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

Chapter Thirteen

The days seemed to fly by in a blur of activity, as the community rallied around Emma and the ranch, working tirelessly to rebuild what had been lost in the fire. Emma threw herself into the work, her muscles aching and her heart full as she labored alongside her neighbors and friends.

But even as the new barn began to take shape, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. She knew that she was growing more and more attached to this place, to these people, with every passing day. And the thought of leaving, of walking away from the life she had started to build here, filled her with a sense of dread and uncertainty.

Late one evening, after a long day of work on the barn, Emma found herself sitting on the porch steps, gazing out at the stars that twinkled in the inky black sky. She heard the sound of footsteps behind her, and turned to see Cody walking towards her, a mug of steaming coffee in each hand.

“Thought you might need a little pick-me-up,” he said, his voice warm and gentle as he held out one of the mugs to her.

Emma took it with a grateful smile, wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic as she inhaled the rich, earthy scent. “Thanks,” she said, scooting over to make room for him on the step beside her. “I didn’t realize how late it was getting.”

Cody settled down next to her, his shoulder brushing against hers in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. “It’s easy to lose track of time out here,” he said, his gaze drifting out across the darkened fields. “Especially when you’re working on something you care about.”

Emma nodded, taking a sip of her coffee as she let his words sink in. She knew that he was right, that the work they were doing on the ranch was more than just a job or a project. It was a labor of love, a way of honoring her father’s memory and the legacy he had left behind.

But as she sat there, surrounded by the peace and beauty of the ranch, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had been growing inside her. Hard as she tried to deny it, she knew that she was falling for Cody, that the connection between them was growing stronger and deeper with every passing day. And the thought of leaving, of walking away from him and the life they had started to build together, filled her with fear.

“Cody,” she said softly, her voice soft as she stared down into the depths of her coffee mug. “Can I ask you something?”

He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a quiet concern. “Of course,” he said, his voice gentle and reassuring. “You can ask me anything, Emma.”

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she gathered her thoughts. “When you look at this place,” she said, gesturing out at the darkened fields and the twinkling stars above, “what do you see?”

Cody was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant and thoughtful as he considered her question. “I see a home,” he said at last, his voice filled with a quiet reverence. “A place where people take care of each other, where they look out for one another no matter what. I see a community, a family, that’s been here for generations and will be here for generations to come.”

Emma felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back, taking a shaky breath. “And when you look at me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “what do you see?”

Cody turned to face her then, his eyes filled with a warmth and tenderness that took her breath away. “I see a woman who’s brave and strong and kind,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. “A woman who’s been through so much, who’s lost so much, but who still has the courage to keep going, to keep fighting for what she believes in. I see a woman who I...” He trailed off, his voice catching in his throat as he looked away, his eyes filled with a sudden vulnerability.

Emma felt her heart skip a beat, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for him to continue. But he simply shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I shouldn’t have... I know you’re not... I mean, I know you have a life back in the city, a future that you’ve worked so hard to build. I don’t want to make things complicated for you, Emma.”

She felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her, a mixture of fear and longing and uncertainty that threatened to overwhelm her. She knew that he was right, that the life she had built for herself in the city was still waiting for her, beckoning her back with its promises of success and stability. It was everything she’d thought she wanted.

But as she sat there, gazing into Cody’s eyes and feeling the warmth of his presence beside her, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was something else waiting for her too. Something that she had never dared to dream of, something that she had never allowed herself to hope for.

“Cody,” she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion as she reached out to take his hand in hers. “I’m scared. I’m scared of what I’m feeling, of what’s happening between us. I’m scared of getting hurt, of losing myself in something that might not... that might not be real.”

He nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding. “I know,” he said, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand. “Believe me, Emma, I know. I’ve been hurt before, too. I’ve lost people that I... that I cared about, people that I thought would always be there. And the thought of opening myself up to that kind of pain again, of risking my heart on something that might not work out... it’s terrifying.”

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn’t try to blink them back this time. She let them fall, hot and heavy on her cheeks as she leaned into Cody’s touch, drawing strength and comfort from his presence.

“But I also know,” he continued, his voice growing stronger and more certain with every word, “that life is too short to let fear hold us back. Too short to let the past dictate our future, to let the wounds that we’ve suffered keep us from reaching out for something new, something beautiful.”

Emma felt a sob catching in her throat, a wave of emotion crashing over her as she listened to his words. She knew that he was right, that the fear and uncertainty that had been holding her back were nothing compared to the love and connection that she felt for him, for this place, for the life that they could build together.

But even as she opened her mouth to speak, to tell him how she felt and what she wanted, Emma felt a sudden surge of panic rising up inside her. She pulled her hand away from his, her heart pounding in her chest as she stood up, her eyes wide and wild with fear.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she backed away from him, her hands trembling at her sides. “I can’t... I can’t do this, Cody. I can’t... I can’t risk losing everything that I’ve worked so hard for, everything that I’ve sacrificed to get where I am. I’m sorry, but I... I just can’t.”

Cody stood up slowly, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and disappointment. “Emma,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. “I would never ask you to give up your dreams, your life in the city. But I also know that sometimes, the things we think we want, the things we’ve worked so hard for, aren’t what truly make us happy.”

Emma felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, taking a deep, shuddering breath. “I know,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “But I’m so scared, Cody. Scared of getting hurt, of losing myself in something that might not last. I’ve been down that road before, and I... I don’t know if I’m strong enough to go through it again.”

Cody took a step towards her, his hand reaching out as if to touch her, but he let it fall back to his side. “Emma,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet intensity, “you are the strongest, bravest woman I have ever met. You’ve been through so much, lost so much, and yet you’re still here, still fighting for what you believe in. Don’t let fear hold you back from something that could be amazing.”

Emma felt a sob catching in her throat, and she turned away, her shoulders shaking as she tried to regain her composure. She knew that Cody was right, that the fear and uncertainty that had been holding her back were nothing compared to the love and connection that she felt for him, for this place, for the life that they could build together.

But the thought of taking that leap, of risking her heart on something that might not work out, filled her with a sense of terror that she couldn’t quite shake.

“I need time,” she said at last, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned back to face him. “Time to think, to figure out what I want, what I’m willing to risk. I care about you, Cody, more than I ever thought possible. But I need to be sure, need to know that I’m making the right choice, for both of us.”

Cody nodded, his eyes filled with a quiet acceptance. “I understand,” he said, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Take all the time you need, Emma. I’m not going anywhere. And no matter what you decide, no matter what happens between us, I’ll always be here for you, as your friend or whatever else you want me to be.”

Emma felt a rush of gratitude and affection, and she reached out to take his hand, squeezing it gently. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “For understanding, for being patient, for... for everything.”

Cody smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made her heart skip a beat. “Anytime,” he said, his voice warm and sincere.

And with that, Emma turned and walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision that lay ahead of her. She knew that she had a lot of thinking to do, a lot of soul-searching and reflection to undertake before she could be sure of what she wanted, of what path she needed to take.

But as she made her way back to the house, the stars twinkling overhead and the distant glow of the barn guiding her way, Emma felt a sense of hope and possibility stirring within her, a knowledge that no matter what happened, she had found something precious and rare in this place, in these people.

And that was a gift that she would cherish forever, no matter where life might take her in the end.