Everyone Deserves a Second Chance by Alyssa Shannon Read Free Book Online Page A

daughter.
    "Do you ever wish Fred
was still around to see her?" Marcus asked as he came out of
the tack room with the Tonka's saddle and bridle, setting them down
near the children.
    "Thank you Uncle
Marcus," Lauren said with a smile.
    "Welcome kiddo."
Marcus inspected Tonka's feet before he returned to stand by
Brenda.
    "I used to." She
started, watching her daughter lift the saddle to the horse's back.
"But now I know better. I know he'll always be around to watch
her grow up, even if only in spirit." Brenda threaded her arm
through Marcus's and leaned her head against his shoulder.
    Marcus chuckled remembering
what Rick told him. "I heard she gave Brian a good whack at
the barbeque."
    Brenda laughed and wiped at
the sudden tears that came to her eyes. "You should have seen
the poor boy's face! He was in such shock he didn't even realize
his nose was bleeding until a few minutes later. I thought Rick
would be furious, but he only burst out laughing and told Brian
that Laura was just giving him a lesson on how to treat a lady."
    "That's what he told
me earlier today. Connie and the boys are going to driving the
wagon tomorrow. I convinced him to let Garrett ride along."
    "Laura said he was
going to ride with her." Brenda watched Lauren scold Tonka for
not lowering his head down far enough for her to get his bridle on.
The older gelding groaned before lowering his head to her and
accepting the bit in his mouth.
    "Yeah well his mom
wasn't too agreeable to that." Marcus grimaced as he
remembered the look on her face when he'd mentioned it. "She
won't even come near a horse anymore."
    "Everyone finds their
own path to healing. You should know that well by now."
    Marcus helped Lauren
tighten Tonka's saddle and checked the gelding's bridle before he
lifted her up onto the horse's back and handed her the reins.

"Now
stand back Garrett." Lauren commanded of the younger boy as
she kicked her heels into Tonka's side and got the horse outside
into the riding paddock Marcus had set up for her.
    Garrett watched in awe as
Lauren went from a brisk walk, to a trot, and then finally urged
the gelding into a canter.
    "Look Ma! No hands!"
Lauren dropped the reins on Tonka's neck and threw her head and
arms back to look up at the sky.
    "Lauren! You remember
what happened last time you did that?" Brenda called in a huff
to cover her fright. "Do you want another broken arm young
lady?"
    The warning seemed to hit
home, for the little girl snatched at the reins and turned her
attention back to the way before her. Brenda let out a relieved
sigh and smiled up at Marcus who returned the gesture.
    "Nothing ever seems
dangerous to them." Brenda said, squinting off into the
distance as Lauren reached the far end of the pasture.
    "Watch Mom!"
Lauren took the first and second fences with the grace of a
seasoned rider. On the third fence Tonka stumbled a bit, throwing
her slightly forwards, but she recovered and turned back for the
jumps again.
    "Wow! That's neat!"
Garrett said as he watched Lauren take the jumps again. "Is
she gonna do that at the parade?"
    "Naw, she's just
showing off. She'll only be walking him in the parade." Marcus
said glancing down at Garrett who couldn't take his eyes from
Lauren.
    "Garrett? Are you out
here?" Lindsey's voice called.
    Garrett turned and sprinted
towards his approaching mother, pulling her into the barn and
towards the paddock. "Momma, you have to see this! Its cool! I
wanna do this!"
    Lindsey allowed her son to
tug her along as she picked her way around the mud near the
stables. Her high heels were dangerously close to sinking in when
she reached the cement floor of the barn and let out an involuntary
sigh of relief.
    "Now what is it you
want to show me?"
    "Come on, come on!
This way!"

He
dropped her hand and ran the rest of the way, leaving Lindsey to
make her way across the barn to the paddock fence where Marcus and
Brenda stood. Marcus with a very noticeable black eye. He gave her
an approving look, taking in