Seeds of Summer (25 page)

A
FTER FINDING THE MONEY IN THE BOOTS,
W
ILLARD AND THE KIDS WENT
downstairs, determined to follow the next clue and search through the kitchen cupboards. Natalie stayed behind and returned her father's boots to her closet. The floor creaked from outside her room, and she realized Jared waited for her in the hallway.

She met him at the door, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I should probably be going home.”

“You don't want to stay and help?” Natalie noted the dark shad'ows under his eyes and could only imagine what she must look like after their all-night adventure.

“This is a family moment.”

She took his elbow and pulled him to sit with her at the top of the staircase. “A few months ago, I would have agreed that you didn't belong here, but we've come a long way, you and I.”

“You've come a long way.” He clutched her hand and rubbed his thumb over hers. “You're reading the Bible and praying. Those are big steps for you.”

“Dillon helped me see that I don't have all the answers—that it's okay to ask for help, and that I'm not alone—God's with me. He's been with me all along.”

“That's what I've been telling you.”

She shrugged. “I guess it was something I had to figure out on my own.”

“You don't know how happy that makes me.” His smile seemed genuine yet guarded. “For the record, though, are we still arguing or did we come to another truce?”

Her mouth titled into a slow grin. After everything they'd gone through tonight, Natalie had nearly forgotten about their argument—the jealous fit she'd thrown at seeing Jared with another woman. “That's right, you said you needed space.”

He pulled her close. “I don't need space, Natalie. Time maybe, but I know exactly where my heart lies. I was confused for a little bit, but tonight I realized two things. How much I love being a pastor, and how much you mean to me. I can only pray you feel the same.”

She placed her hands on his chest, felt the rapid beat of his heart under his shirt. “What exactly is required of a pastor's wife, anyway?”

Jared scratched the dark bristles on his chin. “Well, let's see. She'd be expected to go to all the ladies functions and attend every Bible study. Sew and mend all the children's Christmas costumes and make cakes and pies for every bake sale. Oh, and in her spare time, direct the choir and play the organ.” He stopped to catch his breath then chuckled.

“I hope you're teasing.” She thumped his chest with her fist.

“You want the honest truth?”

Natalie gazed into his eyes and recalled the talk she'd had with Chelsey about falling in love with a man. She'd told her sister that a man and woman should be friends and enjoy being together, and some ridiculous gibberish about clammy hands and racing hearts. But maybe it was the incomprehensible knowledge that by being with him, he would complete her and make her into a better person, which was exactly what Natalie's heart and soul told her about Jared. That she needed him in her life. “Always the truth.”

“The truth is I don't have all the answers.” Jared traced her bottom lip with his finger, his touch a feather-light caress. “But I know this—I love you, and I want what's best for you, even if that means walking away.” No matter what happens though, if we make Jesus our foundation, everything else has a way of fitting together.”

Natalie leaned in to his whisper, her eyes drawn to his mouth. “I don't want you to walk away.” Her lips parted in anticipation of a kiss. Then a cough sounded from the bottom of the stairs.

“Sorry for interrupting, Nat, but you have a phone call.” Chelsey snickered with delight.

N
ATALIE TOOK THE CALL IN HER DAD'S OFFICE, HER CHEEKS STILL WARM
from Jared's attention. The woman greeted her, and Natalie gasped upon learning who it was on the other end of the phone.

“I'm calling about your duties as first runner up to Miss Rodeo America,” the MRA Executive Director began. “As you may have heard, we've been worried about Lisa for awhile now. This spring, she began suffering terrible headaches and then at a marketing event in May she had her first seizure. Upon a full medical exam they diagnosed her with a brain tumor.”

Natalie's throat tightened at realizing the rumors she'd heard were true. “I'm so sorry. Is she going to be okay?”

“They've begun intensive treatments on her, and the doctors are quite optimistic.” Rosemary said. “Unfortunately because of her situation, she needs to step down from her queen position. Of course our thoughts and prayers are with Lisa, but because of these extraordinary circumstances, we are calling on you to finish her reign as the First Lady of Professional Rodeo.”

Natalie sank into her dad's leather chair, trying to keep up with the director's words. Though saddened by Lisa's illness, Natalie's heart raced with disbelief. Could it be true?

They want me to be Miss Rodeo America?

“Are you there?” Rosemary asked with concern.

“I'm sorry.” Natalie regained her composure. “I'd be honored to stand in for Lisa. It's an incredible opportunity, heartbreaking as it may be. What would I be required to do?”

“Ah, wonderful. We knew we could count on you,” the woman said, and Natalie pictured Rosemary's warm smile, having met her in Las Vegas last December. “As you know, we're well into the rodeo season so Lisa's calendar is booked solid. We'll need you to fly out to Colorado next week to fill her position at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductions.”

“Next week?” Natalie's hopes crashed at her feet. What about Dillon and Chelsey? Who would take care of the ranch? Her excitement evaporated as Natalie realized she could never accept the responsibility, her own responsibility too great. She then proceeded to explain her situation to the director.

“Would you like some time to think about it and talk to your family?” Rosemary responded with compassion. “We can give you until Tuesday morning—but if you decide to go through with this, you'll need to be ready to hop on a plane so we can transfer the crown and sash and take some publicity photos before the induction.”

Natalie expressed her gratitude and promised to get back to her. What in the world was she going to do now?

J
ARED FOLLOWED
C
HELSEY THROUGH THE LIVING ROOM, WONDERING WHAT
the girl must think of him—a pastor—her unofficial guidance counselor—about to secretly kiss her sister on the stairs. He found his predicament incredibly embarrassing.

“I want you to know, Chelsey, that your sister and I, we've come to realize—”

“You don't have to worry, Pastor J. I think it's cool you have the hots for my sister.”

Jared swiped his forehead. “You think it's cool?” his voice cracked.

Chelsey glanced back at him with a triumphant grin. “Yeah, we've all been wondering when you'd take the plunge. It's taken you long enough.”

“You've been waiting?” His jaw tightened in skepticism.

“Yeah, all of us and Willard too.” She giggled with pure pleasure. “Are you hungry? I'm making spice pancakes while Dillon and Willard search for the money. I still can't believe Dad hid all that cash for us. We're going to be rich.”

“Chelsey, you're already rich, with wealth of another kind.” Jared had watched this family go through the horrible pain of losing a loved one and nearly crumbling as a unit, to embracing each other
with a bond as close as any he'd ever seen. God had sent him here to help this family, and in the process Jared had gained the love of a woman so dear to him, his heart quivered just thinking of her.

He joined his male companions as they searched through the cabinets, the aroma of apples and cinnamon causing his stomach to rumble with hunger. When Natalie entered the room, he noticed her troubled expression.

“You'll never guess who was on the phone.” She plopped down at the table and rested her head in her hands.

Chelsey turned from the stove with a metal spatula. “More trouble with Dad's estate?” Dillon went to Natalie's side, the ever-protective brother.

“They've offered me the Miss Rodeo America title.” She raised her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“That's awesome,” Chelsey said.

Jared watched from the other side of the room, his mind a mixture of emotions. Joy and elation flowed through him for the woman he loved, yet he wondered what this would mean for Natalie's future—for their future.

“It's all I've ever dreamed of.” Natalie sniffed, but shook her head as though the news wasn't great and astonishing.

Willard joined her at the table. “Then why is it that you don't sound happy?”

Natalie's sniffles turned to gushing tears. “I can't accept their offer. I have to turn it down.”

Dillon placed his arm around her shoulders. “Why? You have to accept, Natalie.”

“Yeah, Nat. You've wanted this forever. You can't turn it down,” Chelsey added.

“I don't have any other choice.” She offered her brother and sister a tender smile, and then her gaze traveled to Jared. “I can't leave you guys. You mean more to me than the crown, and there's Dad's
estate, and the ranch to deal with—the cattle drive at the end of summer. I can't just take off for weeks at a time to promote rodeo.”

“When do you have to give them an answer?” Willard asked.

She shook her head. “It doesn't matter. I know my answer.”

Jared went to her then and sank down on one knee. He captured her hand, his thoughts only on her, wanting to please her. “You're tired, Nat. Take some time to think about this. You don't want to look back some day and regret your decision. Maybe there's a way to make all of this work out.” He meant to encourage her, wanting to show his devotion—that he would be there for her—that they could get through this with God's help.

L
ATE THAT NIGHT AFTER SOME MUCH NEEDED SLEEP,
J
ARED SAT AT HIS
office desk, pouring over his sermon for the next day. He took a drink of his coffee, and a knock sounded on his door. “May I come in?”

Jared looked up at the soft female voice.

“I saw the church light on and hoped it'd be okay to stop by,” Libby said. “I wondered if I might have a word with you.”

From the dark rings under her eyes, it appeared the woman had slept little. “You want to talk about Chelsey?”

“I made a horrible mess of things, didn't I?” She sank onto a chair, all pretenses gone. “What kind of mother am I to endanger my child like that? I can't even tell when my daughter is in trouble.”

Jared pulled his chair beside Libby's and allowed her to continue without disruption.

“Even Natalie knew the boy was bad news. Chelsey told me she wasn't supposed to go out with him this summer, but I thought it was ridiculous, and I told her so. I allowed that boy to take advantage of my daughter—I'm such a fool.”

Her head collapsed into her hands, and Jared patted the woman's back in an effort to console her. “You've had some hard lessons this
week. It's not easy to step into the role of mother overnight. Nor is it necessary.”

Libby gazed up at him then. “I just wanted what was best for my kids. When I left all those years ago, I knew Adrian would take care of them. Better than me.”

“What made you come back?”

“It's like I told you. I know you didn't believe me, especially Willard, but it's true. When I heard about Adrian's death, an awful longing came over me. It seems selfish now, but I wanted the kids to know me, and I wanted to know them. I had no idea it would be so difficult.”

Jared clasped his hands, wishing to have everything out in the open. “Natalie believes you came back for the hidden money—that you knew about it all along.”

Her bottom lip wobbled. “I didn't realize there was money until Dillon spilled the news that day in the kitchen. I guess once I knew about that, things started to blur some. But I didn't take any money from them. At least not any I didn't give back. I swear.”

Jared gazed out the window at the hazy full moon. “What do you want from life, Libby? If you could have one thing, what would it be?”

She squinted at him, the crinkles at the edge of her eyes even more pronounced than normal. “You probably think I'll say another shot at barrel racing or my youth—all good things.” She snickered and then her expression turned sober. “But if I could have just one thing in life, I'd ask for my children's respect. To have their love.”

Jared smiled at the earnestness in her voice. “What if I said you could have that now?”

“I know you're in the business of miracles, Pastor J., but I don't think even you could make that happen.” Libby cleared her throat and shifted in the chair, clearly uncomfortable with such talk. “I've made too big of a mess. Even if I could gain their love and trust,
there's no way Natalie will ever forgive me. Too much water has passed under that bridge.”

“Libby, with God all things are possible.” He patted her hand, wanting to console her. “But you need to understand that love and trust won't come overnight. It has to be earned over time. Can you give the kids time, without pushing or pressuring them?”

“What do you mean, exactly?”

“In simple terms?” He gazed into her brown eyes, and she nodded.

“For me, the simpler the better.”

“Okay, for starters, you could give up the alcohol.” He began counting off the directives on his fingers. “You could find a job and get to know the kids. Show them you're not going anywhere, and that you're there for them. And then…be there for them, without fussing or challenging Natalie's guardianship, because whether you like it or not, Natalie is their mother. That's who she's been ever since you walked out of their lives, and that's who she is today. It doesn't matter that she's their sister by law. In their hearts, she's their mother—their protector and their stability. Can you live with that?”

A flicker of pain crossed the woman's face. “Will she ever forgive me for the load I put on her?”

Jared clutched her shoulder. “Why don't you talk to her and find out?”