City Girl (32 page)

Without warning, Reagan's head filled with one question:
What if I wish to encourage you?
She was horrified by this thought and put a hand to her face just thinking about it.

“Are you all right?” Cash asked as he watched her go quite pale.

“Yes. Well, sort of.”

Cash continued to study her.

“I will be,” she said at last, feeling her face flush. She never remembered blushing in New York, but it happened here quite often. What was the matter with her?

“I think I need more sleep,” she said out loud, not really intending to voice that thought.

“Well, you'll be glad to know that I spoke with Meg Patton today, and she would be happy to come and relieve you one day a week. When I spoke to Katy about the idea this morning, I could tell she wanted only you but also that she understood.”

“I was going to talk to you about that, Cash. I think I'll be fine to keep on as I'm doing. It's only a few more weeks, and I know just how Katy wants things done.”

Cash didn't reply.

She looked a little more worn each day, and Cash was growing concerned about her health.

“I worked every day for Sally,” Reagan reminded him.

“Not all day, you didn't. And unless I've missed something, you were never called in at night.”

Reagan chewed her lip some more, the ranch gate coming into view.

“Let me tell you what I have in mind,” Cash began gently. “I thought if Meg came on Saturdays and gave you the entire day off, and Brenda still took over for you on Sunday mornings, you would get a nice long rest each week.”

“I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Cash.”

“About what?”

“About Brenda's filling in for me. I feel badly that she and Brad can't go to church.”

“Brenda and Brad have no interest in church, Reagan. He's been my foreman for several years now, and we've had many conversations on spiritual matters. He feels his life is fine. He believes in God and even says he prays to Him, but Brad doesn't believe he needs more than that.”

Reagan nodded. She thought that might be the case but hoped she was wrong. She enjoyed Sunday mornings off, but not at someone else's expense.

“Would I go back to my house on Saturdays?” Reagan asked.

“I hope not, but you could if you wanted to.”

It was on Reagan's mind to ask why he wanted her to stay when she wasn't working, but for some reason she thought the answer might be unsettling.

“Well,” Reagan said at last, feeling as though she needed to be rescued. All spunk was gone from her these days. Maybe she was more tired than she realized. “You tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it.”

“All right,” Cash agreed without hesitation as he pulled up to drop her in front of the house. “You'll work Monday through Friday, as you have been, but come Saturday, Meg will arrive and give you the entire day off. You'll stay here on those days, but you won't work. Someone can take you to town; you can go for a ride on your bicycle; you can sleep late; lie around and read, visit with Katy, or any number of things; but you can't clean, wash clothes, or even cook for yourself. On Sundays Brenda will come, and you'll go back on duty after church until the next Saturday. And we'll do things that way until Katy is completely back on her feet.”

Had Cash not been a strong man, he'd have kissed Reagan on the spot. Her mouth was hanging open in a way he found adorable.

“Is that clear?” he finally asked when she only stared at him.

“I think so. You may have to go over it again.”

“Anytime,” he said easily and climbed down to help her out of the wagon.

She looked at him, still feeling slightly amazed, but he only smiled.

Reagan made her way into the house, telling herself not to try and take it all in at that moment.

“How are you doing?” Russell asked Cash at the elders' meeting that Sunday afternoon.

Cash looked at him, knowing if he could tell anyone what was going on, he could tell Russell.

“I'm all right, I think.”

“How is it going having Reagan living under your roof?”

Cash stared at him. He should have known this friend would be perceptive.

“It has its moments.”

“I'm sure it does.”

Cash stood still, his mind on the woman who was wreaking havoc in his heart.

“Have you fallen for her?”

“I'm not sure, but something is happening.”

“In both of you or just you?”

“That's a good question. Sometimes I see a softening in Reagan when she's with me, or maybe ‘interest' would be a better word, but I can't be sure.”

“Are you even sure of your own feelings?”

“Not to describe them. I do feel very protective of her, but at the same time I'm afraid of her.”

“Why would you be afraid of her?”

“Not of her, I guess, but for her. Because she doesn't want a relationship. I've asked myself if she feels that way because of where she's been and how she's been treated, and maybe I would be different for her, but if that doesn't happen—if she doesn't see it that way—I would be in love alone.”

It was not the clearest sentence, but Russell got the full meaning.

“I'm praying for you, Cash. Holly and I both are.”

“Thank you. If Holly has any insight into Reagan that she thinks would help, I'd be glad to hear it.”

The meeting was going to be starting soon, so the men joined the others. The first thing the elders did was take prayer requests and pray together. Cash asked the other men to remember his unusual situation and felt a peace over having them pray for him without having to go into specific details that might have embarrassed Reagan. And then Cash was the first to pray. He started by thanking God for allowing him to work with the caring elders of the church.

The rocking chair moved swiftly under Reagan's body as she tried not to think about all she could be doing in the house. Before Cash had left for his meeting, he told her he just wanted her to see to Katy's needs on Sundays and to keep the cooking light. And that was all.

“But I was going to get a jump on the washing,” she'd argued.

Cash had shaken his head.

“That might be why you're getting so tired. You need to take a day off. I don't work on Sundays any more than I have to, and that's how I stay strong the rest of the week.”

Reagan could hardly argue with that, but at the moment she wasn't tired. Katy had dozed off, and normally Reagan would have been flying around to get a head start on the week.

“And why did Cash wait until this week to tell me?” Reagan muttered, wishing he was there so she could have it out with him.

But her feelings didn't last long. The longer she rocked, the more slowly she moved. She thought she should check on Katy before she got too comfortable but couldn't manage it. She nodded off while thinking about the work she would have waiting in the morning.

Reagan opened her eyes to find she wasn't alone. Cash was in the other rocking chair, his feet up on the stool.

“I'm sure glad you got a jump on that wash today,” he teased her.

Reagan blinked owlishly at him.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“I don't know.”

Reagan leapt to her feet. “Katy!”

“I just checked on her. She just woke up too.”

Reagan sank back into the chair with relief.

“I must have really conked out,” she said, her hands wiping her face as she worked to remove the last vestiges of sleep.

Cash only stared at her.

“How was your meeting?”

“It was fine.”

“What do you do?”

“Well, the elders are responsible for the church family. We need to make certain that folks are taken care of, both spiritually and physically, but we can't do that unless we're taking care of ourselves, so we meet once a month for prayer and Bible study, and then we discuss the needs of the rest of the church family.”

“And that's right in Scripture?”

“Yes. The Bible asks the question, If a man can't order his own life, how can he lead the church? I can give you the passage if you want.”

“Thank you.”

A short silence fell, but Reagan was still thinking.

“Will I ever know what you know?”

“Certainly,” he was able to answer honestly. “You study very hard, Reagan, and there's nothing slow about you.”

Reagan was pleased to hear this, and she wanted to thank him, but at the moment the thoughts in her head made her embarrassed to even look at him.

“I'd better check on Katy.”

“Reagan.” Cash stopped her when she was right in front of him.

She reluctantly looked at him.

“This is how I want you to spend every Sunday, taking it as easy as possible.”

“But now you're giving me Saturdays off, Cash. Before it's over, I'll be working on Wednesday from noon to three and that will be my whole week!”

Cash could only laugh.

“I wasn't making a joke,” Reagan told him, her hands coming to her waist.

“But you're still funny.”

This got him frowned at, so he added, “Why don't you ride your bike or go back to sleep for a while?”

“I have to check on Katy.”

“I told you I just did. She's reading and making a list for town next time you go.”

This put Reagan completely out of her element. She cast around for something to say and ended up storming off the porch. She stopped at the bottom of the steps and glared back at her employer.

“I'm going for a walk, Cash Rawlings, but not a pleasure walk. I'll be thinking about all the work I have to do this week and planning how to get it done in less time!”

This said, she stomped off. Much as he wanted to, Cash didn't follow or comment. He had all he could do not to laugh again.

Nineteen

R
EAGAN
'
S FIRST
S
ATURDAY OFF WAS
a fiasco. Meg came and worked hard, but Reagan could not keep still. Katy had been in her wheelchair for two days, and Reagan felt she had to be on hand at all times. Cash watched his plan fall apart and put a new one into action for the very next week. When Reagan got up he told her to change into an older dress and meet him in the yard.

Reagan did as she was told and arrived expecting him to ask her to wash windows, but instead, she found two horses waiting, both saddled and ready.

“We're going for a ride?” she asked, her skepticism showing in every way.

“Yep. I'll show you some of the land.”

Reagan did not look pleased.

“I've never ridden a horse before. I don't like horses.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

Reagan's face told him he should already know this, but she still explained.

“What if it decides to bite me or buck me off?”

“I didn't choose a horse that would do that to you. This animal is very gentle.”