Read Online Rancher For The Holidays (Love Inspired) by Myra Johnson - Free Book Online Page B
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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Anyway, I’m sure he’ll find another job soon.”
“If he does, he does.” Jane set a glass of tea in front of Marley and lowered her voice. “But between you and me, I’d be mighty happy to see our boy get out of the corporate rat race and settle down right here in Alpine.”
Marley couldn’t think of an appropriate response, so she gulped some tea. Time to get her camera gear packed and stowed so she could make a quick getaway after she made a complete fool of herself on horseback.
* * *
“She sure looks better than yesterday.” Ben reached over the stall gate to scratch Ruby behind the ear. The horse rewarded him with a whinny.
“Couple days’ rest and she’ll be good as new.” Uncle Steve tossed a flake of hay into the next stall for Dancer, a gray gelding with reddish speckles in his coat. “Man, I was glad you drove up yesterday when you did. Couldn’t have handled our old girl without you. You’re a natural, Ben.”
“Natural at doing what I’m told.” Ben laughed. “And I do remember how you always bossed Aidan and me around when we came out for summer vacations.”
“Hey, you calling me bossy?” Uncle Steve shot Ben a mock glare.
Ben grinned back. “If the boot fits.”
“Well, for a couple of self-proclaimed city boys, y’all sure acted like you were having fun.”
“Tagging along, helping with the livestock, pretending we were real cowboys? Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”
Uncle Steve arched a brow and clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Like I’ve been saying, country life suits you.”
Biting his tongue, Ben shrugged. He couldn’t even pretend he didn’t enjoy being at the ranch, and pitching in with ranch chores definitely provided a refreshing change from office work. But it couldn’t go on forever. Eventually, Ben needed to return to the real world.
Along with a real paycheck.
After changing into a scruffier pair of jeans and the well-worn hand-me-down boots his uncle had given him a few days ago, Ben caught up with Marley as she carried a few things out to her car. “You’re not mad, are you? This’ll be fun, I promise.”
“The kind of fun where I’ll be walking funny for the next week?” She shifted a canvas zipper bag to make room in the trunk for a camera case. “Look, I know I’ve been merciless with the city-boy stuff. But the truth is, I grew up in a large metropolitan area just like you did. Being around horses and cows and other big hairy beasts isn’t exactly in my comfort zone.”
The vulnerable look in her eyes tugged at something deep inside Ben’s chest. He shook it off and hefted another of her bags into the trunk, then closed the lid. “If it makes you feel any better, I hadn’t been on a horse since the last time I came for a visit, which was longer ago than it should have been, so I was walking funny my whole first week in Alpine.”
“Uh-huh. I
definitely
feel better now.” Marley slanted him a sardonic frown.
Ben laughed. “Come on, let’s go introduce you to one of those ‘big hairy beasts.’”
In the barn, Uncle Steve already had Dancer in the cross ties. Shifting a black sport saddle higher on the gray gelding’s withers, he grinned at Marley. “Our most comfortable tack on the gentlest horse, all for you.”
Marley timidly stretched out her hand for Dancer to sniff. “I’m hoping his name isn’t any indication of what I can expect on the trail.”
Ben and his uncle exchanged grins, and then Ben explained, “He got the name because Aunt Jane says his canter is as smooth as one of those Viennese waltzes they do on
Dancing with the Stars
.”
“Canter?” Marley shuffled backward, right into Ben’s chest.
Ben grabbed her by the elbows to help her regain her balance. He covered the awkwardness of the moment with a weak chuckle. Why did she have to be so enchantingly cute? “Don’t panic. No cantering until you’re ready.”
“Let’s just keep it at a walk. A
slow
walk. Standing still would be even
“If he does, he does.” Jane set a glass of tea in front of Marley and lowered her voice. “But between you and me, I’d be mighty happy to see our boy get out of the corporate rat race and settle down right here in Alpine.”
Marley couldn’t think of an appropriate response, so she gulped some tea. Time to get her camera gear packed and stowed so she could make a quick getaway after she made a complete fool of herself on horseback.
* * *
“She sure looks better than yesterday.” Ben reached over the stall gate to scratch Ruby behind the ear. The horse rewarded him with a whinny.
“Couple days’ rest and she’ll be good as new.” Uncle Steve tossed a flake of hay into the next stall for Dancer, a gray gelding with reddish speckles in his coat. “Man, I was glad you drove up yesterday when you did. Couldn’t have handled our old girl without you. You’re a natural, Ben.”
“Natural at doing what I’m told.” Ben laughed. “And I do remember how you always bossed Aidan and me around when we came out for summer vacations.”
“Hey, you calling me bossy?” Uncle Steve shot Ben a mock glare.
Ben grinned back. “If the boot fits.”
“Well, for a couple of self-proclaimed city boys, y’all sure acted like you were having fun.”
“Tagging along, helping with the livestock, pretending we were real cowboys? Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”
Uncle Steve arched a brow and clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Like I’ve been saying, country life suits you.”
Biting his tongue, Ben shrugged. He couldn’t even pretend he didn’t enjoy being at the ranch, and pitching in with ranch chores definitely provided a refreshing change from office work. But it couldn’t go on forever. Eventually, Ben needed to return to the real world.
Along with a real paycheck.
After changing into a scruffier pair of jeans and the well-worn hand-me-down boots his uncle had given him a few days ago, Ben caught up with Marley as she carried a few things out to her car. “You’re not mad, are you? This’ll be fun, I promise.”
“The kind of fun where I’ll be walking funny for the next week?” She shifted a canvas zipper bag to make room in the trunk for a camera case. “Look, I know I’ve been merciless with the city-boy stuff. But the truth is, I grew up in a large metropolitan area just like you did. Being around horses and cows and other big hairy beasts isn’t exactly in my comfort zone.”
The vulnerable look in her eyes tugged at something deep inside Ben’s chest. He shook it off and hefted another of her bags into the trunk, then closed the lid. “If it makes you feel any better, I hadn’t been on a horse since the last time I came for a visit, which was longer ago than it should have been, so I was walking funny my whole first week in Alpine.”
“Uh-huh. I
definitely
feel better now.” Marley slanted him a sardonic frown.
Ben laughed. “Come on, let’s go introduce you to one of those ‘big hairy beasts.’”
In the barn, Uncle Steve already had Dancer in the cross ties. Shifting a black sport saddle higher on the gray gelding’s withers, he grinned at Marley. “Our most comfortable tack on the gentlest horse, all for you.”
Marley timidly stretched out her hand for Dancer to sniff. “I’m hoping his name isn’t any indication of what I can expect on the trail.”
Ben and his uncle exchanged grins, and then Ben explained, “He got the name because Aunt Jane says his canter is as smooth as one of those Viennese waltzes they do on
Dancing with the Stars
.”
“Canter?” Marley shuffled backward, right into Ben’s chest.
Ben grabbed her by the elbows to help her regain her balance. He covered the awkwardness of the moment with a weak chuckle. Why did she have to be so enchantingly cute? “Don’t panic. No cantering until you’re ready.”
“Let’s just keep it at a walk. A
slow
walk. Standing still would be even
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