Marrying the Billboard Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

Chapter 3

3

K aitlyn’s fingers ached from pouring endless cups of coffee, the scent of grease and burnt toast lingering in the air. She tucked a stray lock of brown hair behind her ear, only to have it fall back into her face as she leaned over to refill another chipped mug. The diner hummed with the pre-holiday rush, patrons more harried than usual.

“Smile, Kaitlyn, you look so... drab,” chided Mrs. Jenkins, her overly rouged cheeks puckering as she sipped her tea. “A little lipstick wouldn’t hurt.”

The well-meaning but insensitive remark dug its claws into Kaitlyn’s pride. If only Mrs. Jenkins knew that makeup ranked far below food and shelter on her list of necessities. Not to mention how hard it was to get a shower when you slept in your car.

“Sorry, Mrs. Jenkins. I’ll try to remember that next time.” Kaitlyn offered a practiced smile, her voice barely concealing the weariness that clung to her like the faded apron around her waist.

Retreating to the kitchen, Kaitlyn sank onto a cracked vinyl chair in the corner, the coolness of the material seeping through her thin uniform. The screen of her battered phone lit up, a new email notification flashing.

“Zeke Reynolds” the sender’s name read, and her heart stalled for a moment. He had replied to the hasty application? A mail-order bride to a man she’d never met felt like a plot point from a different life, not the desperate act of a woman with nothing left to lose. She’d honestly expected never to hear back.

“Kaitlyn,” the email began, and her breath caught as she scrolled through the words. Zeke explained his situation at Redemption Ridge Ranch and the need for companionship, a partner in life and faith. But was this leap of faith meant for her?

His email was brief. Nothing flowery or emotional, but there was an authenticity in every word that settled her nerves.

“Could this really be my escape?” she whispered to herself, tracing the edge of the cracked phone screen. Her mind raced with possibilities and fears. Was this door, opened by a man with deliberate words and an obvious strength, one she dared to step through?

“Kaitlyn, table six is asking for you!” The cook’s gruff voice jolted her from her reverie.

“Coming!” she called back, slipping the phone into her pocket, the weight of Zeke’s message pressing against her thigh as she pushed through the swinging doors to face the diner once more.

Decision loomed over her, as heavy as the winter clouds gathering outside the fogged-up windows.

Later that day, sitting in her car waiting for Stetson to come out of school, Kaitlyn tapped the backspace key more times than she cared to admit, erasing yet another attempt at drafting her response. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, uncertainty knotting in her stomach. She had to be cautious, honest without being vulnerable, but it felt like walking a tightrope without a safety net.

“Dear Ezekiel,” she started again, the name feeling foreign on her tongue. “Thank you for your message. Your situation at Redemption Ridge Ranch seems both challenging and rewarding. I’ve never been west of Denver.”

She paused, chewing on her lower lip. The truth of her circumstances poked at the corners of her mind, but she couldn’t afford to let it spill into words—not yet. Not when so much was at stake.

Her eyes traced the careful dance of words across the screen. “I believe in facing trials head-on, with faith as my guide. I’m drawn to the simplicity and purpose you describe at the ranch, and I wonder if perhaps there’s a place for me in that picture. Can you tell me about your days there?”

Sending the email left her with a hollow sensation, as if she’d just cast a lifeline into the sea, waiting for rescue or rejection.

Only hours later, when Zeke’s reply landed in her inbox, Kaitlyn’s breath caught. With trembling hands, she opened the message, heart hammering against her ribs, as she leaned against the wall next to the cot. Tonight, they’d made it to the shelter in time to get one of the coveted spots.

“Kaitlyn,” Zeke wrote, “believe it or not, I never intended to seek a partner like this. But that’s another story, one that will make far more sense once you meet my rascal of a little brother, Gideon.”

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she read his words.

“As for my days,” he continued, “they aren’t especially glamorous. Today, I met with the vet, repaired some shingles on the barn, then I repaired a fence as the sun went down. Like I said, nothing fancy. If that’s what you’re expecting here, you’ll be sadly disappointed.”

Kaitlyn imagined the scene, the sun dipping behind the mountains. A longing stirred within her, a yearning for peace, for a shared silence filled with meaning.

“I don’t need fancy,” she replied, completely unaffected by Zeke’s gruff words. “Today, I scraped gum off the bottom of the tables at the restaurant.”

Kaitlyn’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, her heart thrumming with a mix of fear and hope. Each tap on the keys felt like a step closer to an unfathomable cliff. To tell Zeke about Stetson meant risking the fragile thread that connected them, yet withholding such a vital piece of her life felt dishonest, a betrayal before their story even began.

“Momma?” The small voice broke through her reverie. Kaitlyn turned to find Stetson’s dark eyes fixed on her, a furrow of concern etching his youthful brow.

“Yeah, buddy.” She forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “What’s up?”

“Is it almost Christmas?” he asked, his innocence piercing her heart.

“Pretty soon, sweetheart.” The half-lie tasted bitter on her tongue. Dates held little meaning when each day was a battle just to survive. It was just barely November now, but Christmas decorations had already taken over Denver, the world seemingly eager to skip straight over Thanksgiving.

“Will Santa find us here?”

Kaitlyn’s chest tightened. She pulled him into her lap, cradling his small frame. “Santa always finds the good little boys,” she whispered, praying her voice didn’t tremble with the weight of her unspoken fears. “Do you remember where Jesus was born?”

“In a stable,” he said, though he seemed unsure.

“Yep, that’s right. And since Christmas is His birthday, we can be extra sure that it doesn’t matter where we celebrate it.” She forced cheerfulness into her voice.

Stetson nestled against her, but she felt the distance of a thousand miles between her promise and the truth. He deserved a Christmas morning filled with joy, not the cold reality of their existence. The decision made itself in her heart; she would do whatever it took to give him more.

Her eyes found the phone screen again, the blinking cursor a silent challenge. With a deep breath, she let the words flow, her fingers finally steady as she typed.

“If you’re still open to this… unusual arrangement, I’d like to come to you. I can get a bus ticket. But if you’ve changed your mind, please let me know so I can make other plans.” She knew her car would never make the trip that far. But maybe she could sell it and get a little extra cushion, enough for the tickets.

The email sent, Kaitlyn wrapped her arms tighter around Stetson, the weight of the future momentarily lifting. If Zeke said no? She’d have to figure something out. But for now, she let herself imagine.

She envisioned Redemption Ranch, the lodge aglow with festive lights, a place where Stetson could wake to Christmas magic. It was a dream worth chasing, worth every ounce of courage she could muster.

“Momma, will we have a tree?” Stetson’s voice was soft, hopeful.

She hesitated, wanting to promise him the world. Her phone vibrated with a message from Zeke. It was short, just a handful of words.

“I guess we’re doing this. Let me know when you’ll arrive.”

Not exactly a profession of commitment or enthusiasm, but it was something.

“Will we, Mom?”

She glanced up, refocusing on Stetson. What had he asked? Oh yeah, a tree.

“We will, my love,” she promised, the image of a pine tree standing proudly in the corner of some warm, inviting room in Zeke’s house blossoming in her mind. “And it’ll be the most beautiful tree you’ve ever seen.”

“Promise?” His wide eyes searched hers, seeking reassurance.

“Promise.” She sealed it with a kiss on his forehead, her determination solidifying. They would go to Redemption Ridge. They would face whatever future awaited, together. And maybe, just maybe, they would find a place to call home.

In that moment, Kaitlyn’s resolve burned bright. For Stetson, for herself, she would walk into the unknown, faith guiding her steps toward the chance of a better life.

She just prayed the grumpy cowboy was an honorable man. She’d gotten a good feeling about him, but this could go horribly wrong if she wasn’t careful.