Taking Their Second Chance: A Greene Pastures Novella

By Brenna Welles

With calving season quickly approaching, Jake Waller needs someone he can trust to take care of his mother as she’s fighting the hardest battle of her life. When Letti Fletcher, his former high school sweetheart, proves to be the best woman for the job, Jake finds himself remembering all the reasons why he never wanted to give her up in the first place...

This is a 20,000 word novella featuring cowboys, a meddling mother, and two people who were always destined to be together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenna Welles
• Release date: Sep 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370180530

Book preview

Taking Their Second Chance

A Greene Pastures Novella (#1)

Brenna Welles

© 2017 by Brenna Welles

No part of this story may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the copywrite holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within critical reviews and articles.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination and have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

To you, dear reader. For give me a chance.

CHAPTER ONE

The bitter cold snaked its way beneath the collar of Jake's old leather jacket, chilling him to the bone. The rain had finally let up after three solid months. They, whoever they were, had named this winter the coldest and wettest one on record in the last thirty-two years. Jake couldn't wait for the corresponding summer drought that everyone was predicting.

But first, calving season.

Dr. Beckett, the local large animal vet, and Morris Rowland, owner and operator of Rowland Ranch, seemed to think the season was upon them already. They said it could be only a week or two out at the most before the first round of calves began to drop. Which meant Jake needed to make arrangements to have his mother cared for while he was too busy at the ranch.

Esther Waller, Jake's mother, had been diagnosed with stage four throat cancer just after Jake's last semester at college began. He had quickly withdrawn from the university and headed straight home, ignoring his mother's protests. Though Esther had many friends in the community that would help her fight this battle, Jake couldn't leave her on her own.

Shortly after coming home, Jake applied for a job back on Rowland Ranch, having worked there off and on throughout his summers as a teenager, up until he graduated. Most of that money had gone toward paying for college. Morris' father had been the owner and operator back then, but Morris and Jake had worked together often. He had been enthusiastic to have Jake back.

Jake knew he owed Morris. Odds were he had heard the rumors and gave Jake the job without a second thought. Jake's mother had decent insurance, but she wasn't able to work. Having this job meant they would be able to eat and keep the lights on at home.

Jake slid into his old but reliable truck and fired it up, more than ready to be home. But tonight, instead of making a quick dinner for the both of them and putting his feet up by the fire, Jake had interviews to conduct.

Calving season was the busiest time for any ranch. The work hours were long and hard, many cowhands only heading home to sleep and grab quick meals in between shifts. The Rowlands had traditionally opened up their large farmhouse so the men could take naps when needed. There would be no time to take care of his mother, take her to her appointments, make her meals. It had taken a long time until his mother agreed to hire a temporary home-care nurse.

Jake had never really appreciated how stubborn his mother could be until that moment.

Pulling into the drive, Jake was surprised to see an unfamiliar car sitting in the driveway. It was an older model compact car, tiny and red with a bumper sticker reminding everyone to support the troops.

A quick glance at the clock on the dash told Jake he was only two minutes late.

Whoever this person is, they were certainly punctual. Which would be important with all the appointments his mother had.

Jake had meant to be home a half-hour ago to do some last minute tidying up before the first applicant arrived. Just as he was about to leave, a couple of the guys asked him to help move some equipment and it had taken them longer than anticipated.

Well, if Jake ended up hiring this one, at least they wouldn't be surprised by the state of the house.

Jake slid out of the truck and jogged to the front door. Turning the knob, he pushed it open, looking down to wipe his feet on the worn welcome mat. He made a mental note to replace it soon.

I'm home, he called. He didn't expect his mother to call back. The treatment had been harsh, chewing up her throat and making it difficult to talk and eat. Even the skin around her neck looked sun-burnt.

Welcome home, a soft, lilting voice said.

Jake jerked his head up at the familiar voice.

She looked the same, and yet so very different. She stood by the door, her jacket unbuttoned as though she were in the process of removing it. Her pale, blond hair no longer framed her face in a cute bob, but had grown past her shoulders. Her face looked all at once older and more beautiful than ever, her light blue eyes twinkling the same as they always had before.

Letti? Jake said, surprise coloring his tone. He narrowed his eyes. What are you doing here?

Jake, came the soft rasp from the other side of the living room. Immediately, Jake's attention turned to his mother, who managed to give him a stern look and a sharp shake of the head. She sat wrapped in a blanket, her thinning dark hair covered with a hat she had crocheted years ago. She lifted a piece of paper up, gesturing that he should take it. He strode over to her, his long legs eating up the distance.

The name Colette Fletcher stood at the top of the page in bold print. It was her résumé.

Jake's one concession to his mother about hiring a nurse was that she pick the applicants and invite them to an interview. She argued that if she were to let somebody take care of her, she better have the chance to figure out if she'd like them. Jake had agreed, finding himself more than willing to give up that tedious task.

Now, he began to regret that decision.

Jake leveled a stare at his mother before taking a breath and turning back to Colette. I apologize. I didn't know Mom had invited you. Please, have a seat.

Letti lifted an eyebrow at him before sitting in one of the armchairs. As though only minutes had passed instead of years, he could read her