Marrying the Billboard Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

Chapter 4

4

Z eke’s boots crunched on the gravel drive as he made his way back to the main house, just visible through the gathering dusk. A frigid breeze tugged at the edges of his jacket, but he barely noticed, his mind churning with thoughts of Kaitlyn McCallum.

She was arriving tomorrow—a woman he knew only from letters, yet he was ready to bind his life to hers. Would she find solace here, away from the hardships that had whittled her down? She’d sent him a photo through email, and he pictured her face, dark eyes that held a quiet strength and a sass that sparked even through the written word.

A knot tightened in Zeke’s stomach as he strode down the hidden drive toward the family home. Could he really be what Kaitlyn needed? Was he the protective haven she sought or merely a man with his own set of scars, cautious and grumpy? A man who found solace in rules and the predictability of ranch life, and was using her to further his own desires and ambitions. The thought unsettled him.

Marriage should be for love, shouldn’t it? Not for selfish gain. Maybe that was why he’d gravitated to her letter. She seemed to need him as much, if not more, than he needed her.

As he reached the porch, he paused, his hand resting on the cool metal of the doorknob. He needed to trust—not just in himself, but in the God he leaned on, the one who had led him down this path.

Zeke stepped into the dimly lit living room of the family home. Gideon lounged on the sofa, his legs sprawled out, eyes fixed on the flickering images dancing across the television screen. The ambient glow cast a comforting warmth against the walls, yet it did little to ease the tightness in Zeke’s chest.

“Hey,” Zeke offered, his voice steady despite the churn of his thoughts.

Gideon responded without shifting his gaze from the screen. “Mom and Dad are out with Cassie and Jason. Just us bachelors tonight. Please say you’ll cook,” he pleaded. “I’m starving and ramen won’t cut it.”

“I’ll cook.” Zeke’s reply was distracted as he made his way to the kitchen, the familiar clink and shuffle of pots and pans a welcome distraction. He reached for ingredients, allowing the rhythm of cooking to ground him.

Gideon finally turned off the television and followed Zeke into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re quieter than usual. Got something on your mind?”

Zeke hesitated, the knife pausing mid-chop over the cutting board. He took a measured breath, then another, before glancing up at his brother. “I’m doing it,” he admitted. “She’ll be here tomorrow, and I... I just don’t know if I’m ready for this—for everything that comes with marrying a woman I’ve never met face-to-face.”

A flash of surprise was all that gave away Gideon’s emotions. “Really? The billboard worked?” Gideon’s face split into a grin.

Zeke rolled his eyes and pointed the knife at his brother. “Don’t get cocky. I’m still mad at you for pulling this stunt.”

Gideon smirked. “You said you needed to get married.”

“I also said I needed help on the western fence line today. But you didn’t exactly jump into action at that statement,” he snarked.

Gideon shrugged, completely unconcerned.

Zeke set down the knife, wiped his hands on a dishtowel, and faced his younger brother squarely. “Call me crazy, but I want to believe this is right, Gid. That she’s the one God means for me. But what if I’m wrong? What if it’s just another mistake waiting to happen?”

Gideon cocked his head slightly, considering. “You’ve always been the deliberate one, Zeke. If you’re feeling this way, there’s gotta be a reason. But remember, we’re not given the whole roadmap—just enough light for the step we’re on.”

Zeke nodded, picking up the knife again. “Suppose you’re right,” he said, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Just wish I had a bit more light is all.”

The aroma of sizzling onions filled the kitchen as Zeke stirred the contents of the pan. In the simple act of preparing a meal, he found a moment of clarity. Maybe it wasn’t about having all the answers but about trusting in the One who did.

“Tell me you’re not just putting on a brave face,” Gideon said from his perch at the kitchen island, his eyes fixed on Zeke with an earnestness that contrasted sharply with his usual buoyancy. “This whole mail-order bride thing is big, even for you. There is no reason you can’t back out.”

Zeke paused, the wooden spoon hovering over the cast-iron skillet. “I’m trying to be sure it’s bravery and not sheer foolishness,” he admitted, the words tumbling out like worn pebbles.

“Have a little hope, bro.”

Zeke turned back to the stove, letting the rhythm of cooking anchor him. “It’s not hope I’m short on. It’s trust.” The words fell heavy between them, carrying the weight of memories he’d rather leave unturned—memories of a woman who saw him only as a means to an end, who took what she wanted and left scars buried deep.

Gideon’s expression softened. “This girl isn’t like Jenny. Don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole orchard.”

“Easy enough to say,” Zeke murmured, adding a pinch of salt to the onions, watching as they danced and popped.

Trust was a currency he’d spent too freely once. Jenny had never truly seen him, her eyes too focused on being Mrs. Reynolds and all the status that came with it. What if Kaitlyn was the same?

“I’m not brave like you,” he said tightly.

Gideon was fearless. He jumped headfirst into adventure like he needed it to breathe. But Zeke had never done anything without thinking through every possible outcome.

“Hey.” Gideon reached out, placing a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “You’ve got a heart the size of Redemption Ridge itself. It’s okay to guard it, but don’t lock it away. Not everyone’s out to swindle you.”

The gentle pressure of his brother’s grip grounded Zeke, a reminder of the bond they shared, unspoken yet as solid as the beams supporting the ranch house. He let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction.

What was it that Kaitlyn said? She’d been scraping gum off the tables? He fought a smile, trying to picture Jenny doing that. She’d never worked a day in her life. No, he had to believe Kaitlyn had more substance than that.

The scratch of silverware punctuated the quiet of the Reynolds’ family kitchen as Gideon scraped the last spilled bites of his fajitas off his plate. Zeke’s gaze lingered on the woven placemat, tracing the intricate patterns with his eyes.

“So, are you going to go through with it?” Gideon asked.

They’d eaten in relative silence as thoughts of the possibilities swirled in Zeke’s mind.

“Can’t let the past have its way with my future, can I?” Zeke finally admitted, his voice a low rumble, more to himself than to his brother. “Not if I’m to walk the path God’s laid out for me.”

“Exactly.” Gideon’s smile reached his eyes, warm and encouraging. “You’ve got more courage than you give yourself credit for, Zeke.”

Courage. The word echoed in Zeke’s chest, a flicker of something bright amidst the swirl of doubts.

The clink of silverware against plates subsided as the last bites of dinner vanished, leaving only satisfied sighs in their wake. Zeke pushed his chair back from the table, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth while Gideon stacked the empty dishes.

“Remember when Ma used to make us race to see who’d wash and who’d dry?” Gideon broke into laughter, the sound rich and genuine. “You always won, but I swear you cheated.”

“That’s called strategy, not cheating,” Zeke corrected, standing to collect the rest of the dishes. The familiar banter, light and unforced, loosened the tightness in his chest. Memories of sunlit kitchens and soapy hands blurred the line between past and present.

“Ah, strategy.” Gideon nodded sagely, winking. “Like how you used to hide frogs in my bed to make me think twice about stealing your comic books?”

“Exactly.” Zeke’s chuckle rumbled deep in his throat. He shook his head, a genuine smile warming his face for the first time in days. It felt good to laugh, to remember the innocence of youth rather than the complexities of adulthood.

They moved together through the clean-up, a silent choreography perfected by years of cohabitation. The scrape of a sponge, the rush of water from the faucet, and the clatter of dishes returning to their cabinets filled the comfortable silence.

“Thanks, Gid,” Zeke said as they finished, his voice steadier now, reflecting the calm that had settled over him. “For listening, for... everything.”

Gideon slung an arm around his brother’s broad shoulders. “Always, Zeke. You know I’ve got your back, just like you’ve always had mine.”

With a final squeeze, Gideon released him and ruffled his hair, an echo of playful scuffles long past. Zeke swatted his hand away but couldn’t suppress another short laugh. This was what family meant: support, loyalty, and love without limits.

“I’m gonna head to my cabin,” Zeke announced, his gaze drifting toward the window where darkness had painted the outside world in shades of black and blue. “Got to make sure everything’s ready for Kaitlyn.”

“Kaitlyn,” Gideon repeated the name thoughtfully. “Can’t wait to meet her.”

With those words fortifying him, Zeke stepped out into the crisp night air, the chill a sharp contrast to the warmth of the house behind him. He made his way along the path to his cabin, each step purposeful, his heart lighter than it had been in months.

Tomorrow, he would meet his future, whatever it held, head-on.