by Lori Wick
"How are you, Jessie?" Cassidy asked.
"I'm doing well. Yourself?"
"Most weeks it's going well. I appreciate the folks you send my way."
Jessie smiled. "You heard about that, did you?"
"Yes. More than one woman has told me that you redirected her
when you didn't have what she needed. So once again, thank you." "You're welcome," Jessie said, smiling in a way that made her look
just like her two blonde daughters.
"Hi, girls," Cassidy called in greeting.
96"Miss Cassie," Clancy, the youngest, wasted no time in saying, "we brought beans."
"That sounds good. I made a cake."
"What kind?"
"Chocolate."
Cassidy smiled when Clancy licked her lips.
"You got her attention," Jessie said, laughing at her younger daughter. "Oh, here comes Rylan," she said next, and Cassidy turned to see Rylan and Chandler headed their way.
The two men greeted the ladies, and all fell to talking. Not until Mayor Lake, who had been in office for almost six months, welcomed the folks and thanked everyone for coming did people start toward the food tables. Food was plentiful and delicious, and folks did not need to be asked twice. The festivities had officially begun.
"How are you?" Brad asked his wife, having taken her to Jeb and Patience's house to lie down. They were on the way to the picnic when a pain had hit her. She had fallen asleep, and Brad had stayed close by.
"I'm sorry," she began.
"There's nothing to 'apologize about, Meg. You can't control this."
She sighed and tried to sit up. Brad helped her before sitting down beside her, an arm around her.
"On top of that," Brad went on, "it's going to be warm out there, so a little time indoors is not all bad."
"Did Patience and Jeb go?"
"Urn hm."
Meg smiled. Brad sounded sleepy, and she could tell he was comfortable beside her.
"You should have slept when I did."
"You were only out for about ten minutes."
97"Do you want your own ten minutes?"
Brad smiled at the temptation but said no. The two left for the picnic a little while later.
"It's the Fourth of July, Mama," Trace said quietly, wanting to be near his mother right now. "The picnic is going on by the creek. I don't remember if we ever went to one of those when I was younger."
Trace stopped, not letting his mother's silence bother him. He looked around the porch at the plants and nice furniture. His aunt had done a fine job making it cozy and comfortable.
"Brad and Meg went to the picnic. I'll join them later. Jeanette is there too. I think Becky is going to stay with you for a while so Heather can go."
This said, Trace allowed a good deal of silence to fall. He looked at his mother, just enjoying being with her for this time and telling her different stories and things from his heart before Becky came with something for her to drink.
"Thanks, Becky," Trace said thickly, all of a sudden feeling emotional.
"You're welcome," Jeanette's cook said, smiling with all the kindness she felt, wishing as Heather always did that Mrs. Holden could snap out of her trance and enjoy her fine sons.
98
"HowDID SHE DO?"Brad asked Trace about their mother as they made their way home. The picnic by the creek was winding down, and Meg was flagging.
"Very well."
"Maybe it helped to be there alone," Meg suggested.
"Maybe," Trace said, thinking about the possibility. He usually went with Brad, and perhaps visiting his mother alone was worth more consideration.
"Who won that last footrace?" Brad suddenly asked, remembering some of the games that had been played.
"I think it was Adam Stillwell," Meg said.
"You should have raced, Brad," Trace put in.
"I don't know," Meg said doubtfully and without malice. "I'm usually faster."
"That's true," Brad agreed immediately, and Trace looked at his brother for a moment.
The three fell quiet after that. It was still very warm out, and Meg, less than three weeks from the baby's due date, was warm and uncomfortable. Brad got her inside as soon as they arrived home and then went out to help Trace put the horses away and feed the
99stock. They'd been working for fewer than ten minutes when Trace remembered what Meg had said.
"Is Meg a faster runner than you are?" he asked his brother, standing by the stall watching Brad put feed into a bucket.
The smile that came over Brad's face was slow and a bit mischievous. He was still smiling when he said, "What Meg doesn't realize is that chasing her is as fun as catching her. It's not something I ever rush."
Trace had to laugh as he went back to work, glad he hadn't asked about it in the house. Meg would have wanted to know what was going on, and the younger Holden had no plans to give his brother's secret away.
"Here you go," Cassidy said as she offered Meg a cup of water and a piece of spice cake. The expectant woman sat at the kitchen table, her face flushed from the heat, watching Cassidy work on dinner. From the doorway Brad watched the scene. He was early coming in, Meg on his mind, almost wishing the baby would come now and not wait until next week.
They hadn't moved Meg into town, although both Jeanette and the Dorns were more than willing to have her. Meg had been feeling well, and it seemed that even if her pains came on her, the timing was good. Brad knew he would still send Trace for the doctor, but a peace had come over his wife lately, and between the two of them, they thought being at home was best.
Cassidy had continued to come each Wednesday, and each time the women did less sewing as Cassidy worked to make Meg comfortable, doing small jobs for her so she could relax and always making supper that evening.
Right after the Fourth, Cassidy had come with a meal already prepared. Patience Dorn had sent everything with her for that evening's meal and then some. They had enjoyed the food for days.
100
"Hey, Brad," Cassidy called, suddenly spotting him.
"Hello," he said quietly as Meg had dropped off, nearly sitting upright. "How's she doing?"
"She says she's just too warm."
Brad looked down on his wife, remembering the speech he'd given himself many times. Babies were born all the time. Women did this all the time. That didn't change the facts, however. This was new for them-every bit of it. Meg's growing stomach, her pains, the movement of the baby-all of it. Not to mention the days and weeks that would follow. They would be parents. A wonderful thing, certainly, but serious too.
"Are you all right?" Cassidy asked.
"Yes, thanks, Cass. And thanks for taking care of so many little things."
Cassidy only smiled at him as it seemed very small to her. Meg was her friend, the sister she'd never had, and there was nothing she wouldn't do for her.
Knowing that Cassidy would be there for Meg until he came into supper, Brad went back to the barn door he and Trace were working on. It was time to admit to himself that he was ready for this baby to come. At the moment he didn't think he'd ever been readier for anything in his life.
"Some folks gave me some money for you, Cassidy," Rylan told that woman when he came into her shop the next day. Cassidy had turned from her sewing machine. Now both she and Jeanette stood and stared at their pastor.
"Money for me?" Cassidy clarified.
"Yes."
Cassidy looked at Jeanette, who shook her head no, able to honestly do so. She had not been able to think of a way to give anonymously and had never pursued it.
101"Why?" Cassidy asked next.
"They didn't say. They only said you had been heavy on their hearts, and they wanted you to have twenty dollars."
"Was it Chandler?" Cassidy asked next, a bit suspicious.
"As a matter of fact, no. It was one of our church families, and that's all the more I can tell you."
While Cassidy stared at the big man in their presence, he grinn
ed and looked around. "This is a very feminine place, isn't it?"
Both women smiled and learned in a hurry that Rylan was just getting warmed up.
"I know you must have men customers, Cassie, but you haven't decorated for them at all." Rylan shook his head, wandering around a bit and taking everything in. "I know! What about some boots- dusty ones? You could put them right by this little velvet chair. That would make a man feel at home.
"Or!" Rylan exclaimed, still prowling around, the women laughing together. "Instead of these little silk ties on the curtains, you could go with leather straps. Maybe something from an old horse's bridle."
Rylan looked expectantly at the women now, his eyes innocent, while they tried to control themselves.
"Well?" he questioned. "Are my ideas welcome or not? I'm sure I could come up with more."
"I don't know if we can take more," Jeanette said, gasping for
air.
'Here you go, Cassie," Rylan approached, holding out the money to her.
Cassidy looked at it and then up at him.
"Please tell this family how much this means right now. I-" Cassidy began, but couldn't find the words.
"I'll tell them," Rylan spoke gently, his kind smile making Cassidy want to cry.
Jeanette walked the pastor outside, and when she came back, Cassidy was standing right where she left her.
102
"That was wonderful," the older woman said.
"Yes, it was. I asked God to send me more work. I asked Him to give me the strength to work harder if He sent more work. My imagination didn't include anything like this."
"Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think," Jeanette quoted from Ephesians.
Cassidy could only nod. Her heart was so blessed, and the reminder that God was watching her was sweet indeed. She went back to work, praying for the family who had shared with her and asking God to bless them in every possible way.
Meg had made it through another day, her due date just a week down the road. She tired easily, her back huffing all the time, but she got done what she could. And if the evening meals were a little less varied than usual and her part in the conversation a little lacking, the men she lived with never uttered a word of complaint.
On Thursday Brad and Trace had been working fairly close to home and were indoors a bit early that evening. They helped put the food on the table, and then all three sat down to eat. Both Trace and Meg bowed their heads so Brad could pray, but the room stayed silent. Not until they both looked up did Brad speak, and it was to Trace alone.
"I'm not going to ask God to provide a wife for you any longer." Trace looked at his brother but didn't reply.
"I can't do that when I think He's already provided one."
Trace nodded a bit before saying, "I assume you're talking about Cass?"
"Yes. You need to marry that girl."
"I think she has feelings for Chandler."
Brad had not expected this. He stared at Trace, thinking that it wasn't supposed to be like that. In his mind all Trace needed was a push from him.. All he needed was his older brother to point out
103to him that Token Creek's seamstress was the perfect wife for him. Before he could find words, Meg spoke.
"She hasn't said anything to me about having feelings for Chandler."
Trace did not look convinced. Little things he'd witnessed in the past-at church, and even as recently as the Fourth of July picnic- lingered in his mind.
"I can't take that chance," he said at last. "If I throw my hat into the ring and she's in love with Chandler, I lose Any friendship with Cassidy Norton."
Neither Brad nor Meg needed to ask Trace if he wanted their help. His answer would have been a resounding no. The three sat in silence for a few more minutes before Brad bowed his head to pray. Trace found out during the prayer that Brad had changed his mind: He asked God again for a wife for his brother.
4,e)
Trace ran some errands in town before picking up Cassidy on Saturday evening. He hit the bank, Wheeler's, and the livery, and even managed a stop at the Dorns'. Meg was looking for something she thought her Aunt Patience might have. Trace did all of this in record time, and he thought he might have time to stop and ask Rylan a question. Abi Pfister had other ideas. She caught him just as he was leaving the Dorn house, paper in hand.
"Mr. Holden," she said in a commanding voice. "If I may have a moment of your time."
Trace wondered what would happen if he said he didn't want to be in her book but saw no reason to be antagonistic.
"Good evening, Miss Pfister."
"Were you born in Token Creek?"
"No, I was born in Pennsylvania."
"What city?"
"Allentown."
104"What brought you here?"
"My parents bought the ranch."
"What year was that?"
"I can't remember."
"Your father. Where is he now?"
"I don't know," Trace said, and something in his voice actually got through to Abi. With a swift glance at his face, she changed the direction of her questions to Brad and Meg.
"Has the baby been born?"
"No, ma'am," Trace answered, wondering how long this would go on.
"What about-" Abi began, but stopped short. She had spotted someone come from inside the house across the street who was evidently more interesting than Trace. Without so much as a byyour-leave, Abi was away, paper in hand, to assail some other hapless victim. Relieved he'd lost her attention, Trace went on to Cassidy's, the timing just right.
"I can tell you had a good night's sleep," Trace said to Cassidy as soon as he arrived in the kitchen early Sunday morning. That lady was at the table with coffee.
"Why is that?" Cassidy asked, sending Trace's brows up.
"You were not yourself last night. The longer the evening went, the slower your speech got, and when you blinked it looked like your lids were weighted."
Cassidy's mouth opened, and Trace laughed at her.
"I was tired," she tried to argue, "but it wasn't that bad."
The look Trace gave her before pouring himself some coffee was clearly skeptical. Cassidy shook her head at him, and the cowboy smiled.
"How's the work going in the barn?" Cassidy asked.
"Very well. We're almost done."
105"And then you leave for your cattle drive In August?" "September, mid to late."
"How long are you usually gone?"
"At least two weeks."
Cassidy nodded. Meg had told her some of this. She would move into town. She hadn't done that in the past, but with the baby being so young, Brad wanted Meg with her aunt or his own.
"How about some eggs?" Trace offered.
"You're going to cook?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said, readying the pan.
"Should I be afraid?"
Trace just held a smile and said, "I'll have you know I was cooking in this kitchen long before little Meg Dorn came into Brad's life." "And you survived?"
Trace turned from the stove and put his hands on his hips. "Are you hungry or not?"
"I'm hungry." Cassidy's tone and face had become very meek. Trace was not the least bit fooled but turned back to the pan before she could see him smile.
"Why don't you stay home?" Brad suggested to Meg when she groaned a little just getting out of bed.
"It's tempting, but I think I need to get moving. I also hate missing Sunday mornings, and that might be forced upon me after the baby's born." Meg sat for a moment on the side of the bed and suddenly smiled. "And besides, Patience said my cousin came into the world on account of a buggy ride. I'm sure the wagon could be just as effective."
Brad laughed and went to heat water for shaving. Meg told herself that the longer she sat, the worse it would be. With that little reminder to herself, she forced her body to move.
106"Before you leave..." Chas Vick stood and spoke the moment Rylan finished the prayer that dismissed the congregat
ion. Even Rylan stared as Chas made his way to the front.
"I have an announcement to make," Chas continued when he faced the congregation. "In three weeks, on Sunday, August eighth, we'll be giving our pastor a day off. That day is Rylan's five-year anniversary with our church family. We'll be having testimonies, a time of prayer, and a recounting of our church family history, and we'll end it all with a potluck lunch." Chas angled a bit so he could look at Rylan's surprised face. "And no sermon."
Everyone laughed at the look on Rylan's face, and Rylan had no choice but to laugh over his own surprise.
"So please don't miss that time with us," Chas finished. "If you have a testimony to share or a song you would like us to sing that day, see any elder except Rylan by the first Sunday in August. There will be more details in the weeks ahead. Thank you."
There was a good deal of talking when Chas stepped down. Clearly folks were excited, and some still laughed at the way Rylan shook his head in mock pity.
"Five years," Cassidy said to Meg, who was next to her. "It would be wonderful to be here so long."
"I think so too. I mean," Meg clarified, "I was certainly around for part of that time, but not the full five years. I do remember my aunt and uncle being excited about Rylan's coming but sad too because they loved Pastor English and he was dying."
"I didn't know that."
"He didn't die here. He went to be with his family in Denver, but he lived only another year after he left."
"So Rylan came just in time."
"Pastor English brought Rylan here. He was the reason Rylan came."
107
Cassidy had never heard any of this. It made her very excited for the second Sunday in August.
"Are you headed out?" Jeanette asked Cassidy the following Wednesday.
"Yes. I was hoping to hear news on Meg by now, but that didn't happen."
"So was I," Jeanette said almost wistfully. This was going to be the grandchild she would never have. She thought about Theta, and her heart clenched a little. Jeanette would have adopted grandchildren, and Theta would have grandchildren she wouldn't even know.
"Are you all right to stay?" Cassidy asked, having misunderstood her look.
"Yes, I was just thinking about this baby. Give Meg my love and tell her to get going."
"Yes, ma'am."