Page 56 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

Yeah. She got warm just thinking about it and snuggled further down in her airplane seat. She could relive that memory for the rest of her life and be completely happy with it.

"So, aren't you going to ask me what I think we should do?" he asked, squinting over at her, and lifting a brow as though he was challenging her.

"I'm not sure I want to know. I had such a great vacation, and I'm looking forward to going home, and...I don't want to be sad."

"All right. Then I'll tell you without you asking me."

"Okay," she said, unsure of what he was trying to say. But, knowing that he wasn't going to deliberately burst her bubble. It must be good news. Maybe he thought that moving to Virginia was what she wanted.

"I didn't mention it to you, but before we left, the Sunday before we left actually, I talked to your brother at church."

"I saw you guys talking. I wondered what it was about, but I'd forgotten about it until just now."

"Well, let me tell you. It surprised me, but we knew Pastor Stone was thinking about taking the church in Virginia. Ezra asked me if I’d be interested in taking the pastorate in Sweet Water if Pastor Stone left, and he also wanted to know if I would be interested in being a preacher for the Clybourn family."

"Oh my goodness! We've been talking about that for years. Literally. About how we need a pastor to come over in the afternoon, because sometimes Sunday mornings are just so hectic, and it's almost every week that at least some of us can't make it to church."

"Yeah. That's pretty much what Ezra said. And, I've been thinking about that."

"You have?" she asked, wondering exactly what he thought. But, trying to keep the hope that sprang up in her heart at bay. She didn't want to be bitterly disappointed, so she tried to temper her excitement.

"And, remember what we were saying about safe places?"

"Yeah. Yours is Virginia, mine is my family."

"Yeah. But I figured that being a pastor's wife would not be a safe place for you."

"Definitely not. I feel very intimidated by the idea, but I knew going into the marriage that it could be something that happened. Since it was something you did in your past. Even though you were a used car salesman, and didn't indicate that you ever would be anything different."

"Right. So, Ezra also said that we were always welcome to live on the ranch, and we could figure out the how and why and where at any point."

"That's his policy with all of the siblings."

"Well, we have a little bit of money in the bank," he grinned at her.

She grinned back. That was the understatement of the year. "We do."

"And, we could build a house if we wanted to. So, I thought I would take the pastorate at Sweet Water. That's getting me in my safe space, because I'm comfortable being a pastor. And I'm pretty confident that Sweet Water will be a good fit for me, and you, too. But it’s a safe space for me, not a safe space for you. But, we’ll live on your family ranch, which is a safe space for you, not a safe space for me. And, I'll be the pastor for your family, which I'm pretty sure is going to end up being a safe space for both of us."

She laughed at the way he had explained it. Like they both needed their safe spaces. While they were both being challenged as well. She didn't care if she was challenged, as long as she was with Cash, but if she could end up being with her family, that would be best.

"That sounds perfect to me. I could not have made a better decision if I tried.”

"You know, I think the Lord really worked that out. And, like I said, it's going to challenge me a bit, but I'm really happy about it. Especially when my dad took me aside and said that he was thinking about moving out West, even though he thought that I was probably going to be moving to Virginia. That wasn't what changed my mind, but because I had already been thinking in that direction, but it definitely made it seem like the right thing. I'll be able to take care of them in their old age.”

“We can take care of them,” she corrected him.

"We. I love that you consider my parents your parents."

"I love that our children might have grandparents." She blushed. They hadn’t really talked about that.

"That reminds me," he said, and she braced herself. She didn't mean to bring that conversation out.

"Yeah?" She tried to keep her voice steady.

"There's a dance on Saturday night in Sweet Water. It's a barn dance. Maybe you've been to some of them, although I haven't."

"I have. They’re a lot of fun. When we can get the work done in time, we go, although we usually leave early because we have to get up early on Sunday morning to get everything done in order to go to church."

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