Sabrina's Man (39 page)

Charles Warren said nothing but watched as Waco sat down in a chair. Waco's hands were trembling, and Warren said, “I know you feel awful. Hangovers are no fun.”

“No, they're not. What do you want to talk about?”

“What are you going to do with yourself, Smith?”

“I got no idea.”

“Are you going to become one of Judge Parker's marshals? He told me he'd be glad to have you.”

“No, I'll never do that again. I've had enough of that sort of thing.”

“Then you'll have to have a job.”

“I can get a job somewhere takin' care of stock or on a ranch. I can handle cattle.”

Warren fell silent, and Waco blinked. “What else do you want to talk about besides my future?”

“I want to find out how you feel about my daughter.”

“Your daughter?”

“Yes. Sabrina. You remember her?”

“What do you mean how I feel about her?”

“I think she cares for you.”

“Well, that's impossible. We're too different.”

“Women choose men who are different sometimes. My wife did. I was no good when I met her, but she saw something in me. If it hadn't been for her, I'd be in the poorhouse or worse. I was no good for her. Maybe you're no good for my daughter, but I need to know how you feel about her.”

“It doesn't matter,” Waco said quietly. “She'd never care for me.”

“I think she does.”

Waco said, “You're a smart man, Mr. Warren, but you're wrong this time.”

“You'll have to talk to her. If she cares for you, and you walk away from her, you'll hurt her terribly. I think she's been hurt enough, and I'm asking you to overlook some things in her. I know she's proud, she's spoiled, but she's got good stuff in her. She's a good woman.”

“No question about that. The question is me.”

“I guess I know more about men than most, and I see something in you that needs to come out.”

Waco laughed. “I don't know what that would be.”

“You talk to her, and you two decide which way you're going. If you decide to tell her you love her and you'll share each other the rest of your life and she tells you the same thing, we'll talk some more.”

“I'll talk to her, but it seems a waste to me.” Waco got up and left the room. He picked up his gun, strapped it on, and looked at it with disgust. “I hope I never have to shoot you again,” he said.

He made his way toward the hotel where he knew the Warrens were staying. When he walked up on the porch, he saw that Sabrina was sitting there.

“Did you talk to Dad?”

Surprised, Waco said, “Yes, I did. How did you know?”

“Because I told him to talk to you. Sit down, Waco.”

Waco sat down feeling as uncomfortable as he ever had in his life. “Your dad's got some funny ideas.”

“Funny like what?”

“He thinks—” Waco could barely say the words. “He thinks we're in love.”

“What's funny about that?”

Waco suddenly grinned. He felt miserable, but this woman always had something to throw at him when he wasn't ready. “Nothing much except you're rich, from a fine family, and used to good things. I'm nothing but a bum, never done anything really good in my life. Why shouldn't we fall in love?”

Sabrina suddenly rose and said, “Stand up.”

Waco stood up at once and stood to face her.

She suddenly reached up, put her arms around his neck, pulled his head down, and kissed him.

Waco felt something turn over in him. He knew that he had had some feeling for this woman, but the tragedy of Callie had driven it all away. When she released him, he looked down at her and said, “I guess I'll have to tell you, Sabrina, I love you. Never thought I'd say that.”

“Well, I love you, too, Waco. I know we're different. I know there's going to be hard times. I'm a spoiled brat, and some of that's still in me, but I ask you to help me to become a godly woman and a good wife.”

“Well, who's going to help me?”

“Everybody. My father will help you and my mother. Marianne, too. She worships you almost. You know you saved her from death. And I care for you, too. I love you, Waco.”

Suddenly Waco Smith found himself unable to speak. “One thing, Sabrina… I've been thinking about God for some time now. I don't know how to go about it, but I'm going to become a servant of the Lord.”

“Waco, I'm so glad. Come on. Let's go tell my family that we're engaged.”

“Why, we can't just bust in and tell them that.”

“I can. Come along.”

The two walked into the hotel. “I saw Father come in a minute ago. He'll be with Mother.” Sabrina smiled. “They'll be waiting on a report of our matrimonial expectations.”

“It'll be mighty poor doings if we get married. No honeymoon.”

“As long as we have each other, Waco, that's all I ask.”

The two walked upstairs and paused in front of a door. Sabrina knocked on the door, and Charles Warren's voice said, “Come in, daughter. Bring him with you.”

As soon as they stepped inside, Waco felt that he was trapped. He saw the whole family was there, including Marianne and Frank Morgan.

“Well, what's the status? Did he say he loved you, daughter?”

“He said so.”

“And Sabrina, do you love him?” her mother asked anxiously.

“Yes, I do.”

“Oh, that's wonderful!” Marianne said. She was standing beside Frank Morgan, and her eyes now glowed. “You saved my life, Waco, and I'll never forget it.”

“Neither one of us will. This is good news,” Frank added.

“Not very good news,” Waco said. “I never heard of a more unlikely pair. I don't even have a job.”

Charles said, “You sure this is what you want to do? You love my daughter?”

“Yes, I do, Mr. Warren. That's the one thing that's sure.”

“Well, let me tell you something. I've been investing in fine horses for a couple of years. I bought some land and hired three louts to take care of the horses. They don't know one end of a horse from the other. You think you got sense enough to make it pay?”

Waco laughed. “It's the only thing I did growing up, take care of horses. It's the only thing I'm good at.”

Mrs. Warren came over and put her hand on Waco's cheek. “Do you
really
love Sabrina?”

“Yes, I do, Mrs. Warren, with all my heart. She'll never know anything but love from me.”

“Well, I'll have to have a little bit more than that,” Sabrina said loudly.

Waco's eyes opened wide. “What do you mean?”

“We're going back to our home. You're going to show us you know something about horses, and you've got to come courting me. You've got to buy some nice clothes and learn how to say sweet and lovely things. Say something sweet to me now just to get into practice.”

Waco suddenly laughed. He winked at Charles Warren and said, “Marshmallow.”

Sabrina laughed. “Well, that's sweeter than anything you've ever said. Come on, let's go have our engagement party.”

“Judge Parker will be sad,” Warren said. “He's losing a marshal.”

“Yes, but you're gaining a good son-in-law,” Sabrina said. She took Waco's arm and said, “Come on, husband-to-be, let's start our courting.”

Award-winning, bestselling author Gilbert Morris is well known for penning numerous Christian novels for adults and children since 1984 with 6.5 million books in print. He is probably best known for the forty-book House of Winslow series, and his Edge of Honor was a 2001 Christy Award winner. He lives with his wife in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Old West Adventure Continues with…

RAINA'S CHOICE

Coming June 2014