Free Rancher For The Holidays (Love Inspired) by Myra Johnson Page A

“That’d be me. Must have stepped in something in one of the stalls.”
    While his uncle went outside to remove the offending boots, Ben washed his hands in the guest bathroom. By the time he returned to the kitchen, Marley was saying her goodbyes.
    “I’ll grab the rest of your gear and walk you out,” Ben insisted.
    While he stowed two more bags in her trunk, she stretched and groaned.
    “Not sorry I talked you into a horseback ride, I hope?” Ben opened her car door for her, taking a moment to appreciate the scent of herbal shampoo mixed with horse smells and fresh air.
    “It was great. And I’ll never be able to thank you enough for coming up with the trail-ride suggestion.” Her brown eyes still sparkled with enthusiasm. “You should come to our next Spirit Outreach meeting and gives us your thoughts about publicity.”
    He backed off a step. “I might have come on a little strong about that. I mean, I’m glad to do what I can while I’m in town, but...”
    “But you don’t know when a new job will come through.” Marley nodded. “I get it, really.”
    Just then, Ben’s cell phone rang. He doubted it was a job offer on a Sunday evening but figured he’d better check anyway. It was his father, calling from Houston. “Don’t leave yet,” he told Marley. “This’ll just take a sec.”
    He strode across the circle drive to the grassy area beyond. “Hey, Dad.”
    “Hey, son. How’s it going? You having a good visit with Steve and Jane?”
    “Yeah, great.” He glanced back at Marley and shot her a quick smile.
    “Nothing new on the job front?”
    “Nada.” Ben grimaced. “But any day now, I’m sure.”
    “Paula and I keep you in our prayers.” A pause, which Ben chose not to fill. Prayer wasn’t his thing, at least not since Mom died. “Guess it’s too early to know whether you’ll be back in Houston for Thanksgiving?”
    “That’s two months away. Anything could happen.”
    “Right. Well...” Dad’s attempt to keep the conversation going wore thin.
    “I should go. We’ve got company.”
    “Think about Thanksgiving, though.”
    Ben promised he would and ended the call. He stifled a sigh and walked back to Marley. “Sorry, it was my dad.”
    She looked down briefly through lowered lids. “Fathers. Yep, can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.”
    “You say that like you know something about dysfunctional families.”
    “Every family has problems of one kind or another.” She rested her chin on the open door, a warm smile lighting her face. “But this Candelaria outreach has a way of giving you a whole new outlook. It isn’t about crying over what you don’t have, but being thankful and making the most of what you’ve got.”
    Ben ran a palm over the back of his head. “Guess that’s one skill I haven’t mastered.”
    “Don’t beat yourself up,” Marley said with a chuckle. “I’m still working on it, too.”
    “And obviously doing a lot better job of it than I am.” Ben knew he was stalling, but he hated to see the afternoon come to an end. “You sure made Aunt Jane and Uncle Steve’s day today. Thanks for doing this.”
    “The pleasure was all mine. They’re great people.” Marley straightened. “I should get going.”
    Ben noticed she didn’t seem in any more of a hurry than he was. “You have plans for this evening?”
    “I should start going through all these photos, and then...” Her voice trailing off, she gave an apologetic shrug. “Actually, just putting my feet up in front of the TV.”
    “Sounds exciting.” He moved closer, resting his hand solidly on the roof of the car to keep from twining his fingers in her ponytail. “Aunt Jane always cooks for an army. She wouldn’t mind if you stayed for supper.”
    Marley studied him for several long moments. Her mouth firmed. “Tempting as your offer may be, I don’t relish being used as a distraction.”
    “Distraction?” Ben blinked.
    “Distraction, dalliance, diversion—pick