Page 76

“Don’t be. Take care of things there, and we’ll hold the fort while we wait for your return.”

“I’ll come as soon as I can.” Her fervent promise lingered in her ears after they’d said their goodbyes.

Were those God’s words, or was Paisley imagining Him saying what she wanted to hear? She considered her thoughts, her emotions, but all she felt was peace. Peace to stay for a few days and then return to her life in Montana. To return to Weston and see where that cowboy would take her.

Maybe riding off into the sunset together?

A girl could hope, because — light dawned — he was like Jesus to her. He’d stepped in between her and judgment and offered to share her punishment because he loved her.

And now, how could she be like Jesus to her family?

Weston couldn’t get enough of watching Paisley’s animated gestures through the video chat they were sharing with Cadence and Graham. Not gonna lie, he’d been concerned that he’d over-stepped by trying to figure out what was going on with the festivities, but Paisley seemed okay with his efforts as she confirmed or explained the various details the three of them were bringing up.

Focus, Kline. You’ll get her to yourself when the lovebirds get off the call.

Cadence and Graham shared a screen at Graham’s place and kept making sappy eyes at each other. Instead of causing Weston to roll his eyes, he found he was a wee bit jealous that they were in the same space and could sneak a kiss here and there even in a business chat.

He looked down at the notes he was making of things he needed to follow up on with only two weeks to go. Paisley had taken her laptop, so she had access to the group folder where Weston had saved the files he’d created. She’d even thanked him — profusely — for the tidy organization he’d brought to her mess.

To pretend everything had been orderly would be a blatant lie. There was no denying the jumble. But he’d gladly keep organizing if it helped her. If it caused her gratitude like it seemed to be doing.

Finally, Graham closed their window into the chat, leaving Weston and Paisley facing each other with over a thousand miles between. He couldn’t get his fill of seeing her beautiful face. “Hey,” he said softly. Eloquent, Kline.

“Hey.” She bit her lip and smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you more.”

“Is it a competition?”

Weston shook his head. “No. It’s just that everything around here reminds me of you. The dining hall. The stable. Even church this morning.”

“Is Pastor Marshall still in Philippians four?”

“He is. It was a really good sermon. It jabbed me right between the eyes.”

“Oh?”

“He preached on verse eight. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

“That’s a great verse.” She sounded wistful.

“And you know my tendency is to think about the things that could go wrong, so that’s why I needed to steep in this verse for a while.”

“Steep, huh?” Paisley smiled. “That’s quite a tea-infused word for a coffee drinker.”

“I might be able to stand a cup of tea here and there.”

Her eyebrows hiked. “Oh, yeah? I have an Earl who’d love to meet you.” Then she grimaced. “But not the other Earl. Oh, Weston, my father’s name is Earl. I don’t even know his last name, and I don’t want to. Do I have to care about him? Because he seriously weirds me out.”

Weston wanted nothing more than to hop the next flight to Phoenix. He, the cowboy who’d resisted flying by pretending he didn’t want to go anywhere. But right now, today, there was no place he’d rather be than Arizona. A desert without mountains, rivers, or trees. Well, they probably had one or two. He didn’t know. He’d never thought about the place before.

“Paisley, if he creeps you out, then don’t put yourself into an uncomfortable situation with him. Please stay on guard. I wish I could be there to protect you from him.”

“Weston?”

“Hmm.”

“Tate said you’d threatened to quit if he fired me.”