City Girl (22 page)

Cash finally remembered what he'd needed to do in the barn, but when he got there, he didn't start to work. Familiar sights and smells surrounding him, Cash stood and prayed.

Do I go back and apologize for speaking to her as I never have before or for letting her have her way for so long? Or do I let it go and hope I haven't ruined the relationship for all time? I don't know what to do, Father. I said what needed to be said. Katy needed to hear it, but she's not used to that from me. I'm not going to let her lie there and pout, and I can't let her slowly tear Reagan apart.

Cash tried to think. He couldn't be certain, but it seemed to him that Reagan was looking very tired. And why wouldn't she? Her hours at the hotel had been from morning into the early afternoon. Here she was on duty almost 24 hours a day.

After a few more minutes in prayer, Cash opted not to say anything else to Katy about the incident. When he finished in the barn, he would return to the house and carry on business as usual. He wasn't certain what to expect from Katy, and he was willing to allow her to deal with this in her own way, but only as long as the rest of them could still stand to live with her.

Reagan's back hurt a little—there had been a lot of books to move—but the office looked great. She had polished, dusted, and swept, even going so far as to wash the inside panes on the windows. Now on her way out the door, Reagan took a moment to study a portrait on the wall.

A man and woman looked back at her. The woman had Cash Rawlings' eyes, and Reagan didn't have a hard time figuring out who they were. Neither one smiled, but Reagan thought that to have had a son as caring as Cash, they must be very kind.

“Reagan,” Cash said as he came through the door, “I'm glad I caught you…” He started again but stopped talking without warning.

Reagan watched him walk around the room, not touching anything but smiling with pleasure at the job she'd done. He turned to face her when he was finally behind his desk.

“The office looks great. Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” she said with a smile, glad she could please someone.

“Those are my parents, by the way.”

Reagan's eyes went back to the frame.

“I figured as much. You have your mother's eyes.”

“So I've been told,” Cash said as he moved to join her by the picture.

“What are their names?”

“Charles Sr. and Virginia Rawlings.”

“Who's Junior?”

“I am.”

Reagan frowned up at him.

“‘Cash' was all the better my brothers could manage, and the name just stuck.”

“How many siblings do you have?”

“Two brothers, both younger. In fact, if you look at my father, you'll just about see an older version of Dakota.”

“Dakota? That's an unusual name.”

“It is, but it fits him.”

Reagan looked back at the portrait, and Cash studied her. Again he found himself feeling rather drawn to her.

“Reagan's not all that common either.”

“No,” she said with a smile, “but I think it fits me too.”

“It does,” Cash had to agree. “What's your middle name, by the way?”

“Reagan.”

Cash laughed. “Okay, what's your first name?”

“Eileen.”

“Eileen Reagan Sullivan?”

“That's it. A fine Irish girl must have a fine Irish name,” she told him, brogue in place.

Cash was delighted and wished she'd do it again.

“Who were you quoting? Your father?”

“That's the one. Mother got away with Reagan as a middle name only because it was her maiden name.”

“How did you get away with not going by Eileen?”

“I didn't—not around my father at least.”

“Why didn't you like Eileen? It's a beautiful name.”

“It is, but I wanted the connection to my mother.”

Cash saw the sadness in her face and was certain he knew why.

“Did she die, Reagan?”

“No, she left my father and me not long after my ninth birthday.” Reagan looked up at him, her look almost daring him to pity her. “My father finished drinking himself to death three years later.”

“I'm sorry.”

“I'm not,” she stated flatly. “After that, there was no one to stop me from being Reagan.”

Cash thought it was the kind of comment she would exit on, but she stayed right where she was, her face still set.

“Before I forget,” Cash said, changing the subject as tactfully as he could manage and walking back to the desk to pick up an envelope, “I have your pay ready. You can expect it every Friday.”

“Pay?” Reagan asked as she moved to the desk and took the packet from his outstretched hand. She looked inside, not believing him until she saw the bills. She set the envelope back down.

“You're not paying me.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

Cash laughed. “Let's get something straight right now, Reagan Sullivan. I didn't hire you in the same way I did my other employees, but you've got yourself a job.”

She began to shake her head, and Cash's brows rose.

“Don't even think about saying no to this, Reagan.” He handed the money packet to her again. “You won't win.”

Now Reagan's brows elevated.

“We'll just see about that, Mr. Rawlings.”

Cash smiled at her tone.

“I'm not trying to play power games with you, Miss Sullivan. It's just that I'm a businessman with a ranch to run, and you are one of my employees. It's no more complicated than that. You're doing your job, and I'm paying you for it.”

“But you wouldn't even need me if I hadn't—” Reagan began, but Cash wasn't listening. She could see that by his face.

“Take the money, Reagan,” Cash stated for the last time, not really caring if he sounded high-handed. “I won't hear of anything else.”

Cash went to his desk chair then, and Reagan knew the conversation was over. She did leave with the money as she exited the office, but even as she cleaned up so she could check on Katy, she was thinking of ways to get around her new boss's having to pay her.

Thirteen

“I
COMPLETELY FORGOT TO TELL YOU
something yesterday, Reagan.” Cash started Saturday morning with these words.

“What's that?”

“Brenda says she'll stay with Katy while we go to church.”

There was no mistaking the relief on her face.

“Did she really?”

“Yes. I usually leave around 9:20 if that will work for you.”

“That would be fine,” she said, but then hesitated. “Should I ask Katy?”

Cash shook his head no. “Has she spoken to you yet?”

“No. She had a good meal last night and again this morning—better than she has eaten—but other than thanking me, she hasn't said two words.”

Cash's unconscious sigh told of the pain he was feeling. Katy hadn't spoken to him either.

“Just leave her be,” he finally said. “You can't read her mind, so unless she asks for something, let her alone.”

“I'll work on the house some more and check on her often.”

“Good.”

And they both discovered that it
was
good. Cash ate his breakfast, and Reagan went to work on Katy's regular chores. That it was Saturday and she should have gone to town for supplies was lost on her. She dusted, swept, and started the meat for dinner, all the while checking on Katy at regular intervals.

Cash went about his day as well. As usual on a Saturday night, the boys would be done a little early so they could head into town with their pay, and his own schedule was one he liked to keep monitored so that he was fresh for Sunday morning.

He worked in his office for a time and then went to check the livestock in the barn. It didn't take long, and as he made his way back to the house, the Bennetts' wagon came up the drive. He stopped, a big smile on his face, as it drew abreast of him.

“Well, hello,” he greeted Holly and all three of the kids, even as he lifted Elly so he could swing her down from the wagon bed. Jonah scrambled behind his sister.

“Hello, Cash. I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I have two little people who need to see Reagan.”

“I don't mind at all, and she's going to be very pleased. Here, let me get Alisa.”

The baby smiled at him as soon as she was in his arms, and Cash kissed her soft, pudgy cheek.

“How is Katy doing?” Holly asked after Cash had given her a hand down.

“She's having a pretty hard time with it all, I would say. How are things in town?”

“There she is!” Elly suddenly cried before Holly could answer, and both adults turned to see Reagan come out the front door. From across the yard they could hear Reagan laugh as Elly and Jonah ran to hug her. The three sat down on the front porch steps together, heads close as they snuggled and talked.

Cash looked back at his guest just as Alisa reached for her mother.

“And you, Cash Rawlings,” Holly said as she settled Alisa on her hip, her voice low to give them privacy. “How are you doing?”

Cash smiled, knowing she could read him well after all these years.

“I think I'm still surprised that it happened at all. I keep expecting to see Kate in the kitchen and bustling through the house, but it's Reagan.”

“How is Reagan doing? Is it dreadfully uncomfortable?”

“Actually, it's not. She's very competent, and she works quietly and effectively. Compared to Katy's bossing me around, the place is silent.”

“So you're not sorry she came?”

“I was at first. I didn't think I could manage it, but she did so well with Katy that I didn't feel I had a choice.” Cash laughed a little. “Katy's not even speaking to us right now, but Reagan just keeps on.”

Holly's face told him she sympathized.

“We're praying for you, Cash.”

“I can tell. I'm getting very little sleep, and it's probably the only way I'm holding up. But tell me, why did you visit when we'll see you tomorrow?”

“We weren't sure if Reagan would come.”

“She's planning on it,” Cash was glad to tell her. “Brenda Johns is going to fill in for her. You should have seen Reagan's face when I gave her the option.”

“Relieved?”

“Definitely. I'm not certain if she's coming because she wants to be in church or get away from Katy, but either way, she's coming.”

“I'm glad.”

Up on the porch, Reagan was glad too. She had missed the children so much, and she thought if she had to go another hour with Katy's silent treatment she just might scream. She had just about decided to take a spin on her bike when she looked out the window and saw the children.

“How is school?” she asked them.

“It's good. We still like it.”

“But we miss you, Reagan,” Jonah told her. “And not just for rides on the bicycle.”

Reagan laughed and hugged him a little closer. She thought about taking them in to see Katy, but if that woman was still pouting, the children would be hurt by her actions and wouldn't understand the reason.

“You know what?” Reagan said as she stood, taking the kids' hands in hers. “I need to see that baby.”

Holly and Reagan hugged when the groups joined, and as everyone had come to expect, Alisa had a smile for whoever was holding her.

“I've missed you, Alisa,” Reagan told her softly, and not for the first time Holly was struck by the fact that this woman did not want a husband and family. It didn't make sense to her.

The baby only smiled at Reagan and reached for her face.

“Is Katy up to company?” Holly asked.

Cash's and Reagan's eyes met. Reagan shrugged, and Cash nodded in decision.

“Why don't I just go in and check with her?”

Cash didn't wait for anyone to acknowledge his idea but headed to see his housekeeper, a few things on his mind. Without preamble he stepped into her room and began. “Holly Bennett and the children are here to see you. Do you want visitors?”

Katy's eyes swung to Cash and then away. The cowboy stood where he was for a full minute, but the prone woman did not look back at him.

“I'm not going to put up with this much longer, Kate.”

“What are you going to do about it?” she shot right back, her eyes turning to him and showing her frustration.

Cash shook his head. “Is that what this is about, Katy? Not speaking to the people who are bending over backward to help you is your way of having a say?” He shook his head again in very real regret. “You ought to be
ashamed.”

Not giving her any time to reply, he turned for the door.

“Cash!” she called to him.

That man stopped and looked back, his brows raised in question.

“Please tell them to come in.”

“I'll get them right now,” he said, all rebuke gone.