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.
463
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.
%r$r
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
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give her a headache the way it had when she cried with
464
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
465
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."
"And what happens if they don't like you?"
Reagan's smile was sad. "It will no longer be an issue of
me getting over my fears. The issue will be that you would
never marry a woman your family didn't approve of."
"Here," Cash said. "Give me your bike." /
He took it and leaned it up against the side of the house.
He then directed Reagan to the bench in the yard. Once
they'd sat down, he prayed and tried to gather his
thoughts.
"If s funny, but I think many husbands and wives come
from very diverse backgrounds. Have you ever noticed
that?"
City Girl 255
Reagan said she hadn't.
"I sometimes wonder if that isn't by design. I mean,
466
you've been hurt by your family, but mine is very loving
and supportive. I can see how you might find that threatening,
but it could also serve to give you strength."
Cash turned his head to study her, and he could see that
she was thinking.
"Do you remember last Saturday when I said I wished
you could find someone better?"
"Yes."
"You didn't like that, did you?"
"No, I didn't because if s not true."
"But this is what I'm talking about. A woman should be
glad to meet your family. I mean, a little bit of nerves is
normal, but not panic and thoughts of escape."
"But I don't want just any woman. I want you. Even if
you panic and run away. I want to give you as much time
as you need to see that you have nothing to fear, but I don't
want anyone else, Reagan,"
The little Irish woman next to him said nothing, and
Cash was suddenly glad that this had happened. There
were some things she didn't know about him. It was time
467
she did.
"Have you caught on yet that my parents are not
believers?"
"Yes."
"It's interesting to me that all of their sons and even my
father's mother have come to Christ, but they haven't.
Now ask me Reagan--ask me why it's interesting."
"Okay. Why is it?"
"Because Charles Rawlings Sr. set out to raise three of
the most independent children you could imagine. He
hoped one of us boys would want the ranch, and I did, but
he's always insisted that we step out and follow our
dreams. He loves to travel and have adventures, and he's
dragged my mother halfway around the world, but not in
all of his ventures has he found Jesus Christ,
256 lori wick
"He and my mother are starting to ask some questions,
but it's taken a lot of years for that to happen."
"But God saved all three of you boys after you were
468
grown and gone?"
"Yes, and that brings me back to us. You're right, I do
value my parents' opinion. But you need to understand
their expectations. Slater met Libby and fell in love before
any of us met her. We all went to the wedding, but he was
a man in love long before my parents knew.
"Dakota and Darvi had known each other for years but
hadn't seen each other. He was escorting her back to St.
Louis just last fall, and on the way they came here. I was the
one to point out to Dakota that he was in love. He told me
later that our mother came right out and asked him if he
fell in love with Darvi because she shared his faith. They
were married in January.
"You see, Reagan, my parents know exactly the type of
woman my brothers and I are going to fall for. They know
the women will share our belief in Christ because thaf s the
life we've chosen for ourselves. They also know that the
wives we choose will be people who are strong and independent
because thaf s what they instilled in us from the
time we were small.
469
"Hair color, where you grew up, how tall you are, what
type of books you like--those are all just details. Everyone
who meets you falls in love with you. My parents won't be
any different. My love for you will cause them to love you,
and when they see that you share my faith, they'll just see
that as normal, even though they haven't embraced it
themselves."
The couple's eyes met.
"All this to say, Reagan, that it's still about your fear of
marriage. My parents are wonderful. You'll love them, and
they'll love you in return. What is yet to be determined is
whether or not you want to be my wife."
City Girl 257
Reagan looked into his face and found what she always
did: a wonderful man. His eyes were filled with caring, and
she knew he was not a man to play games with a woman.
"I can't promise that die fear won't come
back, Cash."
"So what does that mean? Do you want to wait until all
fears are gone or what?"
470
She chewed her lip. "Can I think on it?"
"No," he teased. "I need to know right now."
Reagan smiled.
"Come on." Cash stood. "Lef s get back to the ranch. I
asked Brenda to fill in, but I don't want to be gone too
long."
"I shouldn't have run like that. Will Katy be upset?"
"Furious."
They did stop to greet Holly but didn't find anyone
home. They continued on to the edge of town where
Reagan was going to ride her bike ahead of Cash's horse.
The sound of the train heading out of town reminded
Reagan of the Rawlingses' visit She stopped and turned to
Cash.
"Is that the last train today I hear?"
"No, I think there's one more."
"But your parents could have come in already."
'True/'
"They could be at the ranch."
"Yes."
471
Reagan's mouth opened. "What are they going to say
when they find you gone?"
"Nothing."
She began to shake her head.
"Reagan," he began patiently, "they really do want my
brothers and me to live our own lives. They don't expect
me to drop everything because they're coming."
Reagan was intrigued for the first time. Until now she'd
been too wrapped up in herself to give them much
thought, but now she realized she would be gaining a
258 lori wick
glimpse into Cash's life in a way that had not been possible
before.
Wordlessly climbing back onto her bike, Reagan continued
on her way to the ranch. Cash followed her with a
smile, just glad she was still going in the right direction. It
was hard to wait at times like this, but Cash asked God for
patience.
It's my dream to have the ranch be her home, her permanent
472
home, Lord, where she would feel safe and loved, but You know
what You want here. Help me to trust, and help Reagan to see
that I want only to treasure her.
-ST Sr
"Reagan," Cash said with a huge smile, just moments
after they arrived back, "these are my parents, Charles and
Virginia Rawlings."
"Oh, Reagan!" Virginia shocked her by coming forward
to hug her. "I can't think what Katy and Cash would have
done without you. Katy's told us all about it. You dear,
sweet thing."
Charles smiled into the wide, dark eyes that met his and
was there to shake Reagan's hand as soon as "Virginia
released her.
"It's great to meet you, Reagan. Did I see you come up
on a bicycle?"
"Yes."
"You're not from Texas, so where are you from?"
473
Reagan laughed a little. "New York."
"I love New York. Were you right in the city?" /
"For most of my life, yes."
"Great place. What brought you to Texas?"
Reagan smiled. He was like an older version of Dakota.
"Adventure."
"That's my kind of answer. Have you found some?"
"Yes. Sometimes more than I bargained for."
City Girl 259
"Tell them what you think of armadillos," Katy directed,
and both senior Rawlings enjoyed her face of horror and
general description of what she called a "creature."
"You look a little thin," Cash said of his father when
there was a break.
The older man shook his head and admitted, "I haven't
had the flu like that in a long time. And it certainly wasn't
fun not being at home."
The two fell into easy conversation, and before long 'Virginia
was up wheeling Katy into the kitchen and signaling
474
for Reagan to join them.
As elegantly as Mrs. Rawlings was dressed, Reagan was
surprised to see her dig right into the kitchen work. She
took over dinner preparations as though she had done so
all her life, and Reagan was reminded that this had been
her home.
Reagan listened to her talk to Katy, and even thougji
they included her, it was clear that they were old and dear
friends. Reagan found herself praying that Katy would
have ai. opportunity to share the change in her life, but for
the most part she just listened and laughed at some of Mrs.
Rawlings' stories.
Everyone was on the tired side, so they had an early
dinner. Again Reagan laughed at the easy banter and
camaraderie. And it was just as Cash said it would be:
They seemed to accept her wholeheartedly and without
question.
Mrs. Rawlings insisted on cleaning up, coaxing her husband
to help her, and as much as Katy was glad to see
mem, she was perfectly content to have Reagan settle her
475
for an early night. She was enjoying the freedom of the
chair, but her body still ached, and she grew fatigued in
fairly short order.
Cash bid Katy good night and then waited for Reagan to
appear. Without asking, he whisked her onto the front
porch and spoke as soon as he had her alone.
"How are you? Do you wish you'd stayed in town?"
260 lori wick
"No. I'm fine. They're both so kind, just like you said
they would be. Why did I run away and act so foolishly?"
Cash bent and kissed her cheek.
"I don't want you to be too rough on yourself. If s a lot
to take in, and I've told you I don't have a timetable that
you have to meet."
"Maybe you should."
He shook his head, took a seat, and asked her to join
him.
Reagan sighed, feeling as tired as everyone else. They
talked for a short time, but Cash didn't try to dissuade her
476
when she said she was ready to head to bed. He knew that
emotional issues were the most wearying kind. He was
tired as well.
"Thank you, Cash," she surprised him by saying just
before she slipped inside.
"For what?"
"For coming after me."
"My pleasure," he said, able to mean it with all his heart
-5"5'"
"You're in love with that girl," Virginia said to her son
much later that night. They were the last ones awake in the
house. Always the rancher, Charles had gone to the barn to
check the stock, and the two were visiting in the upstairs
hall
"You think so, do you?"
Virginia laughed a little. "I may be tired, Cash, but I can
still see straight."
The rancher laughed with her. "We're not moving very
477
fast," he said.
"Is that your choice or hers?"
"If sours."
Virginia smiled with pride. She loved knowing that she
had raised three gentlemen. It meant the world to her.
City Girl 261
"How long are you staying?" Cash finally remembered
to ask.
"Probably just a few days before we head out to see your
grandmother and brothers, but I think we'll be back on the
way home
."
"I'm glad. It's good to have you here, Mother. I know it
means so much to Katy."
"She's changed," Virginia said, her voice thoughtful.
All Cash did was nod before Virginia said she was going
to bed. Mother and son went to their rooms shortly after
that, and until Cash fell asleep, he asked himself whether
he should have told his mother why Katy was different or
let the lady do it herself.
478
*/i
tfwenfo-
"Now,
didn't you tell me they had seemed open earlier
this year?" Pastor Ellis asked Cash the next Sunday afternoon.
The Ellis family had invited Cash, Reagan, Katy, and
the Bennetts to lunch.
"Yes. When my brother was married in January, my parents
were both very open, and I told them to write if I could
be of help. I know they were planning to keep going to the
church I visited while I was there, but they haven't brought
the subject up, and I don't know how to go about it. They didn't even say what they thought of the service here last
week."
"I didn't have a chance either," Katy put in. "I found out
after they left that Mrs. Rawlings noticed a change in me,
but I didn't have any opportunities to tell her the reason."
"It might still come," Pastor encouraged her. "Did you
say they were still coming back this way?"
479
Cash nodded, and they all listened as Katy gave the
schedule Virginia had shared with her.
"Maybe one of your brothers will have a chance to ask
how they're doing, or even your grandmother." Russell
added this hopeful note just before Noelle said she had
cake for dessert.
"How are you?" Holly asked of Reagan as they finished
with dessert a short time later. The two were sitting side by
side, and there had been a lull in the conversation. The
262
City Girl 263
other people went back to talking, but the two women had
a moment alone.
"I'm doing fine. How are you?"
"Doing great. Do I miss my guess, or are you and Cash
getting rather close?"
Reagan smiled. "Cash has talked to Pastor, and I think
he even spoke to Russell, but they must have taken him
480
seriously when he said we were keeping it quiet right
now."
Holly had all she could do not to squeal with excitement.
Instead she asked with a false calm, "And what did
Cash speak to Pastor and Russ about?"
"Just that we're starting to talk about a relationship."
The word was enough to jolt Holly back to earth.
"Reagan, are you all right with this? I mean, really?"