City Girl (29 page)

“You want to ride?” Reagan asked in surprise, staring up at Slater.

“Sure. I've seen them in St. Louis but never been close to one. Or don't you think I'll fit?”

“Oh, no, you'll fit. I'm just surprised.”

“Why?”

Reagan looked uncertain and then knew she had to come out with it.

“I'm the reason Katy broke her hip. I brought the bike out and talked her into riding.”

“That's not what Katy said,” Slater told her with a smile.

Reagan blinked.

“What did Katy say?”

“She said that she knew she should have stopped and didn't. She was getting tired but wanted to show off for Cash, so when she put her leg out, it couldn't support her.”

Reagan's mouth opened and Slater grinned. Her hands came to her waist, and the accent slipped into place.

“So you've been chattin' behind Reagan's back, have you now? Well, I'll tell you a thing or two, Mr. Rawlings,” Reagan began, stopping when she saw that Dakota had come on the scene and was staring at her.

“Do it again,” he ordered, but Reagan only laughed.

“I thought you were here to visit Katy,” she accused them, her voice returning to normal.

“She's asleep. I think we wore her out last night and then again this morning.”

“I still want to ride this thing,” Slater put in, and Reagan acquiesced and gave him a quick demonstration.

“She just hops right on! Did you see that?”

“Yes, I did. I think I'll have a try.”

“Wait your turn, Dakota.”

Before long Cash joined the threesome, and in little time they had Reagan in near hysterics with their antics on the bike. To the amazement of all, Cash was the most proficient.

“Have you been practicing in the barn when I wasn't looking?” Reagan challenged him.

“Every night,” he teased. “I sneak down after dark and ride among the horses.”

“Wouldn't Darvi love to see this,” Slater called as Dakota took a turn.

“I was thinking of some of the Rangers I used to work with. I'm glad they're not around now.”

“Rangers?” Reagan questioned Cash.

“Dakota and Slater were both with the Texas Rangers.”

Reagan's mouth dropped open as she did nothing to disguise her amazement.

“Real Texas Rangers?”

Cash smiled.

“Who's a real Texas Ranger?” Dakota asked as he rode up and stopped.

Reagan could only stare at both of the younger Rawlingses.

“What's so amazing, Reagan?” Cash asked her.

“I don't know. I just never thought I'd meet any. I've been hearing about the Texas Rangers since I was a little girl.”

Once again Cash was given a glimpse of life through Reagan's eyes. The very things he thought nothing of were special and amazing to her.

“Is it too personal to ask why you're not with the Rangers anymore?”

“Not at all.” Dakota filled her in, explaining the way Rangers had to be on the move and how hard it was to meet that expectation and also be with his family.

Reagan was still looking stunned over who they had been when she realized she hadn't checked on Katy for a time.

“I'd better get inside.”

“Thanks for the lesson,” they called to her, but Reagan only waved them away. Once inside she found Katy still asleep and thought it might be a good time to dust and sweep upstairs. She tried to make quick work of it but found it was quite warm and was reminded that she still hadn't gotten a chance to shop for cooler clothing. Having arrived in this hot country in January, she had not made summer clothing a priority, but suddenly Reagan felt awful.

Not caring whether or not she was needed, Reagan moved down to Katy's bedroom and sat quietly in the chair. The window was open, and for a time she let what little breeze there was blow in on her as she prayed for Katy's hip to heal.

“Are you all right, Reagan?”

Reagan turned from the window to find Katy looking at her.

“I'm just a little warm.”

“Have you nothing cooler to wear?” the older woman asked, taking in the long sleeves and dark material of Reagan's dress.

“No. I haven't had a chance to shop.”

“Well, go today.”

“No. I'll just take some time the next time we need supplies.”

“Oh, stuff and nonsense! It's only April, Reagan. You're going to need cooler clothing. Go now while I have the boys to look after me.”

“It's not the same,” Reagan informed her, knowing Katy would understand her meaning.

“I don't have any needs like that right now. I'm fine. Now go. No, wait. Get Cash in here. I'll ask him to take you. Do you have money?”

“Yes, thank you, I do have money, and I'll just ride my bike.”

“How will you get your dress home?”

“Mrs. Unger will wrap it, I'm sure.” Reagan smiled before adding, “Dinna fash yourself, woman.”

Before it was over, Cash ended up hearing about Reagan's plans and did offer to take her into town, but she would have none of it. Before lunch, so the sun was not quite as fierce, Reagan—with instructions to take all day if she needed—took herself off in the direction of town, her mind already going over what she should buy. She also had a letter in her pocket from Katy. It was to be delivered to Lavinia. Reagan assumed it was a thank-you note for the powder.

And she was partially correct.

Had Reagan but known it, Katy was plotting against her. All her life Katy Sims had had tender thoughts for the ones she loved, but never before had she felt she could express them or do anything about them. It had been her lot, or so she felt, to cook and clean as a way to say the words she could not utter.

Now she knew better. And the letter to Lavinia was only the start.

Seventeen

“I'
M HAVING A SALE FOR SPECIAL
customers,” Lavinia whispered to Reagan not many minutes after she was handed the letter. “Buy two dresses, get one free.”

Reagan's eyes rounded.

“When is the sale?”

“Today only.”

Katy had not asked the mercantile proprietress to lie to Reagan; nevertheless, in handling it her own way, she was going to accomplish Katy's goal.

That Lavinia had received a note from Katy thanking her for the powder and telling her to talk Reagan into buying an extra dress and putting it on her bill was enough to surprise her into sitting down, but she fought the urge. Staying on her feet and helping Reagan, Lavinia was able to see that in just under an hour's time, the younger woman left the store with three new dresses, all very lightweight and comfortable, and some new underthings and stockings too.

Never in her life had Reagan been able to afford more than two dresses. Her shoes were not going to last another year, but for the moment, Reagan felt as though she was set for life. She was so excited about her purchases that she wanted to tell someone. At the same time, she wanted to ignore Katy's orders to take her time. Telling herself she would just take a few minutes, she rode her bicycle toward Holly's house.

As Reagan knew she would be, Holly was very surprised but also pleased to see her.

“You came in on your own? Cash didn't have one of the men bring you?”

“No, I rode my bike.”

“I'm surprised Cash didn't do the job himself.”

“He wanted to, but his brothers are visiting, one of them just until tonight, and I didn't want any of them to have to come to town with me.”

“Will you be able to get things back on your bike?”

“Yes. It's just a small bundle of clothing.”

“For you?”

Reagan nodded.

“Show me!”

For a time the women enjoyed looking at the purchases, but before long Reagan put her hand on Holly's arm and spoke intently about what had been lingering in her heart on her ride into town.

“I understand now, Holly, why you wanted this for me. I was reading my Bible on Monday morning and realized that your prayers were answered with a yes. You knew how much God's Son would do in my life, and you wanted that for me.”

“Oh, Reagan,” Holly said quietly, “you have no idea what you do for my heart.”

“I don't know how,” Reagan said with a laugh. “There's so little I know.”

“But you want to know, and that's such a blessing, Reagan.”

Reagan frowned a little.

“Think of how delighted you were when the children loved your bike and Elly wanted to ride it. You were thrilled to have them share in something you love.”

Reagan nodded with new understanding.

“It's coming up on noon. Do you have time to walk with Alisa and me to give Russell his lunch?”

Reagan hesitated, but she wanted to see the large blacksmith who was missing from her life on the ranch.

“All right, but I'd better take my bike and go right from the livery.”

Holly pushed the bike so Reagan could hold Alisa. They walked swiftly to the livery, talking all the way, and when Russell saw Reagan he gave her a hug.

“We miss you. How is it going at the ranch?”

“It's going well. Cash's brothers are visiting. Slater leaves tonight, and I'm not sure when Dakota leaves. Katy was so glad to see them.”

“I'm sure she was. How is she coming?”

“She's doing very well. I think she'll be in that wheelchair right on time, and once she gets out of that bed, there will be no stopping her.”

Russell and Holly were both very glad to hear it, and with Alisa going from one adult to the next and even spending some time falling in the dirt on her own, the three of them had a quick session of catching up.

The time flew swiftly, however, and all too soon Reagan said she had to go. Getting hugs from both Holly and Russell and a grimy one from Alisa, she hopped on her bike and started out of town.

It didn't take long to see that the sun was going to be very hot for her ride back, but it was good to know that she could wash the dress she was wearing and put it away for a time. Come next winter, she would be glad to have its extra weight.

Without really planning to, Reagan stopped riding. There was some shade ahead, and she walked the bike and stood for a moment in it. The thought of winter caused something like sadness to come upon her. She didn't know why, but the future—even knowing that God loved her and would take care of her—was somehow daunting. She couldn't put her finger on the exact reason, but she feared that the sameness of her life, the day in and day out working at the hotel and dealing with the customers, would eventually grow old and tiresome.

Reagan was still thinking on it when a rider came into view. She stood still and watched as Dakota Rawlings came abreast of her.

“Hello,” she greeted him with a smile.

“Hello, yourself.”

“Where are you off to?”

“To find you.”

Reagan looked concerned. “Is something wrong with Katy?”

“No, but she wanted me to look for you.”

“You didn't have to do that.”

“She was growing anxious,” Dakota explained. “She was doing her best not to show it, but she just kept asking after you.”

“I knew I should have stayed and seen to her needs.”

“I don't think that's it. She felt that she pushed you into going and said that you looked overheated even before you left. She also said she told you to take your time but didn't believe you actually would. I think your being gone this long convinced her that you must have collapsed on the side of the road.”

“I'd better get right back.”

“I'll go along with you. In fact, we can just walk. She started to relax as soon as I volunteered to go.”

“Oh, all right.”

Dakota swung down from the saddle, took Reagan's parcel and hung the string on his saddle horn, and then took the handlebars of her bike. That he did nothing to restrain his horse or prompt him to follow was not lost on her.

“Will he just come?”

“The puppy? Yes.”

Reagan laughed at the term, but in a moment saw what he meant. Dakota's horse did not want him far from view.

“So how did your shopping go?”

Reagan looked pleased when she said, “Very well. It's fun to get new things, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is. Too bad my wife wasn't here to go with you. She loves to shop.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Since January.”

“Well, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

At any other time Dakota might have been tempted to tease her a little about a marriage of her own, but Cash's words were still strong in his mind. For some reason, this woman's heart was vulnerable where marriage or men were concerned. Maybe she'd been married before and deserted. Dakota didn't know, but after he'd apologized to Cash that morning, he realized his first concern needed to be for Reagan's spiritual growth, not whether or not she wanted to marry his brother.