2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Chase

I laughed at something Betty said, barely registering the back door opening. This woman was such a blessing to have around, especially after having lost my own grandmother at such a tender age.

This woman doted on not just me, but all the boys. We sure as hell didn’t know what we’d do if she left us. Or her daughter, Susan. They were extended family.

I looked up as she walked in, ready to offer Susan a hello, but the words stuck in my throat at the woman behind them.

Belinda.

What was she doing back?

Better yet, when the hell did she get back?

I wanted to ask, wanted to say something, anything, but everything was stuck and refused to come out.

That was very much unlike me.

I licked my lips, feeling my heart stop, only to start again in an erratic pattern. One I wish would stop because I knew it.

This woman walked out of my life ten years ago and never looked back, so I badly wished my heart would learn to stop loving her. But just seeing her, even with the few extra pounds, she never looked more beautiful. That’s also with the scars I easily picked up on.

Wonder where she got those.

“Chase,” she whispered, almost as if she was as surprised to see me as I was her.

“Belinda. You back for good?”

“Yes, sir. If ma and Grandma have me, that is.”

I looked at the two ladies, sure they would want her back. I’m also just as sure they missed her as she’s missed them. She hurt them too; just like she hurt me. And I have to remember that.

“Where’s Mrs. Montgomery?”

“My mom? She’s off with dad looking at horses.”

“No, where’s Tori?”

I frowned for a moment, trying to figure out why she was asking me that and then shook my head. Of course she would have heard about my marriage.

One drunken night and one bad dare led to one of the stupidest mistakes I could have made. That marriage lasted twenty-one days, before Tori dipped out, saying a ranch life wasn’t for her. But, if we were both being honest, it wasn’t that. I didn’t love the woman, even if she loved me. And she wasn’t going to stand for that.

“Tori and I got divorced a few years back.”

“Oh.”

I watched her, seeing a faint pink color dust on her cheeks and I wanted to grin. She thought I was still spoken for. That wanted to make me dance. She still cared!

Then I had to remember she walked out, and she didn’t care.

“I have some Christmas decorations down, B, if you want to help my mom start putting them up. Her hands are bothering her something fierce.”

“Oh, sure. I can help there.” She offered me a smile, one which I couldn’t return.

I could easily see laying my heart back on the line for this woman. And there would be no doubt she would tear it up again. Because she didn’t value it. She didn’t value it before, and I highly doubt she would now.

“Thanks. I’ll be out with my folks.”

Sure, that might have come gruff and cold, but it was fine. I had to make it clear that there was nothing between us. Nor would there be anything between us, even if she did want it.

Now, I just had to get my heart and my head on the same damn page because one still wanted this one while the other knew better.

Three hours later, I took my hat off while in the barn, running my fingers through my sweat coated blonde locks. Working with the horses and their training was tough work; certainly not cut out for sissies.

“Chase.”

I turned, offering a nod to one of my longtime friends.

“Bo, what brings you by?” I told him, offering my hand out for a handshake.

“Small town mill, of course.”

I cocked my brow as I grabbed a brush, starting to groom my horse.

“What exactly are you referring to?”

“Belinda is back in town, right? Thought I’d go over, welcome her back, offer her a friendly smile. See if she needed anything.”

I stopped brushing as I tossed over his words. Bo was a great guy. Hell, we all hung out in school. They were friends. It shouldn’t be a surprise he’d go over and welcome her. It also shouldn’t bother me that he thought about it.

But for the fucking life of me, it did.

I turned to look at him.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s been ages since I’ve seen her. The last time I did was about six years ago.”

“How? She hasn’t set foot back in this town.”

“Ah, you forgot I was on the rodeo circuit. She was there and I spotted her. We talked for a bit, but then her asshole husband got on her case and basically dragged her away.”

“Asshole husband?”

I knew she had gotten married, and gotten divorce, but I hadn’t heard about the asshole part.

“Yeah. Real dick. I’m pretty sure I saw bruises on her arm. And a good couple gashes on her leg. Almost positive he gave her the one over her eye but couldn’t be sure. That one was healed up then.”

“Wait, wait, you’re saying her ex was abusive?”

“Chase, you hadn’t heard anything?”

Honestly, no. When it came to Belinda Carmichael, I kept my distance. I didn’t want to know anything because everything just seemed to chip away at my heart. So, when her name got mentioned, I made sure to tune it out.

“No, why would I?”

“I guess that’s true enough. Anyway, I’m going to go say hi. You know, I never got the chance to ask her out in high school, wonder if she’d go with me now?”

My mind kept focusing on the scar I saw on her face this afternoon and hearing how much of an asshole her ex was that his words didn’t register. Not until he started walking away and I had to holler after him, startling my horse.

“Sorry, Nightwish,” I told her, lightly touching her nose. “What were you saying, Bo?”

“I was going to go over and say hi. You don’t mind, do you?”

“That you say hi? No. Why would I?”

“Right. So, you also don’t mind if I ask her out?”

That had me clenching my teeth. Not to mention causing me to stiffen up. So much so that I was adding more pressure to Nightwish, who made it known how unhappy she was with me and my handling.

“No.” I cleared my throat, hating how high it sounded to me. “No. Ask her out. She deserves a good time.”

He tipped his hat in thank you and took off.

The thought lingered with me though. And I fully refused to acknowledge why that bothered me so much.