Page 35 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

He just stared at her. Wasn’t that an example of living her Christianity? And there he was, a pastor, and had been for more than a decade, and he had just been put in his place by a middle-age country girl in her bare feet.

“I really like that outlook.” Where had he heard that he needed to marry someone who made him better? Ada was the perfect choice. Although, he supposed he could also be intimidated by the fact that on some level, she was more spiritual than he was.

“All right. I guess then the only thing left for us to do is to talk about when.”

“I was up early this morning. I talked to all of my siblings, and told him I might not be here tonight. I guess I figured if we were going to get married, and we already know we were going to have a time constraint, we might as well do it today. But, if you have a reason why we should wait, I’m not pushing you. I’m just saying... I’m ready.”

Wow. When she committed, she totally committed.

“You’re sure this is what God wants for you?”

“Yep. I was up a little bit last night praying about it, and then, I thought about how God opens doors in our lives, and sometimes we just need the faith to walk through. Even though it looks scary and unknown on the other side. I guess the money isn’t really a consideration for me. I’m happy and content here, and I don’t need money. But, I want to do what God wants me to do. And I thought about how often in the Bible, God just made a way, and people followed. So, when I thought about it that way, and I thought about saying yes, I just felt a peace descend over me. Something I can’t explain. And, to confirm it, after I talked to all of my siblings this morning, I sat down and opened my Bible, and there was the story of Abraham, with God telling him to go, so Abraham packs up and leaves and Sarah goes with him. And they have no idea where they’re going. They’re just going.” She lifted her shoulder, and looked so happy and at peace, Cash could not doubt her in any way.

In some ways, he was a little jealous of the peace he saw on her face. She looked so happy and so content and so sure of what God wanted her to do, that it almost made him doubt himself.

“All right then. Let’s plan on getting married today. Do you...need to pack?”

She laughed, and he found himself smiling along. “I actually did that this morning before I came downstairs. I really don’t have much. Some clothes. Two suitcases full. I suppose I bought pots and pans and a few other things for the house over the years, but if it’s okay with you, I’m not going to take them. I wouldn’t be able to tell what was mine and what was someone else’s anyway.”

“That’s fine with me. I’m living with Aunt Karen right now, and she’s got all the pots and pans and things she needs. If God moves us somewhere else, we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”

With one billion dollars, we shouldn’t have to worry about a few kitchen gadgets.

“All right then. I guess I’ll go in and carry your stuff out.”

“All right. I told Alaska goodbye, but I wouldn’t mind giving her one last hug. She’s in the kitchen working on lunch.”

“All right.”

“My suitcases are by the door. I do have a few coats and winter things that I can come back and get at some point. But they were in the attic, and I didn’t bother to run up and grab them.”

“That’s fine. We don’t need them for a little while anyway.”

“All right.”

She walked up the steps with him, and he opened the door for her. Sure enough, there were two non-matching suitcases sitting right by the door. It looked like she truly was ready and willing to do whatever she needed to do. Again, he was humbled and amazed at her total and immediate obedience when she was sure what God wanted.

Even he was having some doubts. Maybe cold feet. Wondering if he was making the right choice, even though Ada was one of the best women he’d ever met. And he knew that he was truly blessed to have her say yes to him. Money or no money.

He could hear murmurings in the kitchen, and when Ada came out, her face was still shining, but her eyes were too, like maybe they had filled with tears. But, they did not spill over, and she picked up a handbag from the bottom of the steps.

“All right. I’m ready.”

And just like that, she stepped out the door with him, got in his car, and trusted him enough to drive away with her. From her family. Forever.

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