Sabrina suddenly rose and said, “Stand up.”
Waco stood up at once and stood to face her.
She suddenly reached up, put her arms around his neck, pulled his head down, and kissed him.
Waco felt something turn over in him. He knew that he had had some feeling for this woman, but the tragedy of Callie had driven it all away. When she released him, he looked down at her and said, “I guess I’ll have to tell you, Sabrina, I love you. Never thought I’d say that.”
“Well, I love you, too, Waco. I know we’re different. I know there’s going to be hard times. I’m a spoiled brat, and some of that’s still in me, but I ask you to help me to become a godly woman and a good wife.”
“Well, who’s going to help me?”
“Everybody. My father will help you and my mother. Marianne, too. She worships you almost. You know you saved her from death. And I care for you, too. I love you, Waco.”
Suddenly Waco Smith found himself unable to speak. “One thing, Sabrina… I’ve been thinking about God for some time now. I don’t know how to go about it, but I’m going to become a servant of the Lord.”
“Waco, I’m so glad. Come on. Let’s go tell my family that we’re engaged.”
“Why, we can’t just bust in and tell them that.”
“I can. Come along.”
The two walked into the hotel. “I saw Father come in a minute ago. He’ll be with Mother.” Sabrina smiled. “They’ll be waiting on a report of our matrimonial expectations.”
“It’ll be mighty poor doings if we get married. No honeymoon.”
“As long as we have each other, Waco, that’s all I ask.”
The two walked upstairs and paused in front of a door. Sabrina knocked on the door, and Charles Warren’s voice said, “Come in, daughter. Bring him with you.”
As soon as they stepped inside, Waco felt that he was trapped. He saw the whole family was there, including Marianne and Frank Morgan.
“Well, what’s the status? Did he say he loved you, daughter?”
“He said so.”
“And Sabrina, do you love him?” her mother asked anxiously.
“Yes, I do.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Marianne said. She was standing beside Frank Morgan, and her eyes now glowed. “You saved my life, Waco, and I’ll never forget it.”
“Neither one of us will. This is good news,” Frank added.
“Not very good news,” Waco said. “I never heard of a more unlikely pair. I don’t even have a job.”
Charles said, “You sure this is what you want to do? You love my daughter?”
“Yes, I do, Mr. Warren. That’s the one thing that’s sure.”
“Well, let me tell you something. I’ve been investing in fine horses for a couple of years. I bought some land and hired three louts to take care of the horses. They don’t know one end of a horse from the other. You think you got sense enough to make it pay?”
Waco laughed. “It’s the only thing I did growing up, take care of horses. It’s the only thing I’m good at.”
Mrs. Warren came over and put her hand on Waco’s cheek. “Do you really love Sabrina?”
“Yes, I do, Mrs. Warren, with all my heart. She’ll never know anything but love from me.”
“Well, I’ll have to have a little bit more than that,” Sabrina said loudly.
Waco’s eyes opened wide. “What do you mean?”
“We’re going back to our home. You’re going to show us you know something about horses, and you’ve got to come courting me. You’ve got to buy some nice clothes and learn how to say sweet and lovely things. Say something sweet to me now just to get into practice.”
Waco suddenly laughed. He winked at Charles Warren and said, “Marshmallow.”
Sabrina laughed. “Well, that’s sweeter than anything you’ve ever said. Come on, let’s go have our engagement party.”
“Judge Parker will be sad,” Warren said. “He’s losing a marshal.”
“Yes, but you’re gaining a good son-in-law,” Sabrina said. She took Waco’s arm and said, “Come on, husband-to-be, let’s start our courting.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning, bestselling author Gilbert Morris is well known for penning numerous Christian novels for adults and children since 1984 with 6.5 million books in print. He is probably best known for the forty-book House of Winslow series, and his Edge of Honor was a 2001 Christy Award winner. He lives with his wife in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The Old West Adventure Continues with…
RAINA’S CHOICE
Coming June 2014
Sabrina's Man Page 26