Page 54 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

Cadence stared at her boss. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I’m not saying that would happen. We are in hypothesizing mode at the moment. If this, then possibly that.”

She blew out a breath. “Right.”

Mr. Sullivan leaned forward with his elbows on his desk. “You are a Christian. Are you asking for God’s wisdom?”

“Yes?” Cadence hated how that came out a question. “I’m so confused. Mom and Dad are pushing me hard, and I also know that God wants us to honor our parents. How could I live with myself, if I stubbornly refuse, and they lose everything?”

“That is a dilemma.”

Hope sank with barely a bubble to reveal it had ever existed. “None of the options solves anything.”

“On the contrary.”

“What do you mean?”

“Romans 8:28 says, ‘and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.’”

It was hard to see any positive outcome, but would the Bible lie? Maybe the Apostle Paul — or whomever had written the epistle to the Romans — hadn’t understood.

Uh, now she was questioning the fallibility of scripture? She either had to believe the Bible was true… or not. And if it was, so was Romans 8:28. Was she called according to God’s purpose?

Mr. Sullivan thumbed open his phone. “There’s more. Listen.” He skewered Cadence with a look before looking down to read. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

Cadence absorbed the words. She’d have to go back and reread them for herself later.

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” He paused a moment, scanning the text. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height not depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Mr. Sullivan set his phone down on his desk and looked at her. “What’s missing?”

She gave a shaky laugh. “Not much.”

“Anything at all?”

Cadence thought through the words she’d once memorized. “No. Nothing.”

“Pray. Trust God to give you the wisdom you need and the courage to see it through.”

“But what? What is that?”

“I’m not God. I can’t answer that. But I will pray with you.”

Sounded like the best she was going to get.

Chapter Fifteen

Graham hadn’t ever spent this much time sitting out on the postage-stamp-sized porch to his duplex as he had in the past few days.

He’d messed up everything, and he could only think of one way to make it all right. Yeah, his solution would annoy some people — most everyone in his parents’ generation — but it made sense.

Right?

Yes.

Had he prayed about it?

Also, yes. Sort of. He’d told God his idea and there had been no bolt of lightning warning him away. So, it must be good.

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