Second Chance Ranch by Audra Harders Page B

buttered her dinner roll in complete oblivion to her son’s dilemma. “Nick and Zac are fine men. They’ve been about their business and visit when they can.”
    Grace nudged him with his elbow when he didn’t respond. With a frown, Zac stabbed a pea, sending it spinning across his plate. “I get home when I can. I’m here; Nick’s not. Pick on him.”
    “Oh, dear, we’re not picking on anyone.” Grace shooed Gabe’s anticipated retort away. “It’s always nice to be remembered by your children. When they have the time.”
    “Grace, the boy is home, quit nattering at him.” Martin swallowed and pointed at her with his fork. “Pass the potatoes.”
    “I’m not nattering at him. I simply—”
    “Dad, it’s alright.” Zac nodded at Martin and grabbed his plate. He had no business ruining the conversation at the table with his mood and he certainly didn’t want his mother wheedling it out of him. “I’ve been away awhile, but now I’m home. Excuse me, I need some air.” Placing his dishes in the sink, he grinned at Melanie as he slapped Gabe on the back. “I can see why my brother has picked up a few pounds. Great meal. Thanks.”
    “Hey,” Gabe protested. “It’s all muscle.”
    “That’s what you’ve been telling me for years, bro.” Zac pulled open the door and gave his brother the once over. “Looks good on you.”
    A hint of fall nip greeted him as he stepped out onto the porch that ran the distance of the house. The slight wind carried the scent of pine and timber, wrapping him in the peace of home. No matter how far he traveled or how long he stayed away, the homestead kept a power draw on him. A draw he fought no more.
    He stepped over to a pair of wooden rocking chairs. The chairs had been there ever since he could remember. A small table now sat between them and a three cushion glider added additional seating. He sank down into the floral print of the chair closest to the railing and propped his booted feet up on the handrail, staring across the drive at the corrals and old, black barn. Little had changed, yet everything had changed. What had Jen been thinking? If he’d given her a car and she’d chosen to sell it because they’d broken up, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But a child? They created a child together and she gave it away?
    My child. She gave away my child.
    Anger, confusion, despair all clamored for attention in his brain. All rational thought escaped him and he bowed to the whim of emotions. A mixed-up, turned-around, unfathomable churn of emotions.
    “Zac?”
    He jumped at the soft voice. Not two feet away, Melanie stood beside him, her brows drawn together as she studied him.
    How could a woman so obviously uncomfortably large move so quietly?
    “Zac, are you awake? Is it okay if I join you? Gabe won’t let me do the dishes, so I thought I’d better just get out of the way.”
    “Sure. Have a seat.” His feet hit the porch with a thud as he shifted in his chair and faced her. Talking was the last thing he wanted to do. “Too much action in the kitchen?”
    She sank onto the glider, stretching her legs across the cushions. “Way too much. Grace moves around that table like war planes at two o’clock. I could’ve stayed in the corner and listened to her tell Gabe he was washing dishes all wrong, or I could come out and cool off in the early fall evening air. I think I chose wisely.”
    “For your sanity, I think you did, too.” Zac grinned in the deepening dusk. He really liked Melanie. She had a way of cutting to the heart of the matter without caring if the other person wanted to hear her opinion or not. You knew where you stood with her.
    Yep. He liked her a lot. “What does Jason think about being a big brother soon?”
    “He’s a coward about it, just like Gabe. The thought of gaining two sisters at once is a bit intimidating.” Melanie laughed. “Before I married Gabe, Jason didn’t really know what family life was like. He had no