Read Online Second Chances by Cheyenne Meadows - Free Book Online Page B

“You’d let me
ride one of your horses?”
    “Yeah.
They could use the work. That is, if you know how to ride.”
    A smile
flashed across her face. “Didn’t I tell you? I worked at a large horse farm all
through high school. We did everything from breeding, training, boarding, and
riding lessons. Even worked with handicapped kids in riding therapy. All
through college, I spent my weekends volunteering at Summerset Thoroughbreds.”
    Respect
replaced amazement on his face. He studied her, then nodded slowly. “You’ll do,
April. You’ll do.”
    She
grinned at the rare praise and felt her spirits lift. Score one for me. While Dusty might not care for women in general
and didn’t always appreciate her hanging around, at least he now saw her as a
fellow horse person. Common ground with a genuine love for the animals he
adored.
    They
fell into companionable silence, Dusty showering affection on his former war
partner and her stroking the barn cat.
    I could get used to this.

Chapter Six
    Grenades exploded, sending men
flying. Blood splattered and cries of pain and fear burst out over the desert
mountain landscape. With no shelter besides a few armor plated vehicles, men
either stood their ground or dove for cover. Those still capable grabbed up a
weapon and fired, defending themselves and their unit. Dusty glanced to the
side, finding the fixed eyes of his best friend staring his direction. Sharp
shards ripped through him even as fury rushed to the fore. With a battle cry,
he grabbed his weapon, rushed ahead, and put down a scathing flurry of bullets.
The next instant, he went airborne as another roadside bomb detonated.
    Sucking
in great gulps of air, Dusty opened his eyes and sat up. Ben cuddled close,
whining and licking at his owner’s face. For a long moment, Dusty fought to
quell the images still running amok in his mind, their claws buried deep in his
memory, stubbornly refusing to budge each time he tried to banish them. His
heart still pounding, he wrapped an arm around Ben and buried his face in the
coarse fur, finally managing to pull himself from the nightmare and back into
the present.
    Darkness
surrounded them, the only light from his alarm clock. Glancing up, he found the
time. Three-fifteen.
    “Shit.”
He sighed heavily and looked into Ben’s knowing eyes. “Yeah, another one. I
know you have them too.”
    Ben sat
up and leaned his entire body against Dusty, tucking his head under Dusty’s
chin.
    Smiling
briefly at the comforting snuggle, Dusty did nothing more than pet his dog. Ben
had always been there for him during the war—not only as a protector and
detector but also as a friend. Without Ben, Dusty might have lost his humanity
and his sanity. Instead, they worked as a team, supported one another, and
finally came home together, although a bit rough and worn for the experience.
    White
hairs covered Ben’s muzzle, signifying his advanced age. Once again, he
wondered how much time his friend had left and felt a deep pang in his heart at
the thought of losing Ben. The downside to having pets was to lose them in the
end. Nature’s way. Yet, he didn’t know what he’d do without his constant
companion who understood so much more than most people could.
    He
ruffled the dog’s hair once more. No sense in trying to return to sleep, not
when he still suffered the adrenaline charge from his harrowing dream. He could
sit in bed and stare at the clock or he could do something useful. “What do you
say we get an early start on breakfast?”
    Ben
woofed softly and jumped off the bed.
    Dusty
followed.
     

     
    “Good
morning.” April walked through the main gate with a wide smile on her face.
    He
blinked and gave her a droll stare, not in the mood for bubbly cheerfulness
this morning. After a quick meal of toast, he’d gotten to work. Threw laundry
in, scrubbed the kitchen, even cleaned his bathroom until the entire room
gleamed with freshness. By the time he finished, the clock struck five,