By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition (6 page)

“O–kay.” Victoria took the paper from him. Her eyes widened as she scanned the page.

Sondra nudged her shoulder. “You need to tell him.”

Chris looked from Sondra to Victoria. Victoria’s eyes swelled with emotion for a moment, but she quickly blinked it away. Something in him longed to touch her cheek and tell her everything would be all right. He shook his head. He didn’t even know the woman, except that she was a disaster waiting to happen. And he could sense the wait was about to end … again.

Victoria glanced at her sister-in-law.

“Just be honest with him. He’s a great guy,” Sondra whispered.

She turned to Chris. “I’ve gotta check on the kids. I’ll let you two talk.”

Victoria glanced at Chris. The snarl on his face compared to that of a bulldog. She just couldn’t quite see the “great guy” Sondra kept talking about. Every time Victoria spoke with him, it was under a large amount of tension. Admittedly, tension caused by her, but it made her nervous nonetheless.

“So what’s going on?” Chris said the words with what could only be described as vehement dread.

Victoria inhaled and straightened her shoulders. She would not feel inferior to this man. The accident was her fault. Her circumstances were not. She would do what she could, in whatever way she could, to make things right. After all, she had the Creator of the universe to turn to for guidance, and He never failed her. She smiled. “Would you like to have a seat?” She pointed to one of the rocking chairs on the porch. Lifting her cup, she added, “Maybe a cup of coffee?”

Chris frowned and the snarl deepened.
The Dukes of Hazzard
hunk had transformed into a red-eyed bull whose gaze targeted on her. Victoria looked down to see what she’d chosen to wear this morning. Noting the crimson color, she wished she’d chosen more calming attire.

“No, thank you. Just tell me what you have to say.”

He did add a thank-you to the no, which encouraged her. Maybe he would take her news better than she’d anticipated.
Just spit it out and get it over with
. “It seems I don’t have insurance. My daddy didn’t renew our policy, and I didn’t know it.”

Chris lowered himself into one of the rocking chairs. He closed his eyes and exhaled. She watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in an effort to control what he must be feeling.

Okay, so maybe he’s taking it exactly as I expected
. She sat in the chair beside him.

“All those years. All that saving,” Chris mumbled.

“I am sorry. I’ll do whatever I can …”

“Are you?” Chris’s eyes opened and he sat up straight. “Well, that’s wonderful. You come storming into town, smashing my car with no insurance, but you’re nice and sorry.” He stood and stomped off the porch. “I’m
so
glad you’re sorry.”

Victoria jumped out of the chair and walked to him. She stood to her full height even though he still towered over her. Lifting her chin, she glared at him. “I will still pay for your
precious
Mary Ann.”

“That’s good. It’s the least you could do. After all, it’s your mess …” He pointed at his chest. “And I’m fixing it.”

“Go on home, Mr. Ratliff.” Victoria stomped away from him. Reaching the porch, she turned to face him. She touched her finger to her other palm. “The money is as good as in your hand.”

Chris jumped in his truck, growled with the engine, and drove away.

She bit the inside of her lip. “Now how am I going to go about doing that?”

Victoria looked away from the pawnshop owner and down at the ring one last time. It had been a priceless treasure to her grandmother. Her grandfather died before Victoria had been born, and Grandma had often told her stories of their courtship.

“My daddy used to chase your grandpa off the porch each time he came around.” Victoria could hear Grandma’s voice and her tongue clicking as if she were in the room with her.

“But your grandpa would come back the next day anyway.” She had laughed. “Used to drive my daddy crazy.”

Victoria would nestle into her grandmother’s lap and close her eyes as Grandma combed her fingers through Victoria’s hair. “But your grandpa and I were crazy in love.”

Victoria touched the small, round diamond resting in a square setting. Smaller diamonds made their home on each side. In truth, the ring wasn’t much to look at, but it had always been precious, first to her grandmother, and since her death, to Victoria.

“You know I really don’t mind loaning you a little money to help get you started,” Dylan leaned over and whispered in her ear.

Victoria flashed a smile at the oversized cowboy. He’d really grown on her in the last few days. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Pride isn’t always a good thing, Vic.”

Victoria sighed, gazing back at the ring. “It’s really not about pride. I’ve never had to work for anything. Never had to lose anything.” She peered up at Dylan. “I’m spoiled. I always have been. I don’t know if I can fully explain this to you, but I have to do this on my own.”

Dylan wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze. “You’re all right, Vic. You’re gonna be just fine.”

With that, Victoria quickly handed the ring to the pawnshop owner and grabbed the offered money off the counter. “You’ll keep my ring for one month, before anyone can buy it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The man smiled exposing a missing front tooth. He didn’t appear like someone to be trusted according to every television program Victoria had ever seen, but Dylan had promised that the man ran a legitimate business.

“Are we ready?” Victoria forced a smile.

“Whenever you are.”

“Let’s go.” Victoria turned toward the door and bumped into an even larger figure. “Oh, excuse me.” She glanced at her feet and tried to walk around.

“Victoria, what are you doing here?” She looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and watched as Chris extended his hand to Dylan. “Well, hello, Dylan.”

Victoria exhaled and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
This is just great
.

“Dylan, I don’t reckon I’ve ever seen you in here before.” Chris shook hands with his friend. “You don’t play any instruments on the sly, do you?”

Dylan shook his head and waved his hands. “Oh no.”

“Buying some jewelry for Sondra?” Chris glanced at Victoria. Her eyes had doubled their size, and she appeared as if she might keel over. “You okay?”

“Just running some errands,” answered Dylan. “So what are you doing here?”

“Looking at guitars.” The color in Victoria’s face returned. He wondered if he’d scared her when he stormed off the other morning. He probably needed to apologize. Never would he want a woman, or anyone for that matter, to be afraid of him. “Victoria, I’m sorry if I scared you the other day.”

“Vic’s all right. She’s a tough ol’ gal,” added Dylan.

Chris frowned at Dylan. He was acting mighty strangely. Glancing at Victoria, Chris smiled. “You go by Vic?”

She shrugged and half smiled. “Peewee gave me the name.”

“I’m not sure if you look like a Vic. You’re young. Innocent. With a bit of fire.” Her eyes widened and Chris laughed. “Yeah. I guess it suits you just fine.”

Victoria lifted her chin. “So what was it you said you were doing here, Chris?”

He gazed down at his guitar and the music papers in his hand. “I love to sing worship at church, but my guitar has just about given out. It’d still be good for someone who likes to fiddle around a little bit, but it won’t make it much longer being used three times a week and then whenever I feel a drawing to her in the evenings.”

“Does your guitar have a name, as well?”

Chris laughed out loud. “As a matter of fact, she does.” He lifted the guitar toward Victoria. “Vic, this is Belle. Belle, this is Vic. I’m sorry you won’t get to know each other much as I’m getting ready to trade in Belle, but you’ve been introduced just the same.”

“Do you trade in your girls often?”

“Not the ones worth keeping.” Victoria’s neck and cheeks turned crimson as she looked away. He hadn’t meant anything by his words. Did she think he spoke of her? Chris drank in her whole image as well as considered her fiery spirit that mingled with sincerity and truth. If Victoria Thankful was anything, she was definitely worth keeping. “I don’t think that came out …”

“Well, there you have it.” Dylan interrupted. He grabbed Victoria’s arm. “We best get going. Sondra’s expecting us back soon.”

“Okay.” Chris waved, feeling confident he’d made a total fool of himself. “I’ll see you at church on Sunday. Hope to see you there, Vic.”

Dylan and Victoria walked toward the door. She leaned closer to him and whispered, “What did he mean by that?”

Dylan shook his head. “Not a thing, darlin’. Don’t go overanalyzing the things men say. Sondra makes me crazy when she does that.”

Chris closed his eyes at the overheard conversation. He had hurt her feelings, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Frustrated, he turned and walked to the counter. “Hey, Vern. My guitar needs a bit of updating. Think we can make up a deal?”

“I’d reckon.” The man pointed to the guitars hanging on the wall. “Pick out what you want, and we’ll see what we can do.”

Chris selected the one that would suit his need but wouldn’t be too expensive. He set it on the counter and counted out the amount Vern wanted for the trade. “I was wondering …” He handed the money to Vern. “Did that man and woman who were just in here buy anything?”

Vern shook his head. “Nah. She just wanted to pawn a ring.” He sighed. “She had a hard time parting with it.” He handed the change to Chris. “If people would learn to pay with cash instead of credit, they wouldn’t have to give up the treasures they love.” The man clicked his tongue. “Course, then I wouldn’t be in business.”

Chris placed the change in his billfold and put it in his back pocket. “Could I see the ring she brought in?”

“Sure.” Vern grabbed a tray from underneath the counter.

Chris picked up the ring. It was actually kind of small, not something he would have expected Victoria to wear.
Why would she want to pawn this small ring?

“That little ring there is actually worth a nice piece of money. It’s a perfect diamond, and they don’t make settings like that anymore. Sure, someone could try, but there’s detailing to it that proves the ring’s age.”

Chris put the ring on the tip of his pinky finger.

“Said it was her grandma’s,” Vern added.

So it was important to her. Chris didn’t understand his need to help the woman who had banged into his life and turned it upside down, but he couldn’t deny the desire was there. Each time he peered into her honest eyes, he wanted to confess a million feelings, though he still couldn’t quite put his finger on what they were. “How much do you want for it?”

The man shook his head. “I promised her I’d keep it a month, and you know I’m a man of my word.”

Chris picked up his guitar. “Yep, you are, and I’m glad of it.”

“Tell you what I can do.” Vern slid a piece of paper and a pencil in front of Chris. “Give me your number, and I’ll give you a call if she doesn’t get here in a month.”

Chris grinned. “I’d appreciate that.”