A Heart's Desire - Book 1 of the Crossing Midian Series - A Christian Romance

Prologue

Summer 1990

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 NIV

"Mom!" Wesley called out as he bounded down the stairs and into the living room, where his mother, Ruth, was busy convincing a fussy Tommy to put his shoes on. "Have you seen my lucky baseball cap? I had it yesterday when me and Coop were playing outside."

"Coop and I." Ruth corrected him, then nodded her head. "You left it out on the porch. I saw it last night."

Wesley's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Did you leave it out there?"

"I did," Ruth said as she finally got one set of Velcro straps tightened on Tommy's tiny foot. "You're nine years old, Wesley. That's old enough to be taking care of your things. You shouldn't have left it outside."

Just as Wesley was about to argue, his dad, James, came in from the kitchen carrying two fishing rods and a tackle box.

"Go on and get it," James said as he sat the tackle box on the coffee table and leaned the rods against the chair. "Mike and Anna will be here soon."

Wesley stopped in his tracks just as his hand wrapped around the doorknob. He turned to face his dad and said, "What're they comin' for?"

"They're coming with us," James said matter-of-factly.

"But why? I bet Anna doesn't even know how to fish."

Ruth looked up from the still squirming Tommy to send her oldest a mild glare. "And just why do you say that? Because she's a girl?"

Wesley looked from his mom to his dad and back again. "Well, she is a girl."

"Wesley James, I don't want to hear that kind of talk from you. Being a girl has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not someone can fish. Or if they can do anything else, for that matter. Anna is a smart and capable young lady; you will be a gentleman and treat her with respect. Is that understood?"

Wesley groaned, but he nodded anyway. "Yes, ma'am."

He went outside to retrieve his cap, and when he turned around, his dad was leaning against the porch post, looking out towards the road. Wesley hadn't even heard him come outside. He decided to plead his case differently.

"Can't we take Coop instead, Dad? Or maybe even Tyler Morgan?"

James smiled as he looked down at the small boy. "We can't leave her behind."

Wesley nodded his head. "Sure we can. Anna could stay here and play with Tommy."

James laughed at this and then sat down on the steps. He held his arm out for Wesley to sit beside him, and he did so, but about an arm's length away. James wasted no time hooking his finger in the belt loop of his jeans and sliding him closer to him so that he could wrap his arm around him and bring him in close. Wesley crossed his arms and stubbornly looked away from his dad.

"Son, I know you don't want her to come. And I know you won't believe me when I tell you this, but you'll change your mind one of these days. It might not be Anna, but I can promise you that some girl will come along and turn your entire world upside down. She'll make you want to take her places all the time just for the opportunity to see her. Before you know it, you'll be hoping it's her every time the phone rings. You'll want to get all cleaned up, go to her house, and ask her on a date. You'll bring her flowers or other pretty things just 'cause you know she likes them."

Wesley's nose crinkled, and he shook his head. "That ain't never happening to me."

"Oh, yes, it will," James replied with a grin. "And then, one day, a long, long time from now, you'll buy a ring and ask her to marry you. And if she's got a lick of sense, she'll say yes. Because you are one amazing kid, and I can only assume that you're gonna be one great man."

"Awe, dad," Wesley groaned as he rolled his eyes.

They both looked up as they heard tires on gravel, and sure enough, Mike was coming down the road with Anna in the front seat. Her head was only barely visible above the dash.

James and Wesley stood up, and when they parked, Mike got out and shook James's hand. Anna hopped down when James opened her door for her, and she smiled up at him. Her deeply tanned skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. "Gracias, Mr. Anderson."

"De nada, Anna."

"Mama says my Spanish is getting better and better every day!"

James nodded. "I can tell! You'll have to teach Wesley someday. Are you ready to go fishing?"

"You bet!" She spotted Wesley still on the porch and smiled. "Hey, Wesley," she said with a wave.

"Hey, Annabelle," Wesley replied, earning him a glare from James.

"Wesley," James admonished.

"That's okay," Anna said as she started up the steps. Her dark curls hung in a ponytail down her back and bounced as she walked. "I don't mind."

She stopped next to Wesley and cocked her head to the side. "Hope you don't plan on catching many fish today, Wesley."

"Why's that?" he asked as he looked Anna up and down. He noticed the way her brown eyes narrowed slightly and how she placed a hand on her hip the same way his mom always did when she was about to tell him something he wouldn't like.

"Because I'm gonna catch 'em all first," she answered with a smirk before walking past him and into the house.

Wesley glared after her before turning to see his dad and Mike smiling at him.

"I like her more and more every time I see her," James said with a laugh.

Mike shook his head. "That girl is just like her mama."