Page 55 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

"I do. Going back showed me just how much." He seemed a little sad at that point, and she wasn't quite sure why.

"The church definitely misses you. You pretty much had a rock star's welcome on Sunday, and Sunday evening was even worse. I don't think you had three seconds to yourself the entire time you were there, except for while the interim pastor was speaking."

"I agree. I think you're right. And, I have to say there was a part of me that enjoyed that, after the way I was treated a few months ago."

"It was probably very gratifying," she agreed.

"It was." He paused for a moment, and then he brought their linked hands up to his mouth and kissed her knuckle.

"What did you think?"

"It's beautiful. It's different from North Dakota. I felt a little claustrophobic at times, but I'm sure I'll get used to it."

"You’ll get used to it?" he asked, his brows furrowed.

"Yes. If we live there, I'll get used to it. The mountains and everything. I mean, you know how flat North Dakota is and you can see for miles. And what is the saying we always say? If your dog runs away in the morning you'll still be watching him come evening? Or something like that.

He laughed. "I haven't heard that one yet," he said.

"Anyway. I'm sure it will be nice."

"So that's what you want to do?" He paused, and then he added almost as though he were confused. "Do you think that's what God wants us to do?"

"I kind of feel like God's probably gonna speak to you, not me. But, you just look so happy there, so at home. Like you'd come back to where you belong."

"I felt at home. I felt like I had come back to my safe place." Then he paused. "But I don't think God wants us to stay in our safe places. In fact, I think that if we stay in our safe places, we can never grow and become what God really wants us to become."

"I don't disagree with that." She thought about her family. And how that was her safe place.

"Wait. That's not entirely true. Your safe place is your family," he said, and she gave him a smile that told him that she had been thinking that very thing. He laughed. "I’m right."

"You are."

"But yet, you grew up there. And you’re one of the people who are most like Jesus that I know."

"Even though my family is my safe place, it doesn't mean that we get along perfectly all the time. In fact, I'd say a lot of the time we didn't get along at all. And, in fact, I think that sometimes those irritations, and how we handled them are the things that make us grow. And, you can choose to grow, or you can choose to be selfish, and fight for yourself."

"That's wise. That's one of the things that struck me about you from the very beginning. You're a wise woman. And, I think that's because you’ve spent so much time in God's word. The Bible makes a person wise."

"I lost count of how many times I've read it the whole way through. It gets sweeter every time. But I suppose that you can't help but read the Bible and become wise."

"I agree." He absently kissed her knuckle again, and then put their hands down so that he could cradle her hand in his other hand. "Anyway, for me, Virginia is my safe space, but I don't belong there. Not anymore. God sent me away, and I don't believe He's calling me back. Not now. Who knows what's going to happen in the future." He lifted his shoulder.

At once her heart was elated, but she was also sad.

"I'm sorry. Your parents will be devastated, and I know you love it there. It makes me sad to think that you're not going back."

"My dad and I actually had several long discussions. Aunt Karen is his sister, and now that he is retired from his job, he said he wouldn’t mind coming out and maybe moving in with her. After all, the house is completely clean, and there's plenty of well aired and well scrubbed bedrooms for him to choose from."

Ada laughed. Maybe the work that she’d done in the last few months was going to be rewarded by Cash getting to have his parents live with him. Although, he hadn't said what they were going to do.

"I think Aunt Karen would be thrilled if her brother and his wife came out to live with her. I think she's been lonely since her husband died, and having you, and then me showing up has just breathed new life into her."

He nodded. "Absolutely. I've noticed a huge difference in her since you've come. I guess I haven't thanked you for what you've done. I know you've worked really hard. That's part of the reason I insisted on a vacation/honeymoon. Just because I knew you needed it. And I wanted you to have it."

"Thank you. I don't think I can take credit for it though. Your aunt is quite a woman, and I've enjoyed talking to her and learning from her."

He smiled at her, a kind loving smile. She still hadn't gotten over what he'd said about her in front of the entire church. She had been concerned about Abby, and had been fighting to keep those feelings of inadequacy at bay, and her husband had gone and said the kindest most wonderful things to her that he possibly could have, and it made her feel like she truly was his wife. The one that he adored above all others. Of course, she knew he wasn't passionately in love with her, but it didn't matter. Not when he made it clear to everyone and anyone that he admired her and wanted her and was proud of her and viewed her as the most precious, cherished gift from God.

---