Everyone Deserves a Second Chance Read Online Free Page A

bridles he'd used the day before.
    "I knew he'd fall asleep for you." Lindsey said startling
Marcus who hadn't heard her approach. "He never gets up this
early."
    She watched the little boy as he lie sleeping and a sad expression
crossed her face, one that he'd seen before. Slowly she sat down on
the couch beside the boy and smoothed his hair back with her hand.
    "We were so young, the two of us." She gave him a sad
smile as he stood up to trade one saddle for another. "Maybe
if we'd tried harder—"
    "You left me. Remember?" Marcus attacked the saddle with
a harsh rubbing of the cloth along the dirty areas. "I was
trying."
    Lindsey sighed and stood, scooping the little boy into her arms.
"I'm going to go make breakfast. I'll come get you when it's
ready." She waited a second for a reply but when she didn't
receive one she left as silently as she'd come.
    Back inside Garrett awoke to the smell of breakfast being placed on
the kitchen table. He stretched his little arms and legs before he
jumped off the living room couch and took a seat at the kitchen
table.
    "Yum," he whispered as he picked up his toast and took a
bite.
    "Garrett Norman, you put that down right now!"
    "But I'm hungry!"
    "No excuses. Go run out to the stables and tell Marcus that
breakfast is ready. Once he comes in then you can eat."
    Garrett grumbled as he left the kitchen and ran for the stables.
"Marcus!" he called inside the stables as he patted one
of the horses on the nose through a pasture fence. "Marcus,
are you in there?" When there was no reply Garrett turned to
run back for the house only he collided right into a little girl.
    "Ouch! That hurt!" The little girl snapped at him as she
ran a hand over her sore forehead.
    "Well you ran into me." Garrett said rubbing his forehead
as well.
    "Is Uncle Marcus in there?" The little girl asked peering
past his shoulder and trying to make out the shadows in the barn.
    "He didn't answer when I called for him."
    "Ooh, then I know where he is. Come on!" The little girl
grabbed Garrett's hand and tugged him along. Because he was
curious, and because he was only six years old, Garrett followed.
    Together the two ducked under one of the pasture fences and raced
along side by side. It was the girl who was the first to spot the
horse and the figure stooped over the wire fence.
    "There he is!" She called to Garrett as she sprinted past
him. "Uncle Marcuse!" She called running up to him and
throwing herself arms his neck.
    "Oh my goodness!" Marcus laughed, pulling the girl into a
bear hug. "You're getting way, way too big for that." He
pattered her nose with kisses until he caught sight of Garrett and
winked at him.
    "Where's your mom Lauren?" The little girl held on to
Marcus as he stood and shifted her to his hip.
    "She's at the house. She brought you breakfast! Blueberry
muffins just like you like them. They're still hot from the oven
even."
    "You guys got back early then. When did you get home?"

"No, we still got back last night. Mom got up extra early to
make you muffins. She said you'd be sad if you didn't get them."
    Marcus chuckled as he sat the girl on the saddle of his horse.
    "Did you two meet each other yet?" Marcus's eyes wandered
from one child to the other.
    "Nope. We were too busy looking for you." Lauren said
gathering the horse's reins and then leaning down to pet it on the
shoulder.
    "Lauren, this is Garrett. Garrett, this is Lauren."
    Garrett gave a shy smile as he edged closer.
    "How about I give you two a ride back to the house huh? Then
we'll see about those blueberry muffins."
    "Oh, hello."
    Lindsey spun at the sound of a woman's voice. She was a large
woman, not obese, but big boned. Her hair was as thick and curly as
Lindsey's own hair, but a pretty reddish color. A few faint
freckles speckled her cheeks, and only enhanced the color of her
large green eyes and long dark lashes. Although she was thick
waisted, she was quite curvaceous and in no way unattractive.
    "Hi," Lindsey responded