City Girl (17 page)

“How about these sacks of sugar?” Luke asked, both shoulders laden.

“Bottom shelf on the right. You'll see the space.”

“Do you need some help?” a male voice asked from the doorway. Katy turned to see Max, the ranch hands' cook.

“I think there's still some in the wagon,” Katy told him. “Wipe your feet.”

“Yes, ma'am,” he drawled, having known just what she was going to say.

Katy had washed her hands and was getting ready to mix biscuit dough when Max returned.

“Why'd you go today?”

“I'm out of things,” she said, as if it was the most logical reason in the world.

“I'm goin' tomorrow.”

“Good. If I remember I've forgotten something, I'll put it on your list.”

“My own list is plenty full.”

“Well, one more item won't hurt. What are you making the men tonight?”

“Fish stew. Luke's brother caught a slew of bluegills and landed them all in my kitchen.”

“I thought they hated fish stew.”

“No, they don't!” His voice grew indignant. “It's that lamb stew I tried! I had a revolt on that one,” he muttered, but there was a twinkle in his eye. Katy smiled a little herself.

Max Reed and Katy Sims had been friends for more than ten years. Max wasn't as old as Cash's housekeeper, but age had never been a factor. Their jobs—the very nature of being at the ranch nearly every day and not out on the range—simply drew them together.

“Is that wagon done?” Katy asked Luke when he came back with yet another load.

“Just about.”

“Well, when you finish, you just get yourself over to that jar and get some cookies. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Luke replied, just barely holding his smile.

“And you get out from under foot, Max Reed. I've got Cash's dinner to put on.”

“I'm goin'. I'm goin'. I got my own work to do.”

Katy snorted as though he didn't know the meaning of the word and kept on with her dinner preparations. Cash came on the scene about an hour later when supper was just about ready.

“How were things in town?” he asked while having a quick wash at the basin. She'd told him that morning she was going a day early.

“Did you know that Reagan Sullivan rides a bicycle?” she demanded, turning toward him.

Cash laughed. “I take it you saw her?”

Katy shook her head in amazement. “She's going to break her neck!”

“I don't think so,” Cash said confidently. “If anyone can
take care of herself, it's Reagan.”

Katy looked at Cash, her eyes narrowing.

“You sound interested.”

“In what?”

“Reagan.”

“You mean as a woman?” He looked confused.

“No, I mean as a horse. Of course, as a woman!”

Cash was already shaking his head.

“Now don't you say no to me, Charles Rawlings! She couldn't be sweeter, and something tells me she's a hard worker.”

“I'm sure she's all of that, but she doesn't share my faith, Katy,” Cash told her soberly.

The woman's eyes widened.

“But she came to the church party, and I've seen her at church too.”

“Well,” Cash kept his voice gentle and worked not to show his surprise, “we both know that attending church does not mean you believe.”

This shut Katy's mouth. Cash had not intended to put her in her place, but she simply had no argument, and they both knew it. And the reason was a simple one: Katy had been attending church off and on with Cash for a couple of years, but never once had she been willing to talk about what she was hearing.

One Sunday morning Cash had asked her outright if she had ever gotten serious about her relationship to God. Katy had not pretended ignorance. She told him plainly that she didn't think she was a sinner and didn't believe God would condemn anyone He had created. And that wasn't the end of it! She had made it very clear to Cash on that day that she didn't wish to discuss it anymore.

But they had been sharing the same house for a long time, and he knew from other comments she made that a lot of her beliefs stemmed from her relationship to his parents. When he had first come to Christ, she had naturally wanted to know how his beliefs were different from his parents'. His explanation had not been well received. She thought the sun, moon, and stars rose and set on the senior Charles Rawlings and his wife and would hear no word to the contrary. Cash could still recall the scene.

How could you say such a thing, Cash Rawlings! Why, your mother took me in when I didn't have a thing. We've worked side by side in this house since the first year it was built, and now with them in St. Louis and not even here to defend themselves, you say they're not Christians!

“Dinner's ready,” the housekeeper announced, her voice sounding completely normal.

“It smells good. What is it?”

“Veal medallions in peppercorn sauce. And if you'll check the little bowl in the living room, I've got your favorite molasses candy in there.”

“What would I do without you, Kate?” Cash asked as he sat down to eat.

“Just curl up and die, I 'spect.”

Katy didn't stick around to eat with him as she often did, and tonight Cash was thankful. He had little choice but to leave the subject of faith alone, but not having her in the kitchen allowed him to spend a little extra time in prayer. As he did often throughout the day, he asked God to soften Katy's heart so that she could see her need of Him.

Cash finally tucked into his meal but had only taken a few bites when his foreman knocked on the back door.

“Come in,” he called.

Brad entered, taking his hat off before seeing that Katy was not in the room. Cash smiled when he replaced it and sat across from him.

“I'm headed out now.”

“All right. Who're you taking with you?”

“Dusty and Zeke.”

“Zeke?”

“I'll tell you, Cash, if you can get past that baby face, there's a lot of man there. He never complains, and because he was raised in the hills, he's a good man to track those coyotes.”

Cash nodded. “I'll leave it up to you.”

“One of the girls has a cold by the way,” Brad added, talking about one of his two daughters. “I told Brenda to come up here to the big house if it gets worse.”

“Good. I'll have Katy check on her tomorrow.”

“All right, boss,” the cowboy stood, his hat still in place. “I'll see you next week.”

Cash waved him on and went back to his meal. Of all the changes he'd made since taking over the ranch from his father, the best was putting in a house for his foreman. Prior to that, his father had been through several foremen. They had been young and lacked experience. Men with better qualifications usually had wives and children. With no place for another family to live at the ranch, it was very difficult to offer the job to such a man.

“Where did she get that bicycle anyhow?” Katy demanded, suddenly coming on the scene. Cash nearly choked on his food for laughing.

“Are you still thinking on that?”

“Have you seen her?” the woman asked, as though that explained it all. This said, she went on her way, leaving Cash to wonder just what kind of impact Reagan Sullivan was going to have on them all.

Ten

R
EAGAN HAD MEANT WHAT SHE SAID
. She had no doubt in her mind that anyone could ride a bicycle, and now she was headed to the ranch to let Katy try. This trip to the ranch, however, was a bit different. There was no cake in her hand, and she was not late and in a big hurry. Letting herself look all around, Reagan rode as though she didn't have a care in the world. And if she worked hard enough, she could even convince herself that she didn't.

It had been more than a week since she'd been scheduled to meet Ty and ended up in the Bennetts' living room. She hadn't touched her Bible or gone to church since she left them. She wasn't angry, but she just didn't think she could agree with their way of thinking. The whole idea of letting God rule over her ran her blood cold. What if He demanded more than she could ever give? What if she had to give up what she found most dear—her freedom?

Reagan's thoughts were interrupted when she realized the gateway to the ranch had come into view. She could hardly wait to see the surprise on Katy's face. Indeed, she was still laughing at the older woman's proclamation that she would break her neck.

She picked up the pace a little, excitement running in her veins, and before she knew it, she was hopping off the bike, bounding up the steps, and scooting across the wide porch to knock on the big wooden door. Feeling antsy, she wiggled around a bit when no one came. Making a harder ball with her fist, she came close to pounding this time, and sure enough, she heard someone speaking as she approached.

“You'd think it was locked,” Katy muttered as she pulled the door open and found a smiling Reagan on the porch.

“I'm here with the bike!” she announced, her dark eyes sparkling.

Katy stared at her.

“You said you wanted to ride.”

“Land sakes! Have you lost your mind?”

“Not at all. You can do it, Katy. A woman in my neighborhood in New York learned to ride, and she was much older than you.”

“How old?” Katy shot at her.

“Very old,” Reagan assured her.

“Oh, for pity's sake!” Katy exclaimed, but she also came onto the porch and walked to the top of the steps where she could look down to where the bike leaned against the railing.

“You do it,” Katy suddenly turned and demanded.

Not saying a word but smiling hugely, Reagan descended the steps, put the bicycle into position, gave it a little push, hopped on with the ease of breathing, and rode in a little circle as though she'd been doing it all her life.

“Where did you get that?”

“I sent for it,” she called from the leather seat. “It was in a catalog.”

“How did you learn to ride?”

“I just did it. I held onto the side of a building when I first got going. It took only a few hours. It'll be easier for you, since I'll be here to help and steady you.”

Katy licked her lips. Cash was always teasing her about being old and set in her ways, but what if he came off the range tonight and found her riding a bike? Reagan could stay for dinner, and Katy could greet Cash from the seat of that metal contraption.

Having convinced herself, Katy moved down the steps. Reagan all but shouted with enthusiasm and jumped off the bike to let her have a try.

“Okay,” she urged the older woman, who was smaller in frame and height than she was. “Gather your skirt to one side with your left hand, and take this side of the steering bar with your right. Okay? Good. Now, let the bike roll a bit and then make a quick jump, releasing your left hand very fast, and grabbing the bar, just as you land on the seat.”

“You must be out of your mind,” Katy said with complete conviction.

“Here.” Reagan took the bike from her. “Watch me. I don't have to hold my skirt over anymore, but I'll do it so you'll understand.”

Katy stood back and watched as Reagan made it look very easy. She even hopped off and started again to show her.

“What if I tip over?”

“I'll run alongside and catch you.”

Katy just about said no but then remembered how hard it was to surprise Cash.

“You'll stay right with me?”

“Yes. I won't let go unless you tell me.”

Her mouth pursed with determination, Katy tried it and was surprised into a breathless gasp that it actually worked. Reagan kept her hand on the bar and seat, running alongside and encouraging her all the way. Katy made it several feet before she got wobbly and had to jump off.

“It just about jars your teeth out!”

Reagan smiled. “I know! Isn't it fun?”

Katy couldn't help but laugh as she said, “All right! Let's go again.”

This time they got down to real business. The housekeeper even commanded Reagan to let go. She did very well for a good ten yards before taking a spill. Recovering very nicely, she even fussed over the dirt on her dress.

“Are you hurt?” Reagan asked as she rushed up.

“No. I want to ride some more.”

Reagan laughed. It had been the same for her. Once she'd gotten the hang of it, she hadn't wanted to do anything else. In the next half hour the two had more fun than either could remember in a long time. Reagan even showed Katy a few tricks she had taught herself. Not warm by nature, Katy was thinking that she didn't ever want this girl to go home.

“I'll have a try at one of those tricks,” Katy said.

“Maybe you'd better give it some more time, Katy,” Reagan cautioned.

“I didn't mean it,” she said as if Reagan should know. “I just want another ride.”

Reagan stood back and watched her hop on. She headed down the driveway and then turned to come back. The turn was what ended the fun. She started to fall, and just as Reagan had taught her, put her foot out. This time, however, she was moving too fast. Her leg could not support her and down she went at an awkward angle. Reagan thought it looked painful and swiftly rushed to her side.

“Are you all right?”

Katy didn't answer.

Reagan moved so she could look right down into her face. The housekeeper's complexion had gone very pale.

“It hurts,” she said.

“Where, Katy?”

“My leg. I can't move it.”

Reagan could have died on the spot. That Katy might get hurt had honestly never occurred to her.

“I'll go for the doctor,” she said, her voice rising in panic.

“No, send Max.”

“Where is Max?”

“In the bunkhouse. You know the one?”

But Reagan didn't answer, she was already running, her skirts hitched up to give her freedom. She was fairly certain which building was the bunkhouse, but when she pounded and yelled, a woman answered.