Pastor's Prize (Culpepper Cowboys Book 15)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Just as his hand was about to reach the doorknob, Rikki called out, “Hey, Ben?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Dream of me.”

  Ben smiled, thinking of what he’d told her after their first kiss. “How could I dream of anything else?”

  Rikki woke early the following morning, even earlier than usual. She rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower, before going into the kitchen. Jesse and Valerie weren’t out yet, so she decided to make breakfast. After digging through the fridge, she found the makings for breakfast tacos—she knew it wasn’t exactly what Valerie was craving, but the effort would make her happy.

  When Valerie came out a short while later, hiding a yawn behind her hand, she smiled. “What are you doing up so early? You’re never up early.”

  “I don’t know. I woke up and realized I was in Texas with my sister, and didn’t want to waste a single minute of my time here.”

  Valerie smiled. “Something smells good. What are you making?”

  Rikki carefully rolled up some of the eggs, sausage, and cheese mixture; put it on a plate, and handed it to her sister. “Breakfast tacos. I know they’re not exactly what you’re craving, but I figured they’d make you happy.”

  “Of course, they do.” Valerie walked to the table and took a huge bite, chewing slowly. “Did you make any decisions?”

  Rikki nodded. “If he asks again, I’m going to say yes. I think I’m ready. Now that I know you forgive me for being stupid.” She rolled up several tacos, putting one on a plate, and leaving the others. Walking to the table, she sat down and took a bite. “Hey, these aren’t bad.”

  “Not at all.” Valerie watched her sister for a moment. “I was worried I’d never see you smile again. I think marrying Ben will be the most brilliant thing you’ve ever done. Especially since you said he makes your heart beat faster.”

  Rikki smiled at her sister’s delicate phrasing. “I’m definitely warm for his form.”

  Valerie laughed. “Maybe you can have half of those dozen kids I keep warning Jesse about.”

  “Half? Six would be an awful lot, don’t you think? Maybe May can have three, and Amber can have three. Then each of us only need to have three, but there will still be a dozen kids running around.”

  “That’s not a bad idea! I don’t think Amber’s in any hurry, though. Do you want to see her today? I told her you’d be here this week, and she said she could come by today while Nicki is in school and John is working.”

  “I’d love that! I want to ride a little too, if that’s okay.”

  Valerie nodded. “I’m sure that’s fine. The horses are available for us to use when we’re not filming. Bob rides quite a bit.”

  “I don’t know if Ben rides or not, but if not, he can learn. Would you mind hooking up with Amber for lunch? And Ben and I can ride this afternoon?”

  “Works for me. I never thought of you as someone who would love riding, but I remember how cathartic it was for you after the kidnapping.” Valerie got up and got herself another taco. “These really are good. I need to make them more.”

  “There have to be fast food places that sell them around here.”

  “I think Whataburger does, but there isn’t one in Wiggieville. I’d have to go to Weatherford, and it’s easier to just make it myself than drive that far.”

  Rikki shook her head. “As long as you have your priorities straight.”

  Jesse wandered out of the bedroom then, looking at the sisters for a minute before glaring at Rikki. “You made her breakfast tacos! What is wrong with you?”

  Rikki shrugged. “I figured it would make her happy, and I was right. Don’t you want a happy wife?”

  “Sure, I do, but I want less tacos in my world too!” He took three and piled them on a plate, walking to the table. “But as long as they’re here, I shouldn’t let them go to waste.”

  Valerie shook her head. “You gripe about them even as you’re eating them. You should be thanking Rikki for the culinary delight she made for us.”

  “Next time I come down I’ll make kolaches. Patience will teach me soon. She keeps promising.”

  “If you marry Ben, I don’t think you’ll get to visit real often,” Valerie said with a frown.

  Jesse looked between the sisters. “Wait, you’re thinking of actually marrying him? He told me you’d talked about it, but I thought it was all in his head. I had no idea you were really considering it!”

  Rikki shrugged. “I love him. He makes me happy. I think I realized last night that it was time to say yes, when Valerie said that you couldn’t imagine life without her. That’s how I feel about Ben.”

  He studied her for a minute, before nodding. “I can’t imagine a better reason to marry. I have a feeling he’ll be asking again soon.”

  “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “If I told you what I know, I’d be breaking the man code. Don’t you know there are rules?”

  Rikki sighed. “I think I’ll do the dishes then. It’s got to be better than listening to man code explanations.”

  8

  Rikki and Valerie spent the morning together, talking about the baby and everything else life had thrown at them. “Do you ever resent Dad for taking off?” Rikki asked.

  Valerie shrugged. “He contacted me over the summer. He said he had been following my career. I decided not to see him.”

  “Did he ask about me?” Rikki felt childish for asking, but she’d always missed growing up with a father. At least Valerie had seven years with him. She’d only had one.

  “He asked how you were doing after the kidnapping. He’d read about it online. I didn’t really answer, but I offered your phone number. I’m guessing he never called.”

  Rikki shook her head, determined not to care. Enough had gone on since their father had left that his abandonment was the least of her worries. “I wonder where the guys are today.”

  “I’m not sure,” Valerie said, obviously happy with the change of topic. “Jesse said something about doing an errand with Ben. He’s going to pick up tacos and burgers on his way back from town, and they’ll get here around noon. Amber is supposed to be here at eleven.”

  “It’ll be good to see her. I always feel like she’s my sister too.”

  “She feels a connection to you as well.” Valerie stood and wandered into the nursery. “I haven’t shown you the baby’s room yet!”

  The sisters spent the rest of the morning puttering around the baby’s room. Valerie showed Rikki the things fans had sent them. “We have enough handmade clothes for six babies,” she said with a laugh.

  “What are you really naming the baby?” Rikki asked. “I know you don’t want it to get out, but it’s not like I’m going to announce it on Twitter. And I am your favorite sister. Well, your favorite real sister. Amber’s probably your favorite…”

  Valerie rolled her eyes. “We’re naming him Jaron. Jaron Samuel Savoy.”

  “I like it! It’s unusual, but not so far out there no one will be able to pronounce it.”

  There was a knock at the door and then a voice called out, “Honey, I’m home!”

  Rikki rushed from the nursery into Amber’s waiting arms. “It’s so good to see you!”

  Amber held Rikki at arm’s length for a moment. She hadn’t seen her since the week following the kidnapping, and she seemed to be assessing her. “You’ve lost some weight, but you look happy. I’ve been worried about you.”

  “I am happy. I still have nightmares. I still freak out over stupid things, but deep down, I think I’m happy. Wait ’til you meet him.”

  Amber took Rikki’s hand and pulled her to the couch. “Tell me everything about him!”

  When the men walked in the door forty-five minutes later, Amber looked at Ben. “You’d better be who she thinks you are.”

  “Excuse me?” Ben looked surprised at the vehemence behind the words.

  “You’d better not hurt my friend.”

  Ben looked back and forth bet
ween Amber and Rikki. “And you are?”

  “Amber Knight. I play Valerie’s sister on Lazy Love, so as Rikki has pointed out more than once, we’re practically sisters. Don’t hurt her.”

  “I wouldn’t. I love her.” He said the words so simply that Rikki’s heart skipped a beat.

  She stood and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I missed you this morning.”

  He held her close. “We had an errand.”

  “How can you have an errand when you live in another state?”

  “We brought lunch,” he said, effectively changing the subject. “Tacos for Valerie and me and burgers for the rest of you.”

  Rikki frowned at him. “You’re not going to tell me where you went?”

  Jesse stepped in then. “Did Valerie show you the baby’s room? It looks to me like Mickey Mouse vomited in there.”

  Rikki looked back and forth between the two men, but she didn’t push it. “I saw it. I like all the Mickey stuff. That baby is going to feel right at home when his Auntie Rikki takes him to Disney World.”

  “His Auntie Rikki isn’t taking baby Amber anywhere without his Auntie Amber,” Amber said.

  Jesse groaned. “You all need to stop referring to my unborn son as Amber. You’re making me crazy!”

  Amber wrinkled her nose. “I think Amber is a perfect name for a boy or a girl. And if you don’t name this one Amber, I’ll just hound you until you name the next one Amber. Amber is the name to remember. Amber. Amber. Amber.” She said the words in a hypnotic voice, as if trying to force Jesse to agree to naming the baby what she wanted.

  “Oh please! We’re not naming him Amber. Get a grip.” He set the bag of food on the table and watched as his wife riffled through it, obviously desperate to get to her tacos.

  Amber looked at Jesse. “How long has it been since you fed that poor baby tacos?”

  “She had them for dinner last night. Then she somehow conned Rikki into making her and May nachos. And Rikki made breakfast tacos this morning. My wife and baby are not starving for tacos!”

  They all sat down and dug into the fast food. “I’m going to have to work out for an extra hour thanks to this burger,” Amber lamented. “But man, it tastes good!”

  After lunch, Rikki stood up. “I want to go riding. Will you come with me, Ben?”

  Ben nodded. “I’d love to.”

  “Have you ridden much?”

  He shook his head. “No, but I’ve ridden some. Mostly at camp where the horses plod along on their trails without much coaxing, but I can figure out what to do if I have to.”

  Jesse stood up. “I’ll go with you so they’ll let you take the horses.” He led them in the direction of the stable. “Valerie’s and my horses haven’t been ridden as much this season, because of her pregnancy. If you wouldn’t mind taking them out, they could use the exercise.”

  “I love Valerie’s horse on the show. Her name is Buttercup, right?”

  “On the show, it is. In real life, it’s Autumn.”

  “Oh, I like that. I’m riding Autumn then.”

  Ben looked at Jesse. “Is your horse gentle enough for a novice?”

  “Definitely. I couldn’t ride when I got the part. I spent every spare minute with Trevor, and together we figured it out.”

  “Your horse’s name is Trevor? Okay, I’ll take Trevor then.”

  When they got to the stable, the man in charge offered to saddle the horses, and Ben didn’t argue. “We’ll be back in an hour or two,” he told Jesse.

  “Be careful. If you break my sister-in-law, I’ll have to deal with my wife. No one wants to deal with my wife.”

  Ten minutes later, they were riding side by side toward the open meadow that separated the set from May’s house. Once they reached the meadow, Ben pulled back on the reins and swung his right leg over the back of the horse, waiting as Rikki did the same.

  “You’re a better rider than you let on!” she told him.

  He shrugged. “Maybe I worked at the camp and taught others how to ride. Something like that.”

  She shook her head, stepping toward him. “I feel like we’re constantly being watched here. I need less other people and more kissing.”

  He grinned. “I was thinking the same thing myself a little while ago. This ride was a brilliant idea.”

  “I thought so. Of course, it was mine, so I would think it was brilliant.”

  He caught her by the waist and pulled her to him, his mouth descending for a more passionate kiss than they’d shared before. “I want to ask you something.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. Is he going to propose again? She knew just what she’d say if he did! “What’s that?”

  He dropped to one knee, right there in the wet Texas grass. “Rikki Dobson, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” He held out a ring box to her, and opened it, so she could see the ring he’d chosen.

  Rikki took the ring and slipped it on her finger, nodding emphatically. “I thought you’d never ask!”

  “I’ve asked and asked!” he protested.

  “Well, I thought you’d never ask properly. You know, on one knee in a field somewhere in Texas.”

  “Why did it need to be in a field somewhere in Texas?”

  Rikki shrugged. “I don’t know, but this seems like the perfect setting, doesn’t it? When do you want to get married?”

  “Wednesday?” he asked. He knew he was pushing it, but he didn’t want to wait. They’d be getting married in Culpepper after all, and Culpepper couples didn’t have long engagements. Not even a week long usually.

  She bit her lip for a moment, thinking about the logistics of putting a small wedding together before Wednesday. “Okay.”

  “Really?” He couldn’t believe he’d gotten her to agree to marry him so quickly, but he wasn’t going to argue. He got to his feet, pulled her into his arms, and twirled her around. “I can’t believe you agreed.”

  She smiled up at him, feeling as if the whole universe had opened up to give her everything she wanted. “I love you. How could I keep putting it off?”

  Ben looked down into her eyes. “You really love me?”

  She nodded, her eyes twinkling. “Of course, I do. I don’t marry just any guy on a moment’s notice!”

  He kissed her again, his hands pulling her close. “I can’t wait to have you as my wife.”

  Rikki sighed. “Me neither. No more saying goodnight at the door. We can hold each other all night long.”

  “It sounds heavenly.” He kissed her once more. “Should we go back and tell the others?”

  Rikki shook her head. “Not yet. Let’s glory in it for another minute or two, and I’m going to call the bakery and get them started on a cake.”

  The phone calls were fast and easy, and twenty minutes later they were headed back to the set. They returned the horses and walked hand in hand back to Jesse and Valerie’s trailer.

  When they opened the door, they found her sister and husband sitting on the couch side by side. Jesse’s hand was on Valerie’s belly. “He’s kicking,” Valerie explained with a grin. “Everyone in the world has felt him kick except for Jesse. As soon as Jesse gets close he stops moving.”

  Jesse sighed. “And he did it again. Someday that baby is going to let me feel him move!”

  “Probably after he’s born,” Valerie said with a smile.

  “Can I feel him?” Rikki asked, fascinated by the baby’s growth. She loved the idea of having a baby with Ben.

  Valerie nodded. “Sure. I’ll show you where to put your hand.”

  As soon as Rikki was close, Valerie took her hand and placed it on the side of her belly. “Right there.”

  Rikki smiled. “I can feel him! He’s strong. Does it hurt?”

  Valerie shook her head. “No, it feels strange, but it doesn’t hurt at all.” She looked down at the hand on her belly and squealed. “I see an engagement ring! You’re getting married!” She pulled Rikki down awkwardly for a hug, until Rikki was mostly
lying across her.

  “I’m going to squish you and Amber!” Rikki protested. “Let me up.”

  Valerie let go of her sister, but quickly got to her feet, hugging her again. Then she turned and hugged Ben, whispering to him, “Take good care of her when I’m not there to do it.”

  “Always. Whether you’re there or not,” he whispered back.

  She smiled. “I knew there was a reason I liked you!”

  Jesse stepped forward and shook Ben’s hand. “I told you that was the right size ring. Our ladies are the same size. Welcome to the family.”

  Ben smiled at Jesse’s words. “Thank you. I’d say I got the pick of the litter, but I think we both got pretty special women.”

  “Oh, we definitely did.”

  When Rikki and Ben walked into baggage claim back in Wyoming the following day, Grace squealed, running to hug Rikki. “Another wedding! I have the cake done, and Corinne said to tell you she’s been practicing her leaps for your wedding.”

  Rikki looked at Ben. “We have a flower girl all ready to go.”

  Ben grinned at that. “Brother Anthony said that we’re turning into a ridiculously clichéd town, and we need to stop this wedding madness, but that he’d be ready to marry us at seven tomorrow evening.”

  Grace giggled. “That sounds just like Brother Anthony. At least he’s going to remember your name.”

  “I’m not sure he even knows mine,” Rikki said. “Maybe I should have it printed on my forehead for him.”

  Grace shook her head. “Do you have a dress yet? Do you want to wear mine?”

  Rikki shrugged. “I have a nice white suit that I thought would work well. I’m going to wear that.” She wished Valerie could be there, but there was no way she could travel.

  “Have you told Linda yet?” Grace asked, pointing as the luggage started to come around the carousel. She obviously knew Ben would handle it, because she stayed where she was.

  “Yeah, I called her. She cried. I don’t know if it was because she was so happy I’m getting married or relieved that she’s finally getting rid of her houseguest.”

  Grace laughed, watching as Ben hauled the luggage off the belt. “Sorry Marcus couldn’t come. He had a deposition.” She turned and led the way to her SUV.