Her Second Chance Cowboy (Crystal Creek Sweet Romances #1)

Chapter Three

The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon when Emma finally made her way back to the house. Dr. Hanson, the local vet, had given Daisy and Ghost a clean bill of health, but the visit had taken longer than she’d expected. By the time she’d finished discussing the horses’ care with him, and the on-going worming and vaccination regimes for the cattle, the day had slipped away from her.

She climbed the porch steps, her mind still buzzing with the day’s events. The reunion with Cody had stirred up emotions she thought she’d long since buried, and the realization of just how much work the ranch needed weighed heavily on her. And that was without even thinking about the cattle. She still needed to try to find a buyer for them, on top of everything else.

As she reached for the door handle, a flap of paper. A small, envelope lay tucked under the welcome mat. Emma bent to pick it up, her brow furrowing as she unfolded the note.

“Emma,” it read in a neat, precise script. “I hope this finds you well. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to greet you in person, but I had a prior engagement. I’m looking forward to working with you on the sale of the ranch. I’ll be by tomorrow at 10 AM to discuss the details with you. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My number is below. Best regards, Jenna Lawson.”

Emma stared at the note, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She’d spoken to Jenna on the phone a few days ago, and knew the realtor had an excellent reputation for handling the sales of large estates like her father’s. But seeing the printed words made it all feel more real.

She sighed, tucking the note into her pocket and unlocking the door. The house was just as she’d left it that morning, but somehow it felt different now. The silence that had felt so oppressive before now seemed almost peaceful, like a respite from the chaos of the day.

Emma made her way to the kitchen, her stomach growling as she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. She rummaged through the cupboards, finding a can of soup and a box of crackers that looked like they might still be edible.

As she waited for the soup to heat up on the stove, her mind drifted back to her conversation with Cody. She’d been surprised at how easy it had been to fall back into their old rhythm, to joke and tease each other like no time had passed at all.

But there had been moments, too, when she’d caught him looking at her with an intensity that made her heart race. It was like he was trying to see beneath the surface, to the parts of her she kept hidden away.

The thought both thrilled and terrified her. She’d spent so long building walls around her heart, convincing herself that she was better off alone. The few relationships she’d had in the city had failed almost before she’d started, and it had been easy to tell herself that love was for other people – people who didn’t have careers and ambitions to keep them busy. But being back here, surrounded by the memories of her childhood and the people who had once meant everything to her, those walls were starting to crack.

The sound of the soup bubbling jolted her out of her thoughts. She ladled it into a bowl and carried it to the table, her mind still spinning with questions and doubts.

She ate mechanically, hardly tasting the food. Her eyes kept drifting to the window, to the darkening sky outside. She wondered what Cody was doing now, if he was thinking about her the way she was thinking about him.

The thought made her shake her head, a rueful smile tugging at her lips. She was being ridiculous. Cody was just being kind, helping her out the way any good neighbor would. There was no reason to read anything more into it.

But even as she told herself that, a small, traitorous part of her heart whispered that maybe, just maybe, there was something more there. Some part of the past that wasn’t as buried as it had seemed, for them both.

Emma pushed the thought away, finishing her soup and carrying the bowl to the sink. She had more important things to worry about than her love life. Like the meeting with the real estate agent tomorrow, and the daunting task of getting the ranch ready to sell.

She glanced at the clock, surprised to see how late it had gotten. She needed to get some sleep if she was going to be ready for whatever tomorrow might bring.

As she climbed the stairs to her childhood bedroom, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that she was standing on the edge of something big. Like the decisions she made in the coming days would shape the rest of her life.

She just hoped she was making the right ones.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sun streaming through the yellowing lace curtains of Emma’s childhood bedroom. She stretched, her body aching from the unaccustomed work of the day before.

She dressed quickly, choosing a simple blouse and jeans. She wanted to look professional for her meeting with the real estate agent, but she also needed to be practical. There was no telling what kind of work the day might bring.

She made her way downstairs, the smell of coffee and bacon wafting from the kitchen. For a moment, she was transported back to her childhood, to mornings spent gathered around the table with her parents, planning out the day’s chores.

But as she entered the kitchen, reality came crashing back. The room was empty, the coffee pot cold. Her father was gone, and the life she had once known here was nothing more than a memory.

Emma brushed away the tears that threatened to fall, getting to the task of brewing some coffee, and settling at the table to wait for the real estate agent.

At precisely 10 AM, a sleek black car pulled up in front of the house. Emma watched through the window as a woman in a crisp red suit stepped out, a leather briefcase in hand.

She took a deep breath, smoothing her hair and straightening her blouse. This was it. The moment she had been both dreading and anticipating since she’d arrived at the ranch.

She opened the door just as the woman reached the top step, a polite smile fixed on her face.

“Ms. Brooks?” the woman said, extending her hand. “I’m Jenna Lawson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Please, call me Emma,” she said, shaking the woman’s hand. “Come on in.”

She led Jenna to the kitchen table, gesturing for her to take a seat. The woman set her briefcase on the table, snapping it open and pulling out a stack of papers.

“I know this must be a difficult time for you,” Jenna said, her voice sympathetic. “Losing a parent is never easy, and dealing with their estate can be overwhelming. But I want you to know that I’m here to help in any way I can.”

Emma nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat. “I appreciate that,” she said. “To be honest, I’m not really sure where to start.”

Jenna smiled, spreading the papers out on the table. “That’s what I’m here for,” she said. “You hired me to handle the sale of the ranch, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I’ve done a thorough evaluation of the property, and I have some ideas about how we can proceed.”

Emma leaned forward, her eyes scanning the documents. There were maps of the property, financial statements, and a thick stack of legal forms.

“The first thing we need to discuss,” Jenna said, tapping one of the papers, “is the condition of the ranch. I know you haven’t been here in a while, so you may not be aware of the extent of the repairs that are needed.”

Emma felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. “I noticed some things yesterday,” she said. “The barn needs work, and the fences are in rough shape.”

Jenna nodded, her expression serious. “I’m afraid it’s more than that,” she said. “The house needs a new roof, and the plumbing and electrical systems are outdated. The pastures are overgrown, and the irrigation system needs to be replaced. In short, the ranch needs a significant amount of work before it can be put on the market.”

Emma sat back in her chair, her mind reeling. She’d known the ranch would need some repairs, but this was more than she’d bargained for.

“How much are we talking about?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Jenna slid a piece of paper across the table, her finger pointing to a figure at the bottom. Emma’s eyes widened as she took in the number, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

“That’s just an estimate,” Jenna said quickly, seeing the look on Emma’s face. “And it includes the cost of the repairs, as well as the commission for the sale. But I have to be honest with you, Emma. It’s a significant amount of money.”

Emma nodded, her mind racing. She’d known selling the ranch wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t anticipated this. The thought of pouring that much money into a property she didn’t even want made her stomach churn.

But even as the doubt crept in, another part of her mind whispered that this was her chance. Her chance to finally let go of the past, to move on with her life. She’d come here to sell the ranch, and that was exactly what she was going to do.

“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s do it. Whatever it takes to get the ranch ready to sell, I’m in.”

Jenna smiled, a look of relief crossing her face. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “I know it’s a big decision, but I truly believe it’s the right one. With the right repairs and marketing, we can get top dollar for this property.”

Emma nodded, her resolve strengthening. She thought of her job back in the city, of the life she’d built for herself there. She couldn’t let herself get sidetracked by sentiment, by the memories that seemed to linger in every corner of this place.

“I’ll need to extend my leave from work,” she said, almost to herself. “I’ll call my boss today and let him know I’ll be staying a bit longer than planned.”

Jenna nodded, gathering up the papers and sliding them back into her briefcase. “I think that’s a wise decision,” she said. “I’ll draw up a timeline for the repairs and get back to you with a more detailed plan. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call me with any questions or concerns.”

Emma walked Jenna to the door, shaking her hand once more before watching her drive away. She stood on the porch for a long moment, her eyes fixed on the distant mountains.

She knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. There would be long days and hard work, frustrations and setbacks. But for the first time since she’d arrived at the ranch, Emma felt a sense of purpose, could see a clear path ahead of her. A difficult one, but one she knew she could walk.

She was going to do this. She was going to sell the ranch, to honor her father’s memory in the only way she knew how, by letting someone who could truly embrace this way of life carry it forward. And then she was going to return to her life in the city, to the career she’d worked so hard to build.

But even as she told herself that, a small, quiet voice in the back of her mind whispered that maybe, just maybe, there was another path. A path that led not away from the ranch, but deeper into it, into the heart of the life she’d left behind so long ago.

Emma shook her head, pushing the thought away. She had work to do, and dwelling on impossible dreams wouldn’t get it done any faster.

With a sigh, she turned and went back into the house, ready to face whatever challenges the day might bring.