the roses and sunflower. It was indeed a gorgeous bridal bouquet. She couldn’t have found flowers more suited to her tastes if she had tried. Not that she would need a bridal bouquet anytime soon. She already had more than she could handle on her overfilled plate.
She noticed a few single women who’d actually been vying for the bouquet send her mean looks. It was time for her to say her goodbyes to the happy couple and make a dignified exit before the gossip started up again. The last thing her mother needed right now was a daughter who was the talk of the town. Once had been more than enough! Mandy had no intention of reliving those days ever again. That meant staying well away from Jackson Walker she reminded herself.
Mandy needed to head back to the Tyler Ranch and check on her mom anyway. Her mother had been invited to the wedding just like Mandy, but she had refused to come. She was still in a deep depression over the death of Mandy’s father. Mandy knew it would do her mother good to socialize and visit with old friends, but getting her mother out of the house was a chore she had yet to accomplish. She was beginning to fear it might never happen. Her parents had loved each other deeply, and it was going to take time for her mom to heal. Mandy could recognize that fact, even if she’d never been blessed enough to share a love like the one her parents had been lucky enough to find.
She sent a cheery wave toward Lynn Thompson who was a former classmate and the sister of the groom. This was actually supposed to be Lynn’s and Bruce’s wedding. About two weeks before the wedding, Bruce a paramedic and fireman with the local squad that specializes in search and rescue was sent to Mexico City to help in the aftermath of an earthquake. Lynn, a nurse who was on vacation to take care of last-minute wedding details, volunteered to go with Bruce’s squad to help with the rescue. On the way back to Texas the couple was delayed in Las Vegas. They decided to take advantage of the opportunity and elope.
Meanwhile, Lynn’s longtime friend and college roommate had come to town to visit and help Lynn prepare for the wedding. She and Landon the bride’s brother were thrown together as apparently one wedding crisis after another occurred. Somewhere during that two-week period, they must have decided they were in love and couldn’t live without each other because they were the ones that had gotten married today. The couple was quickly earning the nickname of accidental bride and groom. Mandy had heard it whispered amongst the wedding guests more than once. She had to agree that she thought it was an apt description.
She walked over to the couple of the moment and shook hands with them. “Congratulations Landon. I hope the two of you are very happy together.” She was very sincere in her good wishes. The James family had always been wonderful neighbors.
“Thank you, Mandy, and welcome back. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you grace Rancher’s Bend with your presence,” he teased. “Let me introduce my wife, Mrs. Emma James,” he turned toward the woman at his side. “Emma this is our neighbor to the southeast, Ms. Mandy Tyler.”
Mandy shook hands with the bride and noted they were about the same age. Evidently, Landon didn’t think he was too old for Emma. The bitter thou
ght materialized before she could stop it. The difference in their ages had always been the standard excuse given to her by Jackson Walker. Well, she was done with him. She didn’t have any use for an arrogant playboy veterinarian that didn’t have the good sense to know what a great catch she was. She shoved aside the unwanted thoughts of Jackson and concentrated on the bride. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. James.”
The bride actually blushed. “Call me Emma, please. We’re about the same age. And I’m sure we’re going to be really good friends, especially since we live right next to each other.” She winked at the willowy blond with the haunting violet eyes. “As a matter of fact, I will be sending you and your mom a dinner invitation as soon as I’m settled on the ranch.”
The mention of her mom reminded Mandy that duty called. She needed to get back to her own ranch. It wasn’t a good idea to leave her mother alone for too long. She offered Emma a warm smile. “I’ll look forward to it. Take care,” Mandy issued in the way of goodbye. She turned from the blissful couple and headed out the door.
The dinner would be a nice respite from all the hard work waiting for her on the ranch. Mandy just didn’t know if she would have time to attend any more social occasions after tonight, even dinner with neighbors. Her mother might be feeling better by the time the invitation was issued, but then again, she might be worse. And that was just one more thing pulling Mandy in several different directions.
She stepped into the cooling night air. It had been very wise of the James’s to have an early evening wedding Mandy decided. The sun had finally set, and things were beginning to cool. Mandy made her way to the bright red sports car her dad had bought her as a college graduation present. She needed to sell it. The flashy car wasn’t much use to her on the ranch, and her dad hadn’t left things in good shape financially. She needed the money more than she needed the car, even if it did have sentimental value now that her dad was gone.
Mandy loved her father. He was the kindest man she’d ever known, but even she had to admit he had not possessed a good head for business. The ranch was in trouble, and Mandy didn’t know if her best efforts were going to be enough to save the ranch that had been in her family for four generations now. It was times like this that she wished she hadn’t been an only child because she could sure use some help right now. A shoulder to lean on had never been more welcome, or so far away. She was close to breaking under all the strain. Somehow, she would hold it all together though. She didn’t have a choice. Everything depended on it.
She had a meeting with the president of the community bank first thing Monday morning. Mandy would have more of an idea of where things stood after that meeting. If things were as bad as the family attorney settling the estate led her to believe, she didn’t think even a miracle could save her childhood home. She wasn’t expecting any help from the bank. The president wasn’t exactly known for being lender friendly. Things were tough all over, and that particular banker didn’t take any prisoners when it came to the bank’s bottom dollar. He was ruthless and went straight for the kill. Nope, there wouldn’t be any help from that quarter. Mandy didn’t believe in knights in shining armor. It was up to her to resolve the mess left behind by her dad.
Mandy had to walk by Jackson Walker’s large SUV to get to her car. She noticed he was standing by the driver’s door talking on his mobile phone. He slid the phone into his pocket just as she was about to walk past. She hid the bouquet behind her back. She hoped out of sight meant out of mind. She was not in the mood to tangle with Jackson.
She averted her gaze away from the sexy cowboy and kept on walking. There had been a time when she’d have given anything to be alone with Jackson in a deserted parking lot after dark. Those days were long behind her. And she wasn’t looking to take an unpleasant trip down memory lane.
Jackson felt his ire rise as Mandy prepared to pass him by without even sparing him a second glance. Once upon a time
she’d have batted those long thick lashes of hers and tried to engage him in conversation. Most likely so she could flirt and flaunt her very tempting body. He knew he should just let her walk past, but he couldn’t help himself. The proverbial devil sitting on his shoulder made him open his mouth before he even knew what he was doing.
“Where are those fancy flowers you caught earlier?” he asked in a deep southern drawl. “I figured for sure you’d be chasing me around the ranch once you caught the bridal bouquet,” he teased. “I even came out here to put on my running shoes.”
Mandy felt that slow, sexy, Texas twang shiver its way down her spine and stop just short of curling her toes. In the old days, she would have died before she gave up an opportunity to flirt with Jackson Walker. Well not anymore. She’d gotten the hint, several of them in fact. He wasn’t interested in her, end of story. She had more important things to do with her time than chase after someone who so obviously wasn’t interested. She didn’t even know why he bothered speaking to her this time. He must be really bored was all she could figure. She gave him and his SUV a wider berth and just kept on walking.
Jackson did not know what possessed him, but he wanted to keep pushing until he got a response. He wanted to see some sign of the feisty girl that used to endlessly dog his path. “Surely you have something to say to me. It’s been a really long time since you’ve had the chance.” When that didn’t elicit a response, he tried again. “I thought I was the love of your life and you’d never forget me. Isn’t that what you promised the night you begged me to make love to you? It was right after your high school graduation if I remember correctly.”
Mandy’s steps faltered. Why did he have to bring that night up? It was best forgotten along with everything else from that horrible summer. She could feel the tears threaten. They burned the back of her eyes begging to be let free. She struggled to hold them in. She wouldn’t give Jackson the satisfaction of knowing he could still get to her.
She straightened her spine and turned her violet-eyed gaze on the man behind her. “I know to someone as ancient as you, six years might not seem like very long, but to someone as young as me, it’s a lifetime, Jackson. I grew up. You don’t have to worry about me following you around and making cow eyes at you anymore. Frankly, over the past few years, I’ve discovered you’re not all that, Jackson Walker.” Her tongue stumbled over the last few words of the fib, but she managed to get them out anyway.
She turned away from Jackson and briskly walked away. She was practically running now. She had to leave Jackson behind before she made a total fool of herself. Oh wait, it was too late for that. She’d already made a fool of herself, six years ago. She used the remote on the keychain to unlock the door of her car. She wrenched it open as soon as the door was in reach. She threw the flowers in the seat next to her, started the car, and drove off of the James Ranch in a hurry.
She was heedless of the cloud of dust she kicked up behind her. She needed the sanctuary of her ranch. The more distance she could put between herself and Jackson Walker the better she would feel. Too bad they were neighbors. They were bound to run into each other occasionally. It just couldn’t be helped in a town the size of Rancher’s Bend. Frankly, she could go the rest of her life without ever laying eyes on that cowboy again.
Jackson stared after the retreating sporty red convertible that was so suited to Mandy’s personality. Soon the car itself was out of sight, but he followed the progress of the dust cloud as it made its way off the ranch and to the highway that connected Tyler Ranch with James Ranch as well as Jackson’s own home. He felt a slight pang at her attempt to ignore him.
He should be disgusted with himself and his attempt to rile a response out of her. He had endured enough of Mandy’s flirting and unwanted attention six years ago. Indeed, enough to last a lifetime. The summer of her intense infatuation, he couldn’t wait for her to wise up and move on. And now that she’d apparently done just that, he was disappointed.
He shook his head. She was still too young for him he reminded himself. He should let
her go about her own business and just thank his lucky stars that she didn’t want to torture him anymore. Jackson was in the middle of this pep talk with his conscience when his mother arrived by his side.
“I thought I might find you out here. Tired of the festivities, already are you?” she asked with an arched brow. When that didn’t get a response, Nancy Walker tried again. “I saw that pretty neighbor of ours catch the bridal bouquet. The sunflower and dainty roses become her I think. She always was a bright spot of sunshine when she was growing up. I haven’t heard a laugh as pretty as hers from anyone else.”
His mother paused and gave Jackson a look full of mischief. “So, do you think we might be attending another wedding anytime soon?” She let out a little trill of laughter. “You know what they say about bridal bouquets and the women who catch them!” She narrowed her eyes and peered intently at her son. She was looking for any outward sign of a reaction. “I would enjoy the challenge of another fancy wedding cake. I haven’t had so much fun in ages.” She gave her son a bright smile.
Jackson didn’t answer. He just climbed in behind the wheel of his luxury SUV and slammed the door, hard. Then he asked himself why the thought of his former nuisance getting married bothered him so much. And as for the flowers, well that was just an old superstition anyway. Just because she caught the bridal bouquet didn’t mean anything.
Local gossip hadn’t linked Mandy with anyone since she’d returned to Rancher’s Bend. And if there was one thing he knew about small southern towns; the rumor mills were always open for business. Local gossipers couldn’t know everything though. She could have a serious boyfriend tucked away back in San Antonio, and no one in Rancher’s Bend would be any the wiser. The thought irked him more than it should. He yanked his seatbelt none too gently and clicked it into place.
Nancy Walker chuckled. Her son wasn’t as immune to the return of Mandy Tyler as he would have people believe. She’d heard all the rumors that circulated about Mandy and Jackson over the years. She knew that the adorable Mandy Tyler had been a thorn in her son’s side for longer than he’d care to admit, especially to his own mother.