Free Tracie Peterson by Entangled

comes as a shock to you, but it will be a good thing. I know you and Suzanne can use the extra money.”
    “Well, that’s true enough. We’ve got a few extra bills coming our way in the future, but even so, I wouldn’t want you to think you had to do this on my account.”
    Cara sighed. If you only knew, she thought. She was doing this on everyone’s account. Everyone’s but her own. No, that was a lie. She was doing this for herself as well. She didn’t want to see HEARTBEAT ruined. She’d worked too hard at making it a great organization. It was her dream. It had been Jack’s dream, too.
    “I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” Cara finally said in a sobering tone. “I’ve prayed and I just think it’s the best way.”
    Joe leaned back in his seat. His face clearly showed he was still stunned by the news. “I just can’t imagine the place without you.”
    “Well, I won’t be totally removed. I’ll stay on for a while, and after that I’ll still drop in from time to time to see how things are going. Besides, we’ll always be friends, and you and Suzanne are welcome to come by the apartment anytime. Especially after—” She shut her mouth with an abruptness that caused Joe to raise his brows in question. She’d almost mentioned the baby.
    “After what?”
    Cara stammered, “Well . . . after . . . I mean—” She stopped to collect her thoughts. “After the November election.”
    Joe laughed. “What in the world does the November election have to do with anything?”
    “It relates to my other project,” Cara said, fidgeting with her pencil. “You see, Robert Kerns has asked me to be his running mate in the gubernatorial race.”
    Joe stopped laughing and his mouth formed a silent O. “This is a joke, right?”
    “No, it’s not,” Cara answered very seriously. “I can do a lot of good for the kids in this state if I should become the next lieutenant governor. Just think of the influence I’ll have and the opportunity to be a positive role model.”
    “But, Cara, you hate politics. You’ve said so a million times. Now you’re telling me that you plan to run for lieutenant governor of Kansas?”
    “That’s about the long and the short of it. Do I get your vote?” asked Cara with a nervous grin.
    “You’re serious. You’re really going to leave HEARTBEAT to get involved with politics. I can’t believe this. Are you on some kind of publicity kick?”
    Cara winced at the accusing tone. “I just think I can be of more help to the ministry if I work with Kerns as lieutenant governor.” It wasn’t a lie, that was for sure. Cara bore the burden of knowing what would happen to HEARTBEAT—and Joe—if she didn’t do exactly as Kerns wanted.
    “Are you sure this is what God wants?”
    Cara wondered that herself. She’d prayed and asked for a direction out, but God’s silence was almost deafening in her ears. She had no peace in her heart when she thought about rejecting Kerns and battling through the threats. There was a chance he was bluffing about his lawsuits, but could she take that chance and risk everything? No, this was the only answer.
    “I feel confident,” Cara said softly, “that I’m doing the right thing.”
    Joe got up and stuffed his hands deep into his jeans pockets. “I guess this will take some getting used to.”
    “But you’ll take the directorship, right? You’ll see that HEARTBEAT makes the changes to keep it a strong ministry for God?”
    Joe nodded. “I’ll talk to Suzanne, but I’m pretty sure she’ll agree with me. Running HEARTBEAT is a dream I’ve always had.”
    Cara could finally smile from the heart. “Good. Maybe you should bring Suzanne on board as your partner. After all, HEARTBEAT was always intended to be a husband and wife ministry.”
    Joe seemed to perk up at this thought. “She’d love it, and I know having her here would make me happy.”
    “Then it’s settled. We’ll draw up the papers