Everyone Deserves a Second Chance Read Online Free PDF Page B

they were back
on the first floor where he promptly set her down on the couch in
the living room.
    "What the hell did you do to your head?" He asked as he
wet a towel and came back to press it on the cut.

Lindsey gave a shaky laugh. "I should have been wearing a
seatbelt. I nearly hit a long horn steer." She watched as he
lifted the towel and inspected the cut.
    "Damn Freehill, his bull is always running loose because he
won't properly fix his corral. You should probably go to the
hospital. Its pretty deep."
    "No! I won't go back there."
    "Lindsey, don't be ridiculous—"
    "I said no!" Her voice shook and fresh tears streamed
down her face.
    "Fine." Marcus pulled the towel from her forehead and
went back to the sink. "Even my damn cattle aren't as stubborn
as you are."
    "Where's Garrett?" Lindsey winced as he pressed the hot
towel back to her forehead. When Marcus didn't answer Lindsey tried
to stand. "Marcus?"
    Marcus sighed and pushed her back down into the couch. "You
stay here. I'll go find him."

"Garrett?"
    The little boy looked up from where he sat on the couch in the tack
room. His eyes were red again and his hands were shaking.
    "Are you going to hurt me next?" The little boy asked
with a sob as Marcus came closer.
    Marcus sank to his haunches and reached to touch the little boy on
the head. Garrett shrank away from him and covered his face with
his hands. Marcus caught the little boy in his arms and pulled him
into his chest. "No Garrett, no one is going to hurt you ever
again."
    "But you hurt momma," the little boy sobbed into his
chest. "He always hurts me after he hurts momma."
    Marcus ran his hand through the little boy's silky brown hair and
then kissed the top of it. In a way he was sad that he couldn't
call this innocent child his own. "I didn't hurt your momma
buddy. I swear I didn't. I just scared her, that's all. She's
inside right now, worried about you. Come back inside with me?"
    Marcus felt the little boy nod his head against his chest and
winced when it grazed the place Lindsey had elbowed him. For such a
slight woman she sure did pack a punch. With a smile he picked
Garrett up and carried him back into the house.
    Lindsey let out a sob of relief when Marcus set Garrett down and
the little boy ran into her outstretched arms. The two cuddled up
next to each other as their tears mingled and Lindsey tried to set
her son's fears aside.
    "He only scared me buddy. Its okay, everything will be fine.
We're safe here, you know that." Lindsey felt her son's tears
subside and soon he was fast asleep in her arms.
    She was only going to rest her eyes for a second, but when she
opened them sunlight streamed through the living room windows and a
thick wool blanket covered both her and Garrett who lay curled up
beside her.
    Slowly Lindsey sat up and winced at the dull ache in her head. When
she reached up to touch the cut she found a bandage there that
hadn't been there last night. She managed to get off the couch
without disturbing Garrett and glanced at the clock on the mantel
above the fireplace. It was too early for him to be out and about
yet she decided.
    On weary legs she climbed the stairs to the master bedroom. She
found the door wide-open and peeked inside to see him sprawled
across the bed. The sheets lay tangled around his legs. She
grimaced at the dark bluish purple bruise she saw spreading across
his lower muscled abdomen. One of his eyes was already swollen and
black underneath. There was cut, already starting to scab over, by
his nose.
    As Lindsey took a step into the room his eyes flew open. He always
was a light sleeper. He gave her a lopsided grin before he
stretched and winced at the aches and pains he'd forgotten he had.
Lindsey smiled as she walked across the room and took a seat on the
edge of the bed.
    "I just want to apologize for last night." She bit at her
lower lip as she got a closer look on the bruise across his
stomach.
    "You sure as hell put up a fight." Marcus said with