Page 15 of Marrying the Billboard Cowboy

She nodded wordlessly, and he pulled his hand away.

“Come on, Stet. Let’s get you ready for bed.” She ushered him toward the bathroom, her movements protective and tender.

Zeke stepped back into the living area, his hands absentmindedly gathering his coat, hat, and the keys to the ATV. He paused at the door, glancing back toward the hallway. Kaitlyn’s silhouette was visible through the gap of the partially closed door, her frame bent slightly as she helped Stetson change into pajamas.

“Zeke?” Her voice called out, halting him mid-stride.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a night-light?”

“Of course,” Zeke replied, though he didn’t have any idea where he would find one. But if Stetson and Kaitlyn needed a night-light, he’d track one down. Whatever it took to make them feel safe. “I’ll be right back.”

8

Kaitlyn’s fingers trailed along the wood of the cabin’s kitchen counter, the slightly rough texture a stark contrast to the slick surfaces of city apartments she had known. The air held a faint scent of cedar and something else—perhaps the lingering aroma of spices Zeke used in his cooking. His space was tidy, every utensil in its place. There were no knickknacks on the counter and each drawer and cabinet she peeked in was uncluttered.

She paused by a small wooden table set beneath a window framing the darkening expanse of the ranch beyond the cabin. Her reflection stared back at her from the glass, dark eyes wide with the enormity of change looming over her life. Outside, the land stretched on, an endless sea of greenery skirted by rocky cliffs that seemed both protective and isolating.

A sense of disorientation washed over Kaitlyn as she stepped away from the window. Here in this little cabin, hidden behind trees, she was a world away from the clamor and struggle of Denver streets, from the cold nights in her car, clutching Stetson close to fend off the chill.

The vastness of the property pressed against her chest like a weight. It was beautiful, breathtaking even, but unlike anything she’d ever known.

“Lord, help me find my place here,” she whispered, her voice barely rising above a murmur. Her prayer felt small in the grandeur of Zeke’s world. How could she fit in here? She’d barely even managed to stand in front of the horses without her heart pounding out of her chest.

She recalled the warm breaths of the giant animals puffing into the crisp air, the scent of hay and earth mingling in her nostrils. They were so big, the horse’s head reaching far above her own.

Stetson had watched with wide, expectant eyes, and she had swallowed her anxiety, knowing her son needed to see her confident, unafraid. Zeke’s presence was both reassuring and unsettling, his quiet confidence setting a standard she wasn’t sure she could meet.

“Momma, look at the big horse!” Stetson had exclaimed, and she’d managed a smile for him, though her palms were slick against the wooden fence.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Zeke had commented, his voice casual, as if introducing strangers rather than half-ton animals capable of bolting at the slightest provocation.

“Very,” Kaitlyn had agreed, her voice steadier than she felt.

Now, standing alone on the porch, Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around herself. The chill of the evening seeped through her thin sweater, the cold somehow grounding amid the whirlwind of new experiences. She gazed out over Redemption Ridge Ranch. The lodge was illuminated with lights on the ground, highlighting the elegant architecture and rustic charm. There was a grandeur here that both awed and intimidated her.

That was the other thing. It wasn’t just the physical vastness of the ranch. There was an obvious sense of belonging Zeke andhis family had to this land—something she had never known. Her life had been a series of temporary shelters, transient attachments, always bracing for the next upheaval. From the animals to the structures, she was surrounded by reminders of the huge gap between them. Redemption Ridge Ranch was no rundown ranch on the western slopes. From what Zeke had shared about the hotel, families spent thousands of dollars to stay here.

A flicker of guilt pinched her heart as she considered her meager bank account. Here, surrounded by such opulence, her struggles felt magnified. Could someone like her truly fit into this world?

As soon as she could, she needed to save up enough money to pay off Eddie and that stupid loan she’d taken in the spring. She was already taking so much from Zeke, she wouldn’t give him the chance to change his mind because of that debt.

Stepping back inside, Kaitlyn felt the warmth of the cabin wrap around her like a comforting embrace. She rubbed her arms, not just for the cold she’d left outside, but to soothe the shiver of uncertainty that had nothing to do with the temperature.

Kaitlyn drifted through the cabin. Her eyes caught on the shelves near the small television. They were lined with books, with a few framed photos on display. She skimmed the books, surprised to find an eclectic mix of fiction and history. She could almost picture Zeke sitting in this room, a book in hand as a small fire warmed the space.

Her fingers traced a photo. Zeke’s smiling face looked straight at the camera, his arms slung across two people. One, a young blonde woman with a cowboy hat and a broad smile. The other, a man with unkempt hair and an unshaven face.

The love between the three of them made Kaitlyn’s heart ache at the way it practically oozed out of the frame. Familywas important here. She loved Stetson more than anything in life, but the always-present ache of missing her parents became sharper with the fresh realization that they would never know him. By their own choice.

What did she know about family, anyway? What kind of life could she and this cowboy have together when she was using him?

The creak of the door announced Zeke’s arrival before he stepped into view, his broad frame filling the space with an assured presence. In his hands, he held more than the night-light she had requested; there was also a stuffed horse, its mane soft and brown under the dim cabin lights.

“Figured Stet could use a friend tonight,” Zeke said, his voice rough as he set the items down on the rough-hewn table.

Kaitlyn’s throat burned with emotion as she stared at the small stuffy. He’d brought that back for her son? The son she’d been too nervous to tell him about. The kindness was so unexpected and so foreign, she couldn’t think about it for too long or she’d be a sobbing mess.

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