Free Tracie Peterson by A Place to Belong Page A

on you,” Garrett apologized. “I’m sorry for that. Back in New Mexico, the plan seemed so right.”
    “I guess sometimes we only seek our own way,” Maggie said softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever done as much praying as I have in the last few hours. Not that I really expected God to listen to me.”
    “Last few hours? How long do you think we’ve been here, Maggie?”
    “I was just going to ask you that.”
    “Five days,” Garrett replied dryly.
    “Five?”
    “That’s right.” Garrett leaned back against the chair. “Five days of wondering and waiting. Praying that you’d live but feeling so helpless. That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    “I can’t believe it’s been that long. It seems like just hours ago I was bartering with God for my rescue, and here you are.”
    “Oh, Maggie. I wish it was that simple. I found you, brought you here, and waited. Doc said he’d done all he could. We took turns watching over you. I told God if He would make you well, I’d never force you to marry me.” There. He’d finally said the words.
    Maggie burst out laughing, and with the laughter came the cough again.
    “Maybe we should wait. Maybe you aren’t up to this,” Garrett hastily suggested, concerned that she was becoming hysterical.
    “No, pl. . .please,” Maggie sputtered the words, trying to contain her cough. “Don’t take offense. I’m only laughing because I made a similar deal with God myself. I told him I’d do whatever He wanted me to, even if that meant marrying you and living with Father. I said if God would rescue me, I’d stop fighting Him.”
    “I see,” Garrett said thoughtfully, realizing Maggie had said nothing of a commitment to Jesus. “Seems we’ve both been bartering with God.”
    “Grandmother would chastise me,” Maggie admitted. “She used to say, ‘Never offer God anything you aren’t ready, willing, and able to give.’ ”
    “And now, Maggie.” Garrett’s voice was barely audible, “are you ready, willing, and able to follow God’s direction for your life?”
    “What about you, Garrett Lucas?” Maggie avoided the question.
    “It seems to me, God saved us both in spite of ourselves. I don’t think we thought too clearly. I’d hate to be rash with any decision, but I did promise God I’d leave you be.”
    Maggie tried not to show her disappointment. Part of her was starting to like the idea of becoming Mrs. Garrett Lucas.
    “I promised God I would do anything, even live with my father and become your wife. I can’t break a vow to God,” Maggie answered honestly.
    “I’d say there’s something important to learn from this. We need to seek God’s will over our own. He’ll guide us, but He can’t if we’re always trying to lead,” Garrett reflected.
    “I believe that’s true. I guess I’m ready to try harder at trusting Him,” Maggie added.
    “Even with your life?”
    Maggie lowered her eyes and fingered the sheets nervously. “I don’t know. I don’t want to make that kind of decision lightly, and I don’t want to make it simply because I’m scared. I want it to mean more than that.”
    Garrett nodded. “I wouldn’t presume to rush you. You’ll make the right choice when God’s timing is complete.”
    “Thank you for understanding,” Maggie whispered. “I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.”
    “I wonder, Maggie,” Garrett mused, leaning toward her from the edge of his chair. “I wonder if we could start over.”
    “Start over? What do you mean?”
    “I’d like to be your friend, even if I never become your husband. Although,” Garrett added with a wry smile, “I’d like to be that too.”
    Maggie blushed.
    “I believe,” she replied after a thoughtful moment, “we could be friends. I will be your friend and I will go to my father’s ranch willingly. On that I give you my word.”
    Garrett gently lifted Maggie’s chin. He studied her delicate cheekbones and dainty lips. When he looked