Free Second Chance by Rachel Hanna Page B

you take me to see the horses?”
     
    “I thought you were too afraid,” Tanner said.
     
    “I am. But it is time to start facing my fears. I need to take back my power,” I said smiling. I had renewed energy to create a new, better life for myself.
     
    “Well, then, Miss Courageous, let’s go,” Tanner said pointing toward the front door. He smelled so good as I moved past him. His cologne lingered in the air, and I closed my eyes to take it in.
     
    We walked a short distance to the big red horse barn. There were two horses there, one white and one brown. They were beautiful animals, but I had harbored a fear of horses since I was small.
     
    “So, why are you so scared of horses anyway, Shannon?” Tanner asked as he walked a few feet ahead to stroke the face of the brown horse.
     
    “My Dad forced me to take a lesson once when I was about eight years old. This kid in front of me was kind of overweight, and he slipped off the horse right in front of me during a jump. It terrified me even though he was okay…” I smiled.
     
    “That’s it? Seriously?” Tanner asked laughing.
     
    “Yes, that is it. I was traumatized! Don’t laugh at me!” I yelled waving my hand at him and turning beet red.
     
    “That’s so cute… you’re blushing…” he said with a glint in his eye.
     
    “I am not… What is that horse’s name?” I was pointing at the brown one in front of me.
     
    “This here is Kipper. His former owner’s little girl named him after some cartoon character. The white one is Cotton.”
     
    “They are beautiful…”
     
    “Come here,” Tanner came back and took my hand. “You know I won’t let anything hurt you,right?” he asked quietly as he bent down a bit to look into my eyes. I knew at that moment that he wasn’t just talking about the horses anymore.
     
    “Yes, I actually do know that,” I said smiling at the thought of him throwing his rock hard body on mine during the tornado.
     
    We walked forward about five feet, and Tanner took my other hand and put it on the horse’s face. I started to rub its nose. The horse snorted and I jumped. Tanner quietly put my hand back.
     
    “You’re doing just fine…” Tanner said in a soothing voice. “Maybe one day you can ride them.”
     
    “Baby steps, Tanner…” I said.
     
    We spent about 30 minutes walking around the barn, surveying damage to the fields and part of the fence.
     
    “Looks like I have a little bit of work ahead of me,” Tanner said pulling on a wooden fence post that had fallen over.
     
    “You’re good with your hands. Cooking, horse work, fences…” I started. “Women?”
     
    Tanner smiled a sly grin and turned to me. He tipped up his cowboy hat that he had put on to shield him from the sun.
     
    “You tell me…” he said pulling me closer with both arms around my waist. “Am I good with my hands, pretty lady?” he whispered.
     
    I put my hands around his neck and pulled him in closer meeting his lips with mine. We moved our lips in perfect rhythm as our bodies pressed against each other tightly. The taste of his lips and feel of his tongue thrusting in and out of my mouth was overwhelming. What his kisses did to me made me wonder what else he could do to my body.
     
    “Shannon…” he whispered.
     
    “Yes?” I whispered back as I continued to nibble on his neck.
     
    “You either have to stop kissing me now or I am going to carry you right over to that bale of hay and have my way with you…” he snickered at me, but I knew there was a grain of truth and a hint of hope in his voice as he said it.
     
    I slowly pulled back a bit and smiled up at him. He removed his hat and placed it on top of my head.
     
    “You look good in my hat,” he commented before taking my hand and leading me back toward the guest house.
     
     

Chapter 16
     
    “Mom, how are you? I’ve been calling you all afternoon!” Courtney chided me from the other end of the phone.
     
    “I’m fine. Sorry. My