Marrying the Billboard Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

Chapter 10

10

Z eke jogged up the steps of the small house. From what she could see, Wrangler Row, as he’d introduced it, held at least half a dozen similar cabins.

Kaitlyn glanced at the man beside her, trying not to read too much into the deliberate way he closed the distance between them and the threshold of their new life. She was married. That was something she thought she would never say. But here she was, living in Redemption Ridge and married to the most devastatingly handsome cowboy she’d ever laid eyes on.

It went beyond his looks, though. In just a day, Zeke had proven to be kind and thoughtful. She had to admit, the man wasn’t easy to read. She was tempted to pour out her entire life story to him, but she was ninety percent sure he would respond to her twenty-minute spiel with a two-word reply. It seemed his gruff words always left more to be desired.

But she wanted to believe he was as good as he seemed. Otherwise, she’d made a huge mistake. One that not just she would pay for. Stetson was already enthralled with his new father figure.

She grabbed Stetson’s hand and followed Zeke into his house. Their house? She chewed the inside of her cheek. She wasn’t entirely sure how this was all going to work. Was it really hers?

Her eyes slid to the bedroom, where she’d fallen into a restless sleep the night before, Stetson comfortably in her arms. A pang of nervousness gripped her as she imagined the logistics of their sleeping arrangements. Zeke couldn’t sleep at his parents’ house now.

His giant frame would never fit on the couch. She could sleep on the couch. But where did that leave Stetson? Maybe Stetson could sleep on the couch and she and Zeke… Her heart raced at the thought, her mind skirting around the edges of what being a wife entailed. She folded her arms, a subconscious barrier against her own racing thoughts.

“Kaitlyn?” Zeke’s brow furrowed, concern etching lines across his forehead. “You all right?”

She nodded, feeling the chill from outside still clinging to her clothes. “Just thinking about how we’re going to make this work...with just the one bedroom.”

Zeke’s eyes softened as he followed her gaze to the partially open bedroom door. He released her hand and stepped closer, his shadow merging with hers on the wooden floor.

“We’ll figure it out,” he assured her, leaving unspoken the mutual understanding that their marriage was one of necessity, not passion. “Nothing has to change. I’d like…” He paused, shaking his head slightly before exhaling. “We’ll share the bedroom,” he said in a rush.

He cleared his throat, a faint blush creeping up his neck, unseen but felt, a testament to his own discomfort. The very idea of being with her made him uncomfortable, she realized with a pang of insecurity.

“I want you to know, I don’t expect anything… like that. It’s just too hard to explain otherwise. I don’t want…” He trailed off, glancing away.

Kaitlyn’s cheeks were on fire. She’d been with a man before, obviously. Stetson existed, after all. But it had been a lifetime since then. The idea of being with Zeke had her entire body in flames. He was her husband, after all.

But he didn’t want her. He’d made that much clear.

Which was exactly what she wanted. So why did she feel like her eyes were burning?

She nodded. “That’s great. Thank you,” she choked out, her voice barely louder than the whispering wind outside. It should be a relief, hearing his words, feeling the truth in them. But it didn’t abate the gnawing need inside her to stand on her own two feet, to not be a burden. To offer him something in return for all he was giving her.

“Is there anything you need?” Zeke interjected into the silence that had stretched out between them. “Anything to help you get settled in?” Zeke asked, his voice casual, but the words hit Kaitlyn like a judgment.

“Settled in?” she echoed, her voice sharper than she intended. “With what, exactly? We don’t exactly come with trunks of heirlooms or anything.” The sting of shame at her situation, at the stark truth of their arrival with nothing more than a duffel bag each, welled up inside her, pressing against her ribcage.

Zeke’s gaze held steady, neither flinching nor patronizing. “I didn’t mean—”

“All we have is the clothes on our backs and a few necessities.” She could feel the heat in her cheeks, the defensive wall rising brick by brick around her heart. She gestured toward the ranch outside the windows. “All this? I could never give Stetson this without you.”

“Hey,” Zeke said, stepping closer, his voice gentle but firm. “Don’t do that. Don’t diminish how incredible you are, Marvel. I already know you’re an amazing woman. And a fantastic mother. Stetson’s a great kid—that’s all you. But you won’t carry that load by yourself anymore. That’s what family is for.”

His words should have soothed, but they stirred rebellion within her—a fierce independence born of necessity. Yet when he reached out, enveloping her clenched fist with his broad, calloused hand, something in her unclenched just a fraction.

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

His eyes widened a fraction of an inch. “What? Marvel?”

She nodded, confirming the question.

Zeke’s hand went to the back of his neck, squeezing it slightly. “The other day, when I met you at the diner, when I realized what you were doing to protect your son… You’re like Superwoman. But that wasn’t quite good enough, and something else came to mind. Captain Marvel is the most powerful superhero – even more than all the men. Plus, she loves so fiercely, there’s nothing that can stop her from protecting the people she loves. Kind of like you,” he offered with a shy smile. “So… Marvel.” He shrugged.

Well, there went her heart sliding onto the floor. He’d officially turned it into a puddle of ooze with an awkward and slightly nerdy soliloquy about female superheroes. That was how he saw her? Not as some pitiful waif who needed a big strong man to come save her? Because that’s how she saw herself.

“I... I still need to figure some things out on my own.” She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a small act of fortitude. “I need Stetson enrolled in school and then maybe find a job for myself.”

At the mention of work, a frown momentarily creased Zeke’s brow. Kaitlyn ignored it, already turning over her options in her mind, planning as she always did—alone.

“Kaitlyn—” he began, but she cut him off with a determined shake of her head.

“I’ve been on my own for a long time, Zeke. I appreciate all you’re doing, truly, but I can’t just stop taking care of myself and my son.” Her words carried the unyielding edge of someone who had learned the hard way that dependence often led to disappointment. She’d tried to depend on her parents. Tried to depend on Stetson’s sperm donor. And in the end, she’d only ever been able to depend on herself.

“Of course,” Zeke replied, though his voice held a note of something unreadable—a protective urge perhaps, or a hint of concern. It was clear he wasn’t used to standing aside, but this was her battle to fight, her path to walk.

He glanced up at her, a flash of emotion in his eyes. “I’ve got things to do on the ranch. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

He disappeared into the bedroom, and she went into the kitchen to fix a snack for Stetson.

Zeke was already on his way back out of the bedroom. He’d taken off the sport coat and solid button-down he’d worn to their wedding and replaced it with a worn henley that hugged his chest and arms. Kaitlyn watched wordlessly as he grabbed a brown Carhartt jacket off the hook by the door.

His eyes found hers as he reached for the doorknob, then flicked down to Stetson beside her. “Would you… would he want to come with me?”

She exhaled, the tightness in her chest loosening another notch. However stilted things felt between her and… her husband, he truly seemed to be interested in Stetson. That was certainly a mark in his favor.

“Oh, can I, Mom? Please?”

She smiled down at him. He was bouncing eagerly, waiting for her answer. “Go change. And listen to Mr. Zeke, no matter what.”

“I will!” he cried, racing across the room to his small duffel bag.

In a matter of minutes, she was alone in the small house. With a glance around, she decided the only option was to get to work. Zeke was giving her everything. A home. A family. A father to her son. And he wasn’t asking for anything in return. She frowned at the realization that she had no real idea why he’d actually agreed to this arrangement. What was in it for him?

She set the thought aside for now. Whatever his motivation, she’d work her tail off every day to make sure he didn’t regret his decision to marry her. Starting with cleaning this cabin from top to bottom and making sure dinner was waiting for him when he got back.

A few hours later, a bone-weary Kaitlyn looked down at the meal before her—a simple but savory chicken dish with steamed broccoli. It wasn’t nearly as good as Zeke’s food the night before, but he seemed to appreciate it, nonetheless.

Stetson, his cheeks flushed with excitement, dug into his food with the earnestness only a five-year-old could muster.

“You ready to meet your aunt and uncles tomorrow?” Zeke asked Stetson, his voice warm. “If we’re lucky, I’ll convince Gideon to take you on a hike.”

A flash of anxiety rushed through her. “Is that safe?”

“Really?” Stetson’s eyes lit up, the spoon halfway to his mouth forgotten.

“Really and truly,” Zeke assured him, then turned his attention to Kaitlyn. She caught the softness in his gaze, though his words weren’t soft. “He’ll be perfectly safe. I thought we could all go over to the main house for brunch. I don’t think I can hold off my family any longer. As it is, we’ve been lucky my parents were in Denver today. Otherwise, I think Mom would have been knocking down my door. They’re eager to meet you both.”

Kaitlyn’s heart fluttered like a trapped bird within her chest. Meeting Zeke’s family felt overwhelming and irreversible. Yet, she managed a nod, her throat too tight for words.

“Sounds nice,” she finally managed, her voice a mere whisper.

Stetson chattered on about horses and cowboys, filling the room with an innocent joy that smoothed the wrinkles of worry from Kaitlyn’s forehead. For a moment, as they shared this meal, the shadow of her past receded, and she allowed herself to bask in the warmth of the present.

As dinner wound down, Kaitlyn stood, gathering her plate and Zeke’s. “I can wash up,” she said.

Zeke rose, his chair scraping gently against the floor. “No, you sit down and relax. This place looks great, and dinner was delicious.” He reached out, his work-worn hand gentle as it brushed against hers, taking the dishes from her grasp. “I promised to provide for you, and that means giving you a break when you need it.”

She hesitated, her instincts warring with the gratitude swelling in her chest. “I’m not used to sitting back,” she admitted, her voice threaded with a vulnerability she rarely showed.

“Consider it practice,” Zeke replied, flashing her a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Besides, this gives me time to think on my lesson plan for your cooking classes.”

Kaitlyn let out a soft laugh, the sound surprising her.

“All right, Chef Zeke,” she said with a playful tilt of her head. “I’ll take you up on that offer, but only if you promise to be patient with me.”

“Patience is a virtue,” he quipped back, already turning toward the sink with a roll of his sleeves. “And I’ve got plenty of it.”

With a contented sigh, Kaitlyn sank back into her seat, watching Zeke tackle the dishes with the same care he put into everything else.

A few hours later, laughter echoed through the modest living room as Stetson’s small hand smacked down on the pile of cards. “Gotcha!” he exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

“Looks like you’re the slapjack champion,” Zeke said, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately. Kaitlyn watched the exchange, her heart squeezing at the sight of her son basking in the glow of male attention—something he’d had so little of in his young life.

“Time for bed, Stet,” she said, though her voice was gentle, not wanting to break the magic of the moment for him.

“Aw, Mom...” Stetson’s shoulders slumped, but he dutifully began gathering the cards, his eyelids heavy with impending sleep.

“Hey, buddy,” Zeke chimed in, “I promise we’ll play again tomorrow. And soon, you’ll have your own room to put all your toys in. How does that sound?”

Kaitlyn hid her surprise at the declaration. His own room? Even before they’d been evicted, they’d shared a studio apartment. Stetson had never had his own room.

“Really?” Stetson’s eyes lit up before he yawned widely.

“Really,” Zeke assured, and Kaitlyn felt a warmth in her chest at the promise.

With Stetson settled on the couch, tucked under a blanket that Zeke had provided, Kaitlyn retreated to the privacy of the bedroom. Was this the right choice? Her mind spiraled with the question, uncertain and yet clinging to the flickers of hope that had ignited throughout the day. Marrying Zeke was a leap of faith—one she prayed fervently would land her and Stetson in a place of love and stability.

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts, and she called out a soft, “Come in.”

Zeke’s head peeked around the door, his presence filling the space even before he fully entered. “Okay if I come in?”

“Of course,” she answered. “It’s your room.”

Zeke busied himself in the closet. “Our room,” he grumbled, the words so quiet she almost didn’t hear them.

Her gaze met his when he came out, and she searched for the right words. “Today has been... overwhelming, but in a good way.”

“Understandable,” Zeke replied, running a hand through his dark hair—a gesture she was coming to recognize as one of his tells for discomfort. “And, uh, if there’s ever anything on your mind, you know, I’m here.”

“Thank you, Zeke.” She offered a tentative smile, imbued with more gratitude than she could express. “That means a lot.”

Kaitlyn grabbed her pajamas and stepped inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click, the sound seeming to echo louder in the quiet of Zeke’s—no, their house. The mirror held her reflection. She was tired, but already the dark circles under her eyes seemed lighter. She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face, then slipped into her ragged sweatpants and T-shirt.

A wry smile greeted her in the mirror when she took one last look. It wasn’t exactly the wedding night sleepwear most men would expect. But it wasn’t as though she was looking to seduce her husband.

She tiptoed down the hallway, trying to avoid Stetson’s attention as he tried to fall asleep. She pushed the bedroom door open. Zeke stood with his back to her, pulling a dark shirt over his head. Muscles shifted under his skin, a brief glimpse of his skin causing a shiver to run down her spine. She averted her eyes hurriedly, heat creeping into her cheeks.

She busied herself fluffing the pillows as she tried to ignore the overwhelming awareness of Zeke’s presence. He moved around to the other side of the bed. It creaked softly as Zeke settled under the covers, and Kaitlyn followed suit, slipping between the cool sheets with a silent breath.

The ceiling offered no answers to her racing thoughts. The kiss at the courthouse had been tender, with gentle pressure and lingering warmth. Now, lying beside the man who was her husband in name and yet a mystery in so many ways, Kaitlyn felt adrift amidst her own emotions.

How could she keep her heart guarded when every little act of kindness from Zeke chipped away at her resolve? His deliberate movements, the way he’d ensured Stetson felt comfortable, his measured words, the protective aura he wore as naturally as his boots—it all spoke of a man who lived his faith and who saw beyond the surface.

And wasn’t that what scared her most? That he might see the layers of hurt and longing she hid so carefully? That she might actually depend on him and then have it ripped away.

“Good night, Kaitlyn,” Zeke’s voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if he too battled with the strangeness of their situation.

“Good night, Zeke.” Her reply barely carried across the small room.

They lay there in silence, the only sound the distant call of night birds and the whisper of wind through the trees outside. As sleep eluded her grasp, Kaitlyn found herself tracing the memory of Zeke’s lips against hers, wondering how she could possibly keep her heart from tangling up with this tough-but-tender cowboy who was now her husband.