Marrying the Billboard Cowboy (Christmas in Redemption Ridge)

Chapter 13

13

T he doors of the small church swung open with a whisper, admitting Zeke and Kaitlyn into the warmth of the sanctuary. Zeke’s broad shoulders squared as he guided Kaitlyn through the gathering congregation, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back—a protective gesture that came as naturally to him as breathing.

They slipped into the polished wooden pew beside Zeke’s family. As they settled in, Zeke’s gaze drifted inadvertently across the room. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly when he caught sight of a familiar figure. Mrs. Caldwell, her coiffed hair as stiff as her demeanor, sat perched like an elegant bird of prey among the flock. The sight of his ex-girlfriend’s mother unleashed a flood of memories, each one a sharp jab. He could still recall the way her daughter’s laughter had eventually sounded more like the clink of coins than joy.

The air seemed to thin around him, and he drew in a deep breath, willing his lungs to expand against the sudden tightness. Beside him, Kaitlyn shifted, her petite frame dwarfed by the pew. She reached for the hymnal, her fingers brushing against his as she did so. A current of reassurance traveled through that simple touch, grounding him. She didn’t know the turmoil that churned beneath his stoic exterior, but her presence was a balm nonetheless.

When he glanced back up, Mrs. Caldwell was weaving through the crowd with purposeful strides. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, had locked onto him and Kaitlyn.

“Zeke, darling,” Mrs. Caldwell cooed as she reached them, her voice saccharine enough to cause cavities. “So good to see you. And...this must be your new bride.” The disapproval was evident in her tone, and he felt a flare of protectiveness. He reached for Kaitlyn’s hand.

“Kaitlyn, this is Paula Caldwell,” he introduced stiffly, feeling her hand tighten in his. She offered a polite smile, though he could sense the tension in her frame.

“A pleasure,” Mrs. Caldwell said, though her eyes flickered with something less than charm. “Never thought I’d see you settle down, Ezekiel. Especially so soon after...well, you know.”

Zeke’s jaw clenched, a silent prayer begging for patience flitting through his mind. The scent of heavy perfume seemed to close in around him, an invisible cloud from Mrs. Caldwell’s Sunday best.

“Have you heard the news about Jenny?” Mrs. Caldwell continued, oblivious or indifferent to Zeke’s discomfort. “She’s engaged to a billionaire from Chicago. Can you imagine?”

A billionaire. The word echoed in his head like the tolling of a bell, each chime a reminder of the love he thought he’d had, the future he’d envisioned crumbling to dust. Not that he wanted her back. The fact that she’d trapped another rich sucker into her web was confirmation enough that he’d made the right choice in ending things.

“Is that so?” Kaitlyn’s voice was quiet but steady, her dark eyes flickering to Zeke, seeking a cue on how to respond.

“Indeed.” Mrs. Caldwell beamed, her lips stretching into a cat-with-the-canary grin. “They met at a charity ball, you see. He swept her off her feet.”

Zeke felt the air thicken, his fingers itching to do something, anything, other than sit here and listen to this unwelcome update. His silence hung between them, a fortress wall he built brick by brick to keep his true feelings from spilling out. He had a feeling that Mrs. Caldwell wouldn’t appreciate his opinion of her precious Jenny.

“Life is full of surprises,” Kaitlyn replied, offering a neutral sentiment that somehow managed to fill the space Zeke’s words could not find.

“Indeed, it is,” Mrs. Caldwell agreed, her eyes lingering on Zeke for a moment longer before she excused herself, leaving behind a trail of floral-scented disquiet.

The last note of Mrs. Caldwell’s perfume lingered in the air as she swished away, leaving a silence that begged to be filled. Zeke exhaled slowly. Beside him, Kaitlyn remained still. He squeezed her hand in silent gratitude, and together they turned back to face the altar, ready for the service to begin.

“Zeke?” Kaitlyn’s voice was barely above a whisper, the syllables soft and laced with concern. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the back of his hand. “Are you okay?”

He shifted beside Kaitlyn, his broad shoulders tensing beneath the fabric of his Sunday shirt. His jaw clenched, muscles working as if he chewed on something bitter. “It’s nothing,” he murmured.

She searched his face, dark eyes seeking the truth that lay hidden behind his stoic exterior. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she offered, her voice still gentle but strong enough to carry her sincerity.

“Let’s just drop it.” His words shut the door firmly on any further probing.

Her brow furrowed, a silent question lingering in her gaze, but she respected his unspoken boundary, turning her attention back to the hymnal with a nod.

Zeke’s appreciation for her understanding mingled with a twinge of guilt. He’d hoped for a service filled with praise and reflection, not the dredging up of old wounds. But as the pastor stepped up to the pulpit and the congregation hushed in reverence, Zeke found a measure of peace in the shared act of worship.

His gaze fell to their joined hands, the way her thumb had stilled over his skin, and he willed himself to focus on the warmth there instead of the chill from the conversation. They stood together in the hush of the church, united yet each alone with their thoughts until the musicians signaled the start of the service.

With Kaitlyn beside him, her resilience quietly inspiring, Zeke tried to allow the strains of the opening song to wash over him, carrying away the bitter remnants of the past. But his mind was caught in an undercurrent of memories. Images of his ex-girlfriend flickered behind his eyes. The sting, the gut-wrenching twist when he had uncovered her true intentions.

The betrayal still gnawed at him. He had wanted love, the kind where two souls knit together, facing life’s trials with unshakeable unity.

But that idea of love was a mirage anyway.

Amidst this somber reflection, Kaitlyn shifted slightly, her knee brushing against his. The contact sparked a contrast in his heart, and for a moment, vulnerability seeped through his walls. This woman had come into his life like the first breath of spring after a relentless winter. She’d weathered her own tempests, yet here she was beside him, embodying loyalty and strength wrapped in a gentle grace that defied her trials.

He glanced sidelong at her, watching the soft light from the stained-glass windows dance across her features. Her eyes were closed, lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks, and in that instant, he saw the gift that she was to his weary soul.

And in that sacred space, surrounded by the echo of prayers and praises, Ezekiel Reynolds bowed his head and offered a silent prayer of thanks—for second chances, for the woman beside him, and for the divine hand that had woven their lives together in the most unexpected of patterns.

Outside, Zeke felt the cool breeze brush against his stubbled cheek. Zeke reached out and found Kaitlyn’s hand again, gently helping her down the stairs as Stetson ran ahead of them, tugging on his grandmother’s hand.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely rising above the chatter of families and friends congregating on the church steps.

“Thank you,” he corrected. She kept saying thank you to him, but he should be the one thanking her. She’d taken all the risk. Left behind everything she knew to come to him. And whatever wounds he was still nursing, he could already tell she was slowly knitting those back together.

He nodded, unable to articulate the full breadth of his emotions. How could he, when words seemed so inadequate compared to the vastness of what he felt? When they had agreed to friendship only, nothing more. Instead, he led her down the steps and toward the parking lot. “Would you go on a ride with me today?”

Their trail ride began at the edge of Redemption Ridge Ranch, where the land stretched out before them, a canvas of rolling hills and tranquil pastures. Stetson had waved good-bye with a grin, his energy already focused on the adventures Grandma Connie had promised him. Alone now, Zeke and Kaitlyn mounted their horses, the steady rhythm of hooves against the earth grounding Zeke in the present moment.

The trail wove through stands of aspen trees, their bare branches etched like fine lace against the azure sky. Zeke watched Kaitlyn, observed how the tension eased from her shoulders with every mile they covered. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the shared appreciation for the beauty around them.

“It’s beautiful.” Kaitlyn’s voice broke the stillness, drawing Zeke back from his reverie.

“More than words can say,” he replied, gazing out over the expanse of creation, feeling a profound connection to this land, and to this woman beside him.

“Sometimes, I think about how different things were before...before this,” she continued, her eyes reflecting the vast Colorado sky. “I never imagined ending up here, but I’m grateful. Grateful for you. You gave us a second chance.”

The crisp air nipped at Zeke’s cheeks as they made their way down the winding trail, the rhythmic thud of hooves a soothing counterpoint to the quiet rustling of the aspen leaves.

“Next Saturday is the Christmas Barn Dance,” he announced, breaking the silence that had fallen between them, a playful glint lighting his eyes. “Will you come with me and show off some of your dance moves?”

A blush crept onto her cheeks, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I’m not sure you’re ready for my dance moves, Zeke Reynolds,” she teased back, the hint of sass in her voice making his lips twitch.

He wondered how much more dry wit would spill from her lips as she grew even more comfortable with him and her place here.

“Is that a challenge from my wife?” Zeke raised an eyebrow. His gaze lingered on her mouth, the setting sun casting a warm glow over her face.

“Maybe,” Kaitlyn replied, her dark eyes dancing with mirth. But then, as if sensing the shift in his thoughts, the proximity of their bodies on horseback suddenly seemed to press upon her awareness. She shifted ever so slightly away from him, the subtle motion speaking volumes.

Zeke caught the withdrawal, a silent reminder of the invisible barriers still standing between them. He respected those boundaries, knowing her trust was a fragile gift that needed time to strengthen.

Instead of leaning in closer, as his instincts urged, he let out a gentle chuckle, steering the conversation back to safer waters. “Well, I accept,” he declared, adding with mock solemnity. “Prepare to be out-danced, ma’am.”

“Out-danced? We’ll see about that.” Her laughter, light and free, mingled with the wind, lifting the weight of unspoken words from his chest.

They continued along the trail, side by side but no longer touching. As the horses’ hooves kicked up dust that sparkled in the fading daylight, Zeke pondered the delicate balance of their relationship. He had an awful lot of more-than-friendly thoughts about his strictly-platonic wife.

The problem was that she was only here for what he could offer her. He couldn’t give her his heart, only to have it thrown back in his face. He couldn’t handle that again. He’d gone into this relationship with his eyes open, knowing that what Kaitlyn wanted was the financial stability he offered.

She didn’t want his love.