Picket Fence Pursuit (4 page)

The teen seemed to search Ryan’s expression. Finally, he exhaled. “Sure, I’ll take it.”

Kylie watched as the adolescent walked away, licking his ice-cream cone. She looked back at Ryan, who’d already turned away to wipe off the machines. Ryan’s heart was as genuine as the mop of reddish hair atop his head.

That’s just great. The guy falls two steps down the ladder and hops three steps up.

“But what a blessing. You never lacked a playmate.”

Kylie laughed. “That’s true. I also never enjoyed some peace and quiet or the ability to have a few personal items that no one messed with, but as a kid I
wanted
both!”

“I bet it was hard to keep your siblings out of your stuff.”

“Definitely. Anyway, even as a small girl I knew God wanted me to pursue more than the life I led.” She uncrossed her legs and rested her elbows on her knees. “Two of my sisters have already married coal miners, and life is hard for them. Well, now I’m about to graduate from college. I plan to get a good job and marry a man with a steady income. I will pursue righteousness for the love of my family. I’ll be able to help them.”

Ryan’s brows furrowed into a deep frown. “I don’t understand how you’re getting ‘be rich and marry rich’ from that verse.”

“Don’t you see—the verse says ‘He who pursues righteousness and love’—I’m getting my degree to get a good job. It’s a righteous pursuit for the love of my family.” Kylie read the rest of her verse. “ ‘Finds life, prosperity and honor.’ God will give me prosperity, because my pursuit is to help my family.”

“So, your family resents the coal mining business?”

“Well, no.”

“Then they hate the poverty that goes up and down with it?”

Kylie remembered the many times her mother had made a game out of the unusual concoctions of dinner menus, like beans and corn bread with a side order of pancakes. As kids, they’d loved to guess what their mom would conjure up. “Well, not really.”

“So, is your pursuit really from God?”

How dare he challenge her walk with the Lord! Ryan Watkins hardly knew a thing about her. He had no idea what her life had been like. He obviously had family willing and ready to let him mooch off them. She was not and would never again be a charity case. God gave her a capable mind and two capable hands with which to provide work—hard work. She could hardly wait to help her family, to buy food during the down times, and to buy clothes for her siblings and nephews. “Yes, my pursuit is definitely from God.”

❧

“Kylie, I really like him.”

“Robin, you don’t even know him.”

Ryan didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the two were only a few feet away from him. He twisted in his chair in an attempt not to listen.

“But I feel an instant connection,” Robin responded.

“You always move too fast. You don’t think things through. What do you know about him?”

“He’s a Christian. A youth minister, in fact. He has a small son.”

Kylie gasped, and Ryan couldn’t help but pay attention
now. “He has a child?”

“It’s not like that. Tyler’s wife died from leukemia when their son was three.”

“Oh, Robin, haven’t you heard of serial murderers who pick up young women at functions like these? They fill women’s heads with garbage.”

“Lots of people know Tyler.” Robin scanned the room and then poked Ryan in the back. He cringed. Tyler was a great guy, but there was no way Ryan wanted to be in on this discussion. “Ryan, do you know Tyler Pettry?”

“Uh, yeah.” Ryan took a slow drink of his pop.

“Is he a serial murderer?”

Ryan choked back his laugh. “I hope not. He leads our youth.”

Robin patted Kylie’s back. “There you have it. Probably not a serial murderer.”

Kylie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Fine. At least the utilities are paid this month, so if you don’t come home because”—Kylie unfolded her arms and pointed to her chest—“
I told you so
, then at least I won’t have to pay them by myself.”

Ryan smiled at Kylie’s dramatics.

Robin punched Ryan’s arm and then hugged Kylie. “I’ll see you tonight, girlfriend.”

Ryan watched as Robin walked out of the building with Tyler. He gazed back at Kylie, whose expression was sour as a lemon drop.

“I think I’ll head on home,” Kylie muttered. She opened her purse and searched inside. “Oh, no.”

“What is it?”

“Robin drove today, and she didn’t leave me her car keys.”

“I’ll see if I can catch them.” Ryan raced out the door as Tyler’s Camry turned onto the main road. He walked back to Kylie. “They’re gone.”

Kylie placed her cell phone back in her purse. “Robin doesn’t have her phone on.” She slouched into a chair and placed her hand on her head.

“I’ll take you home, Ki.”

“What did you call me?”

Ryan tried to replay what he’d said. “I don’t know.”

“You called me Ki. I haven’t heard that since before my granny died.”

“I’m sorry.” Ryan shoved his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“It’s all right.” Kylie picked at a chip in her fingernail polish. “It was kind of nice to hear it again.”

Ryan grabbed her hand and helped her up from the chair. Her skin, soft beneath his, felt nice and warm. “I’ll take you home.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

She’d softened somehow. Despite their disagreement about the verse, despite Robin’s leaving with a serial murderer/youth minister. Ryan found himself drawn to this side of the woman.

Kylie was smart. She was beautiful with her long, silky blond hair, sprinkling of freckles beneath blue eyes, and the cutest dimple in her chin he’d ever seen. She was loyal to family and friends, and he could sense her love for the Lord, even if her understanding of scripture seemed quite misguided.

Which is exactly why I must keep up my guard. The last thing I need is another well-meaning woman like Vanessa Bailey in my life and heart.

Yes, he’d have to stay alert when it came to Kylie Andrews. Ryan had believed Vanessa to be his one and only, and she was sweet as honey until she learned of Ryan’s true material worth. Ryan had no intention of lording his wealth over others. After spending his preteen years watching his dad slave away at a logging company, God gave Ryan the machine idea that made cutting logs less strenuous for the workers and still more efficient for the owners. God also allowed him to sell the blueprints to an Alaskan company. And it was God who blessed him with the revenue that could have been squandered in a year or two’s time had it not been for his investing-savvy grandfather who’d put chunks of money in several good stocks and bonds and taught Ryan how to manage his assets and make them grow.

Ryan wasn’t rich, but he would never want for anything, either. Because he loved giving to others, he took small jobs like at the amusement park and as a Santa at the mall in Evansville during Christmas. He didn’t want others to know. The gifts, the ministry trips—they were between him and God.

“You want to grab a bite of dinner on the way?”

He watched as Kylie tensed as she seemed to contemplate the offer. “Robin and I desperately need to go to the grocery, so I think I’ll take you up on that.”

They began to walk toward his car. “Mind if I drive by the house and pick up Gramps?”

Kylie smiled and relaxed. “That would be great.”

Ryan opened her door. As she slid into the passenger seat, Ryan caught a whiff of her hair. The floral scent was nice. He imagined running his fingers through the length of it.
Get a grip, man.
He shut the door and moved to the driver’s side.

“I don’t live too far away.” He put the keys in the ignition and started the car. “Gramps will enjoy having someone besides me to talk to.”

“You don’t get along?”

Ryan laughed. “We just see a lot of each other.”

He turned onto the secluded road that led to his house. Anxiety welled inside him as he drove nearer. What would Kylie think of his home? Why did it matter what she thought?

Within moments, the top of his white, colonial-style house came into sight. It wasn’t overly large, but Ryan had built a good-sized home, one that would, hopefully, be filled with children someday. Full-grown trees dotted his property. Flowers and bushes, strawberry vines and blackberry bushes, even a vegetable garden spotted the front and backyard. Gramps loved to work with nature.

His wraparound porch sported a swing, wicker furniture, and rocking chairs. Gramps sat in one of the chairs, reading a science-fiction novel as he rocked back and forth.

He glanced at Kylie. An expression of pleasant awe covered her face. “This place is amazing. It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Ryan relaxed in his seat. He had no choice but to admit it. What she thought meant a whole lot.

❧

Kylie hesitantly waved at Ryan’s grandfather as she stepped out of the car. The man smacked his book shut and hopped up from the rocking chair.

“Well, hello there, Kylie. It’s great to see you. Wonderful evening, don’t you think?” Gramps covered the distance between them and shook her hand.

“Yes. The weather’s very nice.” She looked from him to Ryan. “You have a beautiful home.”

Ryan’s gaze fell to the ground, then back up to hers.
“Thank you.”

His eyes seemed to penetrate her soul, sending tingles through her body. “You’re welcome.”

Ryan turned toward his grandfather. “Gramps, we were heading to town for a bite to eat. Thought you might like to go.”

“I just fixed up a big pot of vegetable soup. The corn bread’ll be done in about ten minutes. Why don’t you two just stay here and eat?”

Kylie grinned at the older man.
What a sweetie.
She’d fall flat on her face if she ever walked into her parents’ house and found her daddy or one of her three brothers fixing a meal. Of course, Ryan and Gramps did live alone. “I’d love to stay.”

Ryan lifted his eyebrows. His look of surprise made Kylie realize she hadn’t been her true self around the man. She’d remedy that today.

“Great.” Gramps grabbed her hand and led her into the house. “Ryan, take her on a tour, and I’ll get the corn bread out of the oven.”

For the first time embarrassment and uncertainty wrapped Ryan’s features. He motioned for her to follow him into one room after the other. She loved the homey feel of the house, although it definitely had a bachelor’s edge. He took her into a room upstairs. Pictures from a tropical-looking region sat on a table and hung on the walls. She leaned down and looked at a picture of a family standing in front of a small home.

“That’s a family from Belize.” Ryan picked up the frame and handed it to her.

“Belize?”

“Yes, it’s a small country in Central America. I go there with a group on missions trips.”