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Epilogue
ThatWriter KariThank You!
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Second Time's A Charm 1.
My dear and only friend Kelsey, I didn't mean to sound so dramatic up there but ever since I received your pen pal letter those few months ago, I have found peace and longing by it. The way you described your family ranch was a great contrast from this mausoleum I call home. As you know today is my eighteenth birthday. Not much to celebrate when life has been planned for you since you were sixteen. I envy you Kels. I know you do go through the same pain of loss as me but at least you have somewhere to go, something to do when you feel trapped. It's been three days but it feels like forever. Around this time Daddy will be barging into my room and dragging me to the stables or sneaking us to the mall or something. He wanted me to grow up as he did back in New Jersey. I guess his childhood was fun with laughable accidents and loud friends to fill the quiet. It still surprises me that he built all of this to make his family back then happy and kept at it to make my mother and me h
Second Time's A Charm 2.
Eight Years Later Present Day "Oh, my, what a sweet little boy!" Mikel sipped on her mimosa and carefully listened to her mother titter over a friend's latest picture of her grandson. The woman who was showing off the red-headed little guy practically pushed her phone in Mikel's face. "Isn't Robinson adorable, Mikel? Sally-Ann is beside herself. So happy in London with her husband. He's a Lord, you know," the woman boasted. "Oh yes. I remember. I was at the wedding and the christening. Quite delightful it was," she countered with a practiced smile on her face. She stressed the word 'delightful' to remind the woman about the debacle her daughter made on both days. Mikel couldn't give Sally-Ann all the credit; her secret boyfriend played his part well too. She felt sorry for Lord Chaswick. She was by his side while he fumed and drank himself to sleep. It pained her as it pained him because they were close friends; they met each other at Princeton in the most socially awkward way.
Second Time's A Charm 3.
One month later Whispering Hills Ranch Montana Killian Drummond was two years too late in arriving home. Rubbing his messed up leg with a hand that has been broken too many times he endured the last lap of his journey back home. The road to the ranch seems familiar but the feeling of home wasn’t there. His parents weren’t there, probably new faces working the jobs he once did since he was ten, and a sister who probably resents the heck out of him. He couldn’t blame her. Just like he did with his father he did so too with her. They didn’t part on good terms. He slowed down a tad bit when he caught a few signs hanging below the ranch overhead sign. Home of Kelsey Drummond Five Time Champion Barrel Racer. Three-time Champion Show Jumper. Killian’s eyes widen at the signs, in her past letters she mentioned her competitions but he never asked her about it, he was only focused on staying alive and doing his job. He drove through the gates and parked in front of the sprawling main hous
Second Time's A Charm 4.
The past five days have been great for Killian. He took that time to get reacquainted with things and learn about the new methods the ranch adopted. During that time Kelsey introduced him to everyone as their rightful boss. They were accepting after Kelsey and Mama Roarke spoke, the older ranchhands put in their few cents which helped Killian greatly. The foreman took the role of telling him who did what. He pitched in after that, breaking a good sweat and giving his body the exercise it needed. Not taking it too hard he knew when to take a break or go soak his body in some ice. The meds were helping a great deal and he knew in no time he will be back in fighting shape. On one of those days, Kelsey took him to their father’s grave. They had a plot of land at the local cemetery designated for their family only. The church has been a pillar of strength for the family for years. Weddings, christenings, funerals, an escape to talk to God. First Pentecostal was always there.Kelsey gave h
Second Time's A Charm 5.
Dinner at the Drummonds was never dull and that night’s dinner was no exception. It was two hours after Kelsey’s trick was revealed and for the first time in a month, Mikel had a real smile on her face. She was currently seated next to her best friend and eyeing the sulky cowboy opposite her. Killian was hunched over his meal not talking to anyone. Herself, Kels, Mama Roarke, and the ranch foreman were holding back amused smiles while trying to have a decent conversation. Mikel took that time to take in the appearance of her friend’s big brother. She saw the pictures their father proudly showed her on past visits. They were all photos of him all over the ranch and rodeos, some with their mother and some with his father. The one that Keagan Drummond showed her with so much pride and gusto was him in his dress blues. He was 18 then and curiosity about the world was in his eyes. Now looking at the twenty-nine-year-old man before her, she saw the changes. Broad shoulders to fit his six f
Second Time's A Charm 6.
After listening to his sister tell him about her best friend and the basic outline of Mikel’s tragic now present life last night, he lay awake and thought of how to help the grey-eyed beauty. Killian couldn’t sleep though, not because of his thoughts during the night he heard the painful screams of someone trapped in a nightmare. He will know because he suffers from them also. On instinct, he rushed to her room but found Kelsey with her soothing her back to sleep. Her faithful companions were doing the same with their cries mixing with hers. To him, the dogs were sharing her loss. “How is she?” he asked his sister softly near the door. “She’ll be fine. Tomorrow will be better.” Killian wanted to go and hold her but simply nodded and stepped back. He knew night terrors weren’t easy and to see the woman who caught him by the gut suffering so, was painful. Back in his room he listened for any more disturbances and closed his eyes for the last four remaining hours of the night. Killia
Second Time's A Charm 7.
Kelsey’s laugh filled the room an hour later after Mikel told her about her brother's offer.“Told ya. Classic Killian. Can never tell a lie like Abe and is too good to be true like Steve Rodgers. I love that big lug of a brother.” she said coming down from her laugh high. She was on the floor playing with the dogs while Mikel got dressed. Knowing the spins to be made she opted for denim Vans shoes to match the white cotton summer dress and light denim jacket. Kels already French braided her hair and chose her earrings. “He made me laugh so much in that little space of time. I’m thankful. I'm basically a stranger yet he put forth this honest offer,” Mikel said sincerely. “I’m glad. I know it won’t always be like this but just know you now have another person in your corner.” “Yeah.”She sent her friend a smile and proceeded to pack a bag for the day. It was nearing ten, the appointment was at 11 so they will have enough time to relax. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “Gonna g
Second Time's A Charm 8.
After the comforting hug Killian gave her and the delivery of their meals, they ate in comfortable silence each lost in their own thoughts. Now knowing for sure that she was pregnant with Dominic’s child she needed to focus on how to tell his parents and her mother. To them, their children’s marriage was just a business deal they didn’t expect both of them to find a mutual attraction to each other. Mikel smiled sadly remembering how his long blonde hair will brush her cheeks when he kissed her goodbye the day before her birthday. They made love all night and it was her day off. “My Mikky,” he whispered against her lips in the most reverent way. “My Nicky.” she returned sleepily. In her sleep haze, she saw how his brown eyes soften when she smiled at him. Somehow she knew they always told each other their love for each other in those endearments. “Hurry back.” “For you, I will.” She didn’t realize she was crying till she felt a napkin brushing her cheek. Looking up she saw Killian r
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