City Girl

  Reagan's face was wreathed with softness as she

  thought about this question.

  "He's so patient, Holly. I didn't know anyone like him

  existed."

  Holly Bennett knew she was going to burst into tears at

  any moment, and she had to get out of the room.

  "I'm going to check on the children," she announced,

  raising her voice some to be heard by Russell.

  He nodded and thanked her.

  Reagan only let her get to her feet before saying she was

  going to join her. She followed Holly onto the front porch

  where the older woman stood with her hand over her

  481

  mouth.

  "Holly?"

  "I'm sorry, Reagan." She was just barely holding tears.

  "I've just wanted this for you for so long. I've wanted you

  to know how loved you are, and if Cash can do that, I

  just--" She couldn't go on, but Reagan didn't really need

  her to.

  "Thank you, Holly," she said when she hugged her.

  "Hi, Reagan," Jonah called as he ran by, and that gave

  Holly the push she needed to dry her tears. She looked

  264 lori wick

  down at Reagan for a moment and then smiled and

  hugged her again.

  "I just want you to know/' Holly ended up saying, "that

  whatever you do, I'll love you like a sister forever."

  Reagan had never had anyone say such a thing to her.

  For a moment she was speechless.

  "Thank you, Holly. If s a wonderful thing to know."

  Wanting to rejoin the group, Holly made a swift check

  482

  on the children, but as soon as she was finished, she and

  Reagan went back inside.

  %r -

  "What

  are you up to?" Cash asked Reagan after he'd

  taken her to the general store for supplies.

  "Nothing," she said innocently, but Cash saw what she

  was trying to hide.

  A thumb went up to push the brim of his hat back as he

  asked, "Wrinkle cream, Reagan?"

  She frowned at him. "I'm not exactly a teen any longer.

  Cash."

  The cowboy had all he could do not to shout with

  laughter.

  "Let me see this stuff," he said as he took it from the

  hand she held behind her back.

  Reagan looked innocently around as he read, but there

  was no escaping when he leaned dose to her face.

  "Now, show me these wrinkles you're trying to get rid

  483

  of."

  "You don't see any?" She looked up at him in that

  trusting way he was coining to know.

  "No."

  "What about those little lines next to my eyes?"

  "Where?"

  Reagan squinted, and this time Cash had to laugh.

  "Shh..." she got after him, fighting laughter of her own.

  CityGirl 265

  "You don't need this," he said, plunking it decisively on

  the shelf.

  "This dry heat is hard on the skin."

  "I agree with you, but some regular lotion will do." Cash

  grabbed a jar from the shelf and handed it to her. It was a

  brand that he'd seen Katy use in the kitchen.

  "This stuff?"

  "I think Katy uses it."

  Reagan read the description on the bottle before looking

  up to ask Cash if Katy needed any. The question was never

  484

  voiced. Cash's eyes were on something further down the

  shelf, and as Reagan followed his gaze, she smiled. Never

  before had she noticed the full line of feminine apparel that

  covered half of those shelves. Clearly Cash had never

  noticed either. Reagan just stood and watched him.

  "Reagan?" he asked before making eye contact with her.

  "Yes?"

  Cash turned to see that she'd been staring at him. His

  smile was full blown in an instant, and Reagan wanted to

  laugh.

  "Do all women wear those pretty things?" he asked

  when they were finally back in the wagon and headed to

  the ranch.

  "Well, maybe not as lacy and pretty as some of those, but

  something like them."

  Cash nodded, still looking thoughtfully out over the

  horses' heads.

  "Honestly, Cash, you do have a mother. Certainly you

  have seen some of those things before."

  "Honestly, Reagan," he copied her, "a man doesn't give

  485

  much thought to what his mother wears. The woman he's

  in love with is a different matter."

  "I guess that makes sense, but don't you ever go down

  that aisle?"

  'Tor what?"

  "I don't know. Where do they keep the men's under-things?"

  266 lori wick

  "In a different spot, and you can trust me when I tell you

  that they don't have the same effect. By the way/' he asked,

  "do certain things come in certain colors?"

  "No. That was all a mixture. There were blue bloomers,

  but also blue shifts and camisoles. All those things come in

  a variety of colors."

  "Whaf s a camisole? I've never heard of that."

  Reagan cleared her throat, wondering how they had

  come to talk of this.

  "You wear it under your blouse."

  "Do you have a blue one?" Cash asked before he

  thought.

  486

  "Am I allowed to tell you that?"

  Cash turned to look at her, his eyes straying a bit before

  he caught himself.

  "Maybe you shouldn't," he said, fixing his gaze over the

  horses again.

  In truth Reagan had a pink one, but she wisely kept this

  to herself.

  "Don't decide to marry me too soon, Reagan," Cash said

  suddenly.

  "Why is that?"

  "Courting you is an education."

  As she'd wanted to in the store, Reagan allowed herself

  a nice loud laugh.

  - 3r

  "Have I ever missed you," Sally said on the first

  morning Reagan went back to work at the hotel. Katy was

  back on her feet and going strong; Reagan had even stayed

  on for an extra week just to enjoy working with Katy in her

  487

  element. It had been hard to leave the ranch, but everyone

  knew it was for the best.

  Reagan smiled.

  "Did your cousin ever show up?"

  City Girl 267

  "No, and I've got bunions the size of eggs to prove it"

  "Well, I'm here now."

  'True, but I suspect it won't be for long."

  "What do you mean?"

  Sally looked innocent. "Rumor around town has it that

  you and Cash Rawlings are getting mighty friendly."

  "Is that right?" Reagan asked, already tying on an apron

  and setting to work.

  "Yes, thafs right."

  Reagan didn't respond.

  "Well?"

  "Well what?"

  "Is it true?"

  Reagan smiled. "I happen to think he's very special"

  488

  "And does he share that same opinion of you?"

  Reagan looked at her. "He has said something along mat

  line."

  Sally grinned. "He's been a sought-after catch in this

  town for a long time, Reagan. A few hearts are going to

  break when word gets out on this."

  "According to you, word is alr
eady out."

  "I mean official word, the church bells ringing and all

  that."

  Reagan only laughed and went to work in earnest. She

  was slightly out of practice after eight weeks off the job, but

  things were coming back fast. ,And indeed the morning

  flew. Long before she was ready, it was time to head to the

  dining room.

  Reagan had to laugh. The men acted as if she'd been

  gone for ages, and their pleas for dinner or an evening out

  with her were more ardent than ever. Reagan was wondering

  how many more days of this she could take when

  she looked up to see Cash Rawlings come in the door.

  He took a seat at an empty table, his eyes trained on

  489

  Reagan, and when she was done with the order she was

  working on, she went to him.

  268 lori wick

  "Well, now," she said softly, eyes oh his face. "What

  brings you out this morning?"

  "A man's got to eat," he said, his own eyes smiling right

  back.

  "But you've got someone to cook for you/' Reagan said,

  even being so bold as to sit down for a moment

  Cash leaned dose, aware that every eye in the room was

  on them.

  "I thought maybe these gentlemen needed a little notice

  that you're not up for grabs any longer."

  "I never was."

  "But they didn't know that."

  Reagan smiled. "True. I think they believed if they just

  asked long enough/1 would eventually succumb."

  "That's what I'm hoping," he said as he reached up and

  brushed a finger down her cheek.

  490

  Reagan bit her lip to keep from laugjiing and stood, not

  bothering to take his order before exiting to the kitchen and

  returning with just the breakfast she knew he liked.

  %r%r bout

  ten days later, Reagan and Cash walked along the

  pond, their hands linked. It was dreadfully hot, but dusk

  was beginning to fall, and they were happy just to be

  together. It was a Sunday, and Reagan had come after work

  for a late lunch that Katy had prepared and to spend the

  day at the ranch.

  "I miss you," she said suddenly.

  "The feeling is more than shared, Reagan."

  "Mine's different."

  "How's that?"

  "It just is."

  Cash's hand brought her gently to a halt. He looked down

  into her face, and in just a matter of seconds understood

  CftyGtr* 269

  491

  that she was there to stay. He studied her eyes, and with

  complete openness found her eyes staring right back.

  "If I wanted to talk about the future, Reagan, would you

  run away?"

  "Nope," she said, giving the word her best Texas drawl

  "How about children? Would you be afraid to discuss

  having a family?"

  "Nope."

  Cash's smile was tender beyond belief.

  "And marriage, Reagan," he whispered. "How scary is

  marriage these days?"

  "Not at all."

  Moving ever so carefully, his hands coming up to cup

  her face, Cash leaned forward until their lips touched tot

  the first time.

  "Oh, my," Reagan breathed when he broke the contact

  "I was afraid of that," Cash said, his forehead laid

  against hers.

  "Whafsthat?"

  "Of liking this no small amount"

  492

  Reagan laughed and went on tiptoe to kiss him again.

  "I hope you know what this means," he warned her.

  "What?"

  "I'll be asking very soon, and I'll expect a yes answer."

  Reagan stepped back, her hands going to her hips in that

  familiar way.

  "You mean you're not going to ask this minute?"

  Cash could only snatch her into his arms and hold on

  tight, his laughter coming in great waves that echoed over

  the pond. But they couldn't keep this event to themselves.

  In just a few moments, like children let outside to play, they

  ran for the house to see Katy.

  "How did you know?" Katy asked after Cash shared

  their conversation. The three sat in the living room. "What

  changed for you, Reagan?" the older woman asked. "Why

  aren't you afraid any longer?"

  270 lori wick

  "Ifs been coming for a long time, Katy," Reagan

  answered, her eyes on Cash. "I watched Cash deal with

  493

  you and everyone in and around this ranch. Even people

  he didn't know very well were treated with such care and

  kindness, and then he said he loved me and wanted me to

  be his wife. If folks just passing through could be treated

  with kindness, what wotjld he be like to a wife he loved? I

  realized I was a fool not to have seen it sooner."

  Cash looked into her eyes, and for a moment the young

  couple forgot anyone else was in the room.

  Katy sighed as if she herself had just fallen in love, and

  Reagan looked at her.

  "Will you stand up with me, Katy?"

  "Me?" her voice squeaked, giving Reagan the giggles.

  "Yes. I want a big wedding. I'm planning on asking

  Holly and Sally too."

  "You're going to have me bawling," she said.

  "Do you want to know what else?" Reagan said, her

  eyes alight with mischief.

  "What?"

  "He hasn't even asked me yet."

  Katy looked at her employer in shock and then came to

  494

  her feet.

  "Well, I'm getting out of here. You, Cash Rawlings, have

  work to do."

  The couple had a good laugh as Katy took herself from

  the room. Reagan was about to say something to Cash, but

  he was coming to his feet as well. She watched as he

  slipped into his office and returned with a box in his hands.

  "Whafsthis?" ,

  "A little gift for you."

  Reagan loved gifts and swiftly opened it. Her mouth

  opening in surprise, she took out a small silver-colored

  bell.

  "For my bike?"

  "Yes, indeed."

  "Where did you find it?"

  City Girl 271

  "Laviniahadit"

  Reagan gave the bell a little ring and then looked at him.

  "What would I do without you, Cash?"

  495

  "Marry me and you won't have to find out."

  Reagan smiled, her eyes thoughtful.

  "Reagan Rawlings. It sounds kind of funny, doesn't it?"

  "Not to me."

  "Oh, Cash, just name the day."

  "I'll take that as a yes," he said, just before pulling her

  close and sealing her agreement with a kiss.

  -3T %r

  "It's a boy!" Virginia said as she burst in the front door

  of the ranch house and found the spacious living room

  empty. "Is anyone here?"

  Katy came from the kitchen, not moving as spryly as she

  once did, but on her own two feet.

  "Whafsthat?"

  "Libby had a boy! We were only going to stay a short

  time, but then she was so close, so we just waited. I held

  him, Katy," she said, her voice taking on a note of wonder.

  "I held my own little grandson, Reese Rawlings."

  496

  "A boy." Katy shook her he
ad in surprise. She had been

  praying for Liberty just that morning. "How is Libby? How

  is Slater?"

  "Everyone's doing great. Where's Cash?"

  "In the barn, last I knew."

  Virginia took off in the direction of the kitchen to use the

  back door, and only then did Katy look up to see that

  Charles had come in the front door behind his wife. He was

  standing just inside, a smile on his face.

  "A boy," Katy said. "Now isn't that good news?"

  "Yes, it is," Charles agreed, albeit a good deal calmer

  than his wife. He came forward, his eyes on the housekeeper.

  272 lori wick

  "Sit down, Katy/' he invited. "I want to talk to you."

  Katy sat in complete comfort. They'd known each other

  too many years for anything else.

  "You've changed, Katy.f

  "I have," Katy admitted without hesitation. She had

  been asking God for open doors with people and boldness

  497

  when they came. "Do you want to hear about it?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "I believe the way Gretchen, Cash, Slater, and Dak do. I

  know I'm a sinner, but I'm saved from punishment"

  Charles nodded, his face serene. He bent forward, his

  voice low as he admitted, "I am too, Katy."

  Katy's mouth opened.

  "But you've not said anything. Cash can't know. He'd

  have told me."

  "No one knows."

  "Why,Mr.Rawlings?w

  "Virginia. She still doesn't know what to do with it all."

  He paused, his face so troubled. "Do you know all the

  places I've dragged her, Katy? She's been everywhere with

  me because I told her when we got married that I wasn't

  going to do things on my own. She agreed with me, and

  thaf s the way it's always been. But now I've done this

  without her, and I don't know how to tell her."

  Katy's heart broke over this news. "When did it

  happen?"

  498

  "When I was ill. I honestly thought mat was the end for

  me. I knew I was lost if it was, so I took care of things, and

  just like Dakota, God gave me another chance."

  "He's good that way," Katy said. "I know all about

  second chances, Mr. Rawlings. I'll pray for you," she said

  suddenly. "I have been, but now 111 pray that youll find a

  way to tell Mrs. Rawlings. Maybe just hearing from you

  will turn her heart."

  "Thank you, Katy. I don't know if I've ever told you

  what you mean to us, and I don't think I could find the

  words now, but I do thank you."

  City Girl 273

  Katy smiled at him, and Charles wanted to shake his

  head in amazement. The old Katy would have hushed him

  and left the room. The peace and serenity that surrounded