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

Chapter Seven

The first light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the curtains when Emma opened her eyes, the events of the previous evening rushing back to her in a flood of memory and emotion.

She sat up slowly, her heart racing as she remembered the feeling of Cody’s presence beside her, the tenderness in his eyes as he’d comforted her beneath the stars. It had been a moment of connection, a glimpse of a bond she hadn’t even known she craved until it was staring her right in the face.

But as the fog of sleep began to clear from her mind, reality came crashing back down around her, cold and harsh in the light of day. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t let herself fall for Cody, not now, not when she was so close to getting back to the life she’d worked so hard to build.

She was going back to the city, back to her job and her apartment and the world she’d left behind. The world she loved. She was here to sell the ranch, to tie up the loose ends of her father’s life and move on. Falling for Cody, letting herself get caught up in the romance and the nostalgia of this place, would only make that harder in the end.

Besides, she told herself firmly, she didn’t even know if Cody felt the same way. Sure, he’d been kind to her, had gone out of his way to help her with the ranch and make her feel welcome. But that didn’t mean he was in love with her. He was just being a good friend, the way people in this small community were always friendly to each other, and she was reading too much into it because of their past. For all she knew, he might have someone else in his life, someone who belonged here in this world of wide open spaces and endless sky.

It would be silly to think he hadn’t moved on in the ten years since she’d last seen him. She wasn’t the same awkward teenaged girl who’d left this place, and there was no reason to think he was the same boy she’d fallen in love with, once upon a time.

No, she decided, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. Whatever she might be feeling for Cody, whatever might have happened between them last night, it had to stop. She had to focus on the task at hand, on getting the ranch ready to sell and moving on with her life. Anything else was just a distraction, a fantasy that could never be real.

She dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before heading downstairs to start the coffee. She had a long day ahead of her, and she needed to be focused and clear-headed if she was going to get through it.

But as she stepped into the kitchen, she heard a commotion coming from outside, a chorus of frantic moos and bellows that sent a chill down her spine. She raced to the window, her heart in her throat as she scanned the pasture for any sign of trouble.

And there, near the far fence line, she saw it. One of the cows was down, thrashing and struggling in the grass as the rest of the herd milled around in a panic. Emma didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her boots and ran out the door, her feet pounding against the packed earth as she raced towards the fallen animal.

As she drew closer, she could see that the calf was in bad shape. Its leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and there was a gash on its side that was oozing blood onto the grass. Emma’s stomach churned at the sight, but she forced herself to keep moving, to focus on what needed to be done.

She dropped to her knees beside the animal, keeping clear of its thrashing hooves, her hands shaking as she tried to assess the damage. She knew she should call a veterinarian, should let the professionals handle this. But the animal was suffering now, and the vet would take at least twenty minutes to get here, longer if he was already out on a call. This was her ranch now, her animals and her land, however temporarily. She has a responsibility to do what was right for the injured calf, and that meant helping it right now, in whatever way she could.

She took a deep breath, her mind racing as she tried to remember everything she’d ever learned about animal care. She knew she needed to stop the bleeding, to immobilize the leg and keep the calf calm until help could arrive.

She looked around, her eyes landing on a coil of rope and a stack of old blankets that had been left out by the fence. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

She worked quickly, her hands steady as she wrapped the blankets around the calf’s leg and secured them with the rope. She talked to the animal as she worked, her voice low and soothing as she tried to keep it still and calm.

It was hard, backbreaking work, and by the time she finished, Emma was drenched in sweat and covered in dirt and blood. But as she sat back on her heels, surveying her handiwork with a critical eye, she knew she couldn’t stop there. The calf was still in distress, its breathing labored and its eyes rolling in pain.

Emma stood up, her mind racing as she tried to think of what to do next. She knew she needed to get the calf to a vet, but she had no idea how she was going to manage that on her own. The animal was too heavy to lift, and even if she could get it into the back of her truck, she didn’t know if it would survive the trip into town.

She was just about to run back to the house and call for help when she heard the sound of an engine in the distance. Her heart leaped in her chest as she recognized the familiar rumble of Cody’s truck, and she felt a rush of relief wash over her.

But as the vehicle drew closer, Emma felt a sudden, irrational surge of panic. She couldn’t face Cody like this, covered in dirt and blood and reeking of calf. She didn’t want him to see her at her worst, didn’t want him to know just how out of her depth she really was.

Abruptly, she was furious with herself. An animal was suffering, and she was worried about how the man she’d decided she couldn’t fall in love with would see her. She needed to get her priorities straight.

Cody’s truck pulled up beside her, the engine cutting off with a final, sputtering cough. He jumped out of the cab, his eyes wide with concern as he took in the scene before him.

“Emma!” he called out, his voice rough with worry. “What happened? Are you alright?”

Emma opened her mouth to answer, but before she could get the words out, Cody was already at her side, his hands gentle as he checked her over for injuries.

“I’m fine,” she managed to say, her voice shaking slightly. “It’s the calf. I think its leg is broken.”

Cody’s gaze shifted to the animal, his brow furrowing as he took in the makeshift splint and the blood-soaked blankets. He crouched down beside the calf, his hands running over its body as he assessed the damage.

“You did a good job with the splint,” he said, his voice filled with admiration. “But you’re right, we need to get her to a vet, and fast. She’s lost a lot of blood.”

Emma nodded, her mind already racing ahead to the logistics of getting the calf into the truck. But before she could voice her thoughts, Cody was already moving, grabbing a nearby length of rope and fashioning a makeshift harness around the calf’s body.

“We’ll load her into your dad’s trailer,” he said. “It’s old but serviceable, and the ramp should be low enough for her to get in.”

Together, they managed to get the animal to her feet, supporting her weight as they slowly guided her towards the old trailer. It was a painstaking process, and more than once Emma thought the calf would collapse under the strain. But Cody’s steady presence beside her gave her strength, and somehow, they managed to get the job done.

As Cody closer up the trailer, Emma leaned against the side of the vehicle, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She was exhausted, her muscles aching from the exertion of the morning. But more than that, she was acutely aware of Cody’s proximity, of the way his arm brushed against hers as he worked.

She felt a sudden, irrational urge to lean into him, to rest her head on his shoulder and let his strength support her, just for a moment. But she resisted, stepping away and busying herself with wiping the blood and dirt from her hands.

Cody finished securing the trailer door and turned to her, his expression softening as he took in her exhausted appearance. “You did good, Emma,” he said, his voice warm with praise. “Real good. Your father would be proud of you.”

“Thanks, Cody,” she said, her voice rough with emotion. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Cody’s eyes held hers for a long moment, and Emma felt her heart skip a beat at the intensity of his gaze. But then he looked away, clearing his throat as he gestured towards the truck.

“We should get going,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “The sooner we get her to the vet, the better.”

Emma nodded, climbing into the passenger seat as Cody hooked the truck to the trailer. As they drove down the dirt road towards town, she stared out the window, trying to ignore the way her heart raced every time Cody’s arm brushed against hers on the center console.

She knew she was playing a dangerous game, letting herself feel these things for him. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to shake the memory of last night, of the way he’d comforted her under the stars.

It was a moment that had changed everything, even if she couldn’t quite admit it to herself yet. And as much as she wanted to believe that she could walk away from this place, from him, without looking back, she knew deep down that it wouldn’t be that easy.

Because despite her best efforts, despite all the promises she’d made to herself, Emma was starting to realize that her heart might have other plans entirely. And as terrifying as that thought was, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope, a tiny spark of possibility that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t meant to leave this place behind after all.

But she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. She had a calf to save, a ranch to sell, and a life to get back to. And no matter what her heart might be telling her, she knew she had to stay strong, to keep her head clear and her feet firmly on the ground.

Even if every moment spent with Cody made that harder and harder to do.

The drive to the vet’s office seemed to take an eternity, though in reality, it was probably no more than twenty minutes. Emma spent the entire trip in a state of nervous anticipation, her fingers drumming anxiously on her thigh as she watched the road ahead.

Every bump and jostle of the truck sent a fresh wave of worry through her, and she found herself craning her neck to check on the calf in the back, making sure it was still breathing, still hanging on.

Cody must have sensed her anxiety, because he reached over and laid a hand on her arm, his touch warm and reassuring. “She’s going to be okay, Emma,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving the road. “We got to her in time. She’s a fighter, just like you.”

Emma felt a lump rising in her throat at his words, and she swallowed hard. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust in his certainty and his strength. But the fear that had taken root in her heart refused to let go, and she found herself whisper a silent prayer to whoever might be listening, begging them to spare the life of this one small creature.

When they finally pulled up in front of the vet’s office, Emma was out of the truck before it had even come to a complete stop. She ran around to the back, her heart in her throat as she watched Cody lower the ramp and begin to untie the ropes that held the calf in place.

The animal was still alive, but only barely. Its breathing was shallow and labored, and its eyes had taken on a glassy, faraway look that made Emma’s stomach clench with fear.

She helped Cody helped the calf from the vehicle, taking most of its weight herself as they half-carried, half-dragged it towards the clinic doors. The vet was already waiting for them, a grim expression on his face as he took in the state of his new patient.

“Bring her inside,” he said, his voice clipped and professional. “I’ll do everything I can, but I can’t make any promises.”

Emma nodded, too choked up to speak, then stepped back as the vet and his assistants swarmed around it, hooking up IVs and monitoring equipment and speaking in low, urgent tones.

Emma felt like she was going to be sick. The sight of the calf lying there, so still and broken, was almost more than she could bear. She turned away, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she fought back a wave of nausea.

And then Cody was there, his arms coming around her in a fierce, protective embrace. He didn’t say anything, just held her close, his chin resting on the top of her head as she shook with silent sobs.

Emma clung to him, her face buried in his chest as she let the tears come. She cried for the calf, for her father, for the life she’d left behind and the future she couldn’t see. And through it all, Cody held her, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions.

When her tears had finally run their course, Emma pulled back, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. She felt raw and exposed, like a nerve ending that had been rubbed too hard for too long. But there was a strange sense of peace that came with it, a feeling of catharsis that left her feeling lighter than she had in years.

She looked up at Cody, a watery smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice hoarse from crying. “For everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”

Cody’s eyes were soft as he looked down at her, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from her face. “You would have been just fine, Emma,” he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “You’re stronger than you know. But I’m glad I could be here for you, all the same.”

Emma nodded, leaning into his touch for just a moment before stepping back, putting some distance between them.

She knew she couldn’t let herself get too close, knew that the feelings that were starting to stir in her heart were dangerous and complicated and better left unexamined.