Place to Belong, a by Lauraine Snelling

herself to fall in love with this very appealing young man? Not that Mavis was prejudiced or anything, but she wanted Cassie in the family perhaps even more than Lucas did. It looked like he was finally settling down and would assume his full responsibilities of the ranch.
    â€œYou know, Lucas, I think when you and Cassie get married, you ought to move into my old house,” Arnett said with a piece of meat on his fork. “It’s all furnished and everything. We’ll get all the stuff cleaned out of it, you know, like I mentioned before. Seems like such a good idea to me.”
    â€œYou know, Arnett, we need to do some talking yet about your proposal.” Ransom shook his head. “I just—”
    â€œNow, don’t you go ruining a perfectly good meal. We’ll talk about that another day. I got me some ideas too.” He looked to Mavis. “I think every meal is better than the one before it. Can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me to be part of this family.”
    â€œDan, you are welcome, but we do need to talk about your proposal. Ransom . . . well, each of us, is giving this a lot of thought, and I’m sure we’ll come up with something that works for all of us.”
    â€œI already have what works for me. Far as I’m concerned, it’s a done deal.”
    Mavis shook her head. “Stubborn old coot.”
    â€œThat’s right and don’t you be forgetting it.” The twinkle in his fading eyes belied any sternness he tried to convey.
    That evening, when they all gathered in the big room, each busy with his or her project, Ransom turned to Lucas. “I have something I’ve been thinking on and I’d like to talk to you and get it off my chest.”
    â€œIn here or the kitchen?”
    Ransom narrowed his eyes, thinking. “I guess in here because the others have heard me blast you with my other thoughts.”
    Mavis watched her two sons. Lucas appeared to be relaxed, but the tension line in his jaw was tight. And Ransom shifted in his seat, not really comfortable either. Lord, keep this pleasant, please, she entreated. These two had gone at it before, many times with less incentive than this. She’d prayed then too.
    â€œWhat?”
    Ransom heaved a sigh. “I just want to ask your forgiveness again for insisting that you didn’t really love Cassie but were doing your usual flirting around.”
    â€œThanks, brother.” Lucas narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
    â€œNo, please, I really mean this. If you still plan to marry Cassie—”
    â€œI do.” He smiled at Cassie. “As soon as she agrees.”
    â€œThen you have my blessing, like I said before. And I wish you all God’s blessings.” He took another breath and smiled at both of them.
    Mavis watched Cassie shake her head. It appeared she was still not ready to accept Lucas’s proposal. Would she ever? Pride in her eldest son made her smile. He had come a long way when he could ask for forgiveness like this. He’d always had a hard time admitting when he might be wrong. Please, Lord, lay your hand of blessing upon this union. She’s like my daughter already, and this would just make it perfect. And if they lived over on the other ranch, what more could I ask for ? She smiled at her eldest son. Other than a good wife for him too. A woman who would think he was the greatest man that walked on this earth or at least in this valley.
    Wherever she is, O Lord, bring her to us.

9

    M aybe I should just agree , Cassie thought.
    Everyone had gone to bed, but when she couldn’t sleep she had returned to Mavis’s chair by the fireplace, a light shawl wrapped around her shoulders. After stirring the coals, she’d added wood to the fire and now sat staring into the flames. If only she had been watching Lucas’s face when Ransom announced his blessing. Why couldn’t she just accept that and make