Marrying the Billboard Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

Chapter 8

8

K aitlyn’s fingers trailed along the wood of the cabin’s kitchen counter, the slightly rough texture a stark contrast to the slick surfaces of city apartments she had known. The air held a faint scent of cedar and something else—perhaps the lingering aroma of spices Zeke used in his cooking. His space was tidy, every utensil in its place. There were no knickknacks on the counter and each drawer and cabinet she peeked in was uncluttered.

She paused by a small wooden table set beneath a window framing the darkening expanse of the ranch beyond the cabin. Her reflection stared back at her from the glass, dark eyes wide with the enormity of change looming over her life. Outside, the land stretched on, an endless sea of greenery skirted by rocky cliffs that seemed both protective and isolating.

A sense of disorientation washed over Kaitlyn as she stepped away from the window. Here in this little cabin, hidden behind trees, she was a world away from the clamor and struggle of Denver streets, from the cold nights in her car, clutching Stetson close to fend off the chill.

The vastness of the property pressed against her chest like a weight. It was beautiful, breathtaking even, but unlike anything she’d ever known.

“Lord, help me find my place here,” she whispered, her voice barely rising above a murmur. Her prayer felt small in the grandeur of Zeke’s world. How could she fit in here? She’d barely even managed to stand in front of the horses without her heart pounding out of her chest.

She recalled the warm breaths of the giant animals puffing into the crisp air, the scent of hay and earth mingling in her nostrils. They were so big, the horse’s head reaching far above her own.

Stetson had watched with wide, expectant eyes, and she had swallowed her anxiety, knowing her son needed to see her confident, unafraid. Zeke’s presence was both reassuring and unsettling, his quiet confidence setting a standard she wasn’t sure she could meet.

“Momma, look at the big horse!” Stetson had exclaimed, and she’d managed a smile for him, though her palms were slick against the wooden fence.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Zeke had commented, his voice casual, as if introducing strangers rather than half-ton animals capable of bolting at the slightest provocation.

“Very,” Kaitlyn had agreed, her voice steadier than she felt.

Now, standing alone on the porch, Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around herself. The chill of the evening seeped through her thin sweater, the cold somehow grounding amid the whirlwind of new experiences. She gazed out over Redemption Ridge Ranch. The lodge was illuminated with lights on the ground, highlighting the elegant architecture and rustic charm. There was a grandeur here that both awed and intimidated her.

That was the other thing. It wasn’t just the physical vastness of the ranch. There was an obvious sense of belonging Zeke and his family had to this land—something she had never known. Her life had been a series of temporary shelters, transient attachments, always bracing for the next upheaval. From the animals to the structures, she was surrounded by reminders of the huge gap between them. Redemption Ridge Ranch was no rundown ranch on the western slopes. From what Zeke had shared about the hotel, families spent thousands of dollars to stay here.

A flicker of guilt pinched her heart as she considered her meager bank account. Here, surrounded by such opulence, her struggles felt magnified. Could someone like her truly fit into this world?

As soon as she could, she needed to save up enough money to pay off Eddie and that stupid loan she’d taken in the spring. She was already taking so much from Zeke, she wouldn’t give him the chance to change his mind because of that debt.

Stepping back inside, Kaitlyn felt the warmth of the cabin wrap around her like a comforting embrace. She rubbed her arms, not just for the cold she’d left outside, but to soothe the shiver of uncertainty that had nothing to do with the temperature.

Kaitlyn drifted through the cabin. Her eyes caught on the shelves near the small television. They were lined with books, with a few framed photos on display. She skimmed the books, surprised to find an eclectic mix of fiction and history. She could almost picture Zeke sitting in this room, a book in hand as a small fire warmed the space.

Her fingers traced a photo. Zeke’s smiling face looked straight at the camera, his arms slung across two people. One, a young blonde woman with a cowboy hat and a broad smile. The other, a man with unkempt hair and an unshaven face.

The love between the three of them made Kaitlyn’s heart ache at the way it practically oozed out of the frame. Family was important here. She loved Stetson more than anything in life, but the always-present ache of missing her parents became sharper with the fresh realization that they would never know him. By their own choice.

What did she know about family, anyway? What kind of life could she and this cowboy have together when she was using him?

The creak of the door announced Zeke’s arrival before he stepped into view, his broad frame filling the space with an assured presence. In his hands, he held more than the night-light she had requested; there was also a stuffed horse, its mane soft and brown under the dim cabin lights.

“Figured Stet could use a friend tonight,” Zeke said, his voice rough as he set the items down on the rough-hewn table.

Kaitlyn’s throat burned with emotion as she stared at the small stuffy. He’d brought that back for her son? The son she’d been too nervous to tell him about. The kindness was so unexpected and so foreign, she couldn’t think about it for too long or she’d be a sobbing mess.

He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it beside the door.

Kaitlyn’s heart skipped as she watched him, a surge of warmth flushing her cheeks. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.” Her words came out hushed, almost lost in the sound of his boots on the floor.

“Don’t mention it.” Zeke’s reply was just as subdued, his eyes avoiding hers as he busied himself with plugging in the night-light.

She checked on Stetson one more time, introducing him to his new stuffy.

“I’m going to name him Inky,” he said softly, brushing the horse’s fur against his cheek. “Good night, Mommy.”

“Good night, sweet boy. See you in the morning.”

He clutched the small horse tight in his small fist. The boy’s breathing soon evened out. Kaitlyn lingered by his side, tracing the curve of his cheek with a finger, then reluctantly joined Zeke in the main room.

They settled into an awkward silence on opposite sides of the couch, a chasm of unspoken words stretching between them. Kaitlyn’s palms grew damp as she rehearsed what she needed to say, the apology coiling tight in her throat.

“I...” She cleared her throat, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “I should’ve told you about Stetson sooner. I understand if you’re having second thoughts about...all of this.”

The words hung heavy in the air, and for a long moment, Zeke didn’t respond. His eyes, dark and unreadable in the firelight, held hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

“Life’s full of surprises,” he said at last, breaking the quiet without looking up from the flames. “Sometimes they’re just...little cowboys we didn’t expect.”

Kaitlyn’s heart clenched at the gentle humor lacing his words, an attempt to lighten the gravity of her revelation. Yet, despite the kindness in his voice, she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that there was more he wasn’t saying. This man, who could command a kitchen and handle horses with an assertive touch, seemed to guard his own emotions like the most precious of secrets.

“Zeke,” she ventured, her voice hardly above a whisper, “are you sure you’re all right with this? With Stetson and me being here? We can go back…”

He turned from the fire then, and their eyes met, his expression unreadable as the shadows danced across his face. “I made a commitment,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “I intend to keep it.”

She searched his face for a sign, any indication of warmth or regret, but found none. His features were etched in a stoic calm that offered no clues to the thoughts churning beneath. It struck her how little she knew about the inner workings of Zeke Reynolds, how the man before her was both her future husband and a stranger.

“Okay,” she breathed out, nodding slowly, more to reassure herself than him. The space between them felt charged with an energy she couldn’t define, a mix of hope and hesitation that mirrored her own tangled feelings.

“Get some sleep,” he suggested, standing and stretching his broad shoulders. “Big day tomorrow.”

His words were simple, but they carried the weight of acceptance, easing the knot of fear that had tightened in her chest. A tentative smile tugged at the corners of her lips, grateful and relieved. She wondered what secrets he was keeping. But based on everything she’d seen so far, she could certainly have chosen worse for a desperate bridal bid.

“Thank you,” she said.

“No more secrets, okay?” These words left no room for argument.

She nodded, her eyes widening. “Yes. Of course.” Guilt twinged her conscience as she thought about the debts she carried. But that wasn’t the same. That was her problem to solve.

The silence stretched between them, a vast expanse that Kaitlyn yearned to cross with words but found herself unable to navigate. She wrapped her arms around herself, the warmth of the fire doing little to dispel the cold uncertainty that settled in her bones. She prayed silently for guidance, for a sign that this path was the one God meant for her to walk. But tonight, faith was a flickering flame, wrestling with doubt in the dark corners of her heart.

The thought of becoming Zeke’s wife in less than a day sent a tremor through her slender frame. She could sense the weight of his gaze.

She searched his face, seeking any hint of reluctance. But his expression was unreadable, as always, like the distant mountains standing firm against the horizon. Yet, there was a steadiness in his stance, a resolve in his voice that spoke of commitment, however sudden it might seem.

“I’ll be back in the morning to pick you and Stetson up.”

She watched him turn to leave, the lines of his back speaking of a protective strength she’d come to notice. And despite the whirlwind of fears, Kaitlyn felt a glimmer of peace threading through the uncertainty. This was a good man. Too good for her, probably.

He wanted no more secrets, but every time she’d broken down and told people the truth, they’d abandoned her.

She’d do whatever it took to make sure he didn’t regret their agreement. She could be a good partner to him. She had to be. Because after getting a taste of his attention and the possibility of life out here in the luxury of the ranch, she wasn’t sure her heart could take going back to cold showers at the shelter or long nights listening to fifty other women toss and turn on the squeaky cots.