Page 51 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

“Oh, God bless her,” she said softly.

Well, yeah, Amen. “But that’s not answering the question.”

“About not dating non-Christians?”

He nodded.

She sipped her apple juice, eyed him carefully. “I think God wants us to be careful who we give our hearts to. He wants His people to be blessed and enjoy satisfying, life-giving relationships, and if two people want different things, then there will always be tension.”

“But not if they love each other.”

“Love?” Ainsley’s eyebrow ascended. “I thought we were only talking about going out for dinner.”

“I did too, but it looks like it’s about a lot more than just food,” he grumbled.

“Is it Cassie?” she asked softly.

He glanced away, jerked his chin.

“Oh, she’s gold.”

“Gold who won’t go out with me,” he complained.

“And she said it’s because you’re not a Christian?”

He nodded.

“Well, good for her. She’s trying to do what God says. Do you really want her to go against her conscience and convictions?”

“Of course not. But I’m not a bad guy. I don’t understand what the problem is.”

“I think you should probably talk to her.”

“Yeah, like she’d admit the truth,” he scoffed.

“Okay, well, here’s my two cents. I think for a lot of Christian women it’s because they see dating as more than just a meal out but having a relationship with someone who has the potential to be part of their future.”

“You mean marriage?”

She nodded. “I know a lot of people may think that’s old-fashioned, but there’s something to be said for waiting until you can see if someone else’s values align with yours before embarking on a relationship. Jumping in too quickly can lead to a lot of frustration and a lot of broken hearts.” She smiled without cheer. “Ask me how I know.”

He didn’t need to ask. He’d seen the gossip magazines and speculation on TV about Ainsley’s love life. And while he knew not to pay gossip rags much mind, she had been involved in a few high-profile relationships over the years that had not ended well.

“And to be honest,” Ainsley continued softly, “I think God wants to protect us from more brokenness. So when it comes to something as important as who we give our hearts to, who we might potentially share a future with, then it makes sense to give it to someone who shares our values and interests and the things most important in our lives. And if you’re a Christian, then God and doing things His way is supposed to be the most important part of your life. So it doesn’t make sense to give your heart to someone who doesn’t think that way. That person would always be wanting your attention when sometimes God needs it more.” She smiled wryly. “I don’t think I’m explaining this very well, and like I said, I’m still figuring a lot of this out myself. But I can now see the value in waiting for a Christian man who loves God and wants to do things God’s way more than his own.”

Harrison stared at the remnants of the tomato-based sauce congealing on his plate. Well, that ruled him out.

“Can I ask a personal question?” Ainsley asked.

“Sure.”

“If your grandmother took you to church, did you ever make a commitment?”

“A commitment?”

She nodded. “Did you ever ask Jesus into your heart?”

His lips rolled in as he thought back. “I don’t know. Maybe? But I used to believe in Santa Claus too, so I don’t think that would matter.”

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