City Girl (35 page)

“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.

“It's funny, but I think many husbands and wives come from very diverse backgrounds. Have you ever noticed that?”

Reagan said she hadn't.

“I sometimes wonder if that isn't by design. I mean, 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 it'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 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.

“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 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 that'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 that's what they instilled in us from the time we were small.

“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.”

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 the fear won't come back, Cash.”

“So what does that mean? Do you want to wait until all fears are gone or what?”

She chewed her lip. “Can I think on it?”

“No,” he teased. “I need to know right now.”

Reagan smiled.

“Come on.” Cash stood. “Let'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.”

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 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 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.

“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?”

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.”

“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 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 though they included her, it was clear that they were old and dear friends. Reagan found herself praying that Katy would have an 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 them, she was perfectly content to have Reagan settle her 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?”

“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. It'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 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.

“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 fast,” he said.

“Is that your choice or hers?”

“It's ours.”

Virginia smiled with pride. She loved knowing that she had raised three gentlemen. It meant the world to her.

“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.

Twenty-One

“N
OW
,
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.”