All Chapters of Second Time's A Charm: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Killian felt like a thief in his own home but he had no one to blame but himself. Since he woke up from what he learned, a sedated sleep, he never left his room. At the moment he was slowly and soundlessly making his way down the stairs towards the kitchen. He was forced to find his own dinner after Mama Roarke refused to deliver his meal. It was nice that she wasn’t treating him any differently. Kelsey and himself were never spoiled so her bringing his lunch to his room earlier in the day was a big no.In the kitchen, his eyes narrowed to the drying rack filled with dishes and plates. The plates had an extra number and the dishes were the amount big enough for a small dinner party. Was there a dinner guest? Maybe Kelsey’s beau was here.“There’s a plate for you in the oven. It was just turned off so the plate will be hot.” The soft, melodic voice of Mikel reached his ears. After their last encounter, he was terribly embarrassed and sorry for his behavior. He couldn’t face her just ye

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

 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?.

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

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