Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) by Johanna Jenkins Page B
Authors: Johanna Jenkins
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white clouds spreading out across a gorgeous blue sky. Seeing as there was time on the drive out, Kale told Mercy more about how he had started in the cattle business.
“Growing up, we like most people, didn’t have much. I made friends with a boy, Jack, who didn’t live too far from my parents. We grew up and went into business together. A year ago, my friend got married and decided that he and his wife wanted to move to Missouri. Apparently she had some connections there and Jack had always wanted to travel and experience life in the big city. They’re settled well in St. Louis now.”
“So he just gave you the ranch?”
“We lived there together. Then Darcy came to town last spring and changed Jack’s whole life. Last I heard from him they have a baby on the way. He said he’s never been happier.”
“But you miss him?” Mercy smiled, her eyes full of understanding.
“I miss him,” Kale agreed. “It was a change for sure, but in a way it made me see that I’m not getting any younger. I’d like to settle down too and raise a family.”
“I’d love to have children someday as well, provided God blesses me with a husband first, of course.”
“I’d think that’s the natural order of things.” Kale chuckled. “Have you ever ridden a horse Mercy?”
“I rode a pony once when I was about six. Since then though, I haven’t had much time to myself so my horse knowledge is sadly lacking.”
“But you’re not afraid of them?”
“No,” Mercy smiled.
“Good.”
Kale pulled up to his ranch house and watched Mercy soak it all in. Unlike Alicia, who’d wrinkled her nose at the smell of manure, Mercy seemed to blossom as she looked around. Her pretty green eyes roamed over his home and the stables. He watched her with rapt attention as she scanned the vast fenced acres of land and went all soft over a pair of newborn calves. “They were just born yesterday,” he told her, helping her down so she could step closer.
“Oh look at you beauties,” Mercy cooed. She loved the two darling cows that barely looked old enough to survive. Their white muzzles sniffed her hand when she stuck it through the metal gate that kept them inside their pen with their mother. Standing again, Mercy took another look at Kale’s ranch. The house was one-story that spread out to include a lovely wrap-around porch. On the corner sat a porch swing that all but begged to be sat in. The wood had been painted a pretty canary yellow and the shutters at the windows were a robin’s egg blue that went well with the exterior. The stables sported a new coat of red paint with the trim done in white. She could hardly wait to see where the horses were kept. Much more property than she’d expected, Mercy had no doubt that Kale Preston was blessed to be a blessing. When she turned back to the calves and asked to pet them, Kale helped her through the gate so she could. He laughed when she got a nudge from their mother. She turned to pet her as well, giving her a scratch between her eyes.
Kale laughed at the cow’s outgoing behavior. “She must like you. She never lets anyone pet her.”
“I like her too, and these beautiful little ones. Do you have any more heifers that are due to drop a calf?”
Kale tried to hide his surprise at her knowledge of cows. He smiled and shook his head. “Not this late in the season. She was our last one and the twins were a surprise blessing.”
***
Mercy liked that Kale talked so openly of his faith and the times when it had been shaken. He wasn’t just a good looking man. He was a good man, a godly man. Mercy could easily see herself living the life of a rancher’s wife. The day-to-day tasks brought a sense of reality to her and she hoped to prove to Kale that she was best suited for him and his accustomed way of life. “Have you always known you wanted to be a cattle rancher?” she asked during their supper.
“Not always,” Kale smiled. “I’m pretty sure when I was five I wanted
“Growing up, we like most people, didn’t have much. I made friends with a boy, Jack, who didn’t live too far from my parents. We grew up and went into business together. A year ago, my friend got married and decided that he and his wife wanted to move to Missouri. Apparently she had some connections there and Jack had always wanted to travel and experience life in the big city. They’re settled well in St. Louis now.”
“So he just gave you the ranch?”
“We lived there together. Then Darcy came to town last spring and changed Jack’s whole life. Last I heard from him they have a baby on the way. He said he’s never been happier.”
“But you miss him?” Mercy smiled, her eyes full of understanding.
“I miss him,” Kale agreed. “It was a change for sure, but in a way it made me see that I’m not getting any younger. I’d like to settle down too and raise a family.”
“I’d love to have children someday as well, provided God blesses me with a husband first, of course.”
“I’d think that’s the natural order of things.” Kale chuckled. “Have you ever ridden a horse Mercy?”
“I rode a pony once when I was about six. Since then though, I haven’t had much time to myself so my horse knowledge is sadly lacking.”
“But you’re not afraid of them?”
“No,” Mercy smiled.
“Good.”
Kale pulled up to his ranch house and watched Mercy soak it all in. Unlike Alicia, who’d wrinkled her nose at the smell of manure, Mercy seemed to blossom as she looked around. Her pretty green eyes roamed over his home and the stables. He watched her with rapt attention as she scanned the vast fenced acres of land and went all soft over a pair of newborn calves. “They were just born yesterday,” he told her, helping her down so she could step closer.
“Oh look at you beauties,” Mercy cooed. She loved the two darling cows that barely looked old enough to survive. Their white muzzles sniffed her hand when she stuck it through the metal gate that kept them inside their pen with their mother. Standing again, Mercy took another look at Kale’s ranch. The house was one-story that spread out to include a lovely wrap-around porch. On the corner sat a porch swing that all but begged to be sat in. The wood had been painted a pretty canary yellow and the shutters at the windows were a robin’s egg blue that went well with the exterior. The stables sported a new coat of red paint with the trim done in white. She could hardly wait to see where the horses were kept. Much more property than she’d expected, Mercy had no doubt that Kale Preston was blessed to be a blessing. When she turned back to the calves and asked to pet them, Kale helped her through the gate so she could. He laughed when she got a nudge from their mother. She turned to pet her as well, giving her a scratch between her eyes.
Kale laughed at the cow’s outgoing behavior. “She must like you. She never lets anyone pet her.”
“I like her too, and these beautiful little ones. Do you have any more heifers that are due to drop a calf?”
Kale tried to hide his surprise at her knowledge of cows. He smiled and shook his head. “Not this late in the season. She was our last one and the twins were a surprise blessing.”
***
Mercy liked that Kale talked so openly of his faith and the times when it had been shaken. He wasn’t just a good looking man. He was a good man, a godly man. Mercy could easily see herself living the life of a rancher’s wife. The day-to-day tasks brought a sense of reality to her and she hoped to prove to Kale that she was best suited for him and his accustomed way of life. “Have you always known you wanted to be a cattle rancher?” she asked during their supper.
“Not always,” Kale smiled. “I’m pretty sure when I was five I wanted
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