The freckle-faced pastor smiled at the packed congregation. “I’m happy to see so many of you here tonight to pray for our own Cecelia Locke as she ventures into the mission field.”
As he went on, describing Cissy’s call to missions, her long association with Angeles del Orfelinato de Dios, her new position as the orphanage director and the challenges that awaited her, Cissy surveyed the church. She nodded at her mother and continued on, taking in every face. Then her gaze fell on the solemn expression of Gil Valenzuela, and she could go no further as tears filled her eyes.
Oh, how she would miss him! The person she had known the least amount of time would be the one she would miss the most.
She came out of her thoughts with a jolt as numerous individuals moved forward to surround her. They reached out, resting their hands on her head, shoulders and arms. Jeb began to pray, seeking protection, wisdom, support and power on Cissy and her mission. Others voiced prayers on her behalf. In due course, silence fell. After several uninterrupted seconds of silence, the pastor ended the exercise by invoking the name of Christ Jesus.
Heads rose. Hands fell away. Petitioners moved quietly back to their seats, leaving Cissy standing at the front of the church with Jeb behind her in the pulpit.
“I charge each of you here tonight with praying regularly for Cissy and the children to whom she will minister,” Jeb said. He addressed Cissy next. “Cecelia, as you go boldly forward into this work, the prayers and hearts of Grasslands Community Church go with you.” As he spoke, Cissy half-turned to face him without putting her back to the congregation. “You may go alone in one sense,” he said, “but in another—”
“She’s not going alone,” declared a familiar voice, a voice that stopped Cissy’s heart.
She angled her head to find Gil on his feet, looking as surprised as she felt.
“What’s that?” Jeb asked, obviously confused.
Gil dropped his hat onto the seat behind him. “I—I guess I should say, she doesn’t have to go alone.” Sliding past an older couple to the aisle, he added, “I want to go with her.”
“Go with her?” Sally echoed uncertainly.
Hope surged, bringing Cissy onto her toes, even as her fevered brain found a way to make sense of this. “To deliver the donations, you mean.”
Gil glanced around, then he locked his gaze on Cissy’s face and strode forward. “That’s not what I mean.”
Her heart began to slam against her ribs. “But what about Grasslands and your ranch?” she asked.
Shrugging, Gil said, “Let’s just say that Grasslands was the beginning of my calling and that God used the notion of ranching to get me here.”
“Are you saying that you’re now called to the mission field?”
Stepping right in front of her, he smiled ever so slightly. “I don’t know.” He lifted his capable, work-hewn hand and cupped her cheek. “What I do know,” he said calmly, warmly, “is that if I’m called to anything, sweetheart, then I’m called to loving you.”