Page 52 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

“Who says you can’t have it again?”

“The best things in life seldom come along twice.”

“True but in your case, they have. Go for it. Try again.”

“I’m not trying again. I’m not going after Presley. End of story. Now, I see the guests coming in. I have work to do.”

“You’re a fucking idiot,” Devin muttered as he walked past him.

Jaxon shook his head. Devin didn’t understand. His situation was different. Willa had no desire to go back to Hollywood with the actor she’d arrived with but she did because she and Devin had fought, and she’d been so hung up on the age difference. Jaxon had talked Devin into going to Hollywood after her, so he did and brought her back to where she belonged. Now she did work around the ranch, helping in the lodge and with the itinerary but she was first and foremost, Devin’s wife and that’s all she wanted.

When Jaxon came back from the trail ride, he told everyone to dismount, and the ranch hands would take care of the horses. He dismounted then led Zander to his stall. After removing the tack and a warm-down, he rinsed the horse off with the hose.

“You’re seriously not going after her?”

Jaxon turned to see Willa standing outside the stall gate. Shaking his head, he refused to answer her.

“Jaxon, ignoring me won’t work. You should know how stubborn I am by now.”

Blowing out a breath, he turned to look at her. “No. I’m not going after her.”

“Why not? You love her, and she loves you. Sometimes, we women need to see just how much you men want us. When I left, I wanted Devin to convince me to stay, but I’d made him so angry that I had to go. I was so happy he came after me because we’d both be miserable now. Just like you and Presley are going to be. She loves you. We can all see it, and we also see how you are with her.”

“I’m not ready—”

“When do you think you will be? When it’s too late? I can promise you, she wanted to stay. I could see how she looked at you. I look at Devin the same way. Lucy looks at Reid like that, and it’s the same with Priscilla and Roark. We women love you Callahans. You love deep, but so do we. Go get her, Jax. You don’t want to go through life thinking you should have gone after her. I’m telling you if you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

Jaxon stared at her and didn’t know what to say. He was scared. Fear was his enemy. What if it was too late now? What if he did go after her and she wouldn’t come back with him? Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and shook his head.

“Please let it go,” he said.

Willa stepped into the stall and hugged him. “I will…for now.” She turned and walked away.

Jaxon walked out of the barn to where his truck sat, but he took a seat on the swing that sat beside the barn. He removed his hat, pulled his T-shirt off over his head then resettled the hat. It was hot today. Removing his hat again, he pulled the chain he always wore over his head. Leaning forward, he placed his forearms on his knees, clasped his hands, dangled the chain from his hands, and hung his head. No one understood what he was going through, and he could never explain it. Taking a deep breath, he stood, stuffed the chain into his pocket, picked up his shirt then headed home for a while. He just hoped he could stop thinking of not seeing Presley ever again.

Later as Jaxon worked in the barn, he heard someone clear their throat, he looked up to see his cousin, Reid, standing in the doorway of the stall.

“Hey, Reid. What are you doing here?” Jaxon pulled his leather gloves off.

“Jax. I was driving by and thought I’d stop in. Devin tells me you let Presley leave.”

Jaxon clenched his jaw and felt a muscle twitch in his cheek. He nodded.

“I did. No reason for her to stay.” He folded his arms while staring at Reid.

“Really? Didn’t look that way at the dance. You asked her to dance, and you two couldn’t keep your eyes off each other.”

“It doesn’t matter, Reid. I’m going to tell you like I’ve told Devin and Willa. Let it go.”

“Is it because of Bethany?” Reid walked over to a stack of hay bales and sat on one.

Blowing out a breath, Jaxon followed him and took a seat beside him.

“She was the love of my life.”

“As Zeke was Lucy’s and Maisy were Brayden’s.”

“You’re the love of Lucy’s life, Reid.”

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