“You don’t have to do that,” Marissa said lifting her head.
“I know, but I want to,” Trace said. “I’m here for you Marissa,” he added twisting his head around to look at her.
“Thank you,” Marissa said her heart filling once more with a deepening affection for the cowboy.
“Trace, tell me more about why you believe what you believe,” she finally said leaning her head back against the couch and letting someone else take care of her for a change.
***
“Are you sure you want to go?” Trace said the next morning as he served breakfast. “You don’t have to. I mean I don’t expect it.”
“I want to go,” Marissa said. “You were so good to me last night and answered all of my questions. I want to go to church with you and find out more,” she said with a smile. “Besides, I’ll be seated next to the most handsome cowboy in the place,” she finished with a giggle.
By the time the message of hope and love was over, Marissa had tears streaming down her face. She suddenly understood what Trace had been saying. But even more, the cowboy had been living the love that the preacher had talked about.
It was easy to trust Trace, and now she could understand the changes in her sister and even Phil. A strange pressure seemed to be building in her chest as Marissa joined in the closing hymn and finally surrendered stepping into the aisle, walking to the front to pray with someone. Behind her, she could feel Trace’s strong presence and her heart seemed to leap.
After praying with and talking to a very nice lady in fall pattern dress Marissa turned to throw herself into Trace’s waiting arms.
“It sounded too simple,” she whispered into his ear. “I couldn’t believe that all you had to do was ask. Thank you so much for helping me see Trace,” she finished with a sniff. “I need you to know that I truly love you,” she finishes pulling back and looking into his face hopefully.
Trace could feel his voice thicken in his throat and tried to speak. “Me too,” he managed before pulling her back into his arms.
For the rest of the week, Trace gave himself over to Marissa completely, admitting that he had steadily been falling in love with her for months.
They talked for hours, often staying up late into the night as they considered a future together amidst the burgeoning understanding of faith.
Trace still slept on the sofa, but he peppered their days with sweet kisses and warm embraces. He couldn’t wait until the baby was born and he could propose for real. He already loved Marissa and loved the baby, not only because it was a precious life in God’s eyes, but also because it had brought Marissa to him.
“You ready for this dinner?” Marissa asked nervously as they packed up baked goods and prepared to head to her parent’s home.
“I’m as ready as I’m going to get,” Trace admitted.
“Good, because this is going to be a weird Thanksgiving,” she said lifting her bag and heading for the door.
***
Trace gawked as he climbed out of the car an hour later, his mind trying to wrap itself around the beautiful home he was about to enter.
“This is your parents’ home?” he whispered across the top of the car.
“Yes,” Marissa said. “They aren’t here all the time though, they like to travel.”
“I see,” Trace said, raising a brow to indicate that he didn’t see at all. “Who will be here?” he asked nodding toward a rental in the driveway, as he pulled two pies from the back of the car.
“I don’t know. Mom didn’t say. She just wanted us to be here once I told her you were coming.”
“Here we go then,” Trace said with a smile.
The sound of laughter was the first sound that met Trace’s ears and he turned to look at Marissa in surprise. A shrill giggle made them both grin dropping their goodies on the kitchen counter as they hurried into the living room where an older man was tossing Kadence in the air.
“Marissa. There you are,” an older woman in a dark dress called hurrying over to kiss Marissa on each cheek. “Where have you been,” she continued turning dark eyes on Trace. “Michelle and Kade have been here for hours.”
“I didn’t know they were coming,” Marissa said. “You didn’t tell me.”
“Oh never mind about that. Bring your cowboy in to meet everyone.”
Kade pushed himself out of an overstuffed chair and offered his hand to Trace with a wink and a smile. “You look like you’re doing alright,” the big man said.
“Better than you can know,” Trace said, “but I’m glad to have you here.”
Kade tipped his head inquisitively, but Trace shook him away as the older man introduced himself as Mr. Brighton.
“Don’t take too long lingering here,” Mrs. Brighton said as the men all shook hands again. “It’s time to eat.”
Trace followed Marissa into an elegant dining room as her mother placed a large turkey before Mr. Brighton and handed him a knife.
As the food was served, Trace glanced over at Kade who bowed his head before lifting his fork.
Following suit Trace imitated the big man, smiling when Marissa and Michelle both did the same.
“What all of you?” Mrs. Brighton said. “Honestly this family is going backward.”
“Don’t fuss, Madge,” Mr. Brighton said. “Can’t you see our girls are happy?”
Mrs. Brighton looked at each of her daughters then took her seat at the other end of the table. “Kade, you might as well get it over with,” she said closing her eyes and folding her hands.
Kade Ballard closed his eyes and lifted a prayer of thanksgiving to heaven from the depths of his heart, only stopping when Kadence started pounding his spoon on his high chair.
“Trace, Kade says you work with him at the Broken J,” Mr. Brighton said after they had all started on their meal. “You
