Stand of Redemption (23 page)

“You’re welcome.” Rachel was showing her out the door as her new appointment was arriving.

Both women greeted Mrs. Langley. Rachel told Cheryl good-bye before escorting Mrs. Langley to the sunroom, helping the frail woman onto the table. She’d had gallbladder surgery months ago, and the older woman had not recovered her strength yet. Rachel doused the la
vender candles and lit her white candles for healing, letting the soothing aroma fill the room as she came to stand over Mrs. Langley with a gentle smile.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Tired. I’m tired all the time now, Rachel.” The woman’s pale, lined face stared back at her.

“Let me see if I can help with that.” Rachel skimmed her hands over Mrs. Langley’s body, taking her time to send wave after wave of healing warmth through her. As Rachel worked, she noticed her stiffness gradually became more relaxed.

She worked on her longer than she had anticipated; giving the woman everything she could, hoping it was enough. It was going to take several sessions to ease the toll the surgery had taken on her.

When she finished, Rachel helped Mrs. Langley from the table.

“I feel like I had a long nap.”

“You might have dozed off,” Rachel prevaricated, handing her purse over without telling her she had slept for over an hour.

“How much do I owe you?” Mrs. Langley opened her purse.

“Nothing, you get the family discount.” Rachel smiled, placing her arm around her frail
shoulders. “Want to see Logan?”

The bright eagerness in her eyes brought a lump to Rachel’s throat as she led her into the living room where Holly and Dustin were sitting, playing a game.

“Grandma!” Logan got up from the floor, running to his great-grandmother, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, giving her a hug.

“Holly and I are playing a game. Do you want to play?”

“I would love to.” While Logan eagerly showed her how to play, Rachel watched for several minutes before going back into the sunroom and removing the sheets, placing them in a hamper she kept in the corner. Blowing the candles out, she went to her room to get changed out of her jeans and t-shirt.

The only time she wore dresses was when she went to church or helped out at the church
store which helped the economically disadvantaged in the community.

Pulling on a peach sundress, Rachel brushed her waist-length hair before plaiting it. Her hair was straight as a stick, but it was thick and heavy. The whole process was becoming more and more time-consuming; she needed to cut it off and save herself the trouble.

Sliding her feet into her sandals, she turned back to the mirror. Somehow, even in the pretty dress, she still looked like the tomboy she was. Just once, she wanted to look as sexy and seductive as the women Cash ran after.

Rachel went for her purse, immediately dragging her thoughts from the man she’d had a crush on since she was a little girl. Some things were better left to the imagination, Cash being one of them. She wasn’t his type, and her brothers would kill him. On the other hand, a little fantasy never hurt anyone.

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