Second Chance Cowboy--A Clean Romance

by Claire McEwen

  Two men Wes hadn’t met before set up a tripod and a big video camera in the grass on the other side of the pond.

  “It’s time,” Maya said. “Let’s do this.”

  “Goodbye, Mr. America,” Vivian said quietly.

  “Fly free,” Emily added.

  Wes sent a silent wish out to the bird that it would be safe. That it would live long and be well.

  Maya used the blanket to shield her hand as she lifted the door and folded it back over the roof of the eagle’s crate. Then they all walked several steps back again, until they were standing near the edge of the boardwalk. Vivian got her camera out and focused it on the crate.

  Emily reached for Wes’s hand and he folded his fingers around hers, seeking her warmth and comfort in this unexpectedly emotional situation. He glanced over and caught her using the sleeve of her free hand to dab at her eyes. He let go of her hand and put his arm around her.

  “I know I’m being silly,” she whispered.

  “No, it’s okay. I feel the same way, too.” She glanced up at him and pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. He caught her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.

  Nothing was happening at the crate. Maybe the eagle was still shaken up from his ride out here. Wes could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, hear Emily shift her weight, rustling the grass under her feet. Was something wrong with the eagle?

  Just then there was the scraping sound of talons on plastic, and Mr. America emerged from the crate. He waddled a few paces, so ungainly on the ground, and then glanced quickly from left to right, as if he were trying to get its bearings. Finally he unfolded his wings, flapping them experimentally at first, then with more confidence, until he rose up into the air, caught a current, flew higher and circled over the pond and his crowd of well-wishers.

  Fists pumped in a silent cheer as Mr. A circled higher, sailed across the valley and disappeared into the top of a large fir tree on the far side.

  Emily threw her arms around Wes. “He’s okay. He’s probably resting over there, but his flight feathers worked perfectly. He looked great!”

  “He sure did. Thanks to you.” He looked down at her. “You’re an amazing veterinarian, Em. You saved that bird.”

  There were tears on her cheeks when she looked up at him. “Sorry if I’m an emotional wreck but this kind of thing never gets old. We helped him out and now he has a second chance.”

  Wes grinned. “I know how he feels. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance, too.”

  Emily went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Everyone deserves one.”

  Vivian approached them, her smile pure elation as she high-fived Emily. “That was perfect. Picture-perfect. He’s magnificent.”

  Maya brought the crate and Wes let go of Emily to take it from her. They all clambered back up onto the boardwalk. Maya threw her arms around Vivian’s and Emily’s shoulders. “Ladies, we did it again. And Wes, too,” she added, shooting him a grin. “You can be an honorary lady.”

  “Thanks.” Wes didn’t care what he was. He was just glad that the eagle seemed so healthy and strong.

  Trisha came up the boardwalk to join them, Liam behind her holding Henry. She was getting so big her tummy poked out like a basketball. “That was amazing! I’m so proud of Mr. America!” She patted her stomach. “I’m just sorry I’m getting too big to be helpful.”

  “You nursed that bird during the weeks that he needed it the most,” Maya said. “That was the most important part, after Emily and Wes patched him up.”

  They all walked back to the main group, accepting congratulations from the donors and spectators. Back at the parking lot they said their goodbyes, and then it was just Emily and Wes, back in the cab of his pickup. “That was something special,” he said, leaning his head back against his seat and trying to take it all in.

  “It sure was.” She squeezed his hand. “We’re done for the day. What would you like to do?”

  “I’d like to go get Rex and take him for a walk.”

  “You think he’s getting tired of watching animal TV?”

  Wes started up his truck. “He’s only been on his own for an hour or two, but I know he loves it when we’re all together, exploring the town.”

  Emily smiled and put on her seat belt. “Me, too. Let’s go take a walk.”

  * * *

  THE GRASS WAS wet with dew when Emily stepped out her back door and started down the hill to feed Fancy. It was going to be another sunny day, though it was supposed to rain next week. As much as she loved the sunshine, rain in April was a good thing. There was always the threat of drought in California.

  She stopped to pick a small purple wildflower and turned it in her fingers. Last night, after letting the eagle go, she and Wes had taken a long walk with Rex. Then they’d ordered pizza and watched a silly comedy on TV. Snuggling next to Wes on his couch, with Rex nestled against her, had felt like her perfect version of domestic bliss. She’d never thought she’d find that with Wes.

  She stopped at the shed and pulled out a couple of flakes of hay for Fancy, then went to toss them through the window of Fancy’s shelter and into her manger. She froze, hay in hand. “Oh, no!” She dropped the hay on the ground. Fancy was standing completely still in the shelter, her head down, breathing hard.

  Emily ran to the gate and let herself into the pasture. “Hey, Fancy Face.” She tried to keep her voice calm despite her racing heart. “What’s going on, girl?” She knelt down by the mare’s head. Her blue eyes were half-closed, the expression dull. “Okay, you stay here, Fancy. I’m just going to run up to the truck and grab a few things.”

  Emily walked calmly out of the pasture and then broke into a run. As she climbed the path to her truck, she pulled her phone out of her back pocket and called Wes. When he answered he sounded a little out of breath, too.

  “Wes, I’m so worried about Fancy. I’m pretty sure she has colic. She looks bad. Can you come over here?”

  There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone. “Em, I’m so sorry, but I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Emily tried to picture their calendar in her mind. They didn’t have any early-morning appointments, did they?

  “I talked to my brother this morning. He quit his job.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Emily reached into her truck and pulled out the stethoscope she always kept in the front console. “That’s too bad. But Wes, I need you. I know it’s silly but I’m kind of panicking. Fancy doesn’t deserve this. Can you please come?” Her heart was hammering like a fist on her rib cage as she jogged back toward the pasture with the phone to her ear.

  “You know how to handle colic, Em. Just treat it as you would with any other horse.”

  “That’s the thing, I can’t treat it like any other horse. It’s Fancy and I can’t think straight.” Emily stopped in her tracks, the meaning of his words sinking in. “You’re not coming?”

  “I’m heading to London. I’m worried about Jamie. I’ve got to see what’s going on.”

  “You just talked to him on the phone. Did he sound upset?”

  “Not really. That’s one thing that has me worried. He was so excited about this job. Now he just quit like it was no big deal.”

  Emily started down the hill again. “Just call him back. Ask him what’s going on.”

  “He’s not telling me anything. He’s my brother, Emily. I’m his only family. What if something’s wrong?”

  “But he just told you that everything was fine, right?” Maybe she was selfish but she didn’t want him to go to London. Not now, when Fancy was sick.

  Wes ignored her question. “Look, I know this is going to cause some inconvenience at work. There are a few appointments that I’ll need you to take for me.”

  “Can’t you leave for London tomorrow?” Now she sounded pathetic. Emily let herself into the pasture and walked to where she could
peer into the shelter. Fancy was still there, her head down, her breathing shallow. “I need you, Wes. I’m so worried about this horse.”

  “I’m sorry to let you down. I really am. But I have to start driving or I won’t make my flight. You’re a great vet, Emily. You can handle this on your own.”

  He wasn’t coming. He was leaving, right when she truly needed him. Just when she thought it was safe to lean on him. Old hurt rose to mix with the new, pushing tears down her cheeks. “Yes, I can handle it on my own, Wes. But you know what? I shouldn’t have to.”

  Emily hung up and shoved her phone back in her pocket, tears stinging her eyes. No. She couldn’t cry about Wes. She’d shed enough tears over him to last a lifetime. She took a few calming breaths and then approached her horse. She brought her stethoscope to Fancy’s side and listened hard. Dread twisted in her stomach. She moved the stethoscope toward Fancy’s hip and listened again. She moved it lower, panic shrinking her lungs. There was no noise. No comforting gurgles to show that Fancy’s stomach was digesting her food. Fancy definitely had colic.

  Emily’s skin chilled like she’d jumped into cold water. She walked a few paces away, trying to stay calm. She couldn’t handle this by herself, no matter how many times she’d treated horses for colic. She was too worried to think straight.

  She called her father, grateful when he promised to come immediately. She called Annie Brooks, who probably knew more about animals than she did. Maya answered on the second ring and promised that she was on her way. When Emily hung up the phone she fell to her knees, swamped with relief. She was blessed to have friends and family she could rely on. She just wished she could rely on Wes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  THE PLANE TOUCHED down at Heathrow Airport at nine in the morning, right on time. Wes peeled his cheek off the wall of the plane and untangled himself from the scratchy airline blanket. Rubbing his eyes, he pushed up the window shade and stared out at the busy runway as they taxied for the gate. London. The April sky here was cloudy, nothing like the bright blue sky at home. The clouds seemed fitting.

  Once out of the airport, hailing a taxi, he saw more of the differences he’d expected. A black cab driving in the opposite lane swooped to the curb to pick him up, with the driver sitting where the passenger should. Hurtling down the busy motorway and then through the packed streets to his hotel, Wes tried to take it all in. The tall modern buildings mixed in with ancient stone facades was a contrast he’d expected from seeing photos, but it still surprised him how small the older buildings looked when there were skyscrapers looming above.

  He wanted to be able to turn to Emily and talk about it all. He wondered what she’d make of such a bustling city when she’d lived most of her life in a quiet country town. But now he’d never know because he’d blown it. He’d smashed her fragile faith in him.

  But why was it so fragile? He’d been nothing but trustworthy since his return. Was the boy he’d been fifteen years ago still more vivid in her mind than the man he was today?

  Wes shifted in his seat and drummed his fingers on the windowsill, relieved when the driver said, “Here you go, mate,” and pulled up in front of a hotel with majestic columns rising in ornate splendor from the sidewalk. Wes had picked it off the internet because it was pretty and it looked like he imagined a London hotel should look. If he was blowing his dreams apart for this trip, he might as well enjoy it.

  Paying the cabbie with his credit card, Wes thanked him, grabbed his suitcase and headed across the marble lobby to the front desk. While he waited for his room, he admired the graceful furnishings. He’d never in his life stayed anywhere this upscale. He’d had a job washing dishes once, in the kitchen of the Four Seasons in Houston. That was the closest he’d come to this type of atmosphere.

  After the clerk handed him his room key, Wes pulled out his cell phone and called his brother’s number. Jamie answered on the second ring.

  “Wes, you should be sleeping.”

  Wes grinned. “That would be weird since I’m standing in the lobby of the Waldorf.”

  “What?” Jamie’s voice came out in an astonished croak.

  “I’m here. In London. Want to meet up?”

  “Of course.” There was a pause on the other end of the line. “You flew all the way to London? To see me?”

  “Yes, I did. So get your unemployed butt up and ready for some sightseeing. If I have to come all the way around the world to talk some sense into you, I’m going to see this famous city while I do it.”

  Thirty minutes later, Wes stood on the steps of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and watched Jamie jog across the street toward him. His brother looked the same as always, his tall figure familiar in dark jeans and a black jacket. They shared the same thick, dark hair and green eyes, but Jamie’s face and frame were leaner and he was a little shorter than Wes.

  Wes jogged down the steps to wrap his brother in a bear hug. “Good to see you, bro.”

  Jamie pulled back, eyeing him quizzically. “Good to see you, too, I think. I can’t believe you’re here, in London.”

  “I needed a break from tiny town, USA.”

  Jamie nodded sagely. “Ah. Things not going so well with the dream girl?”

  “Not at the moment.” Wes gestured toward the old church. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

  “This old tourist trap?” Jamie grinned. “Just kidding. I’m not that jaded yet. It’s all pretty amazing here.”

  They wandered the church, admiring the lofty stone columns topped with carvings and historical statues. But it was the ceiling that had Wes stopping in his tracks, awed by the intricate mosaic pictures that covered every surface. Biblical figures, decorative panels and mystical animals swirled and interacted, all created with tiny pieces of glass and tile.

  Jamie came to stand beside him and pointed up to a mosaic of David as an old man with white hair, leaning his elbow on a table, lost in thought. “He reminds me of you.”

  “What?” Wes looked at his brother in astonishment. “I’m not that old!”

  “Are you sure?” Jamie raised his brows skeptically. “Because you’ve flown all the way across the planet just to scold me. That feels pretty old to me.”

  “I’m not here to scold,” Wes protested. “I was worried about you.”

  Jamie shrugged. “Well, now I’m worried about you. You seem kind of down.”

  “I’m fine, but you just quit your brand-new job.” Wes couldn’t keep much from his brother. “Okay, I’m not totally fine. I may have ruined my chances with Emily.”

  Jamie took his arm. “Come on. Let’s grab a coffee and take a walk. You can tell your little brother all about it.”

  Outside the cathedral they bought coffee to go from a café and started walking through city streets toward Buckingham Palace. Jamie took them on a route that led along the River Thames. Walking by the water, Wes told Jamie about his efforts to win Emily back. “We got close again, you know? We spent time with her family, we’ve been training this horse we found, Fancy. She’s beautiful. One of those paint horses, with blue eyes.” He pulled out his phone to show Jamie a photo and there was Emily, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, feeding Fancy a carrot. “You can see how thin she is still. When a client of ours found her, she was skeletal.”

  “She’s beautiful,” Jamie said. “Emily, that is. The horse is nice, too. So why are you here, visiting me, and not there, trying to make everything better with her?”

  Wes started walking again. “She doesn’t trust me. I needed to come here, to see you, and she got mad. Like I had to make a choice between her and you. She hung up on me.”

  Jamie took a sip of his coffee and they walked in silence for a moment. When his brother spoke again his voice was gentle, like he was teaching a little kid. “First of all, it probably reminded her of when you left her back when you were young. You didn’t exactly handle that well. You never even co
ntacted her.”

  “No. I didn’t,” Wes admitted. “But I’ve apologized so many times. I’ve done all that I can think of to make it up to her.”

  “Except sticking around when she felt like she needed you.”

  Jamie’s words hit like blows from a hammer. Wes thought of Emily, trying to handle Fancy’s colic on her own. She could call on a lot of friends for help. She wasn’t really alone. But still, he should be there. She’d really wanted him there.

  “And secondly—” Jamie bumped his shoulder gently with his own “—I don’t need you flying here to rescue me. I’m fine.”

  All the panic that had Wes running for the next flight to London resurfaced. “You quit your job. The job you were so excited about.”

  Jamie put a hand to Wes’s shoulder. “Bro, I’m twenty-five years old. I’ve got my master’s degree in business and I graduated top of my class. I’m going to get another job. I have two interviews lined up already.”

  Wes gaped at him. “You do? I thought you were just giving up.”

  “Why would I do that?” Jamie gave him an irritated look that Wes knew well. “Why can’t you have a little faith in me? You always treat me like I’m so fragile. Like I’m about to fall apart.”

  “Those years you spent with Aunt Liz and Uncle Rick—”

  “Those years didn’t break me, because you came and got me out. And you gave me so many good years to erase the bad ones.”

  “But we were so poor,” Wes said. “Everything was so hard. I could barely provide for you.”

  “Those years were hard for you, Wes.” Jamie’s voice was firm. “I was in school and I had some pretty great teachers. I was safe and cared for, with a home and food and activities. You gave me everything, and I always felt lucky that I got to live with my cool big brother.”

  Wes tried to absorb his Jamie’s words. He’d tried hard to protect him and make everything okay for him. But Wes had never felt like he’d actually succeeded. His brother had always been someone to worry about, someone to save from the rough edges of the world.