Page 52 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

He held her gaze as long as he dared. “Tell me.”

“Because I’ve spent my entire life trying to please them. I never rebelled. I was always home by curfew. I hung out with friends they approved of and dropped ones they didn’t. I took the job they wanted. They even approved of the apartment, though when I was dating Eli, they cautioned about not letting him come visit.” She snorted a laugh. “As though he was interested in my body.”

Tate cringed inwardly.

“I never did a single thing they wouldn’t have approved of. Except…” She bit her lip and shook her head. “Even then, I didn’t.”

He frowned, trying to catch her drift. Failed.

“And this is my reward? That they still don’t believe me? I might as well have done all the things other teens did. They probably thought I was doing them anyway, so what was the point of being a good girl?”

There was a lot wrong with that question, but Tate was smart enough to proceed with caution. Hopefully smart enough, because any reply would be riddled with landmines. “If you were only obedient for their sake, I can see that.”

Stephanie stared at him. “What do you mean? The Bible says children are supposed to obey their parents in everything.”

“When we’re little, like Jamie, that’s enough. But when we’re older and have our own relationship with God, we obey for His sake. A higher calling, if you will.”

“Right. I know that. It’s just… I don’t know how to explain it. I feel like the rug has been yanked out from beneath my feet.”

Lord, help. “To follow that metaphor further…” He glanced at her.

Stephanie raised her eyebrows at him.

“Now that the rug is gone, you’re standing on the concrete foundation of your faith. There’s no pretty cushion in the way, covering up the reality of the solidness that is Jesus.”

She shook her head, but there was a small smile playing at the edges of her mouth. “Do you have an answer for everything? Do you always have to make so much sense?”

Tate chuckled, relief flowing. “You know that old hymn, ‘My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness’…?”

“’On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.’”

“Exactly like that.” His mind flashed back to his days of playing the disciple Peter in the Gilead passion play. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Tate knew he wasn’t the great Apostle Peter. No illusions there. But he was going to be Tate the rock on which God would build a family the gates of hell could not destroy.

“Tate?”

“Hmm?” He turned the SUV onto the ranch road and glanced at Stephanie.

“Thank you. You always seem to know just what to say.”

“I love you.” Every time he said those words, he meant them a little more. Which meant he needed to say them often. He reached across the console. This time her fingers twined with his. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Chapter Seventeen

“You’re beautiful.” Mom smiled at Stephanie in the mirror. “Are you sure you don’t want to wear my veil? Last chance to say yes!”

“I’m certain. Thanks.”

Harper appeared behind Mom and fingered the beautiful comb she’d given Stephanie. She and Carey had embellished it with a bit of tulle and a sprig of forget-me-nots. “I love the comb, Mrs. Simpson. Don’t you? It gives just the right touch of contemporary to your vintage gown.”

Mom seemed taken aback at the thought of her dress being vintage, but whatever. She also wasn’t a huge fan of Harper, whom she still thought of as having stolen Eli from her daughter. Mind you, Stephanie had felt the same way at first. Okay, and for a long while after.

Now, though? She was about to descend the log staircase on her father’s arm, not many steps behind her bridesmaids. Dad was apparently lingering outside the door to the suite where Stephanie and the other women prepared, along with Sage Grant, who was acting as director.

Sage cracked open the door and looked back, her eyes wide. “The men just came into the great room. They’re standing in front of the fireplace. Can you hear Caleb on the piano?”

Stephanie took a deep breath as she caught the music downstairs. This was it.

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