Read Online Rancher For The Holidays (Love Inspired) by Myra Johnson - Free Book Online
Authors: Myra Johnson
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Family Life, series, Western, Spirituality, Texas, Religious, Christian, Christmas, Inspirational, cowboy, Cowboys, Holiday Season, Bachelor, Faith, rancher, Single Woman, babies, Love Inspired, Holiday Time, Christmas Wishes, Corporate Job, Uncle's Spread, City Slicker, Volunteering, Wedding Bells, Country Girl, Alpine, First Job Offer, Forever Cowboy
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Ben ran through her mind. There were so many reasons she shouldn’t give in to their attraction—and the fact that he didn’t plan to stay in Alpine was the least of them. Ernie had made a valid point yesterday about Ben’s apparent issues with God and the church. Marley had struggled too long in her own faith walk to risk involvement with someone whose belief in the Lord wasn’t as solid as hers.
But the biggest problem? Getting involved meant eventually having to be honest about her past, because in Marley’s book, no relationship could survive for long without complete transparency. She’d seen firsthand how her father’s facade of power and success had all but destroyed her parents’ marriage.
She’d also witnessed the strength and stability of relationships like that of Healy and Valerie Ferguson, the couple back in Missouri who had mentored her during her last stint in juvenile detention. They’d helped Marley come to terms with her responsibility for the car accident that had injured her friend Tina so badly that she’d been in rehab for months. It was the Fergusons’ encouragement and prayers that had gotten Marley through those dark days and made her determined to change.
Yes, Healy and Valerie had the kind of marriage Marley dreamed of, a relationship built on trust, fidelity and unconditional love. But it wouldn’t happen until she met the man who would accept her completely—past, present and future.
Maybe it was Ben, maybe not. Only God held the answers. Time to stop daydreaming, gather up her cameras and lighting equipment and get this photo shoot under way.
Twenty minutes later, she was on the road to the Whitlows’ ranch. With every mile that passed, her anticipation grew, along with her annoyance over letting a handsome, charming guy like Ben Fisher burrow under her skin so easily.
Around the next bend, Marley glimpsed the broad, wrought-iron ranch gate, the Whitlow name arching over the entrance and bordered by two copper-colored Texas stars. On a whim, she stopped the car outside the gate and reached for her digital camera. Stepping to the gravel shoulder, she snapped several pictures, using the gateposts to frame the rolling pastureland beyond. In one shot, she captured a mare and her foal cavorting in the long grass. Maybe she’d include these photos in a memory album along with the portraits she took of Steve and Jane today.
Back in the Honda, she continued up the lane to the circle drive in front of the ranch house.
As she climbed from the car, Ben appeared on the front porch. “Need any help?”
“Would you grab a couple of the equipment bags from the trunk?” Marley popped the latch, then added with a teasing grin, “Provided you’re not too sore from hauling paint buckets and guacamole.”
“Yeah, it was the guacamole that did it.” Gritting his teeth, he massaged one shoulder. “Maybe I’d better get my wheelchair.”
Marley laughed and handed up one of the lighter bags. “Here, I think you can handle this one without hurting yourself.”
He set it by the front door and then trotted down the porch steps, meeting Marley behind her car. “Last night was fun. I enjoyed getting to know your friends, especially when Ernie wasn’t giving me the third degree.”
Cringing, Marley grinned up at him. “Ernie’s just a good friend who thinks it’s his business to look out for me.”
“So I gathered.” Ben reached into the trunk and looped his arm through a bag strap. “Any particular place you want this stuff?”
Marley glanced around. “Why don’t we start on the front porch? I really like the view.”
“Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?” Ben’s gaze shifted suddenly from Marley’s face to the horizon, and he cleared his throat.
With a self-conscious gulp, she reached for another bag and followed Ben to the porch. “We should probably get started. If you’ll bring Steve and Jane out, I’ll set up my equipment.”
Ben nodded and went inside. In the
But the biggest problem? Getting involved meant eventually having to be honest about her past, because in Marley’s book, no relationship could survive for long without complete transparency. She’d seen firsthand how her father’s facade of power and success had all but destroyed her parents’ marriage.
She’d also witnessed the strength and stability of relationships like that of Healy and Valerie Ferguson, the couple back in Missouri who had mentored her during her last stint in juvenile detention. They’d helped Marley come to terms with her responsibility for the car accident that had injured her friend Tina so badly that she’d been in rehab for months. It was the Fergusons’ encouragement and prayers that had gotten Marley through those dark days and made her determined to change.
Yes, Healy and Valerie had the kind of marriage Marley dreamed of, a relationship built on trust, fidelity and unconditional love. But it wouldn’t happen until she met the man who would accept her completely—past, present and future.
Maybe it was Ben, maybe not. Only God held the answers. Time to stop daydreaming, gather up her cameras and lighting equipment and get this photo shoot under way.
Twenty minutes later, she was on the road to the Whitlows’ ranch. With every mile that passed, her anticipation grew, along with her annoyance over letting a handsome, charming guy like Ben Fisher burrow under her skin so easily.
Around the next bend, Marley glimpsed the broad, wrought-iron ranch gate, the Whitlow name arching over the entrance and bordered by two copper-colored Texas stars. On a whim, she stopped the car outside the gate and reached for her digital camera. Stepping to the gravel shoulder, she snapped several pictures, using the gateposts to frame the rolling pastureland beyond. In one shot, she captured a mare and her foal cavorting in the long grass. Maybe she’d include these photos in a memory album along with the portraits she took of Steve and Jane today.
Back in the Honda, she continued up the lane to the circle drive in front of the ranch house.
As she climbed from the car, Ben appeared on the front porch. “Need any help?”
“Would you grab a couple of the equipment bags from the trunk?” Marley popped the latch, then added with a teasing grin, “Provided you’re not too sore from hauling paint buckets and guacamole.”
“Yeah, it was the guacamole that did it.” Gritting his teeth, he massaged one shoulder. “Maybe I’d better get my wheelchair.”
Marley laughed and handed up one of the lighter bags. “Here, I think you can handle this one without hurting yourself.”
He set it by the front door and then trotted down the porch steps, meeting Marley behind her car. “Last night was fun. I enjoyed getting to know your friends, especially when Ernie wasn’t giving me the third degree.”
Cringing, Marley grinned up at him. “Ernie’s just a good friend who thinks it’s his business to look out for me.”
“So I gathered.” Ben reached into the trunk and looped his arm through a bag strap. “Any particular place you want this stuff?”
Marley glanced around. “Why don’t we start on the front porch? I really like the view.”
“Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?” Ben’s gaze shifted suddenly from Marley’s face to the horizon, and he cleared his throat.
With a self-conscious gulp, she reached for another bag and followed Ben to the porch. “We should probably get started. If you’ll bring Steve and Jane out, I’ll set up my equipment.”
Ben nodded and went inside. In the
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