Rancher For The Holidays (Love Inspired) (9 page)

Checking her email, she found another reminder from her landlord about the January rent increase and her stomach bottomed out. Seconds later, a racket started up out front. Then her phone rang. She snatched it up and hoped the caller could hear her over all the noise. “Photography by Marley Sanders.”

“Hi, it’s Janet next door.” Janet Harders owned the antiques shop in the adjoining building, also leased from Marley’s landlord. “Guess you can tell they’re starting the renovations this morning.”

“Seriously? This close to Christmas?” Marley carried the phone to the front window. A construction van had parked crosswise across two spaces, and workmen in gray jumpsuits were unloading ladders and toolboxes.

“Hopefully this won’t last long,” Janet said. “Although I have to agree, a face-lift on these old buildings is long overdue.”

“Yes, but—” A ladder crashed against the outer wall and Marley flinched. “I’m not sure I can afford the higher rent.”

“Please don’t say you’re moving out. We’ve been so good for each other’s business.”

It was true, they often referred drop-ins looking for recommendations, but generally, shoppers were more interested in Janet’s antiques and specialty gifts than portrait photography or artistic photo prints. Marley stifled a sigh. “I’m taking it one day at a time. Oh, before I forget, I’ll be out of town week after next for the Candelaria trip. Would you mind keeping an eye on things here?”

“Glad to.” Janet asked about the fund-raiser, and while Marley tried to tell her about it over the noise from the sidewalk, Ben drove up in his Mustang.

He parked several spaces down from the construction van, then had to duck around one of the ladders on his way to Marley’s front door. He shot her a raised-eyebrow look through the glass before stepping inside.

Finishing her call with Janet, Marley carried the phone back to her office and motioned Ben to follow. “I’ll be ready to leave in a few minutes,” she said, taking her seat at the desk. “There’s coffee in the back room if you want some.”

“Had plenty already.” Ben nodded toward the front. “What’s all that about?”

Marley told him about the renovations. “I may not be around long enough to enjoy them, though. Our landlord’s raising the rent.”

“But you have such a great location here, and in the business world—”

“I know, I know. Location is everything.” Not in the mood to have this discussion right now, Marley returned her attention to the computer screen. “Give me a sec to respond to a couple of emails and we can go.”

She’d barely typed five words when the phone rang again. It was the mother of the bride whose wedding Marley would be photographing on Saturday. “I’m so sorry to cancel at the last minute,” the woman said, her voice shaking, “but Lori’s fiancé called off the engagement.”

“Oh, no. Are you sure it isn’t just prewedding nerves?”

“Absolutely certain.” A hardness entered the woman’s voice, suggesting there was much, much more to the story. “I’ll mail you a check for your cancellation fee. Again, I’m very sorry to have inconvenienced you.”

“It’s all right, really. Just give my best to Lori.” Marley felt horrible for the jilted bride, but as she returned the phone to its cradle, her immediate thought was how she’d been counting on the money from this wedding to get her through the rest of December. Stomach churning, she sat back and closed her eyes.

“Marley?” Ben’s gentle tone reminded her they still had a shopping date.

“We should get going,” she said, pushing up from the chair. Then she immediately collapsed again as the combination of worry, frustration and anger drained the strength from her knees.

Ben rounded the desk and sank to one knee beside her. “Something tells me this isn’t only about a photo gig getting canceled. Want to talk about it?”

She waved a hand. “Not really.” It would be too difficult to describe her financial concerns without letting something slip about how—and why—her father subsidized the business. “It’ll all work out...somehow. God hasn’t let me down yet.”

The instant she spoke the words, it was like watching a curtain fall across Ben’s face. He stood slowly, putting distance between them. “I wish I had your faith.”

His defeatist expression squeezed Marley’s heart. She might be struggling to cover expenses, but at least she knew God was on her side. “Give Him a chance, Ben. God always has a better plan than anything we can devise on our own.”

It was a truth she desperately needed to hold on to for herself.

“We’ll see,” Ben muttered. Straightening, he glanced at his watch. With a forced smile, he suggested they head out on their shopping trip. “I hope you’re better at picking out kids’ gifts than I am. My only experience is for my twin nephews, and they’re easy to please with video games.”

Thoughts of the children lifted Marley’s spirits. Rising, she snatched her purse from the corner of the desk. They exited through the front door, and as Marley locked up, she gave herself a mental talking-to. If the people of Candelaria, as little as they had, could remain hopeful, she could, too.

Now, if only she could rekindle a spark of that hope in Ben. As far as she knew, he still planned to go along on the mission trip. She wasn’t sure how it would happen, but something told Marley his experience in Candelaria might be the key to restoring his faith.

Chapter Nine

“G
ot my toothbrush, shaving supplies, extra pair of sneakers...” Ben was more than a little amazed at himself for actually going through with the Candelaria trip, but still jobless and with no prospects on the horizon, he’d run out of excuses to back out. Brows scrunched together, he tossed a duffel bag into the backseat of his uncle’s pickup. “Guess this is it. Hope I didn’t forget anything.”

Uncle Steve climbed in behind the wheel. “If you did, somebody’ll have something you can borrow. They keep the reimbursement store pretty well stocked, too.”

Ben pictured the little red barn in Marley’s photograph and wondered if the store carried his favorite brand of ice cream.

Probably not.

Aunt Jane came around to Ben’s side of the pickup. “Don’t forget to deliver the little gift I’m sending along.”

“Packed it right on top. No worries.”

Gripping Ben’s face between her palms, Aunt Jane planted a noisy kiss on his cheek, then wrapped him in a hug. “So glad you’re doing this. It’ll be the experience of a lifetime.”

Ben had no doubt she was right, but her enthusiasm didn’t lessen his discomfort. “You keep Uncle Steve in line while I’m gone. And don’t forget to check my email.” Although he had few hopes of employment news during a holiday month.

Aunt Jane patted Ben on the backside and nudged him into the pickup. “Have a little faith, honey. God’ll work it all out.”

Ben kept his smile in place as he pulled the door shut and waved through the window. He’d definitely gotten an earful about faith since coming to Alpine. Not that he hadn’t felt the pressure from his dad and brother back in Houston, but Ben wasn’t sure he knew what faith was anymore.

The first fingers of dawn had just crept over the horizon when Uncle Steve pulled into the Spirit Fellowship parking lot. Marley, Ernie and Pastor Chris stood in a circle with the college students from Texas Tech, heads bowed and holding hands.

“Go on over,” Uncle Steve said as he shut off the engine. “I’ll bring your things.”

“That’s okay. Wouldn’t want to interrupt.”

Too late. Marley caught his eye through the windshield and signaled him over. Pulling air into his lungs, Ben stepped from the pickup and strode to Marley’s side. She made room for him to join the circle and took his hand. He tensed at her touch, then folded his fingers around hers.

Pastor Chris, standing on Marley’s other side, leaned forward. “Everybody, this is Marley’s friend Ben Fisher. He helped a lot with our fund-raiser event, so we’re glad it worked out for him to join us on the trip.”

Murmured greetings traveled the circle and Ben nodded in response. Why a bunch of college kids should make him so nervous, he had no idea.

“We were just about to pray over the trip.” Pastor Chris cleared his throat and lowered his head.

Ben was surrounded by people who believed in a God who cared. Something shifted in his gut as Pastor Chris began his prayer.

“Dear Lord, we ask Your blessing on this journey. You’ve given us work to do and hands to do it, and we pray for the strength, wisdom and courage to do Your will. As we take this journey together in faith, let Your Holy Spirit speak into each person’s heart the lesson You would have us learn from the experience. For we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

“Amen,” Marley whispered, squeezing Ben’s fingers.

He squeezed back, but he couldn’t get his throat to work.

Ernie clapped his hands. “Let’s hit the road!”

“Ernie and Pastor Chris are driving the RVs,” Marley said. “I’m taking Ernie’s pickup. Would you mind riding with me?”

Finding his voice, Ben answered, “Sounds great. Be right there.” He crossed the parking lot to where his uncle waited with his duffel bag.

“You have a good trip, son.” Uncle Steve set the bag at their feet before giving Ben a back-thumping hug. “When you get cell-phone reception again on the trip home, give me a call and I’ll be here to pick you up.”

Once more, Ben’s stomach tensed at the thought of his state-of-the-art smartphone becoming virtually useless for several days. If nothing else, he could snap photos with it. Definitely not of Marley’s caliber, but at least he could document this excursion into unfamiliar territory.

Behind him, the RV engines rumbled. Ben scooped up his duffel bag, wiggled his fingers in a reluctant farewell to his uncle, then trotted over to where Marley waited in Ernie’s blue pickup. A tarp covered the mound of supplies filling the back.

Marley watched with a smile as Ben shoved his bag into the space behind the seat. As soon as he climbed in and buckled his seat belt, she threw the gearshift into Drive and circled the lot until they were directly behind the two RVs. She reached for a two-way radio clipped to the visor and clicked the button. “Right behind you and ready to roll.”

“Ten-four,” was Ernie’s scratchy reply.

“Heading out,” Pastor Chris echoed.

Before long, they’d left the city of Alpine behind, and Ben settled in for the ride. Marley had stocked the cab with a thermos of coffee, bottled water, several packages of string cheese and a bag of trail mix. As soon as they hit open road, she asked Ben to refill her travel mug. She’d even thought to bring an extra mug for Ben. “Hope you don’t need cream or sugar,” she said. “Condiments are with the rest of the food in the RVs.”

“Black’s fine.” Ben took a careful sip from his mug. “How long a drive are we in for?”

“About three hours. We should reach Candelaria in plenty of time for lunch. I bet the ladies already have the tamales ready to steam.”

“Homemade tamales? Why didn’t you say so? I’d have been first in line to sign up for this trip.”

Marley slanted him a crooked grin. “If I’d known that’s all it took...”

He met her gaze, his voice softening. “Don’t kid yourself. Even without the tamales, you’re quite a persuasive woman, Ms. Sanders.”

With a faltering breath, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel and glued her gaze to the highway. Forgetting about his own misgivings, Ben took quiet pleasure in observing how his words affected her. Behind a camera, teaching a photography class, or helping to organize a fund-raising event, Marley oozed confidence. But every once in a while—like when he’d picked her up at her office for the shopping trip—Ben glimpsed the vulnerability she hid so well.

With a subdued sigh, he shifted to stare out the window at the flat, barren terrain—not so different from the landscape of his heart when he’d arrived in Alpine back in September. But spending time at the ranch, getting to know Marley, helping with her outreach team... Marley had promised this trip to Candelaria would change him, but he couldn’t deny that parts of him were already changing. Maybe not the faith part—but returning to big-city life and the corporate rat race didn’t sound quite so appealing anymore.

Not to mention the type of jobs he was searching for were scarce. Maybe he should look more seriously at e-tail companies, or set his sights on smaller operations. Or, as Marley had suggested, consider teaching.

Yep, he was beginning to accept he might need to adjust his goals slightly. Or a lot, if he caved to pressure from his aunt and uncle and decided to make Alpine his permanent home.

He glanced over at Marley. Another superstrong reason to consider sticking around.

Spotting a cell tower on the horizon, Ben noticed they were nearing Marfa. Might be his best chance for decent cell coverage. Out of habit more than anything, he tugged his phone from his jeans pocket and tapped the mail icon.

The message list came up empty. He hissed out a sharp breath.

Marley looked over. “You okay?”

He was almost embarrassed to answer. “You know me, always checking for any response to my résumés.”

“It’s Saturday. They’re probably all out yachting or playing golf or whatever executives do on weekends.” Her tone suggested she couldn’t think of a more frivolous waste of time.

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Golf is very relaxing.” Ben missed the expensive set of golf clubs he’d left in his closet back at the condo. If he needed to, he could sell the clubs to pay another month’s rent.

“It isn’t the game I object to. It’s what goes on—” Marley pursed her lips. “Never mind.”

Now she’d made him curious. “Don’t tell me. Your heart was broken by a rogue golfer.”

She didn’t reply right away, which made Ben wonder even more. “Let’s just say I once knew a rich guy whose priorities were totally messed up. Golf wasn’t the disease, but it became one of the more obvious symptoms.”

This was a side of Marley Ben hadn’t seen before. He watched her carefully as he asked, “Is he still in your life?”

“Not in any way that matters.” She sighed. “And now it’s definitely time to change the subject. How about some trail mix? My 5 a.m. bowl of cereal is wearing off.”

* * *

What was it about Ben Fisher that threatened Marley’s resolve about keeping all those secret places in her life locked firmly away? She had to keep reminding herself she’d barely met the guy three months ago.

But these stirrings in her heart kept reminding her she wanted things to be different. To be fully herself with someone who accepted everything about her, because she wouldn’t be the person she was today if not for overcoming the mistakes of the past.

Why now, Lord? Why him?

This would be a lot easier if she didn’t also sense his interest in her—which, obviously, he resisted with equal determination. He knew as well as she did that the timing was all wrong.

They were well past Marfa now, driving through the rugged terrain along US-67. Buttes, mesas and rocky ridges broke up the landscape of rolling hills. Up ahead, the angle of the morning sun on a rust-colored bluff caught Marley’s eye. She snatched the two-way radio off the visor. “Hey, y’all. I’m pulling over to take some photos. Don’t get too far ahead, okay?”

Pastor Chris’s crackling voice responded. “Slowin’ it down. Don’t take too long, though. I can almost smell those tamales from here!”

Laughing, Marley promised she’d hurry. Easing the pickup onto the shoulder, she shifted into Park, then reached behind the seat for her camera. Pushing open the door, she grinned over her shoulder. “Come on, Ben. You can be my rattlesnake lookout.”

As she stepped around to the front of the pickup, she noticed Ben hadn’t budged. He’d also left his window rolled up tight. She marched over, yanked his door open and motioned him to get out. “I was only half-kidding.”

“I figured.” Ben folded his arms and faced forward in his seat. “That’s why I’m staying put.”

“Okay, just have the snakebite kit ready. I’m pretty sure Ernie keeps it in the glove compartment.” Marley returned to the front of the pickup and framed a shot in her digital viewfinder. By the time she’d taken several photos, she was already envisioning the creative enhancements she planned to try back at the studio.

“Spectacular.”

At the sound of Ben’s voice behind her, Marley nearly jumped out of her skin. “I didn’t hear you get out of the pickup.”

“Since I couldn’t find the snakebite kit, I decided I’d better keep an eye out after all.”

“Nice of you to care.” Marley hiked a brow and turned to snap more photos.

“Oooh, good one.” Ben peered at the camera monitor, his breath warm against Marley’s neck. “Who knew rocks could be so many different colors?”

She shifted to glare at him. “The rattlesnakes would be on the ground, you know.”

“I figure they took one look at me and my killer sneakers, then hightailed it back to their den.”

Shaking her head, Marley took one last shot before striding past Ben and climbing back into the pickup cab. As soon as he joined her, she got on the two-way radio to tell Pastor Chris they were on the road again.

“I was serious, you know,” Ben said after several minutes.

She glanced his way with a smirk. “About what? Your killer sneakers?”

The look he returned was anything but joking. “I mean your photos. They’re amazing. If you were in a city like Houston or Dallas—”

“I wouldn’t be surrounded by scenery like this to photograph.”

That silenced him for a moment. “Point taken. But you’ve got real talent, Marley. In the right market, you could be raking in big bucks.”

“I like where I am just fine.” After ten years in Alpine, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. She also couldn’t deny Ben’s appreciation for her photography skills always touched a deep place in her heart, the place where she craved acknowledgment not only of her talent, but also who she was...who she
really
was.

They’d come to a section of roadway with several curves and sharp bends, and Marley had to pay close attention to her driving. Though her neck and shoulders would soon be in knots, at least she had an excuse to call a halt to this line of conversation.

After Pastor Chris and Ernie radioed to check on her a couple of times, Ben must have heard the tension in her tone. “Want me to drive awhile?”

“I’m okay. We’re almost to the final stretch.” She cast him a lopsided smile. “Anyway, this is your first trip to Candelaria. I want you to be able to appreciate the scenery. When we turn up ahead, you’ll get a taste of what those kids have to endure on their bus ride to and from school in Presidio every day.”

Ben nodded without replying. Twenty minutes later, she slowed behind the two RVs as the road they traveled ended at FM 170. “Mexico is straight ahead,” Marley explained. “We’re just a few miles from the Rio Grande.” She nodded to her right. “In forty-eight miles we’ll be in Candelaria.”

Ben glanced left. “And that direction is Presidio?”

“In another mile or so.”

“Where the schools are.”

“Right.”

From the set of his mouth, Marley guessed Ben was finally beginning to appreciate exactly how isolated Candelaria was.

* * *

“Marley! Welcome back,
mija
!” Conchita Montero nearly smothered Marley as she enfolded her in plump brown arms.

“I missed you, too, Conchita.” Giving the woman a final squeeze, Marley stepped back. “How have you been? Is your knee any better?”

“It is no worse, which is a good thing, no?” Conchita hooked her arm around Marley’s waist as they watched the college students unload the pickup into a nearby storage shed.