by Lori Wick
“Can I tell you on the way to the ranch?”
“Sure,” Trace agreed as he put his hat on the stand and took a seat. He wasn’t usually this early but still took his welcome for granted.
“Did you see Jeanette, by any chance?” Cassidy asked, going back to her work on the hem of a dress.
“No.”
“Your mother had a bad day.”
“I was just at the house.”
“I’m glad. How was she?”
“Sleeping.”
“Good.”
Cassidy had asked all of this while looking at Trace, her hands working while they talked. It was not the first time Trace had seen her do this, and he finally asked about it.
“How can you sew and not watch what you’re doing?”
“It depends on what I’m sewing. I’ve put in enough hems that I can feel with the needle how deep to go into the cloth.”
She had made several more stitches in the moments it took her to say this, and Trace was quietly amazed. He would have commented again, but before he could say anything else Cassidy began to talk.
“I don’t think you’re going to need to be concerned about my going to Mr. Brickel’s any longer. I doubt he’ll be placing another order.”
“Are you all right with that?”
“With not having to deal with him, yes, but the business would have been nice.”
“What did he say?”
“He was not happy that I didn’t stay for coffee.”
“He expected that today, even when you’d made yourself clear last week?”
“Yes.”
“And his response told you he was done with you?”
“Yes.”
Trace didn’t need to hear any more. Never having met him, the rancher still did not trust this man. There was no point in saying so, but he was glad Cassidy would have no further dealings with him.
Trace suddenly realized that Cassidy had put her sewing away and asked, “Are you ready to go?”
“I just have to get my bag.”
Trace locked the shop door and waited for her at the bottom of the outside stairs. As soon as she came with her bag, he took it from her, helped her into the wagon, and headed out of town.
Cassidy settled into her bed at the ranch. She had accompanied Meg to her room when it was time to put Savanna down and was able to tell the other woman about the man who had come to town looking for her, sure that he was some sort of investigator.
It had felt good to talk about it. She had cried a little, as had Meg, but then Meg had prayed with her and told her they would trust God for whatever the future held.
Once Savanna was asleep, the two women had gone back downstairs and the four adults had played a game. It made for a later night than usual, but the time had been worth it. It had taken Cassidy’s mind from her troubles and reminded her that God had provided these dear friends. He would go on providing everything else she needed.
“It’s okay,” Brad said quietly to his teary wife, holding her close on the dark porch at Jeb and Patience’s. “It’ll go by fast,” he added, as much for himself as for her.
“You always say that,” Meg said, “and it always does, but I still always cry.”
Brad smiled and kissed her again. He had brought Meg and Savanna, with everything they needed, to town. He and Trace would leave in the morning from the ranch, along with a crew of five for the cattle drive. He hoped to be gone no longer than two weeks, but that wasn’t up to him. The elements and the auction once they arrived in Burton would determine all of that.
Brad held her as long as he dared. The temptation was strong to stay with her in town, but he fought it. They kissed again, Brad squeezing the breath out of her with his pent-up emotions. He slipped back inside to give Savanna one more kiss; it was as hard to leave her as it was his wife.
Meg watched Brad ride away until the darkness covered him and she could no longer hear the horse’s hooves. When Savanna was older, she would have to put up a brave front, but not this year. This year she would cry as always. She was suddenly glad it was almost bedtime. From the past she knew that sleep was the best thing for her.
Brad, his mind half in town and half on the trip he and Trace would start at daybreak, got himself home as fast as he could. He wouldn’t cry, but he also knew that the best thing for him at the moment was sleep.
“Good morning,” Patience greeted Jeanette, who was at the Dorns' door first thing Tuesday morning. “I thought we might see you.”
“Too early?”
“Not at all. Come in and join us for breakfast.”
Jeanette did not need to be invited twice. Meg and the baby were in town, and she had the entire day off. It was not an opportunity to be missed.
“Hello, Halston,” Cassidy said with a certain level of surprise. The man appeared in her shop on Tuesday afternoon.
“Good day, Miss Norton. Is this a convenient time to place an order?”
“For Mr. Brickel?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Cassidy couldn’t help herself. She had to ask, “So I’m forgiven?”
A smile lit Halston’s eyes, even though he did not allow it to reach his mouth.
“So it would seem,” he said a touch dryly as he proceeded to give Cassidy measurements for a pair of pants.
“May I ask you something?” Cassidy suddenly felt bold enough to enquire.
“Certainly.”
“How does Mr. Brickel know about this store?”
“He’s seen you walking and has asked about you.”
“Asked whom?”
“He asked me.”
Cassidy took a moment to digest this before asking, “What fabric does Mr. Brickel want?”
“Ah, yes,” Halston remembered, producing a swatch of fabric from his pocket. “Might you have something like this?”
Cassidy took it and slipped into the rear to check her supply of cloth.
“I can match the fabric, but not the color,” she said, coming from the back and bringing what she’d found. “Would you like to take some to Mr. Brickel to make sure?”
“I probably should, to be on the safe side,” Halston agreed.
Cassidy cut a swatch and gave it to the man. She made sure he understood that she would not start to sew until Mr. Brickel was sure he wanted that color. Halston said he understood and then went on his way. Cassidy didn’t have a lot going on, so she wasted the next ten minutes trying to figure out how she’d gotten back into the rich man’s good graces.
“And Father,” Rylan prayed as he finished the Bible study time with Chandler and Philip. “We ask You to be with Trace and Brad right now. Give them clear heads and help them to think well as they handle the elements, the cattle, and the unexpected. Please help them to be lights to the other men they’re working with right now and to those at the auction.
“We ask in Your will to bring them home safely. We miss their presence and ask that You help Meg to do well while she parents on her own. Give her patience and grace as she works with Savanna, and bless her time with Jeb and Patience.
“Thank You, Lord, that they are all a part of our church family. Help us to be unified in You, Lord, so that our witness in Token Creek will be worth a second look. We trust You for all of these things and ask them in the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
The men visited a bit more before going their separate ways. They would not meet together again before Trace rejoined them, and that alone was a good reminder to keep that brother in their prayers.
“He what?” Cassidy asked Halston on Wednesday morning, aware that Jeanette was standing like a statue behind her.
“He wants the pants, and also for you to marry him.”
“Halston—” Cassidy swiftly gathered her thoughts, working to keep calm, but for once that man cut her off.
“He wanted to ask you when you stayed for coffee, but that did not work out. He could think of no other way to ask you, so he sent word with me.”
&n
bsp; It was on the tip of Cassidy’s tongue to argue that Mr. Brickel didn’t even know her, but that was not the point.
“Please thank Mr. Brickel, but tell him the answer is no. Do you think he still wants the pants?”
“He does.” Halston had anticipated this and asked that very question. “He would like you to deliver them when they are done.”
“Very well, but I cannot linger. Make sure he knows that.”
“Yes, Miss Norton.”
This said, Halston nodded to both women and went on his way.
“You handled that with tremendous calm,” Jeanette said, still shocked by the brief episode.
“It’s easy to do when you don’t take something seriously.”
The two women stared at each other, and then Cassidy made a decision.
“I’m not going to speak of this, Jeanette, and I’d rather you didn’t either. I respect Mr. Brickel’s want for privacy. I don’t wish to gossip about any of my customers.”
“Of course, Cassidy, and just so you know, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Jeanette,” Cassidy said sincerely, and both women got to work so Cassidy could get to her afternoon off.
“Do you have any idea how fun this was?” Cassidy asked Meg on Wednesday afternoon. The two women were alone in Patience’s parlor. “I didn’t have to rent a rig. I just walked down the street.”
“A very strong advantage to Brad’s going away,” Meg said.
“Maybe the only one,” Cassidy said compassionately.
“It’s not that bad,” Meg replied, already having a wonderful time with the aunt and uncle who were more like parents to her. “Jeanette was here yesterday, and then we took the baby to see Brad’s mom. It was a good day.”
“Did she respond?”
“There was no change in her at all, but Jeanette was emotional.”
“She was a little quiet this morning,” Cassidy realized. “I wonder if it was still on her mind.”
“It might have been,” Meg said.
The women visited for a few hours, and when Savanna went down for a nap, Patience stayed with her so they could walk to Jessie’s to shop. It was the first time they’d ever done such a thing and made for an even more delightful afternoon.
Cassidy stayed for supper with the family but didn’t linger long afterward. There was still plenty of light as she made her way home. She had actually turned the corner of her shop, intent on going up the stairs, before she spotted him.
Edson Sinclair, dressed in the dapper style he’d made his own, was sitting halfway up her stairs. For long moments Cassidy could only stare at him, hardly able to believe that her brother had come to Token Creek.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“HELLO, CASS!” EDSON’S VOICE was friendly, his smile real.
Cassidy stood very still while he came to his feet and joined her at the bottom of the stairs. He didn’t insult her by hugging her, but his pleasure was hard to take.
“Nice town you have here,” he continued when she was quiet. “Although why you would take Great Aunt Lara’s maiden name and not keep the fine name of Sinclair is beyond me.”
“What do you want, Edson?” Cassidy finally found her voice.
“Why you, dear sis,” he said, his smile too charming to be real. “Or should I say your connections. They must be numerous in this town.”
Cassidy shook her head. Nothing had changed. She was about to say that she would never help him, but he was talking again.
“It took me longer than I thought,” he continued, his voice almost conversational. “I mean, you really hid. The investigator I hired had a tough time of it, and Mama was quiet.”
“How is she?”
“Fine. I told her I’d found you. She wasn’t pleased.”
Cassidy felt sick. She had known it would not last, but to have gone this long…
“What’s the matter?” Edson asked, actually managing to sound as though he cared.
“I won’t help you, Edson. You must know that.”
“You will if I say you will.” The voice turned silky now, and Cassidy’s chin came up. She was not afraid of this man or what he could do. She knew that in his heart he was a coward and would never lay a hand on her.
“Don’t get uppity with me, girl,” he surprised her by saying. “I wouldn’t want to have to tell Neal that you need to be taught a lesson.”
“What are you talking about?”
Edson looked across the street to a man sitting on a bench. Cassidy followed his gaze. Even from a distance she could see that he would not be kind. His body was thickset, making his head look small, and he looked out of place in the suit he wore.
“So you’ve found someone else to carry out your threats,” Cassidy said to her brother. “How nice.”
This time Edson smiled with real pleasure. “You know, Cass, I’ve missed you. I don’t know any other woman who has your guts.”
Cassidy ignored the compliment, took two steps up her stairway, and then turned back.
“I’m sure I’ll see you around, Edson, but you’re not welcome in my home or my business. Remember that.”
Edson tipped his hat to her, but Cassidy did not respond. She turned and went up the stairs, slipped inside, and locked the door.
I don’t know what’s going on, Lord, Trace prayed from his bedroll in camp that night. The massive sky stretched above him, stars shining from every direction, but his heart was so heavy for Cassidy that he could not enjoy them. Please take care of Cass. I know she needs You right now. Help her to be wise and trust in You, and to go to others for help. I admire her strength and independence, but help her to know when to reach to others. Help her to turn to Your Word and know that You are keeping her close. Help her to claim Your promises and believe what she knows to be true about You.
And help me to trust. I want to be there. I want to know that she’s all right. Help me to have the same trust in You that I want her to have, and know that You don’t need my help. You have everything under control.
Trace had to remind himself of this several more times, but he finally embraced it and slipped off to sleep.
Cassidy knocked softly on Rylan’s door early Thursday morning. It was barely light, but she knew he was an early riser. She pulled her sweater a little closer around her. The night had been cool, and the morning was still chilly.
“Good morning, Cassidy,” Rylan said as he poked his head out to see who knocked. He came fully on to the porch, closing his door behind him.
“I’m sorry to bother you so early.”
“Not at all,” Rylan said sincerely, knowing she would not be standing on his porch at this hour of the day without good reason. “Are you all right?”
“My brother is here,” Cassidy said without answering the question. “And he hasn’t changed in the least.”
“What does he want?”
“For me to connect him to the town. It will be like before: He’ll want to know who has money and who doesn’t so he can sell phony mine shares or persuade folks he has something else they should invest in.”
“And does he actually think you’re going to do this?”
“Yes. He’s traveling with another man this time. He said his name is Neal. He looks like a thug in a business suit.”
Rylan felt real fear for Cassidy’s safety, but her face was disgusted, not afraid.
“Are you afraid?” Rylan asked, to make sure.
“Not for myself, but for others. And I know he could ruin my business.”
“That’s the least of my worries,” Rylan surprised her by saying.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that. Your safety is all that matters.”
“Rylan,” Cassidy began. “That’s very sweet of you but not at all practical. I have to make a living.”
“Here, Cass,” Rylan said, indicating one of the chairs on his porch with his hand. He’d suddenly realized he hadn’t asked her to sit down. The sky was very light now, and as soon as Cassidy had sat,
Rylan took a seat on the railing and began to talk. “So what’s the worst that can happen? You go out of business and have to be taken in by a church family. I’m sure Jeanette would insist you live with her, and then you could look for work in town. It’s not the ideal situation. I mean, of course you want to work for yourself, but you’d still be here, loved and protected by the rest of us, and life would go on.”
Cassidy could hardly breathe. Was it really so simple? She had prayed for hours the night before, desperately wanting to trust but so afraid that her friends would be harmed because she had come to Token Creek.
“I never thought of it that way.” Her voice was full of wonder.
“What had you planned to do?”
“Whatever I had to at the moment,” Cassidy said, back to her practical self.
“What does that mean exactly?”
“Well, if Edson wants information about customers, I tell him no. If he gives someone a fake name, I’ll make sure they know he lied.”
“And what about Neal? How will you handle him?”
“He’s a little tougher,” Cassidy said thoughtfully, and Rylan noticed that she still showed no fear.
“I want to go to Sheriff Kaderly,” Rylan began, but Cassidy was already shaking her head.
“It won’t do any good right now. Edson has already served time for one of his crimes. Until there is a new offense, the sheriff can’t do anything. And that’s the whole problem: proving Edson did something and then having him stick around long enough to be arrested.”
Rylan still had some ideas, however, and the two continued to talk for the next thirty minutes. By the time Cassidy left, her heart was a good deal lighter. She had thought about closing up shop and moving on but realized she could at least check with Rylan. She walked home to get ready for work, very thankful that she had.
“Good morning,” Edson said to Cassidy and Jeanette just five minutes after they opened the door.
“I told you that you were not allowed in my store, Edson. I want you to leave.”