Marrying Mr. Wright, page 6
part #3 of Mysterious Ways Series
“I’ve always liked music, but I can’t play an instrument or sing to save my life, so I took dance lessons.” She shrugged, her gaze going over his shoulder.
“What kind?”
“You name it; I’ve taken it.” She looked him in the eye. “Ballet, tap, and ballroom when I was younger. Carrie likes country music, so I took line dancing and two-step lessons with her. Heather likes some of the more modern, weird stuff, so I can even do a bit of flamenco and salsa.” A faint grin touched her full mouth. “Don’t tell Carrie and Heather, but I can also belly dance in a pinch.”
That summoned all sorts of interesting, and totally inappropriate, images to mind. Heat burned his neck. He resisted the urge to tug at his collar and pushed the thoughts away. “Why wouldn’t you want them to know?”
“Carrie doesn’t like that kind of thing. She considers it exploitative. As for Heather, well, she can’t keep a secret if her life depends on it.”
“Good to know.” Note to self. Heather, potential, if temporary, spoke in the local rumor mill. Be careful what you say around her.
Chapter 5
“Yo, Mr. Wright.”
Ben stiffened, and felt Amber do the same, at the familiar, amused voice. He glanced to his left.
Trevor and Ashley danced closer.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Walker?” Lord, not here. Not now. Please.
Amber cast him an odd frown.
Trevor pinned him with a look he couldn’t quite read in the flickering light of lanterns and campfires. “You and I need to talk after I get back next weekend.”
“No problem.” Thank you, Lord. He nearly laughed with relief. “You know where to find me.”
“Just answer one question.”
Oh, no…. “What’s that?”
“What challenge did you toss out there?”
“Who says I did?” He’d done no such thing. Had he?
Trevor chuckled, tucked his new wife closer, and pointed at Amber. “She did.”
“I did not.” Amber went rigid. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
His friend laughed. “Let me amend that. Her presence told me. So, what challenge did you toss at God that day?”
“I didn’t.”
“You had to’ve.” Trevor’s eyes narrowed.
“Prove it.” Ben turned and shifted Amber away, putting distance between them and the other couple.
“What’s he talking about?”
“It’s a long story.” He looked into his date’s eyes, grateful they’d moved close enough to the perimeter fires that he could clearly see her expression, which reflected both confusion and suspicion.
“If it involves me, I think I have a right to know.”
Just grand. Trevor had to open his big mouth. He glanced back to glare at his friend, but Trevor and Ashley had disappeared.
Will waved from the perimeter a few feet away. “Hey, boss, don’t you have a client coming in the morning?”
“Yeah. The Millers want to check on Cascade.” He glanced at Amber, who appeared relieved. He bit back a smile. She probably wants out of here as much as I do. “Will, can you round up the other gals? We’ll meet you at the horses. I need to check in with Miss Eleanor.”
“Sure thing.” Will merged into the crowd.
Ben scanned for Trevor’s mother then led Amber to where Miss Eleanor talked with the bride’s brother, Sean, and best friend, Kylie. The couple broke away and joined other dancers.
“Well, Ben, you look mighty handsome tonight.” Miss Eleanor smiled wide then focused on his date. “You must be Amber. I met your friends earlier. Mystery claims another carload of lost tourists.” She chuckled.
“Yeah.” Tension visibly eased from Amber, and she smiled.
The first genuine one Ben had seen since they’d arrived for the wedding.
“I’m Eleanor Walker. Did I hear right that the two of you met today and are already engaged?”
The grapevine is alive and well. Ben sighed. “Yes, ma’am.” He braced for heavens only knew what kind of response.
“Isn’t it amazing how the Lord can bring two people together and completely change their lives in moments?” Her gaze held no condemnation or criticism, only pleasure and happiness.
“It sure is.” He relaxed. At least I have one ally. “We’re getting ready to head out, but I wanted to see if you need help with anything before we go. I can stick around for a bit if you need me.”
“You get Amber and the others back to the ranch. I’m sure they’re exhausted after the day they’ve had.” She sent his date a sweet smile. “I have plenty of hands to help with the work that’ll need doing.”
“Fine, then. I’ll see you Sunday, if not before.” He grasped Amber’s hand and headed for the horses. Lord, please don’t let any of these people waylay us. I don’t want to talk to them. It’s late, we’re tired, and I may say something ugly if a comment strikes me wrong.
Amber kept pace with him without so much as a murmur.
They soon found the other women and Will where they’d left the horses.
“Why don’t all of you ride ahead? Amber and I’ll catch up at the truck.” Ben lifted Amber onto his horse then swung into the saddle. He leaned forward to grab the reins, putting him well into Amber’s space for a few moments. Her floral scent wrapped around him once again, and his mouth went dry.
“You sure you won’t get lost, out here all by your little lonesome?” Will’s facetious tone penetrated the dark.
“We’ll be just fine,” Ben said dryly.
Carrie’s, Heather’s, and Macy’s giggles mingled with Will’s chuckle. The four of them headed off, the light clop-thump-clop of their horses’ hooves on hard ground growing more distant.
After the sounds had nearly disappeared altogether, Ben prodded Castor forward.
Music faded, leaving only the quiet of the night.
“Your friend who got married tonight. Trevor?” Amber’s soft voice barely made a ripple in the quiet night.
“Trevor Walker. He and his twin brother, Travis, run this ranch along with their mother, Eleanor.”
“She seems nice.”
“She’s a wonderful lady.”
“What was Trevor talking about?”
Ben groaned. I guess it was asking a bit much to hope she might forget all about it. “A conversation he and Travis and I had three years ago about a friend of ours who was getting married. None of us liked the idea of marriage at that point in time. Their dad got involved in the discussion and asked what we’d do if God intended for us to marry.” She’s not going to believe me. I just know it.
“And?” she prompted.
“Trevor said God would have to bring a woman to the ranch and drop her right into his arms to prove it to him. Travis had to one-up him, of course, and said God would have to drop a woman on his head to prove it by him.”
“What did you say?”
“Not a word.” He grimaced. “I told them I’d already been down that road, and I wasn’t going there again.” He held his breath, waiting for the question sure to come. Am I really ready to talk about Robin?
“I don’t get it.” Amber cocked her head and shot him a sideways glance. “Why does Trevor think I’m an answer to some sort of challenge?”
Not a question he’d expected—at all—but he’d take it. “Because Ashley was.”
Castor stumbled.
Amber gasped and grabbed Ben’s arm with one hand and the saddle horn with the other.
He tightened his arms around her to keep her safely seated and guided the horse back to a steady walk.
Her grip on his arm gradually relaxed.
“I—” She swallowed and took a deep breath. “I don’t understand.”
“The day they met, Ashley was chased by a cantankerous old bull the Walkers had. She climbed a fence to get away but slipped and fell from the top of it. Right into Trevor’s arms.” He chuckled. “He said he knew right then that she was God’s choice for him.”
Amber fell silent for a few, long moments. “I still don’t get it. What does that have to do with you and me?”
“Trevor thinks I must’ve challenged God that day to find me a new wife, and you’re the answer to that challenge.”
“Did you?”
“No.” At least, not that I know of. If he had, he certainly hadn’t meant to. On the other hand, what if Trevor had been right? That might explain the dreams I’ve had about Amber the past few weeks. Meeting her the way I did. Her immediate agreement to a marriage proposal I didn’t intend to give. The dress she wore to the wedding that perfectly matched the one in my dream.
“Are you sure about that?”
“No.” Ben chuckled.
“Oh.”
“What about you?”
The truck came into view.
“What about me?” she asked.
“Have you ever thrown a challenge at God with regards to a husband?” Maybe it’s her fault. He pressed his lips together to restrain a grin. Wouldn’t that be quite the humdinger?
“Not hardly.” She sighed then murmured, “That said, though, I think I set myself up for today’s events.”
Curiosity spiked, but they rode within earshot of the others. “We’ll have to come back to that at some point. I gotta know what you mean.”
The truck’s engine rumbled, Macy in the front seat, Carrie and Heather in the back.
Will climbed out of the back passenger door and met Ben and Amber. He took hold of Castor’s reins.
Ben dismounted then reached up for Amber, who placed her hands on his shoulders. He lowered her to the ground. That enchanting floral scent filled his senses again. His heart kicked against his ribs.
Will led Castor away. The heavy thud of hooves on the metal ramp and floor of the trailer filled the night.
Since Macy had turned sideways with her back against the front passenger door, Ben led Amber to the driver’s side of the truck and opened the door. Heat blasted him.
Amber glanced inside, hesitated, then sighed and allowed him to help her into the seat. She slipped into the middle of the bench seat.
He followed her and pulled the door closed. At least there won’t be any argument this time about who has to sit next to me for the return trip. A guy’s ego can only take so much.
Will climbed into the backseat, and the door slammed. “All set, boss.”
Ben reached for the stick-shift, and his elbow brushed Amber’s arm. Heat that had nothing to do with the air blowing out of the dashboard made him want to yank the top button of his shirt open. He swallowed and forced his attention to putting the vehicle in gear. Okay, Lord, there’s definitely chemistry. Is there more? A relationship can’t stand on sparks alone. Robin most certainly taught me that. Show me what’s between me and Amber beyond that.
“Don’t forget to drop me at the store.” Macy leaned around Amber to look at him. “I need to get the Jeep.”
“Uh, yeah, no problem.”
“Me and Heather, too. We’ll pick up the car and follow you to the ranch. We need to get the things we left at Macy’s store, too.”
“Will do.” Oh, man. That’ll leave me and Amber to ride back to the ranch with terminally nosy Will. Guaranteed less-than-grand way to wrap up what had proven to be the weirdest day of Ben’s life.
~ ~ ~
Amber expelled a soft sigh of relief when Macy vacated the passenger seat, but before she could slide over to put space between herself and Ben, Will slipped into the seat and slammed the door. Presenting her with a worsened predicament. Will was broader through the hips and shoulders than Macy, so he took up more seat. That pushed her closer still to the driver. Nowhere to go. She folded her hands in her lap and tried to make herself as small as possible. Was it her imagination, or had Will purposely taken more room than he needed?
Ben seemed oblivious to her plight. His attention on Macy, Carrie, and Heather, he waited for them to finish up inside Macy’s store, collect their vehicles, and headlights to come on.
Ben’s arm brushed hers as he shifted the truck into gear. He continued north from the store and veered to the right at a fork in the road where the pavement ended.
“So, Carrie mentioned that all of you are from Chicago.” Will’s conversational tone didn’t fool her a bit. She’d heard it too many times over the years from those who were about to dive into a fishing expedition. They always started with something safe and innocuous. “Is that where you’re from originally?”
“Born and raised.” What information is he actually after?
The cowboy shook his head with a hearty sigh. “It just don’t make sense.”
“What doesn’t?”
“A city girl like you wanting to live on a ranch in the middle of Wyoming.”
Amber gritted her teeth for a moment. Who does he think he is? He doesn’t know a single thing about me, other than where I’m from. Who is he to judge my choices? “I suppose you’re right. It doesn’t make sense to someone ignorant about city girls.” She shot him a sideways glance. “Considering you don’t know me from Eve, I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
Ben chuckled. The deep rumble filled the truck cab.
“Well, you’ve got one thing wrong, Miss Amber.” Will grinned.
“What’s that?”
“I know you ain’t Eve.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Very cute, cowboy.”
“Why, thank you much, ma’am,”—he leaned closer and lowered his voice to a theater whisper—“but I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t flirt with me, especially in your fiancé’s presence.”
She snorted. “Yeah, like that’ll ever happen, in his presence or otherwise. Sorry, cowboy. Not interested.”
“Ouch.” Ben laughed, stopped the truck outside what appeared to be a stable, and shut off the engine. “If you’re done getting hide flayed off, Will, why don’t you unload those horses?”
“Yes, sir.” Will shook his head and got out of the truck, grumbling words under his breath that Amber couldn’t make out. He closed the door behind him.
Ben opened his door and dropped to the ground then turned to offer a hand to Amber. “He shoulda known better.”
“What do you mean?” She accepted his hand and slid across the seat.
He helped her to the ground. “Messing with a city girl who thinks quickly on her feet.”
“Oh.” She shrugged.
Macy honked as she drove past.
Carrie and Heather pulled in front of the house and got out.
Ben led Amber across the wide driveway between the stable and house to join her friends and pulled a couple of suitcases out of the trunk after Carrie popped it open.
“Come on up to the house.” He motioned with a nod of his head and started toward the house.
Amber hesitated.
“Go on,” Carrie whispered and waved behind his back. “We’ll get the rest.”
~ ~ ~
As Amber’s blue gaze traveled the living room, Ben mentally stepped back and tried to see it through her eyes.
Paint had faded and peeled off the walls and window trim in places. Dust coated every surface. Furnishings were scarred and worn. Wood surfaces desperately needed to be stripped, sanded, and re-stained. Upholstery was unsalvageable, worn with the innards of cushions peeking through in places. He wasn’t even sure any of the furniture was worth keeping. Dirt streaked the floors from doorway to doorway, marring threadbare carpet older than him. Downright shabby.
Ben winced. Why hadn’t he noticed how bad the place looked? He wasn’t sure he even wanted to closely inspect the rest of the house, or worse, the outside come morning. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d paid attention to its condition.
“I’m sorry about the house,” he said after a long silence.
“Why?” Amber stepped farther into the room, her gaze on the mantle with peeling paint. She turned to him with a warm smile. “You warned me it needed work. This place looks to have great bones. All it needs is some TLC, and it could be very nice.”
Really? He scanned the room then shook his head. What does she mean good bones? No mistaking the sincerity in her expression though. “You’re serious.”
“Of course.”
Carrie and Heather entered through the front door carrying suitcases then stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes widening as they took in the room.
Ben waited for horror to manifest in gasps, shrieks, and all-out refusals to stay in such a dump.
Instead, they both grinned.
“Project!” A gleeful smile accompanied Carrie’s excited declaration.
“This place sure has a lot of potential.” Heather’s expression reflected the same eagerness as those of her friends.
What’s with these women? Any normal woman would’ve taken one look and run away so fast, she’d have been at the lodge in Yellowstone before a car could’ve driven her there, but those three were excited? Should I be scared?
“Ben, there’s something you should know.” Amber crossed the room to stand in front of him. She motioned to her friends with a grin. “What you see before you is a three-woman remodeling crew. We love to take rooms and buildings with good bones and bring out the character and potential. That’s how we’ve kept a roof over our heads while I’ve been in college. I can’t tell you how many places we’ve remodeled over the last four years.”
“The last one brought the count to ten,” Carrie supplied.
“Really?” Ben raised his eyebrows.
“Yep.” Amber nodded. “I do the art-related stuff such as architectural layout, paint choices, tile colors, carpet, and the like. Carrie is our contractor and carpenter. Heather is gifted with furnishings and spatial planning. All three of us make one unbelievable demolition squad.” Her grin turned mischievous.
That doesn’t sound like something to brag about, but I’ll have to trust them not to destroy the house. I can’t rescind the offer to remodel, or I’d have to back out of the engagement as well. Most definitely can’t do that. He wasn’t sure what consequences God would allow for such an act of disobedience, but he’d just as soon not find out. Besides, how much can they do in less than two weeks?
