Page 14 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

He had told his aunt he would take care of the dealership. He knew she was hoping he would buy it from her, but he hadn’t committed to that. He had committed to bringing it back from the brink of bankruptcy and getting it profitable again so that his aunt could sell it if she wanted to.

The two months that he’d been there had been the first two months that it had been in the black the entire year. He was well on his way to doing what he said. In another few months, his aunt could sell it.

Of course, if he got married and got the billion dollars, his aunt wouldn’t have to worry about money ever again.

“I appreciate you sticking to your word. But sometimes we can’t see the bends in the road that God would have us go down. Don’t let anything that’s happening at the dealership keep you from doing what you know the Lord wants you to do.” His aunt looked him in the eye, and he knew that she was serious. She truly did want him to follow the Lord.

“Thank you. I appreciate that freedom. But God always wants us to keep our word and do what we say we’re going to do, and honor our responsibilities, as well as take care of the people in our family.” He meant that with all his heart, and he knew that it was always the right thing to do to take care of the people that God had put in his path. It wouldn’t be right to just walk away from his aunt because it was no longer convenient for him to work at the dealership, especially since she had given him the job even though he’d never sold a car in his life and given him a place to stay, a place to run to. Although he hated to admit that he had run.

He got his own book from the coffee table and walked over to the other recliner. They had an evening ritual of reading for an hour or so before they showered and went to bed. It was later than usual, but his aunt was in her chair, and he would spend some time with her. He had to admit, he was looking forward to the next day.

Chapter 6

Ezra paused with aspoon in the air as a knock sounded at the door. He looked around the dinner table. His wife, their four children, along with his unmarried siblings—Lois, Rufus, and Ada—sat at the table.

“Is anyone expecting a visitor?” he asked, assuming that they would all say no.

As he figured, everyone shook their heads.

“We have plenty of food. Whoever it is, invite them to come in and sit down and eat,” his wife said. Alaska’s face was serene and content as she spooned mashed potatoes into their one-year-old’s mouth.

“All right. I’ll do that.” He gave her a smile and hoped that it showed all the love he had in his heart for her. She’d changed a lot since they got married, but he had too. She’d helped shave some of his rough edges off, and he supposed he’d done the same for her, although he credited her conversion to the Lord and her desire to live for Him more than he credited himself.

As for him, he knew that God had given him Alaska because he needed a softening influence in his life. He needed the sweetness and the beauty, the feeling of being cherished and loved and supported. He hadn’t realized how much responsibility he had lying on his shoulders, nor how heavy it was, until Alaska had come along beside him with her arm around him, helping him to shoulder the burdens and being there for him whenever he needed it.

Marriage had been the best thing God had ever given to him.

He pushed back from the table and strode toward the door, hoping that whoever it was would agree to come in and sit down and eat. He didn’t like missing mealtime with his family.

He opened the door to see someone who looked vaguely familiar to him and thought maybe he was newer in town.

“Hi, I’m Cash Johnson, I moved in with my Aunt Karen, and I’m running the car dealership she owns.”

“Good to meet you, Cash. I recognize you from church.”

Was that his imagination, or was there a little bit of relief in Cash’s eyes?

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