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

Chapter Six

The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon when Emma heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching the barn. She looked up from the fence post she was mending, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Cody riding towards her on a tall, bay horse.

He pulled up beside her, a smile on his face as he swung down from the saddle. “Evening, Emma,” he said, his voice warm. “I thought I might find you out here.”

Emma straightened up, brushing the dirt from her hands. “Just trying to get a head start on some of these repairs,” she said, gesturing to the fence. “There’s so much to do, I feel like I’ll never get it all done.”

Cody’s smile softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re doing great, Emma,” he said, patting the neck of his horse. “But even the hardest worker needs a break sometimes. What do you say we take a ride?”

Emma blinked, surprised by the offer. “A ride?” she repeated, her stomach fluttering with a mixture of nerves and excitement.

He nodded towards the barn. “Ghost would probably appreciate the exercise. And I know Scout here would appreciate the company.”

“I don’t know, Cody. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a horse.”

Cody chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s just like riding a bike,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “You never forget. And besides, Ghost will take good care of you, just like he did for your father.”

Emma felt a lump forming in her throat at the mention of her father, but she swallowed it back, nodding slowly. “Okay,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Let’s do it.”

Cody grinned, leading his horse over to the hitching post. “I’ll get Ghost saddled up for you,” he said, heading into the barn. “Be right back.”

Emma took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. It had been years since she’d ridden a horse, not since the last summer she’d spent at the ranch before... Well, before her life had taken a different turn. She’d always loved it, the feeling of freedom and connection with the animal beneath her. But now, the thought of getting back in the saddle made her palms sweat and her heart race.

Cody emerged from the barn a few minutes later, leading Ghost behind him. The chestnut gelding looked as handsome as ever, his coat gleaming in the fading light. Cody had already saddled him up, the worn leather creaking as he walked.

“Here we go,” Cody said, handing Emma the reins. “You ready?”

Emma took a deep breath, then nodded, a determined look on her face. “As I’ll ever be,” she said, putting her foot in the stirrup.

But as she went to swing her leg over the saddle, she felt a moment of panic, her muscles freezing up. She’d forgotten how high up it was. And what if Ghost threw her?

Cody must have sensed her hesitation, because he was at her side in an instant, his hand on her elbow. “It’s okay,” he said softly, his voice low and reassuring. “I won’t let you fall.”

Emma looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something in his eyes, a warmth and a tenderness that made her feel safe, protected. She nodded, taking a deep breath, and he wrapped his hands about her calf, the heat of his gentle touch sending butterflies through her.

“Ready?” he asked, and unable to find words, she simply nodded. He wouldn’t let her fall.

He boosted her up, and she swung her other leg over the saddle easily.

As she settled into place, she felt a rush of memories washing over her. The feel of the leather beneath her hands, the smell of the horse, the way the world looked different from up high. It was like stepping back in time, to a place where everything was simpler, clearer. A place she’d forgotten existed.

Cody swung up onto his own horse, a smile on his face as he watched her. “Looks like you haven’t forgotten after all,” he said, clicking his tongue to get his horse moving.

Emma followed suit, giving Ghost a gentle nudge with her heels. The gelding responded instantly, falling into step beside Cody’s horse as they headed out of the yard and into the open fields.

As they rode, Emma felt herself relaxing into the rhythm of the horse’s gait, her body remembering the movements even after all these years. The sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and fresh hay.

They rode in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the steady thud of the horses’ hooves on the packed earth. Emma let her mind wander, drinking in the beauty of the landscape around her. She had forgotten how much she loved this place, how much it felt like home.

After a while, Cody suggested they stop for a break, pointing to a shady spot beneath a large oak tree. Emma nodded, guiding Ghost over to the tree and sliding down from the saddle.

As she stretched her legs, she noticed Cody rummaging in his saddlebags, a mischievous grin on his face. “I hope you’re hungry,” he said, pulling out a large, wrapped bundle.

Emma’s eyebrows shot up, a smile tugging at her lips. “What’s that?” she asked, walking over to him.

Cody unwrapped the bundle, revealing a spread of sandwiches, fruit, and cookies. “Dinner,” he said, handing her a sandwich. “I figured we might work up an appetite out here.”

Emma shook her head, a laugh bubbling up in her throat. “You really did think of everything, didn’t you?” she said, taking a bite of the sandwich.

Cody just shrugged, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I try,” he said, settling down on the grass beside her.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, savoring the food and the peace of the evening. Emma couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so content, so at ease with herself and the world around her. But as the last of the light faded from the sky, she felt a familiar sense of unease creeping in, a tightness in her chest that she couldn’t quite shake.

Cody must have noticed the change in her demeanor, because he set down his sandwich, turning to face her. “Emma?” he said softly, his voice filled with concern. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Emma sighed, picking at the crust of her bread. “I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just... being back here, it brings up a lot of memories. A lot of regrets.”

Cody nodded, his expression understanding. “I get that,” he said, leaning back on his elbows. “It’s not easy, facing the past. Especially when it’s tied up with so much pain.”

Emma felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back, taking a deep breath. “I just feel like I let him down,” she said, her voice cracking. “My dad, I mean. I was so focused on my own life, my own dreams, that I never really stopped to think about what he wanted. What he needed.”

Cody was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. “You know your father never once blamed you for leaving, right, Emma?” he said after a moment, searching her face. “He was so proud of you, of everything you accomplished out there in the world.”

“But I should have been here,” she said, her voice thick with tears. “I should have been here for him, Cody. And now it’s too late.”

Cody sat up, turning to face her. “It’s not too late, Emma,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You’re here now. And you’re doing everything you can to honor his memory, to take care of the things that mattered to him.”

Emma shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “But for how long?” she said, wiping at her eyes. “I’m just here to fix up the ranch, to sell it and move on with my life. What kind of legacy is that?”

Cody was silent for a long moment, his gaze searching her face. “Maybe it’s not about the legacy, Emma,” he said finally, his voice soft. “Maybe it’s about the journey. About learning and growing and finding out what really matters to you.”

Emma looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something in his eyes, a depth of understanding and compassion that took her breath away.

“And what matters to you, Cody?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cody smiled, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “This land,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “This life. And the people who are a part of it.”

He paused, his gaze holding hers. “People like you, Emma.”

Emma felt a rush of warmth spreading through her chest, a feeling of connection and belonging that she hadn’t felt in years. She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment.

When she opened them again, Cody was still watching her, his expression soft and tender. “I know you’re scared, Emma,” he said, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “Scared of letting yourself feel again, of opening up to the possibility of something more. But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. And I’ll be right beside you, every step of the way.”

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy, of relief. She had spent so long running from her past, from the pain and the heartache, that she had forgotten what it was like to let herself be vulnerable, to trust in the goodness of others.

But here, in this moment, with Cody beside her and the stars shining down on them, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, a certainty that everything was going to be okay.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “For being here, for believing in me. For everything.”

“Always,” he said, his voice filled with promise. “I’ll always be here, Emma. No matter what.”

They sat like that for a long time, listening to the sounds of the night around them. The crickets chirped in the grass, and somewhere in the distance, a coyote howled at the moon.

Emma felt a sense of belonging washing over her, a feeling of rightness that she had never experienced before. It was as if all the pieces of her life, all the scattered fragments of her heart, were finally coming together, forming a picture that was more beautiful than she ever could have imagined.

She thought back to all the years she had spent chasing her dreams in the city, all the late nights and early mornings, all the sacrifices she had made in the name of success. And while she was proud of what she had accomplished, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had been chasing the wrong things all along.

Because here, in this moment, with Cody by her side and the wide open sky above them, she felt a sense of peace and contentment that she had never known before. It was as if everything that truly mattered was right here, within her reach, just waiting for her to grab hold and never let go.

Cody pulled back slightly, his eyes searching her face. “What are you thinking about?” he asked softly.

Emma smiled, her eyes shining with a new kind of light. “Just how lucky I am,” she said, her voice filled with wonder. “To be here, to have this place, to have a second chance at something real.”

Cody smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. And as they sat there, lost in the beauty of the night, Emma felt a sense of hope rising up inside her, a glimmer of possibility that she hadn’t dared to dream of in years.

She closed her eyes, letting the peace of the night wash over her, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to dream of a future that was filled with love, with laughter, and with the kind of joy that could only be found in the arms of someone who truly saw her, all of her, and loved her just the same.