City Girl

by Lori Wick

  a young woman from town who has moved in to help her. At first

  I didn't want her, but Katy was so glad to see her that I didn't feel

  I could send her away. I will keep you informed of Katy's

  progress, but if any business should bring you into the area, I

  know she would appreciate the visit.

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  Greet Duffy and the family and give my love to Libby. You're

  to take good care of her right now. God bless you all.

  Love, Cash

  Cash had deliberately kept all the letters short, but it had

  still been a lot of writing for one day. He would ride into

  town first thing in the morning and get them posted.

  Thoughts of town caused him to remember that, between

  him and Reagan, they would have to keep tabs on the

  pantry and other house supplies and needs. Max might be

  a help in that area, and he had offered to do all he could.

  Cash sat up straight and thought about what a long day

  it had been. From his office he'd heard Reagan go onto the

  porch and now rose to check on her.

  The porch was empty.

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  Lantern in hand, he made a swift check on Katy, found

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  her sleeping, and knew it was time to dose up for the night.

  He had no more gotten to her doorway, however, when she

  called Reagan's name.

  "No, it's Cash," he whispered, going over to shut the

  closet door so Reagan would not be disturbed. "Do you

  need something?" he asked, approaching the bed.

  "No. What time is it?"

  Cash told her as he sat down.

  "Why aren't you in bed?" she wished to know, but her

  voice was calm.

  "I was just headed up."

  "Good. You need your rest."

  "I just finished letters to the family, letting them know

  you'd been hurt."

  "You didn't have to do that"

  "How do you figure?"

  Katy had no reply. She knew very well that if she said

  anything, he would only remind her of what she would

  have done if the situation had been reversed.

  "Cash?" she asked quietly.

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  "Yeah."

  "Do you pray for me?"

  "Yes, I do. What made you ask that?"

  "Do you think God let this happen because I've

  sinned?"

  "Not specifically, I don't, but at some point we all have

  to face the fact that we sin. If the fall you took helps you to

  do that, then I would say that was good."

  "So you don't think I'm being punished?"

  "No, but you know how I feel about God getting your

  attention, Katy. I think you've needed Him for a long time."

  "What if if s too late?"

  "I don't believe that, and God's Word doesn't support

  that idea either."

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  Again Katy had no reply. Cash wasn't sure what he

  should add or say, so he opted just to pray this time so that

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  she could hear.

  "Father in heaven," he began quietly, "thank You for

  Katy. She means so much to me. I ask You to help her heal

  well so she can be on her feet again, but even more than her

  body, Lord, I know her heart needs to be healed of sin, like

  mine did before I found You. Bless Katy this night and in

  the days to come. Thank You that Reagan could be here to

  help. Help us all to sleep so we can work hard tomorrow.

  In Your name I pray. Amen."

  ' Cash stood, bent over the bedridden woman, and kissed

  her brow.

  "Good night, Kate."

  "Good night, Cash."

  Cash opened the closet door again and then made his

  way from the room and up the stairway, thinking that his

  own bed was never going to feel so good. And he was

  right Much as he was thankful for an opportunity to pray

  with Katy, knowing she was thinking about God, he could

  not stay awake to give it much contemplation.

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  %r

  "Did I see Reagan at the church party?" Brenda asked of

  her husband the morning after he arrived home. He had

  surprised her by coming in very late on Thursday night

  when she hadn't expected him until Friday.

  "I don't know," Brad said. "Did you?"

  "I thought I did. Did you happen to notice her?"

  Brad smiled, his eyes flirting with hers.

  "You're the only woman I notice."

  Brenda shook her head. "When I start believing that,

  Bradley Johns, it'll be a cold day in August."

  Brad only laughed.

  "Why did you want to know?"

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  "Because I'll go over and give Reagan a break with Katy

  if she wants to attend church."

  'It's only been a few days, Bren," he said out of genuine

  concern for his wife's current condition. "I mean, it's a nice

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  thought, but you're tired yourself these days."

  "Nevertheless..." she said pointedly, hands going to her

  waist. Brad raised his own hands in surrender.

  "You do whatever you think is best. I'll be talking to

  Cash about what he wants done on the ranch, but if you

  want to help out on Sunday, I'll watch the girls."

  Smiling with pleasure, Brenda slipped her arms around

  his neck and kissed him. Brad found himself rather glad

  he'd agreed.

  3-*3^

  ow

  does Doc say she's doing?" Brad asked of Cash

  later that same morning.

  "He says she'll be all right if she keeps still."

  Brad's brows rose.

  "I know," Cash said, having read the foreman's mind.

  "We're doing all we can."

  "What can I do?"

  "Take care of the ranch."

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  Brad nodded, not surprised, and more than willing and

  capable. The foreman was about to ask some detailed questions

  when Reagan came through the kitchen door, set the

  tray down very hard on the table, and turned to both men,

  eyes blazing.

  "There is nothing wrong with this food."

  "Did Katy say there was?"

  Reagan's voice grew tight with sarcasm.

  "This isn't the way she bakes her bread. She likes a

  firmer loaf."

  With a hand to his employer's arm, Brad went on his

  way. Cash waved him off and then went to the tray.

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  "Is this the same bread that I had for breakfast?"

  "Yes, it is."

  "I thought it tasted fine, very good even."

  "But my patient doesn't."

  Cash nodded, looking down into her flushed face. She

  was awfully easy on the eyes, especially when the color

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  was high in her cheeks.

  "I'll tell you what, Reagan," he said quickly to get his

  mind back on the business at hand. "When she gets hungry

  enough, she'll eat. Just give her a little time."

  Reagan sighed. "The last thing you need me to do is get

  upset at her." She glanced up at him. "If I'm not careful,

  you'll have two unreasonable females on your hands."

  Cash's smile seemed to say I'm not too worried about it.

  "You don't upset easily, do you, Cash?" Reagan couldn't

  help but as
k.

  "Not as a rule."

  "How have the two of you worked together all these

  years?"

  Cash smiled again but didn't answer.

  "Well, I'll try again." Reagan picked up the tray and

  went back to work. Cash told her he'd be in the office and

  left her on her own.

  Reagan heard him go and thought that if she wasn't

  careful she could become very depressed. She was a people

  person. She liked to take care of things, and under all her

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  bravado was pleased when folks were happy. Katy's dislike

  of the bread she made every day was a little hard to

  take.

  But she still has to eat, and you've got to feed her.

  This little pep talk over, Reagan started on another meal.

  "

  "Cash," Brenda called when she spotted him outside.

  Both of her girls were healthy again and back in school.

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  Brenda had appreciated her husband's concern for her, but

  she was feeling fine and very much wanted to help Katy,

  who had helped them out so many times in the past.

  "How are you, Brenda?" Cash asked as the two covered

  the distance and met between the two houses.

  "I'm doing well. How's Katy this morning?"

  "I think she's already tired of that bed. She wasn't too

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  happy with what was on her breakfast tray, so Reagan was

  going to try again."

  "I'm glad I caught you then, because I wanted to tell you

  that if you and Reagan want to go to church on Sunday

  morning, I'll stay with Katy."

  "That would be great, Brenda. Thank you," Cash said

  with genuine relief. He had been thinking on that very

  problem as he wondered whether he should offer a wagon

  to Reagan so she could attend or simply go without her.

  This solution allowed him to go no matter what she

  wanted. "I'll let her know of the offer, and one of us will get

  back to you."

  "All right. Or if Reagan just needs some time off, please

  come and tell me, Cash. Brad is rather fussy about me right

  now, but I'm sure I could give Reagan a half day's break

  with no problem, especially if the girls are home from

  school. They can always cheer Katy up."

  "Thank you, Brenda. How are the girls, by the way?"

  "Doing welt Robin's cold was nothing serious. I think

  she might have been a little worked up about her father's

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  trip."

  Cash smiled in compassion, albeit a bit distractedly, and

  Brenda said goodbye, sensing his need to get back to work.

  "Thanks again, Brenda."

  "You're welcome."

  Cash moved to go on his way but ended up just walking

  back to the house. He couldn't remember the last time he'd

  had so much on his mind. He'd been headed somewhere

  when Brenda stopped him, and right now he couldn't

  recall what his destination had been. It didn't help to walk

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  in the front door and hear Katy yelling. Cash figured that

  Reagan was tied up somewhere, so he rushed to her aid.

  To his surprise and dismay, Reagan was standing at the

  foot of the bed, taking Katy's ill humor with a placid face.

  "What in the world, Katy?" Cash began.

  "She won't do it!" Katy nearly shouted. She was puce in

  color, her eyes bulging with rage. She looked as if her heart

  could fail at any moment. "I'm telling her she has to start

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  in the office, and she won't go!"

  "Please calm down/' Cash began, trying not to think

  about how many weeks they had to go.

  "But she won't listen. Did you hire her to take care of

  things or not?"

  Cash knew right then that all those years of ignoring

  Katy's moods had been a mistake. He had let Katy have *

  run of the house--much as his mother had--and now it

  was coming around to haunt him. He had never wanted to

  be too hard on her when she bossed him and everyone else.

  Indeed, it was something of a joke around the ranch, even

  with the woman herself, but now he could see that he'd not

  done any of them favors by letting it continue.

  If he hadn't been afraid she might try to get out of that

  bed and hurt herself worse in the process. Cash might have

  called Reagan from the room and left Katy to stew in her

  own juices. Right now he didn't want to take the chance.

  "Please explain to me exactly what you want Reagan to

  do."

  "Your office!"

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  Cash paused and nearly shook his head. Katy had been

  on the verge of hysterics over his office not getting cleaned?

  Knowing that he had to get more sleep this night, Cash

  worked to question her calmly.

  "What about my office?"

  "If s got to be cleaned! She has to go over every shelf and

  book,"

  Cash turned to Reagan, whose eyes gave nothing away

  but whose face was pale.

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  "And is there a reason you don't want to do that?"

  "You said that Katy's needs came first, and she still

  hasn't eaten a thing today." Reagan gestured rather helplessly

  with her hands. "That and the fact you've been

  trying to work in there."

  With sudden clarity of thought, Cash turned stern eyes

  to Katy and knew that he was long overdue in explaining

  some things to his housekeeper.

  "What gives you the right to put us all through this?"

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  Katy blinked in surprise. Cash's voice was utterly

  normal, but his words were astounding.

  "Reagan comes out with her bicycle to give you a good

  time, you get hurt, and now you somehow think you have

  the right to make all of us fit into your agenda. I couldn't

  be more sorry that you got hurt, Katy. I wish it had been

  me. But it hasn't even been 48 hours, and you're doing

  everything in your power to make us all miserable."

  Katy was still silent with shock.

  "If you don't want anything to eat, that's fine, but

  Reagan isn't here to listen to you rant and rave. From now

  on, whatever you tell her to do, she'll do, even if you He

  there and starve, but not once will you raise your voice to

  her or be disrespectful in any way. Do I make myself

  clear?"

  The housekeeper was too shocked to answer, and Cash's

  mouth tightened in anger.

  "I said, do I make myself clear?"

  Katy could only nod.

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  Cash turned to Reagan now, not caring that it was right

  in front of Katy.

  "You're here, Reagan, because you feel guilty. You're

  here because you think this is all your fault, and I understand

  and appreciate that, but no one should have to put

  up with what Katy is handing out. I'll understand if you

  want to move back to town. I'll even take you. Just say the

  word, and I'll find someone else."

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  "No, if s all rigiht," Reagan responded, swiftly shaking

  her head. It had been a terrible scene to witness, and she

  just wanted to get away and be alone with her thoughts,r />
  but she made herself stay and listen. After all, this was her

  fault. "I'll be all right. As soon as you're done in your office,

  111 start in there."

  "Fine. I'm headed to the barn, so you go right ahead."

  Cash left without another word.

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  Reagan was left alone with the bedridden woman.

  "Ill just be across the way in the office, Katy. Call if you

  need me."

  Still feeling very awkward about the entire scene,

  Reagan had not actually looked Katy in the eye as she said

  this, so she didn't notice whether the other woman nodded

  or acknowledged her in the least. Either way she was glad

  to escape. She was so tense she thought she might burst.

  Dusting cloths and broom in hand, Reagan entered

  Cash's office a few minutes later and, at a first glance, could

  not find a speck of dust. Nevertheless, she got to work,

  thinking that when she was done, the room would never

  have been so clean.

  S' **

  Cash finally remembered what he'd needed to do in the

  barn, but when he got there, he didn't start to work.

  Familiar sights and smells surrounding him, Cash stood

  and prayed.

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  Do I go back and apologize for speaking to her as I never have

  before or for letting her have her way for so long? Or do I let it go

  and hope I haven't ruined the relationship for all time? I don't

  know what to do, father. I said what needed to be said. Katy

  needed to hear it, but she's not used to that from me, I'm not

  going to let her lie there and pout, and I can't let her slowly tear

  Reagan apart.

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  Cash tried to think. He couldn't be certain, but it seemed

  to him that Reagan was looking very tired. And why

  wouldn't she? Her hours at the hotel had been from

  morning into the early afternoon. Here she was on duty

  almost 24 hours a day.

  After a few more minutes in prayer, Cash opted not to

  say anything else to Katy about the incident. When he finished

  in the barn, he would return to the house and carry

  on business as usual. He wasn't certain what to expect from

  Katy, and he was willing to allow her to deal with this in

  her own way, but only as long as the rest of them could still

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  stand to live with her.

  3-

 

  Reagan's back hurt a little--there had been a lot of books

  to move--but the office looked great She had polished,

  dusted, and swept, even going so far as to wash the inside

  panes on the windows. Now on her way out the door,

  Reagan took a moment to study a portrait on the wall.