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

her white blouse, short black shirt
and matching black shoes, then turned back to the paddock. Brenda
caught Marcus's appreciative look and eyed her with loathing.
Lindsey gave Brenda a brittle smile, which the other woman did not
return, and then looked out to where Garrett was pointing.
    "Can I do that?"
Garrett pleaded, watching Lauren take one jump and then another.
    "Can you put the jumps
up Uncle Marcus?" Lauren called as she slowed Tonka before
them.
    "Next year."
Marcus determined by catching a glace at the look that crossed
Brenda's face. "Maybe even the year after that."
    "Aw! But Tonka likes
jumping! Don't you Tonka?" She leaned down the horse's sweaty
neck and gave him a hearty pat.
    "Can you do that
again?" Garrett asked, hopping up and down in his excitement.
    "Okay, a few more
times. Come on Tonka." Lauren turned the gelding and trotted
him back down to the other end of the pasture.
    "See momma! I wanna do
that!"
    Lauren took the jumps
without hesitation on either her part or the geldings.
    "Can I momma?"
Garrett asked, glancing up once at her and then looking back
towards Lauren and the gelding.
    "No, absolutely not."
Lindsey said, bile rising in the base of her throat.
    "But—!"
    "I said no Garrett.
Why don't you come inside and help me make dinner."
    "But—"
    "Now Garrett."
    The tone of her voice was
enough to make the little boy grimace. He dropped his head to look
at the ground as he followed her out of the barn and back up to the
house.
    "I just want—"

"Garrett,
drop it. I won't ask you again." Lindsey felt the cold
tendrils of fear spreading throughout her stomach. In her mind she
could see herself taking those same jumps with the same faultless
ease as the little girl, and her stomach clenched in terror.
    "Can I at least go to
the parade tomorrow? Marcus said I could ride in a wagon like a
real cowboy." Garrett looked up at her with a longing face,
his blue eyes near to tears.
    Lindsey rubbed at her
throbbing temple. "Okay. You can go to the parade and you can
ride in the wagon." She wondered if staying here was such a
good idea as she watched Garrett shout in excitement and sprint
back out the front door towards the stables.
    The stables she had once
loved so much she now detested. Watching her son disappear inside
each time brought a pang of anxiety to her mind. What if something
happened to him? Lindsey rung her hands together as she climbed the
stairs to change. The only good thing about this day so far was the
fact that she'd got the job at the bank in town.
    She had just started making
dinner when the phone rang. Thinking nothing of it, she reached for
the cordless phone and said hello as she rooted under the sink for
a pot she'd seen the day before.
    "Lindsey?"
    "Mom?"
    "Oh honey, I'm so glad
you're okay. I've called Janet and Gale and Kim and none of them
knew where you were. I didn't think you'd be there either. I was so
worried about you."
    "How did you get this
number?" Lindsey asked in a voice that sounded loud and angry
to her own ears.
    "If you think I'd
forget his last name and how to use a phone book then you're sorely
mistaken young lady. Are you okay?"
    "Let me talk to her—"
    Lindsey froze as she heard
Kurt's voice in the background.
    "One second, one
second." Her mother replied in annoyance.
    "Mom," Lindsey
whispered, afraid to speak any louder. "What is he doing
there? Have you told him where I am?"
    "Looking for you just
like I am, what else do you think? We've had the cops looking
everywhere for you. We're worried about you Lindsey. I'm glad
you're safe, but now we want you to come home."
    "Promise me you won't
tell him where I am." She pleaded with desperation from deep
within her heart.
    "All right, all right.
But I think this is all so silly." Her mother sighed and
cleared her throat. However, before she could answer Lindsey caught
the sound of the phone being picked up from another line.
    "Lindsey, what the
hell do you think you're doing? Get your ass back home right