The Rancher's Christmas Bride

by Brenda Minton

  The halls of the church were quiet and as she walked, she prayed, something she hadn’t done much of in her life. It felt foreign, to take those few moments and her worries and give them to God. It felt like whispering secrets into the dark as a child, hoping someone could hear.

  “Marissa,” a voice, strong and familiar, called to her from the end of the hall.

  She spun around and faced Alex, plastering a shaky smile on her face. “Hey. I was afraid I wouldn’t get a chance to tell you goodbye.”

  “It is goodbye then,” he said as he drew closer, stepping out of the shadows. “I was hoping you would take Theresa’s offer.”

  “You knew?”

  “Well, yes. I told her you might be interested in a job. I wasn’t sure.”

  She blinked away silly tears. For a few minutes she’d thought that she’d done this on her own. Someone had wanted her for her abilities and not her connections. It didn’t really matter now. It wasn’t as if she could take the job anyway.

  “Of course,” she said hesitantly because she didn’t know what should come next. Her thoughts tumbled through her mind. She was hurt that the job hadn’t really been about her skills, but hopeful because he wanted her to stay. Or maybe not. Maybe he’d just been helping her get what he thought she wanted.

  “Marissa?”

  She wanted to stay close to him. Even there, in the hallway, she didn’t want to walk away. She wanted him to say something that mattered. But she was afraid of what he might, or might not say.

  “I have to go find Bea,” she said. “But thank you. I can’t take the job. I already have one.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  As she walked away she thought he whispered that he would miss her.

  * * *

  Alex sat on the opposite side of the church from Marissa and her family. Lucy sat on one side of him. Maria sat on the other. As if they thought he needed their protection. To top it off, they kept giving him cautious looks, as if they thought he was falling apart.

  He wasn’t. He was pretty close to frantic, though. That wasn’t what he’d expected to feel. It was the crazed feeling a person gets when they see someone about to drive away, and there was no way to stop them. He’d felt this way before, when their mother left the first time. She said she couldn’t take it anymore and she’d gotten in a car and left.

  From time to time she breezed back into their lives as if she hadn’t crushed them as children. As if she hadn’t let them down. Each time she’d left he’d wanted to chase after her and bring her back, because Maria had needed more than a maniac father and siblings who couldn’t be a mother to her.

  He hated the feeling.

  He wanted to run from it, but not after the person leaving. Because he guessed if he ran after her, he would always be running after her, trying to convince her to stay. He started to get up but Maria put a hand on his arm.

  He sat back down.

  Bea had moved from the audience to the stage. A movement on the other side of the sanctuary caught his attention. He glanced at Marissa taking her seat at the piano. A hush fell over the crowd. Marissa began to play and then Bea’s voice joined.

  Throughout the sanctuary were surprised murmurs. People who hadn’t seen Bea’s last performance were in awe. He sat in awe of the woman at the piano. He couldn’t help but remember the bedraggled bride, rain pouring down her face, threatening him with her high-heeled shoe. He grinned a little.

  Maria elbowed him in the side.

  “Don’t be a moron,” she whispered.

  “Hush,” he said.

  “Don’t let her go.”

  “Quiet,” Lucy whispered. “But she’s right.”

  “Not. My. Choice,” he murmured.

  Bea caught his attention again. She had moved to Marissa’s side. They joined together singing “Carol of the Bells.” He closed his eyes and drew in a steadying breath. Tonight the woman at that piano was going to leave town, walk out of his life, and he would miss her.

  He didn’t quite know what to do about it. Chase her car down the road like a scared kid? Beg her to stay?

  No, he wouldn’t do either of those. She had to make her own decisions about staying or leaving. She had to want to be in Bluebonnet. For now she’d made her decision. She’d chosen Dallas.

  He had things to focus on. He had his own stuff to take care of. The auction was a week away. He was running out of time.

  What could he offer Marissa? Not much, he guessed.

  After the program ended he spotted her talking to a group of people. She saw him and he told himself it was happiness that lit up her face and that he had something to do with that happiness. She excused herself and headed his way.

  “I wanted another chance to say goodbye,” he told her.

  “I’m glad.” She took his hand in hers. “I’m so glad you found me on the side of the road that day.”

  “Would it be wrong to say that I’m glad Aidan picked the caterer instead of you?”

  She laughed at that. “I think I’m kind of glad, too.”

  “I’m trying to do more than say goodbye.”

  “Don’t.” She leaned close to him. “It’ll hurt too much. I have to go. My parents... I feel like I’ve spent a lifetime letting them down and if I don’t go home, I’ll be letting them down again.”

  “I’m not going to beg you to stay, but I would like to see you again. I’ll drive to Dallas. Or if you’re here visiting Dan.”

  “I would like that.” She kissed his cheek. “I have to go now.”

  It sounded like goodbye in more ways than one. More of a “we’ll do lunch” than an “I really want you in my life.”

  Her hand pulled free from his and he stood there watching her walk away. Who knew a city girl in a wedding dress could change his life and everything he’d thought he wanted? But she had and he knew if she didn’t come back, he would miss her forever.

  Chapter Seventeen

  A pounding on his door woke Alex. He rubbed at his face and crawled off the couch he’d slept on. The pounding continued.

  “I’m coming,” he yelled.

  He yanked the door opened and there stood Dan. “It took you long enough.”

  “It’s six in the morning.” Alex opened the door a little wider and motioned the older man inside.

  “I figured you’d be up early selling off some livestock.”

  It was late January and he had gotten an extension. The ranch would be auctioned off on the first of February unless he could come up with all of the money. He’d already sold his bucking bulls. It had been easy, hadn’t felt at all like letting go of a dream.

  “Yes, I’m selling livestock. Later.” He headed for the kitchen and the coffeepot and let Dan trail along behind. “What has you out of bed so early?”

  He poured water in the coffee maker. Marcus entered the kitchen looking like a long-haired bear that had come out of hibernation.

  Dan glanced at Alex’s twin. “Good grief, you don’t wear that hair in one of them man-buns, do you?”

  Marcus gave Dan a narrow-eyed look and practically growled. He went to the fridge and poured himself a glass of juice. “What’s he doing here?”

  “I’m here to do what you haven’t done. Help your brother.” Dan pulled a checkbook out of his back pocket.

  “I helped,” Marcus grumbled.

  “Dan, I don’t want your money.”

  Dan didn’t respond. He wrote out a check and slid it across the table. “Don’t be prideful. You didn’t get yourself into this mess. If you had, I wouldn’t help. You’ve helped me a lot over the years. Not once have you asked to be paid, you just helped. I got to figuring up what I should have paid you and it came to quite a sum.”

  “Dan, you can’t do this.”

  Da
n held up a hand. “I found some good stuff in that old lockbox. Let’s just say, I’m not going to worry too much about my future. And neither is my granddaughter. You remember her, don’t you? Pretty little thing with dark hair and blue eyes.”

  From the kitchen table, Marcus snickered. Alex shot him a warning look.

  “I remember your granddaughter, Dan.” Alex lifted the coffeepot. “Want some?”

  “Nah, I don’t have time for that. Go pay off the mortgage and buy this ranch before your mother pulls another stunt.”

  Marcus picked up the check and whistled. He handed the check to Alex.

  “I can’t take that.”

  Dan slid it back to him. “You can. And you will. I’m making an investment. In your future. And I hope in the future of my granddaughter.”

  “How will this money help her future?” Alex asked, but then he got it. And obviously Marcus got it because his rusty-sounding laugh echoed as he left the room.

  “School gets out early today,” Dan said with meaning.

  “Okay?”

  “That gives you time to do your chores, clean up and get on the road.” Dan patted the check. “Investment in the future. I wouldn’t want you going through life deep in debt. I’d rather give you a gift than an inheritance.”

  “Dan, you don’t have to do this.”

  Dan pushed to his feet. “Follow me. I have to show you something.”

  Out of curiosity, Alex followed Dan outside. He was surprised to see his sister Maria standing by his truck.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “Dan called and asked if I would help him out.” She opened the passenger door of this truck. “Everything you need.”

  “Because you don’t seem to be able to do this on your own,” Dan said in his typical gruff tone.

  Inside his truck was a box with a necklace, a book of poetry and a bouquet of flowers. “What do you want me to do with all of this?” he asked his sister.

  “Go to Dallas and get a girlfriend,” Maria said. “I know you thought she’d leave and after a while you’d forget her, but you’re not. Forgetting her, that is. And so I’m helping you with romance. Because women do like it. Even strong, independent women. It’s how we’re made. And so you need to do something romantic.”

  “I’m not going to Dallas.”

  “Think about it. Please. I’ll take all of this stuff to the house and then it’s up to you.”

  “You can take it inside or take it back to the store. It doesn’t matter to me.”

  She punched his arm. “Why are you being so stubborn?”

  He stopped, let out a sigh and thought about how he’d almost believed she was no longer his annoying little sister. “I’m stubborn because it’s how we’ve always survived. I haven’t heard from her since she left. So what I’m assuming is she came here, had fun with a cowboy and went back to her real life.”

  “Idiot. Have you contacted her since she left?”

  No, but he wasn’t going to admit that.

  She punched him again.

  “Stop doing that.” He rubbed his arm.

  “I just wanted to make sure I had your attention.”

  “You have it. Now I have to feed livestock. If you want to help, get out of those city clothes and put on your work clothes.”

  “I’d love to help, but I’m going to lunch with Lucy.” She headed for the house with the flowers, necklace and book of poetry.

  “You’re still a nuisance,” he shouted after her.

  Dan cleared his throat, reminding Alex of his presence and his part in this whole plot. “She’s trying to help. So am I. I saw Marissa at Christmas. She didn’t miss that idiot that walked out on her. She does miss you. And if I’m guessing correctly, you miss her. I know I made a lot of comments about tying yourself to a city girl, but I was wrong. And you were wrong to let her go.”

  “It isn’t just because she’s from the city, Dan. What am I supposed to offer her? A ranch in debt. A past that makes me question what kind of husband and father I’ll be? I can give her all the flowers in the world but it isn’t going to make up for all that.”

  Dan rolled his eyes to heaven. “I can’t believe you’re going to make me say this. You’re not Jesse Palermo. You’re not even a close second. You’ve been like a grandson to me. If you were anything like your father, I would have run you off years ago.”

  “Thanks, Dan.”

  “Don’t thank me. And I guess don’t let me make you do something you don’t want to do.”

  Alex nodded in agreement and Dan left, heading back to his place in his old farm truck. Alex thought about the check on his table and he thought about that old farm truck that Dan would drive until it fell apart.

  But then his thoughts shifted to Marissa.

  He wasn’t taking a woman a book of poetry.

  But he might take her flowers and a necklace. Because he might give himself one last chance. Stubbornness might not be the best trait to have in a relationship. And if a relationship was what he wanted with Marissa, he guessed he might need to work on that. Some women were worth chasing after. Especially if they need a little help realizing a man really loved them.

  He loved her.

  He shook his head at the thought because it wasn’t what he’d expected that day he helped a rain-soaked bride into his truck. But it had happened.

  * * *

  Marissa watched the last of her students get on the bus. Her friend and co-teacher, Laura, stood next to her. Laura let out a sigh.

  “I’m so glad this week is over. Is it spring break yet?”

  Marissa shook her head. “No, but I wish it was.”

  “Big plans?” Laura asked as they headed back inside.

  “Not really. I think I might go visit my grandfather.”

  At the thought of returning to Bluebonnet Springs, her heart kicked up a notch. She’d missed being there. She missed her grandfather. She missed Essie’s café, the church and, most of all, she missed Alex.

  There were days she thought she’d call, and then she thought maybe he was happy with the way things had ended. She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t renewing her contract at this school. She’d already explained to her parents that it was time she made a few decisions for herself. And she couldn’t teach here. Didn’t want to teach here. She wanted a school like the one at Bluebonnet because she wanted to teach children like the ones who lived at the shelter. She wanted to inspire them to dream and to believe they could make a difference.

  Thinking about Bluebonnet made her want to go sooner than spring break. Maybe today. She could be there in a few hours, spend the long weekend at her grandfather’s and be back Monday night in time for school Tuesday.

  “You’ve gone all gooey,” Laura said.

  “What?”

  Laura laughed. “We were talking about spring break and you suddenly had this dreamy look on your face. And I don’t think it was your grandfather you were thinking about.”

  “No, I wasn’t.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to Bluebonnet. I’ll be back Tuesday.”

  “Have a good weekend,” Laura said as Marissa hurried off.

  She grabbed her purse and book bag from her office as she called her mom to let her know she wouldn’t be coming home. She prepared herself for something less than understanding and was surprised when her mom told her it was about time.

  She was pulling onto the main road when a truck came up behind her, headlights flashing. She glanced at the tailgater but kept driving. Soon the truck began to honk and the lights flashed again. She took another look in the rearview mirror and her heart collided with her ribs. She pulled to the shoulder of the road and got out of her car.

  The truck pulled in right behind her. Alex took his time getting out. She stood
near the back of her car. Traffic slowed to watch.

  Finally he got out of the truck, his arms full. Flowers, a book, a box. She took a few steps toward him, toward his familiar presence. She’d missed him so much it had hurt, and now, seeing him, the hurt magnified because she didn’t want him to go away.

  “You almost missed me.” She said it out of the blue. “I was leaving town.”

  “Were you?” he asked, awkward with his arms full. She should help him out but she didn’t. He was too cute, too boyish, standing there with his gifts and that awkward, unsure look on his face.

  “Yes, I was going to Bluebonnet Springs. I have friends there. I’ve missed them.”

  “Have you?” He moved his arms, trying to arrange things. “You could help a guy out. Maria insisted I should come prepared to romance you back into my life. Your grandfather helped her.”

  “Is that what this is?” She took the flowers. He managed then to get a hold of the box and the book. “What else do you have? Because I do like gestures. Grand gestures.”

  “I have a necklace.” He managed to get it out of the box. “I’d like to say I had the forethought to pick it out. But Maria gets the credit.”

  He put the single teardrop diamond around her neck.

  “Maria has good taste,” Marissa told him.

  “Yes, she does. She likes you.” He opened the book of poetry.

  She had to stop him. “Please, no poetry. I don’t think I can handle that.”

  “Good, because I didn’t really want to read poetry.”

  “I’ve missed you,” she said as he stepped close, his nearness making it difficult to breathe.

  “I know.”

  “You’re supposed to say you missed me, too.”

  He took the flowers and held them to his side, and then he kissed her. It was a sweet, searching kiss. Cars driving past honked. Marissa didn’t care. She kissed him back and then she rested her head on his shoulder.

  “Are you sniffing me?” he asked.