A Forgetful Heart (Whispers In Wyoming Book 8) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Books by Rachel Skatvold

  About the Author

  A Forgetful

  Heart

  RACHEL SKATVOLD

  A FORGETFUL HEART

  Copyright © 2018 Rachel Skatvold

  For Print:

  ISBN-13: 978-1986938686

  ISBN-10: 1986938689

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Published by Rachel Skatvold.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations or events is coincidental.

  Editor: Lisa M. Prysock

  Cover Artist: Erin Dameron-Hill

  For more information on Rachel Skatvold, please visit her website: www.rachelskatvold.com

  Acknowledgements

  First of all, it requires many individuals working behind the scenes to publish a book. I’d like to start off by thanking the Whispers in Wyoming authors for inviting me to join this amazing series. Danni, Kari and Lisa, I’m grateful for your friendship and encouragement during this writing adventure.

  Also, a big shout-out to Erin Dameron-Hill for creating the stunning cover art for this book and Lisa M. Prysock for doing a phenomenal editing job. Thanks to my beta readers as well. You’re opinions and encouragement have been amazing.

  Next, writing wouldn’t be possible without the support of my wonderful family and friends. Thanks for putting up with my late nights and reclusive behavior when I retreat into my writing cave. I love you all so much.

  Last but not least, I saved the best for last. Thank you, Jesus, for making it possible for us all to receive salvation and become a part of the family of God. We are no longer slaves to sin, but children of the King!

  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

  Galatians 4:5-7

  Prologue

  Austin Gaines paced under the large limbs of an old oak tree on the edge of his father’s property for the dozenth time. His heart pounded a little harder with each minute that passed. Resting his back against his old red truck for a moment, Austin glanced at the new camper behind it for a moment. Then he reached into his shirt pocket to feel for the delicate emerald ring in his pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. His mind had been running a mile a minute that afternoon and he knew he’d forgotten something. Thankfully it wasn’t that. A moment later, his apprehension returned with a glance at his watch. It was just shy of eight o’clock in the morning and as the sun rose higher in the sky his heart filled with even more uncertainty.

  “Where are you, Lainey?” he murmured under his breath.

  She had promised to meet him right after her chores.

  Finally, a few minutes later he caught a glimpse of her long golden braid, shimmering in the morning sun as she ran over the hill. As she approached, he noticed she wore her favorite plaid shirt and a pair of blue jeans with tears in both knees. She grasped a large pillowcase filled with her belongings. It bounced over her shoulder with every stride forward.

  That’s my girl, he thought to himself as a huge smile spread across his face.

  Just a few feet away, she didn’t slow down like he expected. Instead she dropped her pillowcase and leapt into his arms, knocking his cowboy hat to the ground in the process. “Sorry I’m late, cowboy,” she said, after letting out a joyous giggle. The twinkle in her emerald eyes sent tingles down his spine.

  He closed his eyes and tilted his head downward until their foreheads touched, savoring the way her petite frame felt in his arms. “I thought you’d changed your mind, Lainey.”

  “Nope, I told you my mind was made up. I’m eighteen now…finally old enough to make my own choices and today, I choose you, Austin Gaines.” She leaned forward and planted a fervent kiss on his lips that made his heart pound even faster.

  When his thoughts cleared, he slowly lowered Laina’s feet to the ground and his smile dissolved into a concerned frown. He stared down at the tiny wisp of a girl in front of him, who stood at least a foot shorter than him. “Are you sure about this? About me? Your mama hates me. You said yourself, she’ll disown you if you run off with me.”

  She shook her head and her eyes sparked for just a moment. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I love you. No one is going to talk me out of this. No one.”

  He let out a deep sigh, unable to snuff out the doubt lingering in his mind. “Listen…I had just enough money to buy that camper and gas to get us to Cheyenne. Once we’re there, we’ll both have to get jobs for a while and save enough money for traveling expenses. After that, we’ll be traveling all the time, and there’s no guarantee that I’ll make it on the rodeo circuit. So, you have to ask yourself, whether I make it big or not, is this the kind of life you really want, Lainey?”

  “Yes,” she answered without the slightest hesitation. “I’ll find another waitressing job if I have to. Billy wrote me a recommendation.”

  He shook his head in protest. “But you hate waitressing. You said so yourself.”

  “I’ll do what I have to.”

  “I just want you to be happy. Maybe we should wait until I have a few years under my belt and some money in my pocket. Once people know my name, it will be easier to get sponsors. Then I would come for you.”

  She picked his hat up off the ground and dusted it off before standing on her tip toes to place it back on his head. “You worry too much, cowboy. Don’t you understand? Money and fame don’t matter to me at all. Wherever you are, that’s where I wanna be.”

  He nodded with a goofy grin on his face and pulled her closer to him. “Well, one of us has to worry…and you have to admit, I’m pretty good at it.”

  Laina chuckled and rested her head against his chest. “Did you pick up the marriage license?”

  “Yep, sure did.” Austin kissed the top of her head and then paused a moment to breathe in the heavenly scent of her hair—a unique combination of her favorite coconut shampoo and hay from working in the stables. They were taking a big risk, leaving the only home they’d ever known in Tipton, into the big world, not knowing what the future would hold. Still, at only nineteen years old, Austin knew e
xactly what he wanted. He’d known it since the first time his dad took him to see a rodeo after his seventh birthday. Those bull riders were amazing—fearless, strong and talented. When one of them tipped his hat in Austin’s direction after a perfect eight second ride, he knew he wanted to be just like that cowboy when he grew up. It also happened to be the same year Laina and her family moved to Tipton. It was love at first sight.

  Laina leaned back, pulling him out of his daydream. “We better get going if we want to make it to the courthouse when it opens.”

  “All right,” Austin agreed while releasing her. “But first things first. I wanna do this right.” Laina’s eyes widened as Austin dropped to one knee and pulled the emerald ring out of his pocket. “This was my mom’s. It will have to do until I can afford to buy you a diamond.”

  Laina smiled through happy tears. “I don’t need diamonds. This is even better.”

  Austin smiled back, pausing for a moment to compose himself before continuing. “Laina Olsen, I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you. I don’t have much to offer you. Just this beat up truck, trailer…and my heart.”

  “That’s all I need,” Laina whispered with tears in her eyes.

  He grinned up at her. “So what do you say? Wanna be Mrs. Gaines?”

  “There’s nothing I would love more.”

  After placing the ring on Laina’s finger he pulled her into his arms, lifting her up so they were face to face. They shared a passionate kiss before he pulled back to gaze into her misty emerald eyes. “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

  “I’m happy too,” she whispered and then framed his face with her hands. “Will you promise me something, Austin?”

  “Anything.”

  “Never forget how we feel right now, in this moment. When we get into our first big fight, or I turn into a blimp while pregnant with our first baby…” She had to pause until they both stopped chuckling. “…Or when we’re old and gray, celebrating our fiftieth anniversary. Let’s never forget how we didn’t have hardly a penny to our names, but discovered we were so rich in love.”

  Austin grinned at his forever optimistic cowgirl—his heart nearly exploding with love. “I promise,” he answered and leaned in to steal another kiss.

  Chapter One

  Ten Years Later

  Laina Gaines meandered down the path from the old farmhouse to the mailbox, pausing to kick at a few rocks along the way. After opening it she pulled out a manila envelope with the words, Return to Sender, Wrong Address. Laina scowled under breath, recognizing the handwriting in an instant. It was the second time Austin had sent back the divorce papers. She didn’t understand why he was trying to delay the inevitable. They were legally separated already and hadn’t seen each other in six years. Why not make it official? She hated the thought of divorcing him and breaking the vow they’d made to each other, but somewhere down the line they had lost sight of that. Now she was more than ready to move on with her life. If only Austin would let her go.

  By the time Laina reached the house, she had managed to bury her frustration deep under the surface again. A tricolored little dog with floppy ears almost too big for its body howled a greeting from the porch. Laina rolled her eyes as she climbed the steps but smiled as the dog approached with a wagging tail. “Hey there, boy,” she said while patting him on the head. “Guess you don’t want to leave now since I fed you, huh? Ready for a late breakfast?” The dog gave a happy little yip as she headed for the door and circled her legs a few minutes later when she returned with a plastic bowl of dog food. She placed it by his water dish and then sat on the nearby porch swing to watch him. The poor thing was skin and bones and scarfed down the food like he’d never eaten a good meal in his life. The dog had shown up a few weeks ago and Laina couldn’t bring herself to take him to a shelter. He was a young beagle and appeared to be the runt of the litter because of his unusually small size. It was odd to see a dog like that in their small ranching community. Most people, including the Morgans that she lived with, owned herding dogs—heelers, sheep dogs, border collies and such. For that reason, Laina wasn’t sure if the Morgans would approve of having a little hound dog around the stables when they returned, but she had to admit, he had been good company in their absence.

  After the dog finished eating, he jumped onto the porch swing and rested its head on Laina’s lap, giving her an adorable puppy dog look.

  She chuckled and scratched him behind the ears. “Well, I have to admit, you are pretty cute. If they say I can keep you, I guess I’ll have to think up a name for you.”

  To her surprise, a few minutes later, the dog jolted from his sleep, leapt off the swing and started to howl. Laina stood and saw her friend’s blue truck pulling into the driveway a day early. When Trevor and Charlotte Morgan stepped out with their adopted daughter in tow, Laina breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t have to spend another night in that big lonely house.

  Her honorary niece, Emma, saw her first and ran into her embrace. “Oh, Aunt Laina. I missed you!” She looked down at the whimpering dog pawing her leg and cooed while kneeling to pet him. “You got a dog?”

  “He’s a stray. How was England?”

  The eight-year-old looked up while continuing to pet the dog, face glowing with happiness. “It was fun, but I’m so glad to be home. How’s Buttercup?”

  Laina grinned, knowing in advance that Emma would be more worried about her horse than anything else in the world. “She’s perfectly fine,” she assured the girl. “I’ll bet she’s missed you though.”

  “I’ve gotta see her,” Emma said before giving the dog one last pat and then dashing off the porch. “Tell Mom…I mean, Aunt Charly I’ll be back in a minute,” the girl threw over her shoulder, already sprinting up the path to the stables.

  “I will,” Laina said with a chuckle, doubting Emma even heard her. She’d caught Emma’s little misstep, calling Charlotte Mom. It was nice that she was finally starting to feel comfortable with her new guardian. Emma’s biological mother, Bridget, had been Laina’s best friend. When she died, her sister, Charlotte had come to care for Emma. She found love with Trevor, the co-owner of Morgan stables in the process. Laina was happy they’d become a family unit in the past few months, but somehow it still pricked her heart. She wished she could find something like they had. Maybe, after all this legal stuff was over, she could find someone to start a family with, too. Still, deep down, Laina feared her heart would never love again.

  “Laina!” a voice called out, bringing her back to reality. A moment later, Charlotte and Trevor were in front of her. Charlotte enveloped her in a hug. “We missed you! Thank you so much for taking care of everything while we were gone.”

  “No problem. It was nice to be alone and have some time to think…gain a little perspective, you know?” They all looked down at the same time, hearing the little beagle whimpering. “Oh, this is a stray that came around after you left. He’s really friendly and I wondered if he could stay…at least until I find out who he belongs to. I’m sure he won’t be any trouble.” Laina held her breath, hoping he would agree. With the divorce pending, Laina really needed a companion to take her mind off things.

  To her relief, Trevor grinned and scooped the dog up in his arms. “Of course. He seems like a friendly little guy,” he said while scratching the beagle behind the ears.

  “He sure does,” Charlotte agreed with a nod. Then she studied Laina’s face for a moment with a frown. “Are you really okay, Laina? You look a little stressed.”

  Laina waved away her question and plastered on a fake smile. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

  “Well, get some rest. We’ll take care of closing up the stables tonight.”

  Trevor nodded and they shared a glance. They’d known each other since childhood and there was no fooling him. “Join us for dinner tonight?” he asked.

  “Sure, sounds good.” She breathed a sigh of relief, glad he decided to keep his observations to himself. Howev
er, Laina had a feeling he’d bring it up later. Maybe it would be a relief to tell someone after all.

  Chapter Two

  After a simple dinner of grilled cheese and fries, everyone settled into the living room. It was nice to have the house full and happy again. Trevor flipped on the television, but no one really paid attention. Instead, they told her all the details about their trip to England. Charlotte and Trevor had enjoyed a second wedding ceremony for Charlotte’s British side of the family. Then they had spent the rest of their time sightseeing. It sounded like the trip had been quite an eventful experience for the new blended family.

  Finally, about thirty minutes later, things started to calm down. Emma fell asleep with her head on Charlotte’s lap and Trevor flipped through the channels until finally settling on the season championship competition for professional bull riding. Laina’s stomach churned, not being able to enjoy the sport anymore. Not after her disastrous past history with it. She had just started formulating excuses in her head to explain why she had to leave early when she heard the announcer’s voice.

  “And now…please give a warm welcome back to the arena...the toughest of the tough…the man made of steel…Austin Gaines!”

  Laina’s heart leapt into her throat as her soon to be ex-husband’s face filled the screen.

  Trevor’s eyes flew to meet hers. “Laina, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.” He lifted the remote and aimed it at the TV. “Here, I’ll change it.”

  Laina put her hand out to stop him. “No, don’t. Wait just a second.”

  When the camera panned out, she saw him all decked out in his riding outfit and leather chaps with green accents on the side—the ones she’d bought him for their third anniversary. She watched him on TV every once in a while but she hadn’t seen him wear those particular chaps in a long time. Austin didn’t do anything on accident. Whatever message he’d been trying to send out had worked on her. Laina’s eyes were glued to the television screen.