Page 35 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

—-and almost ended up having a heart attack when she heard her best friend's news.

"I've just gotten married to the man God chose for me, and I need you to tell me I did the right thing!"

Stella's tote bag crashed to the floor, and the other girls in the locker room looked at her oddly as her butt hit the bench.

"You didwhat?"

Stella's head started to spin as she listened to how Tassy's whirlwind romance had unfolded in a matter of hours.

"I know this won't make much sense to others, butyouat least understand, don't you? I just felt so lost and broken, and I swear, Stel. I prayed like I've never prayed before. And when I opened my eyes, I sawhim."

Stella didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Itwastrue that she had always advised Tassy to pray before making any decision, but she highly doubted God's answer was for Tassy tomarrythe first man she saw.

"Stel? Are you still there?"

"Sorry, I was, um..."

Wondering if I could've done a better job at explaining how God's answer to prayers wasn't always 'yes' or 'no'? That sometimes, God also wanted people to understand the art of waiting when He answered them with 'not yet'?

"Please don't say this is a mistake."

"No, of course not!" Because it was one thing for Stella to think that (which she did), but it was another thing entirely for her to say the words out loud.

"Iknewyou'd get it!"

Stella wasn't quite sure shedidget it, but she also believed what Tassy didn't know wouldn't hurt her, and that was what mattered.

"Just because two people didn't know each other for a long time before getting married, it doesn't mean they won't last. If you look at it the other way around, you have couples who have known each other for years—-"

Like Xylan and Tassy,Stella couldn't help thinking.

"And have so many things in common—-"

Also like Xylan and Tassy.

"And thenbam!"

Stella jumped in her seat.

"They break up just like that, and one of them likely didn't even see it coming."

Was Tassy still talking to her or had her friend started talking to herself?

"And that's why how long you've known each other isn't really a factor," Tassy closed determinedly. "Sometimes, you justknowthat person is the one for you because God chose that person for you."

"Um—-"

"And you know what? I bet this has happened in the Bible, too. I'm sure not all married couples in the Bible had long engagements before marrying."

"Uh..."

You read the Bible every day, Stel. Surely you can think of at least one couple mentioned in the Bible who's had a whirlwind marriage?"

Tassy had raised a really good point with that one, and Stella did her best to recall if there was any couple in the Bible—-

Oh!

Right!

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