City Girl (34 page)

“Cash,” he called again. “Where are you?”

“In the living room.”

Max's voice brought Meg from Katy's room, so she was standing nearby when he arrived.

“You hit your head?” the older man demanded.

“Just a bump.”

“Let me see it,” he grumbled, as though Cash were a pesky child. “You've got a good egg there. What were you doing?”

“I lost my footing and fell against a tree.”

Max shook his head.

“You'll have to keep an eye on him tonight,” he said to Reagan. “Don't let him sleep too long.”

Cash tried to object, but Reagan was taking it all in. As though the ranch owner weren't even in the room, plans were made around him. Reagan was told to wake him twice during the night, three times if he went to bed early, and Max would check him again in the morning. Max then proceeded to Katy's room, where she had just gotten back into bed, to fill her in as well.

“I'm fine,” Cash said for the umpteenth time and then gave up trying to convince anyone. Meg was busy putting lunch on as both Reagan and Cash had missed it, and Max headed out to tell Brad about the head injury.

Cash was sitting in the living room feeling as though the house were falling apart around him when he realized all was quiet and that he was not alone. He looked over to see Reagan sitting on a chair watching him.

“Do you feel like you've lost control of your own home?”

“That was perceptive of you.”

“Not really.”

Cash's brows rose in question.

“You're always the one in charge, always the one to take care of everyone else. Having anything happen to you makes the rest of us fall apart.”

“You seem pretty calm right now.”

“I'm not as calm as I look. I'm afraid you're not all right, but you won't admit it or don't realize it.”

“May I be honest with you?”

Reagan nodded.

“My head hurts a little, but my real problem is my frustration in not being able to talk to you more.”

“What would you say?”

“I would ask you if I can talk to Pastor or Russell about us. I know how I feel, and I know how you feel, but there are things to be worked out because of your fear.”

Reagan nodded in understanding.

“Once in a while,” she admitted, “I would have a vision of living here for always and being yours too, and sometimes it would feel scary to me and sometimes not.”

“What does it feel like right now?”

Reagan had to shake her head and confess that she wasn't sure.

“I just wish,” she whispered, her heart ripping a little around the edge, “that you could have someone who's not me. I think you deserve better.”

Cash didn't say a word, but Reagan got the distinct impression that he was not happy with this idea. She suspected that he might even have addressed the issue, but Meg came through the living room just then to tell them she had lunch hot and ready on the table.

Cash and Reagan thanked her and moved to the kitchen, both knowing that the end of this conversation was going to have to wait.

Twenty

“A
RE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO TRY
this?” Cash asked Katy again.

“I'm sure. Are you sure?”

Cash smiled when her tone begged him not to say no.

Reagan had awakened him in the night, but even so he'd slept well. Now, after having assured the woman repeatedly that his head was fine, Cash had rigged up a ramp in order to push Katy's wheelchair into the back of the wagon. The plan was not without risks.

“What do you suppose the doc would say?” Katy asked conversationally as Cash tied her chair to the sideboards to steady it.

“You do know how to panic a man, don't you, Kate.”

Katy gave a crack of laughter just as Reagan came from the house with all of their Bibles.

“Are we set?” she asked, her eyes alight with excitement. This scheme had been all her own, and even though Cash had originally been horrified by the idea, he was once again won over by Katy's pleasure.

“I think so. Are you still riding back here?”

“Yes. I have a quilt to sit on, and I'll just keep the chair steady.”

Cash shook his head when she looked mischievous and then stepped forward to help her when she moved to climb aboard. She smiled down at him, and his eyes held hers for a moment.

“It's about time you two found each other,” Katy stated, shocking them a little. She looked at the couple staring at her and snorted.

“My hip is broken,” she reminded them. “Not my eyes.”

“Katy,” Cash began patiently, feeling very protective of Reagan, “it's not that simple. We're going to give this—”

“I know,” she cut him off. “Reagan has to get over her fear of being married, but she will. And I'm not going to spread the news until the two of you do.”

“How did you know, Katy?” Reagan asked from her place on the floor of the wagon bed.

The older woman's face was kind. “I live with the two of you, Reagan. Cash didn't even know it, but as soon as you came to Christ, his feelings toward you started to change. And you didn't want this, but no woman has ever been able to resist Cash Rawlings. He's never encouraged them, mind you, but when that man walks the streets of Kinkade, female heads turn from all directions.”

It was an interesting start to the morning. They had to get going because the ride was going to be slower, but both Cash and Reagan were somewhat shocked by all of Katy's observations.

“I've been praying for you both,” she added when the wagon was finally set into motion.

“And what exactly have you been praying?” Cash asked over his shoulder from his place behind the reins.

“That you would grow in the Lord, so that if He did bring you together you'd be ready. I prayed in God's will, but I must admit I've wanted to see it happen.”

“Why did you never say anything?” Reagan asked.

“That wouldn't have been wise. If I had been mistaken, it would have just made you uncomfortable around each other.”

“But why did you say something now?” Cash asked.

“Because something more went on yesterday than you bumping your head. I don't need to know what, but Reagan doesn't have to try not to look at you anymore, and you touched her arm twice last night, Cash. That's not something I've ever seen you do to any woman before.”

Cash turned around and met Reagan's wide gaze before both started to laugh. Katy joined them, not knowing when she had felt so good. Her hip was mending, and she was headed to church—and not out of fear—but because God now lived inside of her. This thought, however, reminded her of something she needed to take care of with Cash.

“Cash,” Katy called to him just as her chair shifted a little and her hip experienced some pain.

“Am I going too fast?”

“No. I've got something to apologize to you about.”

“All right. Did you want to talk to me later?”

“No. Reagan can hear this. Remember how angry I was about your view of your parents' salvation?”

“I remember.”

“Well, I can see what you were talking about now. I know your mother would have come if she'd received the letter you sent. She's that type of person. But I do see what you meant before. Being a good person is not what God has to say.”

It had been said in Katy's way, but Cash understood her.

“Thank you, Kate. I appreciate that very much.”

The three went on to church and had a wonderful morning. Less than a handful of folks missed the chance to greet Katy and wish her well, and she thought that if she died that day, she would do so the happiest person on earth.

“How many folks get a second chance at my age?” she asked Noelle Ellis.

“Not many take it like you have, Katy. Even at the eleventh hour God saves, but it seems that not many folks see their need in time.”

Katy was so excited she could hardly speak. She was still sitting there smiling when Cash came to claim her.

“Are you about ready to head out?”

“Yes, I am. Is Reagan ready?”

“I believe so.”

Several men were on hand to help Cash load Katy and her chair back into the wagon. It wasn't without discomfort to her, but if the truth be told, that lady barely even noticed.

“Katy!” Cash called to her after he made a trip into town on Thursday morning.

“In the kitchen,” she called back.

Cash just about ran to find her and saw Reagan in attendance as well.

“My parents are on their way!” he told them. “Davis at the telegraph office caught me just as I was leaving town. They had been out of the state, and while away my father had taken ill, but now they're on their way.”

“We'll have to shop,” Katy said decisively. “Do we have time?”

“I'm not sure,” he spoke as he tried to scan the contents of the message again. “With this date, they could be coming in today.”

Amid Katy's and his own excitement, it took a moment for Cash to notice that Reagan was missing. He called for her and began to check around the house, but not until he walked through the living room did he spot her out front, bicycle in hand, getting ready to hop on and ride. Without having to be told, he knew she was not headed out for exercise.

He was out the door in a flash, running faster than he had in years. He caught up with her just as she was giving the bike a push to jump on. He was thankful she heard his approach and stopped.

“Oh, Cash,” she said quietly, her features strained and tense, “I have to go home for a little while. I should have told you, but you're here now, so now you know.”

“Can I take you?” he offered, his chest still heaving some.

“No, no,” she said, her eyes filling with panic. “I'll be back sometime.”

“Reagan, honey,” Cash said gently, “what's wrong?”

“I just need to go home. It's been a long time.”

“Does this have anything to do with my parents' coming?”

“I have to go,” she told him, not even looking at him. “I'll be back.”

“Reagan,” he tried again, but she just shook her head and started on her way.

Cash wasted no time. He moved swiftly back to the house, spoke with Katy, ran over to see Brenda, and then went out to the barn. He saddled his horse and was riding at a full gallop just ten minutes later.

He had waited a long time for that little black-haired woman to walk into his life. He wasn't going to let her escape him that easily.

Reagan's heart was near to bursting by the time she reached the street on which she lived. For the first time since she could remember, she hoped Holly would not spot her and come to the porch to visit. She needed to talk to only one person at the moment, and she had run away from him. Outside of Cash Rawlings, she wanted to be alone.

For the last half block she had been off the bike, just pushing it along. Now she was almost to the yard and already wanting to cry. She thought if she could just get inside, she could let go. It would feel good to cry. It might give her a headache the way it had when she cried with Cash, but in the end she had been glad she allowed herself the release.

“Cash!” Reagan said his name when she spotted him, stopping short to see him leaning against her front door. After a moment she continued pushing her bike up to him.

“How can you possibly be here ahead of me?”

“I have a fast horse, and I know a shortcut.”

Reagan looked into his eyes and then away.

“I shouldn't have run. I know that now, but I just panicked.”

“Why did you?”

Reagan made herself admit the truth. “When your brothers came, I hadn't yet faced my feelings for you. Now it's different. What if I don't like your parents? What if they don't like me?”

Reagan gestured helplessly with one hand, wishing for some way to make herself clear.

“I've never had what you have, Cash,” she tried. “Most people would be dying for it, but I'm afraid of it. You have brothers who love and care for you. They came from miles away to see Katy. Now your parents are on their way. I don't even have to see them to know that they won't be anything like my parents, but that doesn't mean we'll like each other.”