Page 43 of Chance
Kelly sat in a rocking chair on Chance’s porch. She stared out at the corrals and the river beyond. It was peaceful here. She liked it.
After three days in the hospital, she’d been fed up and refused to stay another second. Chance had offered to let her stay with him. It was undeniable that she still loved him. She hadn’t told him that, but any time they shared a meal, they held hands and prayed. Chance had started taking her on short walks, and he always held her hand. The man was gentle and kind and everything she’d always loved about him.
Her one regret was that she’d left when they were young, believing she could find a home somewhere else. For so long, she’d thought home was just a place. She hadn’t asked about seeing her old ranch. What was the point? It had been sold. But she’d found that home could be people, too.
Chance had asked her if she wanted to press charges on Brian for stalking and everything. She’d said no. Chance told her she was too forgiving, but the man had saved her life.
Chance stepped onto the porch and sat in the other rocking chair, reaching for her hand. “It’s a beautiful night.”
She looked down at their joined hands. “I can’t tell you what it means that you came back into my life. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Chance gently squeezed her hand. “None of that. You know we’re like family. I would do anything you need.”
When she met his gaze, she felt an underlying tension. Unable to stop herself, she asked, “What would you do? Anything I wanted?”
His eyes got more intense. “Yes. I have feelings for you, Kelly. I haven’t wanted to talk about them, but I have feelings for you.”
Chapter 31
Chance’s heart ached as Kelly smiled at him with her bruised face. How had he come to love her even more than he had before? Had it happened in a matter of days, or the moment he’d realized she was back in his life?
“Would you kiss me?” she breathed.
His heart thrummed, sending warmth through his body. He leaned over and gently brushed his lips against hers. He wanted this woman. The passion had dimmed to a smoldering heat over the years, but it burned brightly again when given the chance—like a campfire he forgot about until the next morning. He pulled back. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her only answer was to kiss him again, this time more forcefully. She leaned in and cupped his head with her hand, drawing him closer. Their lips moved in that old, familiar rhythm. They had been sixteen when he’d first kissed her after prom. He’d been so scared. Yet now, as their lips parted and she deepened the kiss, he wanted to kiss her for the rest of his life.
She broke away and smiled at him. “I wanted to do that since I first saw you. I mean, right before I threw up.” She giggled, but quickly sobered. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate to laugh about that.”
Chance brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. “I don’t think you have to feel bad about any of that. Circumstances were hard, and sometimes in life you have to laugh your way through hard things. I think it’s a good sign we can talk about it.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat. He was proud of her. It couldn’t have been easy to be in a relationship with someone who beat her up; she’d told him she hated herself for allowing it. He was proud of her for praying to God and deciding to keep the baby. And he was so sad for her that she’d lost that baby. It was like his heart had swelled enough to hold her emotions along with his own.
Kelly caressed his face. “I love you, Chance. I don’t know if it’s fair to tell you that, but I think I’ve always loved you. And I was a fool for leaving you. I was a fool for leaving this place and my grandparents and thinking there was someplace better. In the last few days, all I’ve thought about was how I could create here. I could create my art, my pottery. I could have a life here with you. If you want me.” She cleared her throat. “And I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t. I’ve messed so many things up.”
Tears slipped down Chance’s cheeks. “I want you. Woman, I’ve always wanted you. I still want you.”
He leaned in, and he didn’t try to measure how long they kissed. He just enjoyed this moment: the cool breeze, this perfect woman, and dreams of a life together.
Chapter 32
The next day, Kelly woke up feeling more like herself. Even though not much time had passed since she had broken her ribs, they were healing. After she helped put away breakfast and did chores with Chance, she turned to him and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to go be a sheriff or something?”
He folded his arm around her, his lips brushing hers. These feelings were so new, and she loved it. She’d gone to sleep dreaming about him, imagining life with him on this ranch, together, raising kids and having his family in and out of her life.
Was she really thinking about children again?
He pulled back and stared into her eyes. “I took time off to go to South Port. I’ll be here with you for as long as you need me.”
His words touched her, and she kissed him again. “Then I need you.”
More silence and kissing.
He pulled back. “What were you thinking?”
She felt silly and vulnerable, but she decided to tell him the truth. “I’m only telling you because I want truth between us. And if anything I say makes you uncomfortable, I think we should just talk about it. I’ve been thinking about how it would be to live here, be with you. Have children. And I feel guilty about that, because I lost a child. But …” Her heart raced, and she turned away. “I don’t know. Never mind.”
“It’s okay to have a life. A vision. It’s okay to let the past go and move on. Someone told me that.”