He nudged her shoulder. “I never said I didn’t believe in God. Or His ability to help us.”
“That’s good to know.” Sitting up, she looked around. “It’s soon going to be dark.” A shudder rattled her teeth. “I don’t want to be traveling this road when we can’t see.”
“Let’s hope there’s a full moon.”
The sky was dark and cloudy. No sign of the moon. “We might need more than hope.”
“Maybe.”
His tone was agreeable, as if he understood she meant prayer and wasn’t opposed to it. Of course, he could hardly deny he believed in prayer when he’d called out for God’s help. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to encourage her. Knowing he would pray for their safety eased the tension from her body.
For a mile or two, they traveled in silence. She strained, looking for the trail, afraid Jace would miss a turn or misjudge the distance to the edge.
“Relax. I’ve got this.”
She didn’t have to look at him to know he smiled.
“Besides, aren’t you the one who said we need to trust God in everything?”
“Are you quoting my words back to me?”
His chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Could be.”
“I admit it’s easier to speak of trust than to believe it.” However, she must trust. She forced herself to relax.
“Nice to hear you be honest.”
The sweet gentleness in his voice softened her insides and drew her lips upward.
He shifted. She still pressed to his shoulder, but when he looked down on her, she tipped her face so she could see him.
“Why haven’t you remarried?” he asked. “You’re pleasant enough looking, and I assume you can cook and tend children.”
Surprise jolted her up, putting a cool distance between them. “Well, thanks. I guess.” His words were less a compliment andmore an assessment of her desirable qualities. Was he thinking of himself or measuring her up to peddle to a lonesome cowboy?
“I could ask you the same thing. You’re pleasant enough looking, and I assume you can do a day’s work. Why aren’t you married?” Her words might be snippy, but she couldn’t pretend she wasn’t annoyed.
“Maybe I don’t want to be. Or maybe because there aren’t any young women in the area.”
She huffed. Obviously, she didn’t qualify. “Why don’t you want to be?”
Her question was greeted by silence. Good. That meant he didn’t have an answer.
He shifted, rubbed his neck, then huffed. “Guess I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I know how hard it is to rebuild your life when those you love die.”
Ah. His resistance was due to pain and fear. “I suppose you’re talking about your parents and sisters. But you also had Chet. That must have helped.”
“And now he’s gone.” No doubt he meant to sound accepting, but his pain was as clear as her own when she remembered the deaths of her parents and husband.
“Except for the ranch he built and left to you.”
“Are you suggesting the ranch can replace the man?” He gave her a narrow-eyed look, then concentrated on guiding the horses though as far as she could tell, they were on a fairly straight section.
The drop-off to one side made her grit her teeth, but the trail was surely wide enough to afford them safe passage.
“Of course not.” There were arguments to convince him taking over the ranch was the right thing to do. But she’d used them all, and nothing had changed. She might as well save her breath for other things. Such as…
“I can see the trail!”
