“I want you to know, Chelsey, that your sister and I, we’ve come to realize—”
“You don’t have to worry, Pastor J. I think it’s cool you have the hots for my sister.”
Jared swiped his forehead. “You think it’s cool?” his voice cracked.
Chelsey glanced back at him with a triumphant grin. “Yeah, we’ve all been wondering when you’d take the plunge. It’s taken you long enough.”
“You’ve been waiting?” His jaw tightened in skepticism.
“Yeah, all of us and Willard too.” She giggled with pure pleasure. “Are you hungry? I’m making spice pancakes while Dillon and Willard search for the money. I still can’t believe Dad hid all that cash for us. We’re going to be rich.”
“Chelsey, you’re already rich, with wealth of another kind.” Jared had watched this family go through the horrible pain of losing a loved one and nearly crumbling as a unit, to embracing each other with a bond as close as any he’d ever seen. God had sent him here to help this family, and in the process Jared had gained the love of a woman so dear to him, his heart quivered just thinking of her.
He joined his male companions as they searched through the cabinets, the aroma of apples and cinnamon causing his stomach to rumble with hunger. When Natalie entered the room, he noticed her troubled expression.
“You’ll never guess who was on the phone.” She plopped down at the table and rested her head in her hands.
Chelsey turned from the stove with a metal spatula. “More trouble with Dad’s estate?” Dillon went to Natalie’s side, the ever-protective brother.
“They’ve offered me the Miss Rodeo America title.” She raised her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“That’s awesome,” Chelsey said.
Jared watched from the other side of the room, his mind a mixture of emotions. Joy and elation flowed through him for the woman he loved, yet he wondered what this would mean for Natalie’s future—for their future.
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of.” Natalie sniffed, but shook her head as though the news wasn’t great and astonishing.
Willard joined her at the table. “Then why is it that you don’t sound happy?”
Natalie’s sniffles turned to gushing tears. “I can’t accept their offer. I have to turn it down.”
Dillon placed his arm around her shoulders. “Why? You have to accept, Natalie.”
“Yeah, Nat. You’ve wanted this forever. You can’t turn it down,” Chelsey added.
“I don’t have any other choice.” She offered her brother and sister a tender smile, and then her gaze traveled to Jared. “I can’t leave you guys. You mean more to me than the crown, and there’s Dad’s estate, and the ranch to deal with—the cattle drive at the end of summer. I can’t just take off for weeks at a time to promote rodeo.”
“When do you have to give them an answer?” Willard asked.
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I know my answer.”
Jared went to her then and sank down on one knee. He captured her hand, his thoughts only on her, wanting to please her. “You’re tired, Nat. Take some time to think about this. You don’t want to look back some day and regret your decision. Maybe there’s a way to make all of this work out.” He meant to encourage her, wanting to show his devotion—that he would be there for her—that they could get through this with God’s help.
LATE THAT NIGHT AFTER SOME MUCH NEEDED SLEEP, JARED SAT AT HIS office desk, pouring over his sermon for the next day. He took a drink of his coffee, and a knock sounded on his door. “May I come in?”
Jared looked up at the soft female voice.
“I saw the church light on and hoped it’d be okay to stop by,” Libby said. “I wondered if I might have a word with you.”
From the dark rings under her eyes, it appeared the woman had slept little. “You want to talk about Chelsey?”
“I made a horrible mess of things, didn’t I?” She sank onto a chair, all pretenses gone. “What kind of mother am I to endanger my child like that? I can’t even tell when my daughter is in trouble.”
Jared pulled his chair beside Libby’s and allowed her to continue without disruption.
“Even Natalie knew the boy was bad news. Chelsey told me she wasn’t supposed to go out with him this summer, but I thought it was ridiculous, and I told her so. I allowed that boy to take advantage of my daughter—I’m such a fool.”
Her head collapsed into her hands, and Jared patted the woman’s back in an effort to console her. “You’ve had some hard lessons this week. It’s not easy to step into the role of mother overnight. Nor is it necessary.”
Libby gazed up at him then. “I just wanted what was best for my kids. When I left all those years ago, I knew Adrian would take care of them. Better than me.”
“What made you come back?”
“It’s like I told you. I know you didn’t believe me, especially Willard, but it’s true. When I heard about Adrian’s death, an awful longing came over me. It seems selfish now, but I wanted the kids to know me, and I wanted to know them. I had no idea it would be so difficult.”
Jared clasped his hands, wishing to have everything out in the open. “Natalie believes you came back for the hidden money—that you knew about it all along.”
Her bottom lip wobbled. “I didn’t realize there was money until Dillon spilled the news that day in the kitchen. I guess once I knew about that, things started to blur some. But I didn’t take any money from them. At least not any I didn’t give back. I swear.”
Jared gazed out the window at the hazy full moon. “What do you want from life, Libby? If you could have one thing, what would it be?”
She squinted at him, the crinkles at the edge of her eyes even more pronounced than normal. “You probably think I’ll say another shot at barrel racing or my youth—all good things.” She snickered and then her expression turned sober. “But if I could have just one thing in life, I’d ask for my children’s respect. To have their love.”
Jared smiled at the earnestness in her voice. “What if I said you could have that now?”
“I know you’re in the business of miracles, Pastor J., but I don’t think even you could make that happen.” Libby cleared her throat and shifted in the chair, clearly uncomfortable with such talk. “I’ve made too big of a mess. Even if I could gain their love and trust, there’s no way Natalie will ever forgive me. Too much water has passed under that bridge.”
“Libby, with God all things are possible.” He patted her hand, wanting to console her. “But you need to understand that love and trust won’t come overnight. It has to be earned over time. Can you give the kids time, without pushing or pressuring them?”
“What do you mean, exactly?”
“In simple terms?” He gazed into her brown eyes, and she nodded.
“For me, the simpler the better.”
“Okay, for starters, you could give up the alcohol.” He began counting off the directives on his fingers. “You could find a job and get to know the kids. Show them you’re not going anywhere, and that you’re there for them. And then…be there for them, without fussing or challenging Natalie’s guardianship, because whether you like it or not, Natalie is their mother. That’s who she’s been ever since you walked out of their lives, and that’s who she is today. It doesn’t matter that she’s their sister by law. In their hearts, she’s their mother—their protector and their stability. Can you live with that?”
A flicker of pain crossed the woman’s face. “Will she ever forgive me for the load I put on her?”
Jared clutched her shoulder. “Why don’t you talk to her and find out?”
FIFTY-TWO
THE NEXT DAY AFTER CHURCH, NATALIE SAT AT HER FATHER’S OAK DESK going through the estate paperwork one more time before signing, when she noticed Libby’s yellow sedan drive up to the house.
She met Libby at the front door. The woman’s hands were loaded with luggage, her eyes downcast. “I brought back Chel
sey’s clothes. Figured she’d want them and that I’d save her a trip into town.”
Natalie opened the door for her and helped carry the items inside. “That’s very thoughtful, but you didn’t need to go to the trouble. We were going to come into town this evening to visit you.”
“It wasn’t any trouble.” Libby tugged at her cotton shirt, and Natalie noted her red’rimmed eyes. “I’m real sorry about what happened the other night, and I wanted to apologize to all of you, if you’d allow me that.”
The woman’s plea spoke to Natalie’s heart. “Would you like some tea? I stirred up a fresh pitcher this afternoon.”
Libby smiled and followed Natalie into the kitchen where Natalie poured them each a glass of sweet tea. Once she sat down, Libby pulled a slip of paper from her purse. “I wanted to give you this.” She held out the folded paper, and Natalie stared down at it with curiosity.
“What’s that?”
“I found it in your daddy’s bedroom. I should have told you about it, but I convinced myself it was for Chelsey. I know now that your daddy wrote it for you.”
Natalie unfolded the piece of paper and read the poem entitled “A Wedding Gown.”
A gown of white lace.
Treasure for my little girl.
From my heart to yours.
When Natalie finished, tears stung her eyes. She sniffed them away, never having cried so much as she had this past week. “I thought he wrote one for everyone but me. Where did you find it? I cleaned his room from top to bottom.”
“Guess you didn’t look under his mattress. Isn’t that the first place a person hides his money?” Her stepmom grinned. “When Dillon mentioned you’d found cash in the barn, I figured the old coot must have hidden money in the house so I went on a treasure hunt of my own. I swear I never found any except for what you caught me with in the office. But I did find that poem.”
“Thank you for giving this to me.” Natalie believed the woman spoke the truth, but she still had questions that needed answered. “Were you and Tom in this together? Did Tom know about the hidden money too?”
Libby shook her head. “We talked about it in the barn that day he came by the ranch. I thought he might know where some of the money had been hidden, but he refused to get involved. Said he had enough trouble to deal with and needed to keep his hands clean.”
Her bottom lip wobbled. “I know I have no right to ask, that I gave up my rights a long time ago. But if you could see it in your heart to forgive me for my wrongs, I’d do just about anything to have another chance with you kids.”
Natalie leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea, the condensation cold and wet against her fingers. “That’s something Dillon and Chelsey will have to answer themselves. But if they’re agreeable, I’m willing to give you another chance…on my terms.”
“I understand.” Libby held up her hands as though in submission. “I know I have a lot to learn and make up for. But maybe I could come out to visit from time to time, on weekends or something. I want to get to know them. They’re good kids.”
For probably the first time in her life, Natalie agreed whole-heartedly with Libby. “Yes, they are.”
LATER THAT DAY, JARED STOPPED IN AT WILLARD’S PLACE AND FOUND the old man in his shop working on a pair of white boots. “You look mighty busy in here. Don’t you know you’re supposed to take a nap on Sunday afternoon?”
Willard raised his head and nodded. “Any other day I’d agree with you, but there’s no time for a nap today.”
Jared neared the workbench and noted the meticulous crafts-manship on the upper vamp, finely detailed with scrolling wings and stars. “Working on a special project?”
The man held up the ostrich hide boot with admiration. “I planned to build them for Natalie when she won the queen title last December, only she didn’t win. After that, I didn’t have the heart to finish them, afraid I’d hurt her more with the reminder. They’ve sat here in my shop, half made. I figured it was time to finish the job.”
“What if she doesn’t accept the title?”
Willard scrunched his mouth. “Won’t matter. I should have given them to her long before now. And as for her accepting the title, I reckon you and I should do some talking about that.”
Jared nodded. “That’s why I’m here.” He pulled up a stool, and together the two men discussed possible ways to help Natalie fulfill her journey. An hour later, content with their decision, Jared traced the boot’s red stitching with his finger, able to imagine Natalie wearing them along with one of those fine leather gowns she wore for competition.
Now all they had to do was convince Natalie of their plan. In order to do that, everything would need to fall perfectly into place, and the best place to start was in prayer.
JARED DROVE TO NATALIE’S HOUSE, AND JESSIE MET HIM AT HIS CAR, HER tail wagging. Dillon greeted him with a rope in his hand, probably out chasing goats as usual. “Hey buddy. Is Natalie around?”
Dillon pointed to the pasture. “She went for a ride. I think she wanted to be alone.”
“Well, that’s okay,” Jared said, thanking God for his perfect timing. “I needed to talk to you and Chelsey alone anyway.”
The boy walked with him to the porch, then went inside to get Chelsey. A few minutes later, Jared sat them down, needing their permission before going any further.
“Of course we approve,” Chelsey said after Jared explained the plan to them. “It’s the least we can do after everything Nat’s done for us. Isn’t that right, Dillon?”
Her brother gave an emphatic nod. “Want me to saddle my horse for you, so you can tell Natalie yourself?”
Jared hesitated, wondering if he could handle any other horse besides Jackson. “Sure, why not.” He might as well get used to such things, for if his plan went according to schedule, he’d be spending a good deal of time in the saddle.
A short while later, Jared trotted off on a pasture trail in the direction Natalie had gone. The lush green bluestem dipped and swayed over the hills and rocky crags, a veritable ocean of grass. Beneath him, Adrian’s saddle creaked as Dillon’s horse traveled the familiar cattle path. Jared scanned the mounds and valleys for Natalie and her gray horse. He found them by a shady stream. Natalie waded barefoot in the water, her jeans rolled up, and her socks and boots lying on the rocky ground nearby.
“I was beginning to think I wouldn’t find you.” Jared reined in Dillon’s horse and stepped down from the saddle.
Natalie splashed toward him with an anxious expression. “Is everything all right?”
“Nothing to worry about.” He offered a sheepish grin and tied the reins to a hanging bur oak limb.
Her gaze traveled from his boots to his hat, her mouth tilting in satisfaction. “Why are you here then? Out for a Sunday ride?”
Jared took her hand as she stepped from the stream, her feet dripping water onto the rough pebbles. “I came to see you, to talk to you about something.”
“If it’s about the title, you can save your breath. I’m not going to accept. Even if I figured out a way to deal with the ranch, there’s no way I can leave Dillon and Chelsey after everything we’ve been through this summer. I’m not going to abandon them so I can follow a dream.”
He led her to where her boots lay on a sheet of bedrock. “Before you refuse, would you care to hear what Willard and I have come up with?”
Natalie shook her head. “You think I haven’t been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to make this work?”
“You know what they say about two heads being better than one.” He sat with Natalie on the rock and handed her a boot.
“I’m telling you, I’ve been through every possible scenario. There are none—it’s useless.” She tugged the cotton socks onto her damp feet and then shoved on the first boot.
He clutched the other boot to his stomach. “I’m not going to give this to you until you’re ready to listen. Are you prepared to hear our proposal?”
Calling his bluff, Nata
lie lunged and nearly toppled him onto the flat rock, but Jared managed to hold the boot out of her reach. “No fair, Miss Adams.” He chuckled, enjoying her close proximity. Unable to resist, he snatched a kiss from her soft, yielding lips.
Natalie pulled away. “I’d say you’re the one not fighting fair, Pastor Logan.” She grinned and settled back on the rock, her legs crossed with her bootless foot exposed. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“Are you sure?”
Her nostrils flared with mock exasperation. “I’m certain.”
“Good, because I’ve already discussed this with Dillon and Chelsey, and they heartily agree with this plan.” Jared handed Natalie her boot, then grazed her cheek with his finger, loving every inch of her, including her stubborn will.
“Willard and I will finish off the grazing season. We’ll gather some neighbors for the round-up, and we’ll see to it that the ranch is cared for properly while you’re gone.”
“That’s too much responsibility—” Natalie started to protest, but he hushed her with his finger on her mouth.
“As for Chelsey and Dillon, Willard has agreed to stay with them at the ranch and serve as their guardian during your reign. He fig’ured you’d object and told me to remind you of his promise to your daddy, that he’d look out for you and the kids—and that’s exactly what Willard intends to do.”
Jared slipped his arm around Natalie and hugged her to his side. “As for the two of us…” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I love you, Natalie. I know you have questions about being a pastor’s wife, whether it’s the right decision for you. And that’s okay. The last thing I want to do is pressure you into loving me.”
Natalie removed his hat and smoothed a hand over his cropped hair. “Don’t you know that I love you already?” She reached up to kiss his cheek, and he reveled in her touch. “The wife thing is a bit scary, but I’m not adverse to it.”
Seeds of Summer Page 26