The Cowboy's Homecoming (18 page)

Two months later

B
ethlehem Bradshaw stood at the front of Back Street Church. Wyatt Johnson held her mother's Bible. Behind him was the pulpit her great-grandfather had built. Her family sat on the pew where she'd always sat with her mother. And instead of sitting behind her, Jeremy Hightree stood next to her. He smiled down at her, and she couldn't believe this gorgeous man in his Western tuxedo was going to be her husband.

That morning they had recorded their wedding in her mother's Bible. Jeremy Hightree married Bethlehem Bradshaw, August 28, a Sunday afternoon. Witnessed by family and friends. Her father gave her away. Her brother was the best man. Her sisters-in-law, Alyson and Elise, were her bridesmaids.

Wyatt Johnson smiled at the two of them. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The church erupted in applause. Jeremy pulled her close. His ring was on her hand, joined with her
mother's wedding band. He smiled as he whispered that he loved her. The kiss was sweet and easy and another round of applause cheered them on as he held her in his arms. And then he lifted her and carried her out of the church.

Next year they would hopefully fill in the next page in the family registry, the page for births. She closed her eyes and dreamed about a family with the man holding her close, carrying her out the door to a stretch SUV limousine.

Jeremy and Bethlehem Hightree. She now knew how it felt to be loved by someone strong. She had engraved the words from her mother's journal on the wedding page in the Bible.

Love will happen. Life will happen. Don't rush through the days, savor them. Love someone strong.

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Dawson! Readers have emailed me on occasion to ask when certain characters will get their story, their romance. One of the characters people have asked about is Beth Bradshaw, sister to Jason Bradshaw in
The Cowboy's Courtship.

I was only too happy to give Beth a story. When she first showed up in Dawson, I realized she'd been through a lot and she was going to need a special man, someone strong and caring. Along came Jeremy Hightree, a cowboy who'd left town years ago and is back only to tear down one of Beth's most beloved childhood memories.

Jeremy and Beth join forces when a tornado hits Dawson and Back Street Church is needed as a shelter. Thrown together, they find love and healing. I hope you'll enjoy their story.

1. Beth Bradshaw faces her fears and her past simultaneously. The past is the first thing she deals with. When she returns to Back Street Church, what emotions does she encounter?
   
2. How does God use returning to the church to bring change to Beth's life?
   
3. Beth has a very real fear that stems from an abusive relationship. How does that tie into confronting her past and Jeremy?
   
4. Jeremy Hightree wants to tear down Back Street Church. What are his reasons?
   
5. How does God use Jeremy's desire to tear down the church as a way to heal his past?
   
6. Jeremy's mom ties directly into his anger and yet he cares for her and about her. How does God change our hearts so that we can be angry and yet not hurt those we're angry with?
   
7. The Bible says to be angry and sin not. How does that apply to Jeremy and even to our own lives?
   
8. The tornado was an act of nature, but how did God use it in the lives of the people in this story?
   
9. Tim Cooper cheated on his wife, Angie. They're still together and their marriage appears strong.
   How do people face such an obstacle and move on with their lives, keeping their family intact?
   
10. Beth left a man who abused her for several years. What kept her in the relationship? What did it take for her to finally walk away?
    
11. Victims often suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). How does this change Beth's life and how she deals with life?
    
12. Beth's father was angry with Back Street Church. Why is it that when faced with a crisis he blamed God? Was it easier to blame God, to have something or someone to be angry with rather than accept what was happening to his wife?
    
13. Beth and Jeremy have been through similar situations and both have had their faith tested. Both had a crisis of faith that changed their lives. How did they renew their faith?
    
14. Beth pushed to save Back Street Church. Why was saving the church, a building, so important to her?
    
15. Why was it important to Jeremy to see it gone?
    
16. Why did Jeremy give up on tearing down the church?
    
17. When did Jeremy realize he loved Beth?