Page 27 of Marrying the Billboard Cowboy

Even Stetson had found a role, happy to count and package the cookies into groups of six, as long as he was paid for his time in sweets as well.

“Hey, look at us being all efficient,” Zeke joked, breaking into her thoughts. “We’ll have these done in no time.”

Kaitlyn found a rhythm in the simple task next to her husband. Every completed kit was a step further away from her past—a past where uncertainty was the only certainty.

“Last one,” Zeke announced, sealing the final box with a strip of tape. He wiped his brow and looked around at their handiwork.

The hall was filled with rows of packed meals, ready for distribution. Apparently, the Thanksgiving Meal Drive was one of the largest community outreach projects every year.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” he asked, turning to Kaitlyn.

She nodded, her gaze lingering on the boxes. “It feels... right.”

“Come on, let’s get these loaded up. Then we can head home,” Zeke said, his use of the word ‘home’ wrapping around Kaitlyn like a warm blanket.

Together, they carried the boxes to the waiting trucks outside. The crisp evening air nipped at Kaitlyn’s cheeks, but inside, she felt nothing but a glowing warmth. This community, this church, this man beside her… She had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

13

The doors of the small church swung open with a whisper, admitting Zeke and Kaitlyn into the warmth of the sanctuary. Zeke’s broad shoulders squared as he guided Kaitlyn through the gathering congregation, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back—a protective gesture that came as naturally to him as breathing.

They slipped into the polished wooden pew beside Zeke’s family. As they settled in, Zeke’s gaze drifted inadvertently across the room. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly when he caught sight of a familiar figure. Mrs. Caldwell, her coiffed hair as stiff as her demeanor, sat perched like an elegant bird of prey among the flock. The sight of his ex-girlfriend’s mother unleashed a flood of memories, each one a sharp jab. He could still recall the way her daughter’s laughter had eventually sounded more like the clink of coins than joy.

The air seemed to thin around him, and he drew in a deep breath, willing his lungs to expand against the sudden tightness. Beside him, Kaitlyn shifted, her petite frame dwarfed by the pew. She reached for the hymnal, her fingers brushing against his as she did so. A current of reassurance traveled through thatsimple touch, grounding him. She didn’t know the turmoil that churned beneath his stoic exterior, but her presence was a balm nonetheless.

When he glanced back up, Mrs. Caldwell was weaving through the crowd with purposeful strides. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, had locked onto him and Kaitlyn.

“Zeke, darling,” Mrs. Caldwell cooed as she reached them, her voice saccharine enough to cause cavities. “So good to see you. And...this must be your new bride.” The disapproval was evident in her tone, and he felt a flare of protectiveness. He reached for Kaitlyn’s hand.

“Kaitlyn, this is Paula Caldwell,” he introduced stiffly, feeling her hand tighten in his. She offered a polite smile, though he could sense the tension in her frame.

“A pleasure,” Mrs. Caldwell said, though her eyes flickered with something less than charm. “Never thought I’d see you settle down, Ezekiel. Especially so soon after...well, you know.”

Zeke’s jaw clenched, a silent prayer begging for patience flitting through his mind. The scent of heavy perfume seemed to close in around him, an invisible cloud from Mrs. Caldwell’s Sunday best.

“Have you heard the news about Jenny?” Mrs. Caldwell continued, oblivious or indifferent to Zeke’s discomfort. “She’s engaged to a billionaire from Chicago. Can you imagine?”

A billionaire. The word echoed in his head like the tolling of a bell, each chime a reminder of the love he thought he’d had, the future he’d envisioned crumbling to dust. Not that he wanted her back. The fact that she’d trapped another rich sucker into her web was confirmation enough that he’d made the right choice in ending things.

“Is that so?” Kaitlyn’s voice was quiet but steady, her dark eyes flickering to Zeke, seeking a cue on how to respond.

“Indeed.” Mrs. Caldwell beamed, her lips stretching into a cat-with-the-canary grin. “They met at a charity ball, you see. He swept her off her feet.”

Zeke felt the air thicken, his fingers itching to do something, anything, other than sit here and listen to this unwelcome update. His silence hung between them, a fortress wall he built brick by brick to keep his true feelings from spilling out. He had a feeling that Mrs. Caldwell wouldn’t appreciate his opinion of her precious Jenny.

“Life is full of surprises,” Kaitlyn replied, offering a neutral sentiment that somehow managed to fill the space Zeke’s words could not find.

“Indeed, it is,” Mrs. Caldwell agreed, her eyes lingering on Zeke for a moment longer before she excused herself, leaving behind a trail of floral-scented disquiet.

The last note of Mrs. Caldwell’s perfume lingered in the air as she swished away, leaving a silence that begged to be filled. Zeke exhaled slowly. Beside him, Kaitlyn remained still. He squeezed her hand in silent gratitude, and together they turned back to face the altar, ready for the service to begin.

“Zeke?” Kaitlyn’s voice was barely above a whisper, the syllables soft and laced with concern. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the back of his hand. “Are you okay?”

He shifted beside Kaitlyn, his broad shoulders tensing beneath the fabric of his Sunday shirt. His jaw clenched, muscles working as if he chewed on something bitter. “It’s nothing,” he murmured.

She searched his face, dark eyes seeking the truth that lay hidden behind his stoic exterior. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she offered, her voice still gentle but strong enough to carry her sincerity.

“Let’s just drop it.” His words shut the door firmly on any further probing.

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