by Myra Johnson
“Count on it.”
* * *
Lindsey knew better than to expect their problems to suddenly be resolved because they’d admitted their feelings and committed to making a life together. Even so, she couldn’t help being hopeful. Arriving home later that afternoon, she kept an eye out for Spencer, knowing he’d be over eventually to take care of his rescue horses. She couldn’t wait to be in his arms once more, to be convinced all over again that he really had asked her to marry him.
And she’d really said yes!
The evening sun was just settling behind the hills when she glimpsed him loping across the field. Grabbing her jacket, she scurried out the back door and met him at the barn. He threw his arms around her and kissed her until they were both breathless.
“I have good news,” he said when he finally let her go. “Mom called a few minutes ago on their way home from the hospital. Tito won’t need a bypass after all. He was doing a lot better this afternoon.”
“That’s...good.” She wanted to be happy for Spencer’s grandfather, but if his health improved, would his bitterness return as well?
“And that’s not all.” With his hands locked around Lindsey’s waist, he grinned down at her. “Tito had Dad call his attorney—who apparently wasn’t real happy about having his Sunday afternoon interrupted—and told him to drop the nuisance complaint.”
“What?” A bubble of excitement swelled Lindsey’s throat. “You mean—”
“The sheriff’s already been notified. It’s over. You can open your event venue as soon as you’re ready.”
“Oh, Spencer, thank you!” She pulled him close for a series of quick kisses. Then, drawing away abruptly, she raised both hands to her cheeks. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ve got to make a phone call, right now.”
With Spencer’s laughter fading behind her, she ran to the house. In the office, she riffled through the desk for the photography agreement Jenny and Zach had signed. At least she hadn’t completely gone berserk and ripped it to shreds the day the deputy had stopped the photo shoot.
Seconds later, she had Jenny on the line. After a brief explanation and assuring her that River Bend Events and Wedding Chapel was back in business, she asked whether the couple had already done their engagement photos.
“No, we haven’t,” Jenny said. “We were so disappointed after what happened that we hadn’t gotten around to rescheduling somewhere else. We’d absolutely love to come back and do them at your place.”
“That’s wonderful. Check the weather forecast and pick a day that works for you, and we’ll be here to help any way we can.”
“Thanks so much! And we definitely want to book the chapel for our June wedding. It’s exactly what we were looking for.”
“I’ll save the date for you. We should be full-service by then, with a professional event planner and caterer on-site.” Lindsey’s next two calls would be to Joella and Holly. If her friends were still planning to visit next weekend, they could sit down for a detailed planning session.
As she ended the call, Audra peeked in. Bouncing on her toes, she told her aunt what had happened.
“What have I been telling you, sweetie?” Audra wrapped her in a hug. “God’s got this. Always has, always will.”
Catching her breath, Lindsey leaned against the edge of the desk. “Do you suppose Arturo’s change of heart means the feud is finally over?”
Audra looked out across the field toward the Navarro ranch. “I’d like to hope so, but I suspect God’s got quite a bit more work to do in that department. All we can do is keep praying for him.” She turned to Lindsey with a pensive smile. “For all of us.”
“I will.” She slipped an arm around her aunt’s shoulder. “You’re an inspiration, you know. When I first got here, my faith was pretty shaky. But you and Spencer have helped me remember that, no matter how bad the situation looks or how long we have to wait for answers, God can be trusted to work things out for the best.”
“Exactly. And speaking of Spencer...” Audra nodded toward the window. “He’s looking a bit impatient for you to come out.”
Lindsey’s pulse sped up. She glanced at her phone, then back at Spencer. If she didn’t call her friends right away, they’d understand. Because one minute more apart from the man she loved was one minute too long.
Epilogue
Spending Valentine’s Day on the road towing a cattle trailer wasn’t exactly how Lindsey had envisioned celebrating. She’d much rather be with Spencer sharing some Valentine’s kisses and making plans for their future together. They’d decided to get married sooner rather than later and already had the license. With so many other demands on their time, not to mention the remnants of tension between their two families, Spencer had arranged a private ceremony for the following Saturday in his pastor’s office. Three days on Galveston Island would have to do for a honeymoon until they could plan a longer vacation.
This Fort Worth cattle-buying trip with Audra had been a celebration in itself. In the few short weeks since the official launch of River Bend Events and Wedding Chapel, word had spread rapidly—thanks in no small part to recommendations from Jenny and Zach as well as their photographer, who’d fallen in love with the ranch and had already brought out five more couples for engagement and bridal photos. With the fees from those sessions, plus deposits to reserve the wedding chapel in the coming months, Lindsey had paid off the ranch’s back taxes and had enough left over to buy a few bred heifers to start rebuilding the herd.
Equally exciting, Joella and Holly were in the process of relocating to Gabriel Bend. Holly had found an apartment in town close to the elementary school Davey would attend, and last weekend Joella had moved into a guest room at the ranch. Lindsey held secret hopes that someday Joella and Samuel would get together, but since Samuel spent so little time at the Navarro ranch, playing matchmaker for the couple wouldn’t be so easy. On the other hand, God had done just fine working things out for Lindsey and Spencer. If Samuel was the right guy for Joella, God could certainly do the same for them.
The truck jounced over a pothole, jarring Lindsey out of her daydreams. Blinking, she saw they were on the ranch-to-market road only a few miles from home.
“Better wake up,” Audra said from behind the wheel. “Might want to fix your hair before you go racing off to see your sweetie first thing.”
Lindsey flipped down the visor mirror to check her reflection, only to grimace at her messy ponytail. She ripped off her scrunchie and finger-combed the tangles as best she could. “He’ll understand. Hauling cows isn’t exactly glamorous work.”
Audra smirked and wiggled her brows.
They turned into the McClement driveway as dusk began to fall.
Lindsey sat straighter, surprised to see several vehicles lining the shoulder. “What in the world... Did Joella schedule a last-minute event?”
“Something’s going on.” Audra didn’t seem all that curious as she maneuvered the truck and trailer into a narrow lane branching off toward one of the pastures. “Get the gate for me, will you? I’ll pull all the way in, and then we can get these ladies settled in their new digs.”
Lindsey had barely closed the gate behind the trailer when Spencer’s equine rescue volunteer jogged over. “Let me help,” Dalton said. “You prob’ly want to go freshen up.”
“No hurry. But do you know why all these cars are here?”
“Uh...” There was something fishy about Dalton’s stiff grin. “I think an event or something?”
She’d guessed that much. “If you don’t mind helping with the cows, I should probably see if I’m needed over there.”
Audra came around to the rear of the trailer. “Oh, hi, Dalton.” Her weird smile matched his. “We’re good here, Lindsey. Go on to the house.”
“Fine.” Heaving an exaggerated shrug, she let herself out the gate. Last-minute event or not, all she really wante
d to do was find Spencer.
When Holly and Davey intercepted her on the driveway, she felt sure something strange was going on. “You look exhausted, Linds.” Holly linked arms with her and steered her up the front porch steps. “Bet you can’t wait to splash some water on your face and change into something a little more...um...”
Davey darted past them and rushed inside. As Lindsey stepped into the entryway, he came toward her with an armful of long-stemmed red roses, which he presented with a gallant bow. “These aren’t from me, though,” he said with a grin.
“Really?” Lindsey dropped her jaw in feigned surprise. “Then who?” Spencer must have put him up to this.
“Want me to take care of those for you?” Holly practically yanked the flowers out of her hands. “You really should get changed.”
“Okay, okay.” Had Spencer planned something special just for the two of them? She’d never taken him for the “big romantic gesture” type, but this could be fun. In that case, whatever event Joella had booked for this evening, she surely had everything under control and Lindsey could put it out of her mind.
Entering her room, she halted. Someone had laid out her new white sweater dress—the one she’d planned to wear next Saturday for her wedding. Next to the bed sat the floral embroidered cowgirl boots she’d found to match. A pink envelope peeked from the top of one of the boots.
She plucked out the envelope, her fingertips tingling as she withdrew the lacy, rhinestone-embellished Valentine’s card. Opening it, she immediately recognized Spencer’s lazy scrawl.
Welcome home, he’d written. I know they say the groom shouldn’t see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony, but please trust me. Pretend it’s next Saturday and get dressed like you were planning. Then meet me at the chapel. I’ll be the guy in the brand new shirt and jeans, white hat, and bolo tie. Oh, and bring those roses with you. All my love, Spencer.
He wouldn’t...would he? She went to the window and parted the curtains. It was impossible to see the chapel from this angle, but the backyard was aglow with twinkling white lights.
Someone tapped on her door, then opened it a crack. “Linds?” It was Joella, who wore a calf-length gown of rose-colored velvet.
Holly slipped in behind her. She’d changed into a dress almost identical to Joella’s. “Can we come in?”
“I think you’d better,” Lindsey said with a one-eyed glare, “because somebody really needs to clue me in on what’s going on.”
* * *
Spencer paced the length of the chapel aisle, which, with his exaggerated strides, took only four steps in each direction. His hands were sweating, his heart was pounding, and with every step he prayed Lindsey wouldn’t think he’d gone off his rocker but would soon walk through that door just like he’d envisioned a million times over the past few days.
On his next pass, Samuel snagged his arm. “Spiny, take a breath. She’ll be here.”
“I don’t know...maybe this was too much.” Pausing near the candlelit altar, he let his gaze roam the small, crowded room. It wasn’t like he’d invited the whole town. Mom and Dad and Samuel—his best man, naturally. Lindsey’s mother and stepdad had arrived last night. Audra had invited her closest friends from town, as had Mom and Dad. Holly and Joella had put out the word to a few other former classmates they’d kept in touch with, and three of them had driven in this afternoon. Aunt Alicia and Uncle David had sent their regrets and best wishes, along with a generous cash gift. Cousin Mark hadn’t been able to break away from his job in Montana.
Also noticeably absent were Spencer’s grandfather and Lindsey’s dad. Probably a good thing. Tito hadn’t raised any further objections to this marriage, but neither did he openly support it. At least he was on the mend physically. In the meantime, Spencer kept up his prayers for a once-and-forever end to the division between the Navarros and McClements.
He started pacing again.
When the chapel door swung open, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
Seeing it was only Joella, he whooshed out a breath that was part relief, part disappointment. He shot her a questioning stare.
“Relax, cowboy.” Joella patted his arm. Her smile seemed to float over his shoulder in the direction of his twin before she focused back on him. “Obviously you have no idea how long it takes for a lady to get herself changed and gussied up after a couple of days at a smelly old cattle sale.”
“So...she’s coming down?”
“Any minute now.” She winked. “And I promise, she’s totally on board with the change of plans.”
Nodding weakly, Spencer swallowed over the lump in his throat. Joella said something to the harpist, then exited through the double doors. As the strains of “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” wafted toward the rafters, the guests quieted.
Samuel’s hands clamped down on Spencer’s shoulders. “Better take your position. Looks like the festivities are about to begin.”
He hauled in a breath and joined his brother in front of the altar. The pastor caught his eye and smiled.
Once again, the chapel doors opened. Holly’s little boy entered, marching forward like a man on a mission. He carried a small white pillow with two gold rings secured in the center with satin ribbon. Holly came next, and then Joella, taking their places opposite Spencer and Samuel.
The harpist segued into “Be Thou My Vision,” and suddenly Spencer’s vision filled with the woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life loving. His heart beat faster with every step Lindsey took toward him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her smile as bright and full of hope as a springtime Texas sunrise.
The rest went by in a blur—the Scripture readings, the pastor’s wedding homily, the vows, the exchange of rings, the pronouncement...
The kiss.
Afterward, the guests were invited to the house, where Holly had prepared a casual buffet supper of Tex-Mex favorites. With everyone spreading out through the living room, dining room and kitchen, Spencer found his coat and a shawl for his bride and coaxed her out to the front porch swing.
He snuggled her close. “Happy?”
“Unbelievably.” She chuckled softly. “You are one surprising man, Mr. Navarro.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“The best. One of these days you’re going to have to tell me how you pulled this off without my knowing.”
He laughed out loud. “With a lot of help, that’s how!” Turning serious, he tilted her chin so he could gaze into her eyes. “If I were better with words, I’d have written my own vows. I’d have said you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’d have said what a fool I was for ever letting you go. I’d have said that God blessed me a hundred times over when He brought you back into my life. I’d have said—”
She silenced him with a fingertip to his lips. “Spencer Navarro, you really need to learn that there’s a time for words, and there’s a time for letting your kisses do the talking. Guess what time this is.”
He didn’t have to guess, because she wasted no time in showing him.
* * *
If you enjoyed The Rancher’s Family Secret,
look for Myra Johnson’s earlier books
Rancher for the Holidays
Her Hill Country Cowboy
Hill Country Reunion
The Rancher’s Redemption
Their Christmas Prayer
Available now from Love Inspired!
Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Future for His Twins by Susanne Dietze.
Dear Reader,
Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” I suspect most families have at least one relative who requires an extra dose of patience, forbearance...and forgiveness. Unfortunately, it’s far too easy to let others’ negat
ive attitudes infect us, even to the point of blaming God.
But God is always loving and wants only our very best. Remember, those “problem people” are God’s children, too, and surely it grieves Him when their hurtful words or actions cause us distress. Also, as Spencer and Lindsey realized, we can’t change the spiritual condition of anyone’s heart but our own.
Instead, we can entrust our difficult relatives to God. The changes we pray for may not happen in our lifetime or theirs, but not forgiving is not an option. Forgiveness is a gift of healing and peace we give ourselves in obedience to God’s word: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32, KJV).
I hope Spencer and Lindsey’s story has touched or inspired you. I love to hear from readers, so please contact me through my website, MyraJohnson.com, where you can also subscribe to my e-newsletter. Or you can write to me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.
With prayers and gratitude,
Myra
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A Future for His Twins
by Susanne Dietze
Chapter One
Faith Latham had downed her usual portion of morning caffeine, but it was adrenaline, pure and simple, that made her hands shake when she locked the door to her antiques store.
She’d waited months for this moment, and now she was about to march to city hall and submit the rental application. In a matter of days, she’d be the proprietor of not one but two businesses on historic Main Street in her hometown of Widow’s Peak Creek, California—her antiques store and a town museum.
