Guide Me Home (26 page)

Pansy took a hesitant step from behind Burrel, who gawked at Cissy like he'd never seen her before. Pansy smoothed her hair, tipping her chin high. “What about?”

“About you—an' him.” She jammed her finger at Burrel.

Pansy grabbed hold of his elbow again, fluttering her eyelashes. “What about him?”

Burrel grinned and puffed out his scrawny chest.

Cissy rolled her eyes. “What're you doin' over here anyway? I came by your place 'cause I needed to talk to you. I couldn't believe it when—”

Pansy wasn't listening. She was too busy making eyes at Burrel.

Cissy growled. She grabbed her friend's arm and yanked her away from the boy.

“Ow! Cissy, let go.”

She pinched harder. “No. You ain't listenin' to me.”

Pansy wriggled free. Rubbing her arm, she pranced back over to Burrel. “I don't know what's put a bee in your bonnet, but you're actin' like a spoiled brat. Burrel invited me to supper an' said he'd walk me home afterward.”

“I'll walk you home.” She didn't want to bellow at Pansy anymore. She wanted to tell somebody what Bek had done. She wanted to tell her best friend how her sister had betrayed her.

“No.” Pansy stuck her nose in the air. “Burrel's gonna walk me home. You go home, too, Cissy. Your mama's prob'ly wonderin' where you are by now.” She curled her hands around Burrel's arm and aimed him for the road, flashing a saucy grin over her shoulder. “C'mon, Burrel. Cissy's just throwin' one o' her childish fits. I never pay her no mind when she takes on so.”

Cissy gawked as Pansy and Burrel sauntered up the road, Burrel tripping over his own feet now and then and Pansy giggling and pressing her cheek to his arm. Cissy went hot, then cold, then hot again. When they were a good hundred yards away, she cupped her hands around her mouth and let loose. “Pansy Blair, you ain't my best friend anymore! If you want ol' Burrel Constant instead o' me, then you can have him! The two o' you oughta get along just fine, him with his empty head an' you with your fickle heart!”

The cabin door popped open. “Who is that out there bellerin'?”

Cissy answered Mr. Constant. “It's Cissy Hardin, an' I don't care if you tell the whole hollow what I said 'cause I meant every word!”

“Cissy, you best get on out o' here before I fetch your daddy.”

She looked up the road one more time. Pansy and Burrel had rounded the bend. With a shriek of mingled fury and heartbreak, Cissy turned and barreled for home.

Rebekah

S
aturday morning Lee volunteered to go with Crit on the nine o'clock tour so Rebekah could take Devlin into the hills. He wanted to explore southwest of the Mammoth Cave grounds. She wasn't as familiar with folks who lived in the Joppa community, but most everyone within a twenty-mile circle at least knew her daddy's or granddaddy's name. So if somebody got nervous about her riding onto their property, she'd mention Festus or Chester Hardin, and that should be enough to set their fears at ease.

Since she wouldn't be trekking through a cave, she chose a dress from the wardrobe in the corner of her cabin. As she fastened the pea-sized buttons marching from her waist to her throat, she wondered if Devlin would comment on the pale-yellow dress scattered all over with orange flowers resembling coreopsis blooms. Cal Adwell favored this dress because he said it brought out the honey-colored strands in her dark hair. Maybe, if Devlin didn't seem taken with her appearance, she'd mention Cal's comment and see if it changed his mind.

Or maybe she wouldn't.

She tied her shoes and braided her hair, checked her small mirror, and then set out across the dewy grass for the barn. Her lungs battled pulling in a full breath—a sure sign of nervous excitement. No matter how many times she told herself he could only be a friend, no matter how many times she chided herself for the stuttered heartbeats, the thought of time with Devlin always affected her. She sent up a quick prayer for God to guard her heart, and a rush of guilt followed the petition. Because she'd waited too long to ask.

Devlin had stolen a piece of her heart, and she feared he would own it forever.

She entered the barn, a welcoming place with rich, earthy aromas that always brought to mind Granddaddy Hardin. One of the stable hands, Junior, paused in raking out a stall and raised his hand in greeting.

“Mornin', Reb. You wantin' to take another ride?”

“Yes. Would you prepare Jinx for an outing?”

“Sure thing. Gonna need Marey saddled, too, for Mr. Bale?”

She nodded, hoping the heat flooding her face was hidden by the barn's shadows. While Junior saddled the horses, she nibbled her lip. Before she could go off with Devlin, she needed an escort. She wished they could take Cissy. She needed to make amends with her sister. But Cissy was scheduled to work with the photographer in the afternoon, and Rebekah couldn't be sure they would return to the estates in time. So she'd have to choose a different sister.

Or someone else.

Or not go.

She shook her head, scowling. Of course she'd go. How many opportunities would she have to enjoy Devlin's company now that Tolly was taking Lee on their excursions instead of her? Besides, she still hadn't spoken with Devlin about the assurance of heaven. Surely the opportunity would present itself while they followed trails through the trees.

Junior led Jinx over and handed her the reins. “Here you go, Reb. Enjoy your ride.”

“Thank you.” She urged Jinx to a stable wall and used the rails to climb up in the saddle. “Junior, I need to run a quick errand. If Mr. Bale arrives before I get back, would you ask him to wait for me? I shouldn't be long.”

“Sure. Ride safe, though, huh?” His freckled face reflected worry.

She grinned. “Jinx and I are good friends already. He'll take good care of me.” She patted the gelding's dotted neck. “C'mon now, Jinx, let's go.”

Devlin

Instead of donning his riding suit, Devlin pulled on a pair of work trousers, a blue shirt, and the thick twill jacket he wore in the cave. The clothes smelled fresh and looked clean thanks to the laundress's attention, and even if the outfit was unconventional by Lexington standards, he might startle fewer folks than he had in his jodhpurs.

He slipped a notebook, pencil, penknife, and his sextant into his satchel. The sextant kept the satchel from lying smoothly along his side, but he'd survive. It was better than jamming the bulky measuring tool into his trouser's waistband. His ribs still showed faint bruises from the last time. And he wouldn't leave the brass instrument behind. Accurately recording the locations of caves surrounding the estate was critical.

As he followed the road to the barn, the rhythmic play of horse hooves met his ears. He turned at their approach, and his double-crossing heart gave a leap when he glimpsed Rebekah Hardin, wearing a dress of springtime yellow and orange, sitting prettily in the saddle. Despite his determination to separate himself emotionally from the girl, his lips curved into a smile of welcome in response to her sunny presence.

“Oh, good. I was afraid I'd make you wait for me.”

Devlin drew back, puzzled by her strange greeting.

“I've been home and back already.”

A pair of bright eyes peered over Rebekah's shoulder and a little hand lifted in a wave. “Hi, Mr. Bale.”

He leaned sideways a bit to get a peek at the child clinging to Rebekah's waist. “Hello. Who's back there?”

“Tabitha.”

Rebekah offered a sheepish grin. “We can't go out alone, and Daddy needed Jessie with him today. So Mama sent Tab instead.”

Devlin couldn't stifle a chuckle. “So I'm spending the morning with Reb and Tab. With names like that you two could be a vaudeville team.”

Tabitha's curious face popped up over Rebekah's other shoulder. “What's vaudeville?”

Before Devlin could form an answer suitable for an eight-year-old's understanding, Rebekah nudged her little sister lightly with her elbow. “Nothing that needs to concern you, Tabby. Hush now, you hear?”

The child hunkered down, disappearing from view.

“Junior has Marey saddled and ready to go. Do you want to fetch her and then meet us by the estate entrance?”

“That sounds fine.” A few minutes of separation should help him get his tumbling emotions under control.

She tugged Jinx's reins, and the horse and its riders departed, dust stirring with every fall of the horse's hooves. He remained rooted in place, frowning, unable to pull his gaze away from Rebekah's slender form. Why, of all the girls in Kentucky, had this one so thoroughly stirred the embers of his heart to life?

Suddenly, unbidden, a comment Tolly had made at the cave's flower garden whooshed through Devlin's memory.
“He knowed we'd be here on this very day an' time…”
Troubling questions followed the remembrance. Had God known his pathway would cross Rebekah's? Had He planned for them to meet? Rebekah had wisely pointed out their differences, and even though he'd initially balked, he'd come to accept her statements as true. She knew they didn't belong together. He agreed. Shouldn't an all-wise, all-knowing God also recognize there was no point in allowing affection to kindle between them?

He gave himself a little jolt that put his feet into motion. Mooning over Rebekah Hardin was a waste of time, energy, and emotion. “Think about why you're here, Bale,” he muttered as he strode briskly through the morning sunshine. “Finish the job. And then get yourself home before you lose any more of yourself.”

Rebekah

The morning eased away, the minutes slogging rather than racing, yet the time wasn't enough to satisfy. Her conflicting emotions left her edgy and out of sorts, the opposite of how she wanted to feel in Devlin's presence. And it helped not a bit that each time she glanced at him her heart rolled over in her chest.

Nearly an hour ago, Devlin had settled Tabitha in front of him because the little girl had trouble staying on the back of Rebekah's horse during uphill climbs. So now Tabby leaned trustingly into Devlin's form, his protective arm across her belly, her small hands curled over his forearm. The two of them seemed so natural together, so comfortable. The sight pained her in ways she couldn't understand.

She turned her attention to the trail leading to the Minyards' place. The Davises, Hogans, and McCauleys had answered Devlin's questions even if they seemed a little confused by his interest. For some reason he'd seemed dissatisfied by their responses, and she found herself hoping that whatever he discovered at the Minyards' would be more pleasing to him. Especially since they needed to return to the estate after this visit.