“But ...” Mercedes’s eyes bounced from person to person. “You hardly know me.”
“We don’t have to. We know Chet.” Whitney squeezed her elbow. “You’re a match.”
Mercedes opened her mouth and then closed it again. Tears pricked her eyes, and she sniffed. These were good people. Whitney pulled her in for a hug.
David ran his hand through his hair, much like Aiden often did, and said, “I’ll talk to him.”
“You’d better,” said Vicky.
David gave her a grumpy look.
“Is everything alright?” asked Pastor John.
Mercedes blinked back her tears as Whitney released her. She and Cat had met the pastor before the meeting. Back when things were rose-colored. No sense dropping her troubles at his feet.
“We’re concerned for Chet, Pastor. He cut hay yesterday,” said David.
“Oh, dear.” He rubbed his wrinkled cheek. “I believe the man could use our prayers.”
Heads nodded, and once again Mercedes had to blink back her tears. The family joined hands or folded their arms. They bowed their heads as Pastor John led them in a prayer on Chet’s behalf.
“… And Lord, please allow Chet to find the light amidst the shadows.”
Mercedes gasped, causing Pastor John to pause before closing the prayer.
With a resounding “Amen,” the group dispersed, carrying Mercedes and Cat out to the parking lot with them.
Whitney hugged her once more. “Don’t give up on him yet. He’s been dealt a tough blow and he’ll need some time to figure it out.”
Mercedes nodded.
David helped Whitney into their truck. He tucked her long skirt up so it wouldn’t get caught in the door, and waved goodbye.
Mercedes leaned back against the headrest as Cat started the car.
“That was the coolest thing,” said Cat as she left the parking lot. “They have a huge family.”
Mercedes smiled, thinking of their own small family prayers. At the most, they had Grandpa, Mom, Dad, her, and Cat. “I wonder if Chet knows how lucky he is. There’s some serious power behind their family prayers.”
“I know, right? I doubt God can ignore the Bauer family.”
Surrounded and supported by Chet’s family, she’d thought there might be a chance. But then she remembered the way Chet had slumped forward during the service and then brushed her aside. “I hope not,” Mercedes said quietly.
Chapter 17
“Hi Dad, it’s Chet. Call me when you get this.”
Chet hung up the phone and laid his head on the table. He needed to make some plans. Where would he live? He still had his job at the elementary school. The pay was crap—the position was only part-time—but it would get him through until he found something better. He should go back to school, but without a scholarship or a job, there was no way he could afford tuition.
Chet stormed out to the barn to do chores.
Washed-out before he turned thirty. At least he broke the record for the youngest failure in the Bauer family. He passed his forge and remembered the night Mercedes came over with dinner. That was a great night. Sitting in his backyard, sharing food, being with her ... that was all he wanted out of life.
He forked a leaf of hay into Goldie’s stall.
Was that so much to ask for? The chance to spend quiet summer nights with the woman he loved?
Chet threw a horseshoe hook he’d made for Mercedes against the tack room wall. It made a satisfying clang as it hit. He picked up the next one and threw that too. He had the third one ready to launch when David stuck his head through the door.
“What’cha doin’?” asked David.
“Nothing.” Chet slammed the hook back down on the anvil and sent a ringing into the air. “I’m not in the mood for advice, so if that’s why you stopped by ...”
David came all the way through the door. He leaned against the work table and folded his arms. “I’m not here to give advice. I’m here to get Vicky off my back.”
“What’s she riding you for?”
“To make sure you don’t mess things up with Mercedes.”
Chet picked up his shaping hammer and smacked it on the anvil. If it wasn’t Sunday, he’d fire up the forge and pound away at a few shoes. “What does she care?”
David unfolded his arms and placed his hands on the edge of the table. “We all care. And I mean all of us. You left Mercedes practically in tears at church. You can’t expect the girls to ignore that.”
Chet stilled the hammer. “I made her cry.” He rested the cool head of the hammer to his forehead and closed his eyes, picturing his large family circling around Mercedes. He hadn’t meant to upset her. Since their date, he’d hoped and prayed that she’d care for him as much as he loved her. He didn’t expect his prayers to be answered so quickly. He thought he’d have to work a little harder.
It was better to cut things off now. She might be a little upset, but she’d get over it faster than if he dragged it out. “It’s for the best. Like you said, I don’t have anything to offer.” He set the hammer down and crossed the room to retrieve the coat hooks. Neither appeared damaged.
“Chet, I’m … dumb.” David blew out a breath. “Whitney made that quite clear on the way home from church. When a woman’s in love, she has the ultimate faith in her man.”
Chet was skeptical. His father had told them many times they needed to be the type of man a woman could depend on. “Do you believe her?”
David scrubbed at his cheek. “Yeah. Whit’s my rock and she thinks I’m awesome.”
Chet snorted. Whitney was aware of David’s faults. Still, they’d weathered some pretty rough storms. Mercedes made him feel awesome too. The way she listened to his blabbering on and on about stuff that had nothing to do with crops or irrigation ... Yeah, she made him think he was a great man, instead of the failure he turned out to be. If he had anything to offer, he’d be at her door as fast as Goldie could take him there. But he didn’t. And he had no one to blame but himself.
David ran his hand over his face. “I guess what I’m sayin’ is, don’t throw away a girl like Mercedes because you’re too prideful.”
“Prideful? David, I have nothing left.”
David shifted, uncomfortable. “All she wants is you.”
Chet stood taller. Was it possible? Could he stand before her with nothing more than his heart? “You think, if I went down there right now and told Mercedes I was broke, she’d still want me?”
David chuckled. “God asks us to have a humble heart; could a good woman ask for anything more?”
Chet stared at him.
David grabbed a fistful of Chet’s shirt and shoved him toward the door. “Get on over there.”
Once Chet’s feet were in motion, his mind cleared. He ran for his truck. If there was even a chance Mercedes still wanted him, he’d have to try.
Chapter 18
Mercedes couldn’t bring herself to paint over Chet’s portrait. It was criminal to erase that much emotion, not on the canvas and certainly not in her heart. Instead she left it just as their relationship stood—unfinished.
All afternoon she moped about the house, not interested in starting a project. Cat made dinner, and Mercedes sat down without much of an appetite.
“Are you feeling any better?” asked Cat.
Mercedes considered the question. “I feel like I’m in between, if that makes sense. It hurt to be brushed off like that, but I can understand why Chet would be uncomfortable starting a relationship when he’s about to lose his land.” She shrugged. “Whitney said not to give up on him. I’m just not sure what to do.”
Cat drilled her fingers on the table. “There’s so much food.”
Mercedes looked at the extra chicken breast, smothered in marinara sauce.
“I wonder who we know that could use a good meal tonight.” Cat wiggled her eyebrows.
There was an insistent knock on the front door. Mercedes hurried through the house and was shocked to find
Chet on her front porch.
Mercedes blinked. “Um …”
Chet’s eyes locked on hers, and she stepped out to the new boards.
“Hi,” he said. It came out as a whisper, and he tried again, his voice stronger. “Hi.”
All afternoon Mercedes had wanted to see Chet again. Now that he stood in front of her, the only thing she could think to do was tell him about her painting. “Chet, when I came to Snow Valley, I was brokenhearted and afraid of opening myself up again. I was existing, but not experiencing life. It had been forever since I’d been in a moment so full I had to paint it. But you filled my life with those moments.”
Chet worked his baseball cap between his hands. “Darn it, Mercedes. Why do you have to be so amazing?”
Mercedes blinked. “I’m … what?”
“You’re amazing.” Chet ran his hand through his hair, and Mercedes’s heart skittered. “I told myself staying away from you was the honorable thing to do.” Chet moved his hand on her waist sending her pulse into overdrive. Maybe she needed protection from his touch—it spiked her pulse.
“Before you say anything you’ll regret, you’d better know the whole story,” he said reluctantly. “I’ve got nothing. Within a few weeks the bank will own the land, the herd, and everything else. I’m nothing.” He reached out and took both her hands. “Except, when I’m with you, I feel like I’m something. I already told you about my parents retiring and buying the place from my dad. I didn’t tell you that I’m in way over my head. It’s not the ranch work that’s drowning me, it’s the loan. I was barely making payments, even with my job at the elementary school.” Chet looked down as if he were embarrassed.
It was as bad as Mercedes feared. She put her hands on his chest. “I can’t imagine what that must feel like. Losing your family home, land, the herd. Chet, I’m so sorry.”
“That’s not the worst of it.” Chet turned his head to the side. “The worst part is, I’m in love with a beautiful woman who I can’t pursue. I have no money, I’m about to lose my livelihood, I don’t have a college degree, and pretty soon I won’t have a place to live.”
Mercedes’s heart warmed. He loved her! She pressed her palm to his smooth cheek. “Chet, I don’t care if you own a ranch, work as a janitor, or sleep in a tent on my front lawn—which you can totally do—I think we even have a tent here somewhere ...” Mercedes waved her hand and shook her head. “Never mind. What I mean to say is, I didn’t fall in love with your ranch or your money. I fell in love with you.”
“That’s unbelievable.” Chet stared hard at her. “Let me get this straight.”
“Okay.”
“When you look at me, you have feelings?”
Mercedes grinned. “Yes.”
Chet slowly pulled Mercedes close. He cupped her cheek with his hand and brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Can you honestly love a simple rancher?”
Mercedes melted into him. “You are anything but simple. And yes, I love you.”
Chet touched his warm lips to hers.
It was the best of kisses. Not too fast, not too slow, and so full of love it stole Mercedes’s breath away. Chet’s arms were strong and possessive. She wanted to stay there forever. Who needed food or drink when Chet filled her with longing and adoration?
An engine revved—a diesel engine, loud and obnoxious, followed by truck doors slamming and several people talking at once. “Someone’s here,” whispered Chet, barely breaking the kiss and not taking his eyes off Mercedes.
“Tell them to go away.” Mercedes brushed her lips against Chet’s, and he tightened his grip around her waist.
“If we ignore them, they’ll leave.” Chet kissed her again and Mercedes floated.
“Hello!” yelled Aiden from across the yard.
Mercedes giggled, and Chet pulled back. Sliding his fingers down her arm, he took her hand. With his other hand, he waved Aiden over.
To Mercedes’s embarrassment, right after Aiden came Travis, then David, Whitney, and Sawyer, who had his hands over his eyes.
“Is it safe to look yet?” he asked.
Whitney winked at Mercedes. “You just keep those hands where they are. I’ll let you know.”
Sawyer nodded seriously.
“What are you guys doing here?” Chet asked. He made little circles on Mercedes’s palm, and she grabbed his arm for support. He was quickly making her want to paint the forge picture, complete with all the passion pulsing through her veins.
“Dad’s been trying to call you. You weren’t answering so he called us. I guess we figured out what’s keeping you so busy.” David’s comment earned him a nudge from Whitney.
“Can I borrow your phone?” Chet asked Mercedes.
Cat came out of the front door. “It’s right here.”
Mercedes widened her eyes, silently asking Cat if she’d been spying on them.
Cat gave her a thumbs-up, and Mercedes wanted to fall through the floorboards.
Chet dialed and held the phone up to his ear.
“Who wants brownies?” asked Cat.
“Sweet.” Sawyer dropped his hands and ran to the door.
The three brothers scrambled up the steps. Aiden stopped to offer Chet a fist bump. Chet scowled and turned away, the phone still to his ear. Aiden, Whitney, and David laughed when Mercedes leaned over to bump her knuckles with Aiden’s.
“Keep an eye on them, will you?” Whitney asked Travis.
“I will, if you guys keep an eye on them.” Travis nodded toward Mercedes and Chet.
Mercedes felt her face grow warm. She hoped that once this phone call was finished she and Chet could pick up where they left off. No sense letting the whole Bauer family know that, though. Chet still held her hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and winked. Mercedes’s cheeks burned. So much for playing it cool.
“Dad?” Chet’s attention was drawn to the phone conversation. David and Whitney watched him close.
Mercedes leaned into his side to let him know she was there to support him. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation, and she wished she could soften the blow.
“Yeah, I read the papers.” Chet worried his lip as he listened. “Why didn’t you? … Really?” Chet’s head snapped up. He pulled Mercedes close, kissed her, and let her go just as fast.
Mercedes grinned at him, and he returned the smile, his eyes full of joy.
“Dad, I have to go. There’s someone here I need to spend some time kissing. … Here’s David.” Chet tossed David the phone. David caught it and went around the side of the house so he could be heard over Chet’s whooping as he spun Mercedes around.
“Chet, what is going on?” Mercedes asked between giggles.
“I’m putting up a cell tower.” Chet set her down and threw his arms in the air.
“You’re what?” Whitney exclaimed.
Chet looked at her like he’d forgotten she was there. “I’m signing the papers for the cell tower.”
“I thought the tower was a bad idea.” Mercedes’s head spun, and it had nothing to do with the way Chet twirled her about the room.
“The contract is a ten-year deal. Dad wouldn’t sign it because he an Mom wanted to retire. He said everything else checked out and that it would be a smart move. And it will save me from having to sell the ranch.” He tipped Mercedes’s chin up so he could look in her eyes. “Will you still love me if I don’t work as a janitor or live in a tent in your front yard?”
Mercedes pretended to consider it. “It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
Whitney threw her hands up. “You two are the strangest couple I’ve ever seen. I’m going to go check on the boys.” She pointed at them. “Don’t get too comfortable together; we could come back in at any time.” The door closed with a soft whoosh.
Chet looked deep into Mercedes’s eyes. Mercedes blushed at the sparks she saw there.
“I’m so sorry about this morning. I thought I was doing the right thing.” Chet leaned his forehead against Mercedes’s.
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“I know,” Mercedes whispered. “But you have to promise not to try to save me from, well, from you ever again. We’ll take the shadows and the light together.”
“Hmmm.” Chet whispered, his voice low and raspy, his warm breath brushing against Mercedes’s neck. “… You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout … ‘Do your worst, for I will do mine.’”
Mercedes sighed. “Edmond, from the Count of Monte Cristo.”
“Edmond was a man worthy of his Mercedes, and I plan to be a man worthy of mine.”
Chet kissed her then. A kiss to fill her full of love that burned hotter than his forge. Mercedes returned his love one passionate kiss at a time creating sparks that lit up the night and expelled the shadows.
Additional Works
By Lucy McConnell
About the Author
Lucy McConnell has always been a reader and a writer. Once caught up in a story, she disappears into a cave until the first draft is done. She writes fantasy, clean romance, Christian romance, historical fiction, and cookbooks (under the name Christina Dymock.) Her cookbook, The Hungry Family Slow Cooker Cookbook received the award: Best of State 2015.
When she’s not writing, you can find her volunteering at the elementary school or church; shuttling kids to baseball, soccer, basketball, or football; skiing with her family; wakeboarding; cycling; baking; cooking; or curled up with a good book.
You can sign up for her newsletter and get the latest news by clicking here.
Or you can visit her website at:
http://lucymcconnell.wordpress.com/
Snow Valley Anthology
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Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 67
