132 "What happened to your cheek?" Jeanette asked, looking instantly upset.
"A box fell on me in Jessie's storeroom."
"Oh, you poor dear," Jeanette said, gently touching Sabrina's other cheek and telling herself to calm down.
Heather joined the women at that moment, and Sabrina had to explain again.
"Don't forget the women come to our house tomorrow, Bri," Heather reminded her.
"I don't think I'll be there. Jessie has me organizing part of the storeroom, so even if we're slow, I'll probably be doing that."
Heather asked a few details, and the women were still discussing that when the service began. Sabrina made a mental note to visit at Jeanette's as soon as she could. There was never enough time to visit the way she liked, and not being with them made her miss Callie as well as feel very far from home.
"Where is Sabrina?" Cassidy wanted to know when she and Meg got to Jeanette's on Monday.
"Jessie needed her at the store today."
The women of the church gathered at Jeanette's house most Mondays. They prayed together and shared a time of fellowship that each woman enjoyed. The children played in the room with them or in Jeanette's other parlor. Becky did her part with treats and drinks, and Heather managed to go back and forth between both groups and still keep an eye on Theta.
"You can pray for me," Jeanette requested when the ladies had settled. "Savanna's first birthday is coming up, and not having Theta know about it is bothering me."
133 Both Meg and Cassidy were in the room and nodded with compassion.
"It's funny when it hits me. Most days, I go along, just thankful that she's here, but when the big events come on the calendar, I ache to have my sister back."
Miranda said she would take that request, and Patience shared about her upcoming trip to New York to see her brother and sister-in-law, Meg's father and mother. She was excited to go back after all these years, but it was a long way to travel and she said she wasn't 19 any longer.
For some reason this got everyone to laughing. It took some moments to settle back to the requests, but before it was over, all the women had shared something they wanted special prayer for. The women each prayed, interrupted only twice by the needs of children, before they broke to have the pastry Becky had made. Not leaving for almost two hours, each one was very thankful she had come.
Sabrina had been correct. She was back in the storeroom at Jessie's, restacking shelves and hopefully making more items and shelf space available. She was working steadily along when she heard a male voice. Jeb Dorn had come to help her.
"What can I do?"
"Oh, Mr. Dorn, that's kind of you, but-" Sabrina stopped when he put his hand up.
"Patience took one look at that bruise and gave me the look. If you get hurt again, I'll be in all kinds of trouble."
Sabrina laughed, but she believed with all her heart that everyone was overreacting. A vision of her face after a violent customer got done with her one night in Denver floated through her mind. The pain of the memory was intense, and Sabrina was surprised that it took this to bring it back. It would have made more sense to recall it after the night with Eliza.
134 "What shall I do?" Jeb asked, and Sabrina was happy for the distraction.
The two worked along, with occasional visits from the girls, until dinnertime. Jeb couldn't stay in the afternoon, but with his help, Sabrina finished that day. She nearly fell into the door of her apartment, too tired to even eat, and thinking that she was not cut out for such work. The storeroom, coupled with a day of painting last week, was making Sabrina wonder if she shouldn't try to find work at the bank.
"I'll check with Rylan first," Trace said to Cassidy as they entered town on Sunday morning, "if you're sure you're not up to something."
"I'm sure," Cassidy said with a laugh. He'd checked with her twice already. "I don't know Bri at all, and if Ry's not comfortable with it, you know he'll be honest."
Trace knew that Cassidy would never play games with a person's heart, but she was a romantic. He had told her straight up that he was not going to speak to Rylan, but he had agreed to ask him for Sunday dinner. It wasn't until they agreed to this that Cassidy also mentioned having Sabrina.
"Can you join us for dinner today?" Trace asked Rylan as soon as he got in the building, even before the service could begin. "I can, thank you, Trace."
"Great. Cass also wants to invite Bri, but if you'd rather we didn't do that, just say the word."
"Why would that bother me?" Rylan asked in all sincerity. "Because it might look like we're up to something. We're just inviting the two of you."
"I don't have any objections. Have you checked with Sabrina?" "Cass will do that if you're good with it."
"I'm fine," Rylan agreed, but a little part of his heart feared
135 rejection. If he got to the ranch and Sabrina wasn't there, he would know where he stood.
As it was, both Rylan and Sabrina rode to the ranch with Trace and Cassidy. It meant that Trace would have to take them back to town later, but he didn't mind. Rylan could have taken something from the livery, but Trace was quick to offer.
When they arrived at the house, Sabrina enjoyed the large front porch and thought she could have sat on it all day. However, when Cassidy went to the kitchen to put dinner on, Sabrina went to lend a hand.
"Is there something I can do?"
"Sure," Cassidy agreed. "Those biscuits need to go into a bowl. You'll find one in that cupboard on the wall."
Cassidy glanced over as she worked and had to make a comment.
"You must hear this all the time, but your hair is beautiful." "Oh, thank you," Sabrina said, not having heard that for a long while.
"It looks thick."
"It is."
"I don't know how you wear it down. I have to have mine up when it's this warm."
"I don't get hot very easily. I tend to be cold."
"What are you going to do this winter?"
Sabrina laughed before saying, "Probably freeze."
Cassidy smiled at her, but an unbidden thought came to mind: Rylan would keep you warm this winter. She pushed the thought away, not wanting to plot against her friend Rylan or Sabrina.
"How's it coming, Cass?" Trace appeared to check on her.
"Good. The meat is almost hot, and I just have to put these sweet potatoes in a bowl."
136 "Let me know when you need things carried."
"Thank you."
The gesture was so simple. Sabrina was sure this couple thought nothing of it, but for her this small act made her ache. It was the type of thing Danny would do for Callie. Sabrina had resigned herself months ago to never having this special unity with a man, and she was still resigned to that, but at the moment it hurt so much she could hardly breathe.
It was a relief to have Cassidy unaware. The food was ready faster than she thought, and before she had more time to grieve, they were sitting down to dinner.
"How did you come to Token Creek?" Cassidy asked Sabrina when they all had dessert in front of them.
"It's a long story," Sabrina said, not unwilling to share, but not wanting to monopolize the conversation.
"We have time," Trace said, already seeing that his wife was very drawn to this woman and fairly certain that Rylan was working to keep the emotions from his face.
"Well, I found myself alone. My parents had both died, and my sister and I had lost touch. In fact she had made it clear that she didn't want me in her life anymore. But then a man and his wife came along, Danny and Callie Barshaw. They took me into their home and cared for me. They found me a job at a laundry. I lived with them for more than six months, and it was during that time I believed in Christ. Their faith is genuine, and they taught me from the Bible and took me to church each week.
"But Denver still held a lot of painful memories for me. Danny suggested I try Token Creek because there's a fine church family here." She smiled before saying, "And I found out he was right."
Wi
th her comments about the church family, Trace and Cassidy
137 naturally looked to Rylan. That man waited until Sabrina looked at him as well.
"Danny Barshaw is my father's cousin," Rylan told her quietly, his eyes seeing more than he let on.
138
SABRINA LOOKED AS SURPRISED as she felt over Rylan's announcement.
She was too stunned to even speak. Had this not come up before? Did Rylan not know that she wrote to Danny and Callie regularly? And why hadn't Danny mentioned his relationship to the pastor of the Token Creek church?
"So he sent Bri because he knew about your being here?" Cassidy asked.
"He's done it a few times over the years," Rylan said by way of explanation. "Although none of the folks still live here."
"Did he contact you and tell you Bri was coming?" Trace wished to know.
"No. This is the first I've heard that Sabrina knows them. And I haven't talked to Danny in years. I visited home two years ago, but my family has a farm on the outskirts of town. Danny and Callie live right in the city."
"I had to leave my hometown a few years ago," Cassidy began to share.
Sabrina could have sighed with relief to have a change in subject. There was no point in guessing.
139 "My mother is still there and sometimes it's still hard to be away from her," Cassidy went on.
"You should tell her the details," Trace said, and Cassidy didn't hesitate. Sabrina listened intently, feeling like the day she learned that Callie had been a prostitute. It was too easy to believe that everyone's life was idyllic, with no past pains. Cassidy's experience with her own brother sounded as difficult as Sabrina's relationship with her sister.
Sabrina did not have a lot to say as the afternoon went on. She had much too much to think about.
"You can drop us here," Rylan said to Trace as they came into town. Sabrina wasn't paying very close attention to where they were but suddenly found herself a few blocks from the church building.
"Thanks, Trace," she said, glad for a chance to walk the rest of the way home.
"You're welcome. Don't forget what Cass said. Come back and visit us."
"I will."
"Thanks, Trace," Rylan added, shaking the rancher's hand and turning to find Sabrina ready with her goodbyes.
"I'll see you next week," she started.
"Why don't I walk you home."
"It's still light out," Sabrina pointed out.
"That's good, actually," Rylan said, taking her arm and turning her in the right direction. "I'll still be able to see your face when you tell me why it upset you that I know Danny Barshaw."
Sabrina frowned up at him, but Rylan didn't comment. They walked in silence for a time, and Rylan thought that at this rate she would be headed up her stairs and he still wouldn't know.
"I write to them every week," Sabrina suddenly said. "Did you know that?"
140"No. I had heard that someone from Denver suggested you head this way, and I'll be honest and tell you I wondered. I know a lot of folks in Denver, and my family is all there, so it makes sense to me."
Again more silence.
"Why does it bother you?" Rylan asked.
Because for a long, painful minute I forgot I asked Danny and Callie to let me do this on my own, and I feared that Danny wrote and told you about me.
"I think," Sabrina ended up saying very slowly, "that I was just taken by surprise. It's not at all important. In fact it's nice to have someone know them."
Rylan was quite sure this was not the whole of it, but he was not going to ask. There was something altogether fragile about this woman. It wasn't something you saw on a first or second meeting, and it was certainly not something you would notice when she was painting the church building or sitting and sewing at Jeanette's, but it was there.
"Thank you for walking me home," Sabrina said, now standing at the bottom of her stairs.
"The next time you write to the Barshaws, please tell them I said hello."
"I will," Sabrina agreed, but then just stood there. "They've never mentioned you. Maybe they were waiting for me to say I'd met you. Which I did in my last letter, but I haven't heard back."
"Maybe they haven't kept in touch with anyone lately and didn't want to send you to someone who was no longer here."
"Maybe."
"That makes sense. Is it still bothering you?"
Sabrina frowned again, but Rylan thought it was at herself. "It was a silly thing to be upset about."
"I don't know about that. You're a long way from home, and they're your only link."
Sabrina looked up at him. He was so understanding at times, and
141 for just a moment, she could see Trace and Cassidy, happy in their home. She had to work very hard to keep the yearning from her face and knew it was time to head upstairs.
"Thanks again," Sabrina said, and turned swiftly away.
Rylan knew something had happened, but he had no idea what. Once she was inside, he turned for home, realizing that until he saw her again, he wouldn't know if he was the problem or it was something within herself.
P.
Monday night found everyone at Brad and Meg's ranch house. Trace and Cassidy were certainly there, as were Jeanette, Jeb, and Patience. They had also invited neighboring ranchers, Bart and Marty Carlisle, in order to celebrate Savanna's first birthday.
That little girl had no real idea she was the guest of honor, but that didn't stop anyone's fun. She was nearly walking on her own these days, and when she Managed a few steps, she usually clapped for herself and fell down. The group naturally found this hysterical and would laugh even harder when Savanna joined in.
By the time supper was eaten, the men and women had found their own corners. The women were at the dining room table, and the men had settled into the living room, the conversation taking turns with ranching, town politics, and Jeb's latest project in his workshop.
"Marty's birthday is in August," Bart Carlisle said, lowering his voice. "I want a bookshelf for her, oak."
"What size?"
"A tall one," he said, "with a dark finish."
"I've got a tall one that doesn't have finish right now. Why don't you stop in and see it."
Bart was agreeing to this even as Marty was questioning Patience about a desk for Bart.
"Bart's birthday is in September. Is it too late for Jeb to start?"
142 "I don't think so. Are you coming into town this week?" "Maybe Saturday," Marty said.
"Come by and see us," Patience invited. "We're going on a trip next week, but if you come by this week, Jeb can get measurements on what you want and start it as soon as we get back."
Without warning Brad entered the dining room. The women swiftly fell silent, not willing to mention the topic of their conversation. Without meaning to, they all managed to look guilty.
"Well, now," he said with a smile, "I almost get the impression I was being talked about."
"Not at all," his wife said in such an exaggerated way that Brad laughed.
"What are you talking about in there?" Jeanette asked.
"I'll never tell," Brad said, bringing smiles to every woman's face and laughter when he wanted to know if it was time to cut the cake.
The sky was growing very dark when Sabrina heard a knock on her door. She hoped that Bret Toben had not gotten it into his head to visit, but she still opened the door, lantern in hand.
"Eliza?" Sabrina said to the woman on her landing. "I thought you'd moved out of town."
"My baby is sick," Eliza whispered. "Do you think that Pastor would still pray?"
"Yes, he would. Do you want me to go and get him?" "Will he come?"
"If he's home, I'm sure he will."
Eliza put a shaky hand to her mouth, tears coming to her eyes. She stumbled back down the stairs. Sabrina had to put her shoes back on but stopped only long enough to blow out her lantern before she started across town.
143 Rylan had his Bible open, but his eyes were across the room. H
e was working on memorizing all of Psalm 144, and concentration was coming hard. The words were powerful, reminding Rylan of God's will and force to do as He pleased. But the psalmist was humble, knowing that he was nothing compared to almighty God.
"'I will sing a new song unto thee, O God; upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee." Rylan said out loud to the room just before someone knocked on the door.
At this hour he knew it would be the sheriff, and almost smiled at the fact he'd just taken off his shoes.
"Oh, you're home!" Sabrina said with relief when the door opened, her voice breathless from running.
"Sabrina, what's the matter?"
"It's Eliza. Eliza. Her baby's sick. She wants you to come and pray." "I'll get my shoes."
"All right."
"Sabrina!" Rylan was suddenly back. "Wait here for me." Sabrina nodded, but Rylan couldn't see it.
"Did you hear me?"
"I'll wait," she agreed, still breathing hard.
Rylan was on the porch a few minutes later, and on the walk back across town he heard Sabrina at her most talkative.
"I thought she was gone. Crystal said she'd moved on. She's afraid of Zeke, for the baby. And then she was at my door. She was crying and asking for you. I know it's dark, but she asked for you, and I couldn't ignore that. The baby's sick, and she's so little. I had to come. You understand, don't you? I had to."
"It's all right, Sabrina," Rylan said, but she was still talking.
"I don't know if I can do this. My heart breaks every time I talk to Crystal or Eliza. I thought I would be so strong, but my heart feels like lead when I see them. I don't know what God wants from me, Pastor Rylan. I just want to help, but it hurts so much."
Rylan stopped and brought Sabrina to a stop with him.
144 "You did the right thing in coming for me. We'll just go to Eliza's place now, and then you and I will find time to talk about it later." "I'm sorry."