by Lori Wick
"Good. If I remember I've forgotten something, I'll put
it on your list"
"My own list is plenty full."
"Well, one more item won't hurt. What are you making
215
the men tonight?"
"Fish stew. Luke's brother caught a slew of bluegills and
landed them all in my kitchen."
"I thought they hated fish stew."
"No, they don't!" His voice grew indignant. "If s that
lamb stew I tried! I had a revolt on that one/' he muttered,
but there was a twinkle in his eye. Katy smiled a little herself.
Max Reed and Katy Sims had been friends for more than
ten years. Max wasn't as old as Cash's housekeeper, but
age had never been a factor. Their jobs--the very nature of
being at the ranch nearly every day and not out on the
range--simply drew them together.
"Is that wagon done?" Katy asked Luke when he came
back with yet another load.
"Just about."
"Well, when you finish, you just get yourself over to that
jar and get some cookies. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am," Luke replied, just barely holding his
smile.
"And you get out from under foot, Max Reed. I've got
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Cash's dinner to put on."
"I'm goin'. I'm goin'. I got my own work to do."
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Katy snorted as though he didn't know the meaning of
the word and kept on with her dinner preparations. Cash
came on the scene about an hour later when supper was
just about ready.
"How were things in town?" he asked while having a
quick wash at the basin. She'd told him that morning she
was going a day early.
"Did you know that Reagan Sullivan rides a bicycle?"
she demanded, horning toward him.
Cash laughed. "I take it you saw her?"
Katy shook her head in amazement. "She's going to
break her neck!"
"I don't think so/' Cash said confidently. "If anyone can
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take care of herself, it's Reagan."
Katy looked at Cash, her eyes narrowing.
"You sound interested."
"In what?"
"Reagan."
"You mean as a woman?" He looked confused.
"No, I mean as a horse. Of course, as a woman!"
Cash was already shaking his head.
"Now don't you say no to me, Charles Rawlings! She
couldn't be sweeter, and something tells me she's a hard
worker."
"I'm sure she's all of that, but she doesn't share my faith,
Katy," Cash told her soberly.
The woman's eyes widened.
"But she came to the church party, and I've seen her at
church too,"
"Well," Cash kept his voice gentle and worked not to
218
show his surprise, "we both know that attending church
does not mean you believe."
This shut Katy's mouth. Cash had not intended to put
her in her place, but she simply had no argument, and they
both knew it And the reason was a simple one: Katy had
been attending church off and on with Cash for a couple of
years, but never once had she been willing to talk about
what she was hearing.
City Girl 121
One Sunday morning Cash had asked her outright if she
had ever gotten serious about her relationship to God. Katy
had not pretended ignorance. She told him plainly that she
didn't think she was a sinner and didn't believe God would
condemn anyone He had created. And that wasn't the end
of it! She had made it very clear to Cash on that day that
she didn't wish to discuss it anymore.
But they had been sharing the same house for a long
time, and he knew from other comments she made that a
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lot of her beliefs stemmed from her relationship to his parents.
When he had first come to Christ, she had naturally
wanted to know how his beliefs were different from his
parents'. His explanation had not been well received. She
thought the sun, moon, and stars rose and set on the senior
Charles Rawlings and his wife and would hear no word to
the contrary. Cash could still recall the scene.
How could you say such a thingf Cash Rawlings! Why, your
mother took me in when I didn't have a thing. We've worked side
by side in this house since the first year it was built, and now
with them in St. Louis and not even here to defend themselves,
you say they're not Christians!
"Dinner's ready," the housekeeper announced, her
voice sounding completely normal.
"It smells good. What is it?"
"Veal medallions in peppercorn sauce. And if you'll
check the little bowl in the living room, I've got your
favorite molasses candy in there."
"What would I do without you, Kate?" Cash asked as he
sat down to eat
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"Just curl up and die, I 'spect."
Katy didn't stick around to eat with him as she often did,
and tonight Cash was thankful. He had little choice but to
leave the subject of faith alone, but not having her in the
kitchen allowed him to spend a little extra time in prayer.
As he did often throughout the day, he asked God to soften
Katy's heart so that she could see her need of Him.
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Cash finally tucked into his meal but had only taken a
few bites when his foreman knocked onthe back door.
"Come in/' he called.
Brad entered, taking his hat off before seeing that Katy
was not in the room. Cash smiled when he replaced it and
sat across from him.
"I'm headed out now."
"All right. Who've you taking with you?"
"Dusty and Zeke."
"Zeke?"
"I'll tell you, Cash, if you can get past that baby face,
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there's a lot of man there. He never complains, and because
he was raised in the hills, he's a good man to track those
coyotes."
Cash nodded. "Ill leave it up to you."
"One of the girls has a cold by the way/' Brad added,
talking about one of his two daughters. "I told Brenda to
come up here to the big house if it gets worse."
"Good. I'll have Katy check on her tomorrow."
"All right, boss," the cowboy stood, his hat still in place.
"Ill see you next week."
Cash waved him on and went back to his meal. Of all
the changes he'd made since taking over the ranch from his
father, the best was putting in a house for his foreman.
Prior to that, his father had been through several foremen.
They had been young and lacked experience. Men with
better qualifications usually had wives and children. With
no place for another family to live at the ranch,, it was very
difficult to offer the job to such a man.
"Where did she get that bicycle anyhow?" Katy
demanded, suddenly coming on the scene. Cash nearly
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choked on his food for laughing.
"Are you still thinking on that?"
"Have you seen her?" the woman asked, as though that
explained it all. This said, she went on her way, leaving
Cash to
wonder just what kind of impact Reagan Sullivan
was going to have on them all.
m
9*
reagan had meant what she said. She had no doubt in
her mind that anyone could ride a bicycle, and now she
was headed to the ranch to let Katy try. This trip to the
ranch, however, was a bit different. There was no cake in
her hand, and she was not late and in a big hurry. Letting
herself look all around, Reagan rode as though she didn't
have a care in the world. And if she worked hard enough,
she could even convince herself that she didn't
It had been more than a week since she'd been scheduled
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to meet Ty and ended up in the Bennetts' living room.
She hadn't touched her Bible or gone to church since she
left them. She wasn't angry, but she just didn't think she
could agree with their way of thinking. The whole idea of
letting God rule over her ran her blood cold. What if He
demanded more than she could ever give? What if she had
to give up what she found most dear--her freedom?
Reagan's thoughts were interrupted when she realized
the gateway to the ranch had come into view. She could
hardly wait to see the surprise on Kat/s face. Indeed, she
was still laughing at the older woman's proclamation that
she would break her neck.
She picked up the pace a little, excitement running in
her veins, and before she knew it, she was hopping off the
bike, bounding up the steps, and scooting across the wide
porch to knock on the big wooden door. Feeling antsy, she
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224
wiggled around a bit when no one came. Making a harder
ball with her fist, she came close to pounding this time, and
sure enough, she heard someone speaking as she approached.
"You'd think it was locked/' Katy muttered as she
pulled the door open and found a smiling Reagan on the
porch.
"I'm here with the bike!" she announced, her dark eyes
sparkling.
Katy stared at her.
"You said you wanted to ride."
"Land sakes! Have you lost your mind?"
"Not at all. You can do it, Katy. A woman in my neighborhood
in New York learned to ride, and she was much
older than you."
"How old?" Katy shot at her.
"Very old," Reagan assured her.
"Oh, for pity's sake!" Katy exclaimed, but she also came
onto the porch and walked to the top of the steps where she
could look down to where the bike leaned against the
225
railing.
"You do it," Katy suddenly turned and demanded.
Not saying a word but smiling hugely, Reagan
descended the steps, put the bicycle into position, gave it a
little push, hopped on with the ease of breathing, and rode
in a little circle as though she'd been doing it all her life.
"Where did you get that?"
"I sent for it," she called from the leather seat "It was in
a catalog."
"How did you learn to ride?"
"I just did it. I held onto the side of a building when I first got going. It took only a few hours. If 11 be easier for
you, since I'll be here to help and steady you."
Katy licked her lips. Cash was always teasing her about
being old and set in her ways, but what if he came off the
range tonight and found her riding a bike? Reagan could
atyGirl 125
stay for dinner, and Katy could greet Cash from the seat of
that metal contraption.
Having convinced herself, Katy moved down the steps.
226
Reagan all but shouted with enthusiasm and jumped off
the bike to let her have a try.
"Okay," she urged the older woman, who was smaller in
frame and height than she was. "Gather your skirt to one
side with your left hand, and take this side of the steering
bar with your right. Okay? Good. Now, let the bike roll a bit
and then make a quick jump, releasing your left hand very
fast, and grabbing the bar, just as you land on the seat"
"You must be out of your mind," Katy said with complete
conviction.
"Here." Reagan took the bike from her. "Watch me. I
don't have to hold my skirt over anymore, but I'll do it so
you'll understand."
Katy stood back and watched as Reagan made it look
very easy. She even hopped off and started again to show
her.
"What if I tip over?"
I'll run alongside and catch you."
Katy just about said no but then remembered how hard
it was to surprise Cash.
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"You'll stay right with me?"
"Yes. I won't let go unless you tell me."
Her mouth pursed with determination, Katy tried it and
was surprised into a breathless gasp that it actually
worked. Reagan kept her hand on the bar and seat, running
alongside and encouraging her all the way. Katy made
it several feet before she got wobbly and had to jump off.
"It just about jars your teeth out!"
Reagan smiled. "I know! Isn't it fun?"
Katy couldn't help but laugh as she said, "All right! Lef s
go again."
This time they got down to real business. The housekeeper
even commanded Reagan to let go. She did very
126 lori wick
well for a good ten yards before taking a spill. Recovering
very nicely, she even fussed over the dirt on her dress.
"Are you hurt?" Reagan asked as she rushed up.
"No. I want to ride some more."
Reagan laughed. It had been the same for her. Once
228
she'd gotten the hang of it, she hadn't wanted to do anything
else. In the next half hour the two had more fun than
either could remember in a long time. Reagan even showed
Katy a few tricks she had taught herself. Not warm by
nature, Katy was thinking that she didn't ever want this
girl to go home.
"I'll have a try at one of those tricks/' Katy said.
"Maybe you'd better give it some more time, Katy,"
Reagan cautioned.
"I didn't mean it," she said as if Reagan should know. "I
just want another ride."
Reagan stood back and watched her hop on. She headed
down the driveway and then turned to come back. The
turn was what ended the fun. She started to fall, and just as
Reagan had taught her, put her foot out. This time, however,
she was moving tob fast. Her leg could not support
her and down she went at an awkward angle. Reagan
thought it looked painful and swiftly rushed to her side.
"Are you all right?"
Katy didn't answer.
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Reagan moved so she could look right down into her
face. The housekeeper's complexion had gone very pale.
"It hurts," she said.
"Where, Katy?"
"My leg. I can't move it."
Reagan could have died on the spot. That Katy might
get hurt had honestly never occurred to her.
'Til go for the doctor," she said, her voice rising in panic.
"No, send Max."
"Where is Max?"
&nbs
p; "In the bunkhouse. You know the one?"
City Girl 127
But Reagan didn't answer, she was already running, her
skirts hitched up to give her freedom. She was fairly certain
which building was the bunkhouse, but when she
pounded and yelled, a woman answered.
"Where's Max?" Reagan demanded.
"In the bunkhouse. What is it?"
"Which one's the bunkhouse?"
230
"There," the woman pointed. "What's happened?" she
called again, this time to Reagan's retreating back.
"Katy's hurt! We need the doctor," she yelled as she
moved to the other building, not waiting to see if the
woman heard her or not
S-*3*"
Today they were branding calves. Normally Cash would
not have been directly involved, but with Brad gone, he felt
he needed to be on the job. That morning he had met with
a man who hailed from the east and wished to go into
ranching. Cash didn't think he would actually do it--he'd
been too horrified by the smell of cattle--but Cash had
been more than willing to answer his questions and offer
help in any way he could.
The event caused Cash to think about the type of man
his father was. Charles Rawlings Sr. had been born and
raised in the city, but when an opportunity came to turn his
231
hand to Texas ranching, he had jumped at it and been successful
in the bargain. The ranch he handed down to his
son was very prosperous.
Working without having to give the branding any
thought, Cash let his mind wander to his family. He'd been
with all of them just that January, but it seemed so long ago.
He'd received a letter from Darvi the week before saying
she and Dakota were doing well and settled in a small
house in town. Cash was glad that the town was small. He
128 lori wick
liked thinking about his brothers ensconced in small, dose
communities like Kinkade.
"He's loose!" one of the men yelled when his rope
slipped. Cash jumped to his feet--lariat in hand--to rope a
runaway whose mother bellowed to him from outside the
makeshift pen.
It was while Cash was finishing rounding up this stray
that he looked up and saw Brenda riding toward him at a
furious pace, her hair and clothing blowing out behind her.
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Cash's heart plummeted with fear, knowing she wouldn't
be out here for anything short of an emergency.
"If s Katy," she called as she reined the horse to a hard
stop. "She fell hard."
"Todd," Cash ordered, his voice belying the feelings
inside, "go for Doc Bruce."