Pastor's Prize (Culpepper Cowboys Book 15) Read online

  He laughed. “Yes, I will. I’ll break into song.”

  “What song?”

  “Hallelujah.”

  She smiled, pulling the pillow from the back of the seat in front of her, where she’d tucked it as soon as she’d gotten onto the plane. “I’m not a good flyer, so I’m going to sleep the whole way. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not. I brought my iPad, and I’m going to play with my puzzle app.”

  “Puzzle app?”

  He held up the iPad. “I got a jigsaw puzzle app. I love puzzles, but they take up too much room, and they’re a pain to tuck away. With the app, I can do a whole puzzle quickly, and even if I don’t, it’ll be there waiting for me later.”

  “Okay, you play puzzle, and I’ll sleep.” She put the pillow against his shoulder, and rested her head on it.

  He smiled at her, wondering if she realized just how comfortable she’d become with him in a very short time. If only she’d take his proposals seriously…

  Jesse and Valerie were both waiting in baggage claim when they got to DFW airport. Rikki flew at her sister, hugging her tight. “I’ve missed you!” They’d grown a great deal closer since Valerie’s marriage.

  Valerie kissed Rikki’s cheek before turning her attention to Ben. “It’s good to see you again, Pastor Benjamin.”

  “Please just call me Ben. I don’t want to be Pastor Benjamin to you. I want to be the man who’s in love with your sister.”

  Rikki stared at him. “In love?”

  “Why else would I keep trying to convince you to marry me?” Ben asked, shaking his head at her. He held his hand out to Jesse. “Good to see you again.”

  “You too. Are you guys hungry? We can stop somewhere on the way to Wiggieville if you want.”

  “That sounds good,” Rikki said. “I think Ben ate on the plane, but I slept the whole time. His shoulder makes a good pillow.”

  “Jesse’s does too. I always sleep on flights.”

  Rikki studied Valerie for a moment. “You’re getting huge.”

  Valerie laughed, resting her hand on the top of her belly. “I feel very, very round. But I love being pregnant. I think we’ll have a dozen kids.”

  When Jesse didn’t respond, Valerie poked him. “Did you hear me? I said, ‘I think we’ll have a dozen kids.’”

  Jesse looked at Ben, ignoring his wife. “So how did you two meet?”

  Ben raised an eyebrow. He could tell Jesse was trying not to comment on the dozen kids thing. “The same way I met you guys. In church. She was hiding in the back row, so I sat next to her.”

  “I’ve never seen her this happy. I didn’t meet her until after the incident.”

  “The incident?” Rikki asked. “My kidnapping is now ‘the incident?’ Did you tell him to call it that?” She wished everyone would just quit pussyfooting around the whole thing and call a spade a spade. Calling it a diamond did no good.

  Valerie shook her head. “He came up with it all on his own. See? He’s not just another pretty face!”

  Rikki laughed. “And here I thought that head was totally empty!”

  The luggage started coming out then, and the men paid close attention to the carousel. While they were watching, Rikki talked to Valerie. “Where are we going to stay?” She knew Valerie would have put anyone else up in the hotel in Wiggieville, but since that’s where she’d been when Valerie had taken her place with Curtis, she wouldn’t be there.

  “You’re going to stay with me, and Ben is going to stay with Bob and May. We thought he’d be more comfortable if you were staying in separate places. It wouldn’t be good if it got back to the congregation that the two of you were staying together when you came here.”

  “Good point.” Rikki sighed. “So, tell me what you think of him!”

  “He’s tall. Handsome. Seems to care about you a great deal. Are you going to marry him?”

  Rikki shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I’m a little worried that I’m falling for him too fast, if that makes any sense. I’m comfortable with him, and he makes me calm in a crowd. Did you notice I haven’t had a panic attack since we got here?”

  Valerie grinned. “I didn’t until you pointed it out. Good job!”

  “I know. Something about having him close is very calming. Sometimes.”

  “Only sometimes?” Valerie asked with a frown.

  “Well, sometimes he gets me all hot and bothered,” Rikki whispered, blushing. She was embarrassed to talk about it, but if you couldn’t talk about things like that with your pregnant sister, who could you talk about them with?

  “Marry him.”

  “What? Just like that? You don’t want to get to know him better?”

  “I think you’re like me. Only one man in my whole life has ever made me feel anything sexual, and I married him. He’s obviously the man God made just for you.”

  Rikki frowned. “You think?”

  “I do think so. Marry him. He’ll make you happy.”

  Ben walked over with their luggage, looking back and forth between the two sisters. “What are you two talking about?”

  “Sister stuff,” Valerie responded before Rikki could start sputtering. “Let’s stop and eat on the way back. I have a craving.”

  Rikki groaned. “Don’t tell me. Tacos.”

  “Well, it is Sunday.”

  Jesse rolled his eyes. “She said the same thing yesterday, except Saturday. She’s killing me.”

  “Well, at least Tex-Mex has other food. You could have a burrito. Or enchiladas. Or fajitas! Oh man, I need some Tex-Mex. Fajitas for this girl.”

  Valerie linked her arm with Rikki’s and led her toward the exit to the building. “Tacos. I’m having tacos.”

  Ben looked over at Jesse. “Now I understand why Rikki was thrilled to have burgers and not tacos on our first date.”

  “Tacos used to be my favorite food,” Jesse lamented. “Now I’m so sick of them I don’t even want to hear the word.”

  “But the baby needs them!” Valerie protested.

  “Tacos it is.” Jesse looked at Ben and shook his head. “I hope you like them, because we’ll have them every day while you’re here.”

  “I love tacos. I’ll be Valerie’s taco buddy.”

  “Good. Someone has to be.”

  “May’s a good taco buddy!” Valerie called over her shoulder.

  “She works too much though. You only get tacos with her once or twice a week.”

  “Good point. Okay, you’re my newly designated taco buddy,” Valerie said to Ben. “I hope you plan to take your duties seriously.”

  “Of course. I’m a serious kind of man after all.”

  Rikki smiled to herself. Ben was getting along great with Valerie and Jesse. Maybe her sister was right, and she should marry him. Maybe.

  7

  The foursome stopped for dinner on the way to Wiggieville, and they all went to the set together. As soon as they arrived, Jesse called Bob and May to come over, so they could get to know Ben a little before he went home with them for the night.

  When May walked in, Rikki hurried toward her and hugged her tight. “It’s good to see you!”

  May smiled. “There’s so much of me to see right now.” She patted her belly affectionately.

  “I hope you two are taking belly to belly pictures every month for a scrapbook.”

  May laughed, looking at Valerie. “We haven’t really discussed the possibility, but I guess we could.”

  “Well, you need to do more than just eat tacos together.”

  “I second that!” Bob said, waving at Rikki. He knew not to get too close. All the men she knew did.

  Rikki swallowed hard and walked over to Bob, hugging him. “It’s good to see you, Bob.”

  Bob looked at her with surprise. “You look happy. I’m glad.” He patted her back awkwardly.

  Ben walked over and slid his arm around Rikki’s waist, holding his hand out to Bob. “I’m Ben. I’m the associate pastor of the church in Culpeppe
r.”

  “We met the last time May and I were in town. We’re not there every three weeks yet like Valerie and Jesse, but we’ll get there. We’re doing some renovations on the house we bought right now. Hopefully we’ll be able to start living there part time after Bobette is born.” Bob shrugged. “I think it’s going to be a good place for us to live. A small town with a real community like we portray in Lazy Love.”

  “It’s a good place to live. Very community focused, and the women are gorgeous.” Ben was looking at Rikki as he said the last of it.

  Bob laughed. “I can’t argue with that.” He looked over at Jesse. “Why don’t we show him the set? We can chat while we walk.”

  Jesse nodded. “We’ll leave the girls alone for a few minutes. Have you ever been on a television set?”

  Ben shook his head, intrigued. He was very interested to hear what the men wanted to talk to him about. “Would you mind?” he asked Rikki.

  She shook her head. “Absolutely not. We came here for you to get to know everyone better.”

  “All right. I’ll be back soon.”

  As soon as they were gone, Rikki turned to May. “Well? What do you think of him?”

  May shrugged. “He’s no Bob… What really matters is what you think of him.”

  Rikki took a deep breath, admitting aloud what she’d realized days before. “I think I’m in love with him.”

  Valerie clapped her hands, turning from where she was digging in the fridge. “I knew it!”

  “Valerie, you sit and talk to May. You’re too pregnant to be bending like that. What are you looking for?”

  “There’s some taco meat in a Tupperware bowl from last night. Would you heat up the meat, and make some nachos? I’m starving!”

  Rikki blinked at her sister a few times. “Are you kidding? We just ate!”

  “Baby Amber’s hungry.”

  May giggled. “So is Bobbette. I think it’s been at least an hour since she’s been fed.”

  Rikki just shrugged, finding the taco meat. “Do you want me to spread the meat over chips, add cheese, and bake it all in the oven?”

  “Sounds good!” Valerie said encouragingly. “Now, tell us more about Ben. Is he a native of Culpepper?”

  Rikki talked while she worked. “No, he hasn’t been there as long as I have. He’s very kind. He’s taken over the church’s Christmas pageant, and he’s finding spots for all the kids, even the ones who have less than a thimble-full of talent. He’s even creating a part for this little girl who can dance. Oh, you know Patience, Valerie. It’s for her step-daughter, Corinne!”

  “Oh, I think I’ve met Corinne. Isn’t she the one who runs around in a tutu and butterfly wings all the time?”

  May grinned. “I’ve got to meet this kid!”

  Rikki laughed. “You really do. She’s awesome! Anyway, she came up to me at church today and told me when I’m ready for her services she’ll be spinning down the aisle.”

  “Her services?” Valerie asked.

  “She’s some sort of professional flower girl. Probably only in her own mind, but she told me she’s done four weddings, and she’d be happy to do ours. As long as we let her spin.” Rikki shook her head. “What do you even say to that?”

  “You’re not engaged, are you?” May asked, before looking at Valerie. “You never tell me anything! I thought she was bringing the man she was dating here, and he’s her fiancé?”

  Rikki giggled, and Valerie looked over at her. “You have no idea how good it is to hear you laughing again. I was so worried about you.”

  Rikki slid the cookie sheet full of nachos into the oven before sitting at the table with her sister and May. “I feel like I’ve just woken up from a deep sleep. I’ve been walking around in a fog for months, not letting myself feel anything, because I was worried I’d feel too much pain. It’s like I was Sleeping Beauty and it took Ben’s kiss to wake me. How corny is that?”

  May shrugged. “I’m a romance writer. I love corny!”

  “We’re not engaged. He’s hinted that he wants to marry me, but we’ve only been dating a week.”

  “A whole week? Bob and I married six days after we met. What’s the hold up?”

  “Maybe I’m not as crazy as you?” Rikki made a face.

  Valerie laughed. “That’s my sister, coming back! I see the girl who yelled at me for being famous and ruining her life rearing her beautiful head.”

  Rikki sighed. “I’m sorry I did that. I was such a brat.”

  “You weren’t. You just got tired of living in my shadow, and honestly, who could blame you? I love what I do, but I never really thought about how it would be for my almost identical kid sister.”

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, Valerie. I was just a kid who thought her life was falling apart, because her sister was famous. It was really stupid.” Rikki shook her head. “And it’s my own fault I was kidnapped. I thought if I went with Curtis, I could get him to help me break you and Jesse up, and then Jesse would be free for me. You two were made to be together, and I was a stupid kid throwing a tantrum.”

  Valerie covered Rikki’s hand with hers. “Oh no. You haven’t been living with that guilt, have you? I promise you Curtis would have gotten you into that van either way. He was determined to do whatever he could to get me back, and he knew that I’d never let anything happen to you.”

  Rikki swiped at a tear. “I think I do know that, which makes it so much worse. I shouldn’t have thought about breaking you up. I—I don’t know that I’d have been able to do the same thing in your place. You’re the strong sister. The good sister. What on earth am I doing dating a pastor?”

  Valerie grinned. “You’re dating a pastor because you’re a good person. You’ll make a great pastor’s wife. Think about it for a minute…could someone who had never been through hardship be able to truly empathize with a person in pain? I think you’ll be great in that role if that’s what you choose.”

  “Do you really?”

  May looked between the sisters, leaning forward. “I probably shouldn’t have been here for this whole thing, but I have to agree with Valerie. Rikki, you’re an amazing young woman. You’re strong and beautiful. You should do whatever is right for you, and let go of the guilt you feel for your own kidnapping. After all, you’re the only one who was hurt.”

  “I put my sister in the role of having to risk her life for me. How can I forgive myself for that?”

  Valerie leaned forward and kissed her sister’s cheek. “You can do it, because I don’t think you did anything wrong. I understand. So, you have to forgive yourself, because truly, there’s nothing to forgive.”

  The timer on the stove buzzed, and Rikki jumped up to get the nachos, thinking about what Valerie had said. If she told the truth then…well, maybe she was good enough to marry Ben after all. If he mentioned it again, she’d think about it. How could she not? He was a good man, and she loved him. She really did!

  When the men came back into the trailer, they saw what the women were eating, and Bob groaned. “May, if Bobbette is born with cheese for hair, I’m blaming no one but you!”

  “She needs tacos! How many times do I have to tell you that?” May glared at her husband, making Rikki giggle.

  Ben walked around to stand behind Rikki, one hand going to her shoulder possessively. The walk with the men had been very enlightening. He’d had no idea how protective her new brother-in-law and his best friend felt about her. They’d given him the ‘be careful’ speech, but then they’d also gone on to give advice about how to get her to marry him. He’d try it. He’d try anything at this point. In Culpepper time, they should have been married days ago! “You’re not having nachos?”

  Rikki shook her head adamantly. “I’m not even hungry. Valerie swore up and down little Amber would starve to death if she didn’t feed him, so I made nachos for her and May.”

  Bob groaned. “You’re not really calling that boy Amber!”

  Jesse shook his head. “No, we’re not. Valer
ie calls him that just to annoy me, I think.”

  “Why would I do something just to annoy you?” Valerie asked with an innocent look on her face.

  “Because that’s what you do. Why I thought I needed to marry you is beyond me…”

  “Because you can’t imagine life without me.” Valerie’s voice was soft, but powerful. No one in the room had any doubt that she spoke the truth.

  Rikki looked over her shoulder at Ben, and that’s when she realized that Jesse’s truth was also hers. She couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life without the man standing behind her. The next time he mentioned marriage to her, she was going to jump at the chance. How could she not when she loved him as much as she did? He was her oasis in the desert. Her port in a storm. Her—she almost groaned aloud at her constant maudlin thoughts. He was hers. What else mattered?

  Bob walked over behind May, resting his hands on both of her shoulders. “When you two are done feeding the babies, we should get home. I know a certain writer who needs to get her word count in tonight, even if we do have guests.”

  May shrugged. “I actually got most of it in today. I only have another thousand words to go, and that’s twenty minutes work.”

  “Good. You and Bobbette need rest.”

  Ben frowned at Bob. “Are you really naming that poor child Bobbette?”

  Bob shrugged. “I think it has a nice ring to it. You don’t like it?”

  “No, I really don’t.”

  May smiled. “We’ll call her Bobbi. I think the world should be entirely peopled with Bobs.”

  “Sounds good to me! And I’ll be King Bob!”

  “Court Jester Bob. Quit trying to elevate yourself to king status.” May ate her last nacho and pushed away from the table. She looked over at Ben. “Are you ready?”

  Ben looked down at Rikki. He was ready all except for kissing his girl goodnight, but that would be strange in front of all these people. Rikki seemed to know what he was thinking, because she stood and raised her lips for his kiss. He pressed a light kiss to her mouth before walking toward the door. “I’m ready.”