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Second Time's A Charm 13.
The next morning both Kelsey and Mikel came to an abrupt halt at the kitchen entrance. Standing in his ranch clothes was Killian flipping pancakes and checking on the sausages on the stove. He probably sensed their entry when he looked over his shoulder and gave them a hesitant smile. Slowly the two took their seats and watched him in surprise. "Morning you two," he said lowly."Hey." That was their reply in unisonKelsey was hesitant to ask and nudged Mikel to do it. She was still uneasy about what happened to him. The thought of someone willfully hurting her brother made her angry and nauseous at the same time. "How are you?" Mikel asked. She expected a shrug or brush off but not the warm smile on his face. Her body relaxed upon seeing his beautiful smile and the way his blue eyes shone on his handsome face."I slept through the night. I actually followed the prescription.""You weren't before?" she pressed, fully turning to him while he finished the pancakes. Worrying and caring ab
Second Time's A Charm 14.
Working in a diner in a cowboy town wasn't the first choice for Betty Ann Duboir. She had big dreams of living in a big house and always being catered to. Heck her last name was even more glamorous than the town of Whispering Creek. Her family was your typical blue-collar folks who were still paying a mortgage on a double-level wrap-around porch house. A typical home in those parts. What she didn't like in her years of a kid and then as a teenager was tending farm animals. They had a smaller variety of hens, two cows, and a horse that helped till the small plot of land. She hated getting dirty and being around filthy animals. Menial work was for people beneath her, people who lacked sufficient education .and grew up below the middle class. As for her, she had the beauty, temperament, and standards of living above those means; she deserved the best.She never hid her loathing for that life. When other girls were helping their folks with ranching, she was making her way to the
Second Time's A Charm 15.
Kelsey and Killian were - for the first time since his episode- together in the same place. They were currently seated on the porch swing after a very noisy and delicious dinner. Mikel was in the office with Vincent while the two of them took that moment to build their relationship stronger. At first, the two were silent, loving the cool breeze, and watching dusk turn to night. The dogs were at their feet taking a nap, enjoying the atmosphere with the two humans. Killian pushed the swing with his leg setting it in motion. He noticed how Kelsey kept tapping her hand against her thigh. "How are you and Corey faring?" he asked knowing that was a safe subject. He was right, Kelsey's body and movements calmed easily and her smile became bright as the noonday sun."We are great. He's such a gentleman and always does little things to make me smile. I lucked out really well. I know it's soon but I can see myself with him. He loves the land as much as I do and he listens about m
Second Time's A Charm 16.
The morning was already warm and it wasn't 6:30 yet. Mikel was leaning on the paddock fence watching a ranch hand coax her horses into it. They needed some exercise and both Kelsey and Vincent were both excited to do the honors. Stormi was a champion in show jumping, and Kelsey was excited to train her. Apollo was a racer, and won a few races Dominic entered him in but he was simply a beloved horse.The hand was standing in the middle watching the horses get reacquainted with their new environment, Stormi was playfully sniffing the man while Apollo stood arrogantly appraising the grounds. A low chuckle escaped her. Looking at the stately horse, she grew concerned for the animal's future. He loved Dominic dearly, to the fact he won't allow any other male or female beside her to ride him. Now that his master was gone, how will this affect him? Animals are sensitive by nature. Her episode of worry brought back a similar memory."Are you sure about this?.
Second Time's A Charm 17.
"Morning Angel."The soft murmur of Mikel's voice was the only sound in her sun-washed room. Standing before the full-length standing mirror, her t-shirt above her baby bump as she lovingly caressed it and gazed at the photo of herself with Dominic stuck on the mirror. After confirming her pregnancy, this has been her routine. Seeing his smiling face in the photo and greeting their child was comforting to her. It may be unhealthy to some but Mikel would like to think her husband was beside her feeling the same joy she was experiencing now.Following the pregnancy calendar and doctor visits, she was five months pregnant. Her little one was growing well and her mental state was clear and steady. During those past months, her absence in New York brought out a few gossip articles but it was overshadowed by celebrity news or a political scandal. She kept herself busy and found her heart not only fil
Second Time's A Charm 18.
New York"I told you I will contact the best buyer. You didn't believe me, Mama Heath.""You bitch! What have you done? How dare you desecrate my son's name alongside that girl. I always knew she was no good." Alana Heath saw the stubborn streak in Mikel Rysdale since she was a teen but her mother promised her half of the company. That didn't go as planned, because her son ruined it all by falling in love with the twit."I told you what I want. If I don't see a change in my bank account in four hours, guess who will be on the front pages? Your rich society friends won't like it one bit. No more country club perks for you darling. You weren't taking me seriously and threw a few hundred at me. There are a lot of ways to find hidden dirt. Bye Bye now."Alana fumed and turned sharply to her companion. The woman sat in the corner in a relaxed pose with her chin propped on her closed fist. Alana knew better, the woman was plotting. Ever since she was looked over after her dear husband's dea
Second Time's A Charm 19.
"It's been a week sweetheart. No one has shown up at the gates. I miss driving you and having your company on the road."Killian was currently trying to get his girl's stubborn mind moving. He really missed driving her to town and having their special moments alone. Seated on the counter in her bathroom watching her shower was now part of their morning routine. Though the act of sexually pleasing her was at the oral level, Mikel wasn't shy in walking freely before him. He, on the other hand, was still self-conscious of his scarred body. In that department he felt inadequate, hell she was married to a real-life GQ model. She was used to seeing perfection. He was scared that she will be repulsed by him if she saw his whole body."Baby. I know this but there are still a few relentless reporters in town and I have yet to see my mother here," she shouted over the blasting water."Maybe she hasn't heard.." he argued pitifully. That idiotic comment earned him a 'Are you for real look' over h
Second Time's A Charm 20.
It was killing her.Mikel was now home begging Killian to open his room door. His silence brought fear into her, she needed to see him. She needed to hear his heartbeat. Vincent assured her that he was well when she arrived home. Killian's duties after his PTSD episode were jobs that needed manual labor and high concentration, His panic attack made him lose confidence in himself which made him return to his stalled outside jobs to get rid of that sense of uselessness. During his absence in the house, upon the doctor's recommendation, Kelsey removed the majority of his medication and left his prescribed amount in a capsule box. They found the 9mm gun he kept under his pillow during their mild clean-up. Thankfully it wasn't loaded. The ammunition was in a lockbox in his closet. When Kelsey saw this, she placed herself in deeper sympathy and fear when she deducted why her brother did this.He was leaving a way out for himself.When he refused supper at the end of the day and locked him
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Second Time's A Charm Epilogue
Five Years Later “Go, Dom!!!” Nine-year-old Trevor Calisto was cheering on his cousin from the fences as the boy broke into a gentle canter on his horse. Both their fathers were in the corral coaching him along the little ride. He chose the 8month old Friesian Colt a day ago when his father Killian told him it was time to get his own horse. Vincent bred top of the line horses, and the Friesian breeds he bred strictly for family. The colt was black as night with a calm demeanor matching his new master's attitude. The two boys were excited. Now they can both ride together around the ranch. “I wanna see.” Trevor looked behind him and rolled his eyes at his baby cousin. She hated being called a baby. At three years old, Kadence Wesson was a force to be reckoned with, everyone doted on the only girl on the ranch. The princess. That’s what Dominic calls her. She was stubborn as her mama and thoughtful as her daddy. He heard the grown-ups say that’s a dangerous combination in a woman. His
Second Time's A Charm 28.
Two months, One week later. "What part of taking it easy you don't understand angel?" Killian was seated in a chair watching his woman work on her laptop in the hospital bed. Currently, she was eight months and one week into her pregnancy. Earlier in the day she was complaining about pains and brushed it off as Braxton Hicks. He was worried and still called it in. When it was coming too frequently he got a stubborn Mikel to the hospital. It turns out Peanut was impatient and wanted out of his mommy's tummy. Killian was amazed by how easy she was taking it all for her first time. With each contraction that came, she simply laid back in the bed and clutch onto the rails till the pain passed. During a few, he will sit with her but she said that she will need him for the main event. Only his angel can surprise him in every way. Studying her in his corner he was damn proud of himself. Therapy for his PTSD was helping and he was opening up more to his family. They will accompany him to
Second Time's A Charm 27.
The steady beating of her heart and her baby on the machine was soothing to Mikel but she was still worried. On her way to the hospital, she came in the ambulance and was given a full recap of what happened by Maggie. Her heart rate escalated when she was told about Killian's episode. Her blood pressure spiked and she began to worry immensely. Maggie and the EMT got her to calm down enough to keep the baby stable.Throughout all the examinations and consultations her mind was on Killian. When she got back to her room after the last ultrasound Kelsey and Vincent were there with equally worried expressions."What did they say? Can I go see him?" she asked after they fussed over her and got her side of the story."He's still out," Kelsey answered avoiding Mikel's eyes."Something went wrong didn't it?" she asked gravely."He woke up before they reached the hospital and had to restrain him. They actually have to keep him asleep, his sedative intake was doubled. I..I..." Kelsey couldn't co
Second Time's A Charm 26.
Mikel was locked away in her office at the clinic eyeing her birthday gift. No, it wasn't her birthday but the gift she refused to open after learning of his death.Vincent gave it to her two days ago before he officially left the Drummond ranch. Apparently, it fell out of her bag where she kept it for months and he held on to it."When the time is right you will open it."Apparently, he knew what the rectangular box held. A lot has been going on at the ranch and the clinic was her personal haven. It was the middle of the day and her animal patient visit was down to either four or six. "Two more months till you're here peanut. The doctor said three but I have a feeling you're gonna be hasty and reckless as your father," she said softly to her round belly."I wonder what you will look like. Will you have his eyes or mine? Brown hair like mommy or daddy's blonde hair. All I know is you're gonna be perfect." Her attention went back to the beautifully wrapped present. The pain and sadness
Second Time's A Charm 25.
Earlier in the monthAfter celebrating Kelsey and Corey's engagement, Vincent sat back and took it all in. He never thought he will be living a life away from what he loved - racing.He came searching in Montana for peace and to support Mikel. They both lost a large piece of their heart and can only lean on each other during that grief. It was conflicting when he found out about the budding relationship between her and Killian, but, that person was helping her heal. She had someone new and that man loved her with everything. Vincent expected nothing less when it came to Mikel. She was lovable in most aspects.In the office, he held the keys to his own place in his hands. Killian helped him in finding his own piece of heaven and with Mikel's blessing, he signed on the dotted line."Still too good to be true huh?" Mikel's voice rang out in the office."Yeah."He watched on as she sat on the sofa and kicked her legs up. "I remember when you joked about settling down," she commented."T
Second Time's A Charm 24.
A month has passed since the showdown with the mama witches. That was the name of the scenario thanks to Kelsey's creative mind.It has been a wonderful month by far. A lot has happened which made Mikel and Killian's world much brighter. The happiness of the other members of their family was contagious.The first wave of brightness that fell upon the house was from Kelsey and Corey.Earlier in the monthKelsey was nervous about the decision, more like a statement she was about to make. Not one to be waiting for help or be that damsel in distress, Kelsey Drummond has always been tough. Her strength and resilience were taken differently by both sexes.Women saw her as a tomboy, a woman who wants to be in the man's world way too much. Friendships between her and the women in town were strained. Acquaintances are more the label of their relationship. They were mildly jealous of her due to her beauty, a subtle grace that was shown in her walk, and even when she rides. Her brown eyes and da
Second Time's A Charm 23.
Mikel still had no clue as to what caused her to wake so early before a workday. The night before was still so fresh to her, she was still feeling the worry and fear along with the pain. The pain Killian re-lived when he showed her the last piece of him was felt in her heart also. They both bared all their battle scars to each other making their love stronger.Slowly she turned on her side, caressing her tummy while watching Killian slept. She felt a reflexive squeezing of her hand which made her smile. He fell asleep holding her hand and never once during the night released it. It was the same the previous night. The gesture was both heart melting and heart aching. The upside with him sleeping with her the past nights were no more night terrors."For me too," she said under her breath. Mikel no longer saw Dominic's bloody and mangled body in his car with regret in his eyes. Now she dreams of him in the suit she last saw him in smiling at her with so much love and adoration as she pla
Second Time's A Charm 22.
Dinner at the Drummond ranch was wary to the least. Killian returned home in a somber mood and everyone silently decided to let him be. They knew something happened but were willing to patiently wait till he opens up. The conversation was idle, Mikel wasn't worried much but it was there. Feeling tired from her long day she took to bed early. No one missed the lingering look Killian gave her when she left the dining room.Confusion and love were settled in his blue eyes when he turned back to them. "She knows it's Betty Ann?" he quietly asked."Yeah. I placed two and two together and came up with fork tongue bitch." Kelsey always had a way with words. Vincent and Corey erupted in laughter, Mama Roarke rolled her eyes trying her best to hide the smile and Killian pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.Where's the ladylike charm, little sis?"What about you? Did you figure it out?" Corey asked."I had a feeling she will do some shit after her sad out of a job tale but not this.
Second Time's A Charm 21.
"When did they try to hack into the system?""Two days after the newsreel. Security cameras found a night maid trying to get into my office but she was handled. We have her in custody now. All trails lead right back to your mother. She isn't privy to our knowledge."Mikel was currently on an urgent video call with her friend Chaswick. Vincent was present in the office but in a serious conversation with Dominic's head of security."The files they tried to get a hold of. What were they?" she asked.Chaswick brought up a mirror screen of the file number her mother was trying to access. "Dominic's will?!""And the deeds along with every stipulation for the businesses he placed in your name," Chaswick added. She looked at him, who gave her a nod and sat back in his chair. She warned him of her mother's tactics just to get her hand on the company's account. It was always about money for her. Absentmindedly she watched as the sun played with his chestnut brown hair and lit up his ocean-blue
