Love Inspired September 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Her Montana Twins\Small-Town Billionaire\Stranded with the Rancher (29 page)

“I'm by myself for the time being,” Maribeth explained. “The group is at the Sanders farm next door practicing riding the horses in the round pen. Mrs. Sanders is Georgiana's mom, and she teaches riding lessons, so she offers a day of lessons as part of the camp. Dana's niece, Abi, demonstrates techniques for the campers, and then their lunch for today is served at the Sanders ranch.” She glanced at the time on her phone. “I'll need to head back over in about an hour to take them on the afternoon trail ride before Bible study. Then some of my friends will run the evening activities so I can work at the store.”

“Wow, you have a lot going on, don't you?”

“I do, but I enjoy it,” Maribeth said. She'd never been one to appreciate idle time and liked being busy.

Ava sighed. “Oh, Maribeth, I'm glad everything has worked out so well for you there. I can tell by the way you talk about everyone that they're almost like family. It's just that I still wish you would move back here and be with all of us again.”

This was an ongoing request from Ava, their younger sister, Deidre, and their parents, but as much as she missed her family, Maribeth didn't have any desire to move back to the beach. Too many painful memories. “I know, but I don't think I will be coming back for more than visits. This is my home now, and you're right that many people here are almost like family to me.” She paused, then added, “Though no one can take your place.”

Ava chuckled. “Oh, I know that. I—hang on.” Apparently covering the phone with her hand, she said, “Libby, aren't you supposed to be resting?”

“Sarah is playing.” Libby's voice was soft, but even muffled by Ava's hand over the receiver, Maribeth could tell she was tattling.

Maribeth listened as Ava told both of the girls to climb back on their respective beds and rest. A tiny chorus of
yes, ma'am
s followed, and then Ava returned to the line. “Sorry about that. Now what were we saying?”

“That no one could take my family's place?” Maribeth answered.

Ava laughed. “That's right, and it's true. But what I planned to ask was whether you'd met anybody there that didn't seem like family? Like, maybe even more special than your fabulous family?”

Maribeth smiled. “No,” she answered, the way she always did when Ava or Deidre or their mother posed the love-interest question. And then, for some reason, she added, “Not really.”

Ava jumped all over the extra tidbit with fervor. “Not really? Wait a minute. What does that mean?”

“Nothing. I don't know why I said that,” Maribeth said, and winced at the lie.

“Yes, you do, and I'm not getting off this phone until you tell me. What's his name? And do you think he might be the one? Is he from Claremont? Will he love your family? And, biggest question here, how is his relationship with God?”

Maribeth decided to start with the easiest of the questions. “Any guy would love all of you, no doubt.”

“Yeah, that's true, but what about the rest?” Ava asked.

Maribeth loved Ava's interpretation of their family, and the yearning in her heart got a little stronger at the realization that they were fabulous and she'd turned her back on them way back when. But she wouldn't turn her back on them again, and her sister had asked her questions and wanted answers. Maribeth would give them to her.

“I have only talked to him. We haven't been out on a date or anything like that, and I don't even think he's interested. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I ticked him off enough that he may never want to see me again. So to say whether he is the one would be extremely premature.”

Ava giggled into the phone. “What did you do to tick him off?”

“I'm pretty sure it was when I told him he wasn't trying to make a difference in the world and that he should. Or maybe it was when I tried to manipulate him into going to church on Sunday. Or it could have been...”

Ava's giggle turned to full-blown laughter. “Oh, Maribeth, you have a funny way of showing someone that you like them.”

“I didn't say I liked him.”

“Yeah, I think you did,” she said, finally gaining control of herself. “And—wait a minute—you said you tried to manipulate him into going to church? So, he isn't on great terms with the big guy?”

Maribeth admired her sister's relationship with her heavenly father and the fact that she saw Him not only as her father but also as her friend. Her comfortable term for Him didn't bother Maribeth; on the contrary, it reminded her of the relationship that He offered. He was what each of His children needed, a father and a friend.

“Ryan hasn't had an opportunity to learn a lot about God,” she said, and then she realized that probably wasn't true. “Or he hasn't taken an opportunity to learn,” she said. “I know Dana has tried to talk to him and get him to think about his faith, but I think he may have some issues there.” She thought about their conversation on the porch Friday night. “May even blame God for the fact that he lost his mother when he was young and then that his family situation wasn't exactly the norm.”

Silence echoed through the line.

Maribeth waited a beat and then asked, “Ava? You still there?”

“I am. I'm just in shock at what I
think
you're telling me.”

“That he isn't close to God? There are a lot of people who aren't, and that doesn't mean they can't grow spiritually. I mean, just look at where I was right after I left home. But I came back to my faith.” If anyone knew how being apart from God could make you even closer when you returned to Him, it was Maribeth.

“That's not what shocks me. What shocks me is the name you tossed out as though it's no big deal. You said Ryan. And then you said that Dana has been trying to talk to him about his faith. The only Dana you ever talk about is Dana Cutter, formerly Dana Brooks. And if she's talking to this Ryan about his faith, I'm assuming that you're referring to her brother, Ryan Brooks. Is
that
who you're talking about, Maribeth?”

Maribeth peeked out of the tack room to make sure no one had entered the barn and was privy to this conversation. The place was blessedly empty. “Yes. Ryan Brooks,” she said.

“Maribeth. Oh, my. I—I don't know what to say. This is so similar to—” She paused. “I mean, he's rich. He's drop-dead gorgeous. He can have his pick of probably any single woman in the world. He isn't all that keen on his spirituality.”

“Yet,” Maribeth interjected, because, in spite of the fact that they probably weren't even on speaking terms now, she still felt that God had put Ryan in her life so she could help him with his faith. But Ava was undoubtedly thinking the same thing that had crossed Maribeth's mind about a relationship with a guy like Ryan Brooks. He was eerily similar to the one man she'd trusted before, and merely being seen with him could put her back in the limelight again. And could therefore cause the media to dig into her past.

Being with Ryan Brooks could make her front-page news. Again. That had nearly destroyed her before and should be enough reason to cause her to steer away from Ryan completely.

So why couldn't she stop thinking about him, even now, when Ava was reminding her of the last time she gave her heart to a rich boy?

“Okay, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt there, because people can change when it comes to their faith,” Ava said. “But even that notwithstanding, all of those things make him...exactly what you had before.”

She should've known her sister's thoughts had followed the same path as her own. Ava knew how terribly Maribeth had been hurt before. “I know.” Those facts had been plaguing Maribeth all week, ever since she'd realized that she simply wasn't content on the days she didn't get to see Ryan.

“Oh, Maribeth. I hear it in your voice. You're falling in love with him, aren't you?” Ava asked, never one to hold back.

Even the possibility that she might be falling in love with Ryan was like a kick in the stomach. She should know better. But maybe she didn't even need to worry about it. Chances were, he'd already decided not to talk to her again. “Like I said, I ticked him off, so we're not even speaking, best I can tell. Kind of hard to love someone who isn't talking to you.”

“No, it isn't, but I'll give you a pass and wait until you're ready to admit it. I
can
hear it in your voice already, though. It reminds me so much of that day when you came home from the beach after seeing—”

“Don't say it,” Maribeth pleaded. Those memories haunted her on a daily basis, and she didn't need Ava making them any more vivid.

“Okay. Just remember that you can call me about anything. And I can be there in five hours. Mom can watch the girls, or Michael can take off work and stay home with them. What I'm trying to say is I'm here for you, and I can be there for you if you need me. I don't want to see you hurt again. And I
refuse
to let anyone break your spirit again.” The last sentence was spoken with so much conviction that tears pushed free from Maribeth's eyes and trickled down her cheeks. Ava was so protective of her, and she appreciated that protection deeply. “I love you, sis,” Ava said.

“I love you, too,” Maribeth said. “I'll keep you posted on whatever happens here.”

“Call me if you need me, and remember that I'm praying for you. We all pray for you.”

“I pway for Em-beth.”

“Sarah, you're supposed to be resting,” Ava said.

“I pway for Em-beth,” the little girl repeated, loud enough for Maribeth to hear and for fresh tears to leak free.

“Tell her I said thank you for the prayers,” Maribeth said.

“I'll tell her. Call me back tomorrow and let me know what's happening there.”

Typically they talked once a week, but Maribeth knew that if she didn't call Ava tomorrow then her sister would be calling her. Ava was ready to watch over her as she waded back into the waters of potential love, and she appreciated her thoughtfulness. “I'll call,” she promised.

They disconnected and Maribeth sat on a stack of saddle blankets, wiped her eyes and silently prayed.
God, You know Ava is right. If I let my heart keep falling for Ryan, because I do think it's falling, then I'm following the same pattern as before. I promised myself and You that I'd never let that happen again. And I prayed for You to get Ryan back to Chicago. Obviously, You said no to that request. Why, Lord? Is it because this time it's different? He's different? Or is it because I'm supposed to resist the temptation to make the same mistakes again?

Tears fell, and she let them. Her emotions were in a frenzy, and she needed help.
Show me the answer here, Lord. Help me to make a wise decision in how I handle this infatuation with Ryan. And if there is the potential for love, real love, then let me know that, too, God. I love You and I praise You. In Your son's holy name, amen.

Maribeth opened her eyes and immediately heard someone in the barn. She was certain anyone who saw her now would be able to tell she'd been crying, and she didn't want to try to explain her tears, so she sat quietly and said another silent prayer that the person would be on their way soon. She only had half an hour before she was supposed to meet the kids at the Sanders farm.

A soft humming accompanied the person on the other side of the wall and Maribeth thought she remembered Jasmine humming the same tune earlier today. She had been at the Sanders farm with the others when Maribeth came back to get the molasses treats. Jasmine was doing a great job helping with the kids, even if she did spend a lot of her time looking for and talking about Ryan. So far, to her dismay, he'd yet to make an appearance this week.

And to Maribeth's dismay, too.

A deep clearing of a throat alerted Jasmine—and Maribeth—that a man had now entered the barn. Even with the occasional gap in the wooden planks forming the tack room walls, Maribeth couldn't see who the guy was, but from Jasmine's reaction, she suspected that she knew.

“Oh, wow, um, hi,” Jasmine said, her voice practically dripping with flirtation.

“Hello.” Ryan's voice, as deep and rich as always, sent a shiver down Maribeth's spine.

“I'm Jasmine. I'm helping with the church camp this week.”

“Nice to meet you, Jasmine.”

“Um, well, did you need something in the barn? Can I help you with anything?”

“I was looking for someone,” he said, “but I can come see her later. I've got work to do anyway.”

“Wait!” Jasmine sounded panicked that he'd finally shown up and was leaving.

“Yes?”

“Maybe I can help you. Who are you looking for?”

“Maribeth Walton,” he said, and Maribeth's skin tingled merely from hearing him say her name. Ava was right. She was falling. Hard.

“Maribeth?” Jasmine questioned. “Are you two, you know, dating or something?”

“No.”

The single word stabbed Maribeth in the heart.