Sabrina (Big Sky Dreams 2)

by Lori Wick

  “Why wait until Monday?”

  “I guess I didn’t assume he would be around tomorrow.” “Someone is always at the sheriff’s office, and we can do that when I walk you home.”

  Sabrina nodded, knowing she would not have thought of this. “Are you not hungry?”

  “I’m starving, but it feels funny to eat when you’re just sitting there.”

  Rylan stood. “Let’s head to the kitchen. You can finish your supper while the rest of us have dessert.”

  It occurred to Sabrina to wonder who took care of Rylan Jarvik. He always seemed to be taking care of her, and she wondered who saw to his needs. Maybe he doesn’t want someone taking care of him. Some men don’t.

  173 By then Sabrina was in the kitchen, being welcomed by the Vicks with no time for any more speculation.

  “You say he hit you? With what?” Lewis Varner asked Sabrina, who noticed that he wrote nothing down.

  “I didn’t see it. He hit me from the back.”

  “How do you know it was Zeke Masters?”

  “He was the only person in the room who would do that.” “Who else was there?”

  “Eliza Norlin.”

  “The prostitute?” Lewis asked, looking as repulsed as he felt. “Yes,” Sabrina said quietly.

  “Will she testify that this happened?”

  “She left town today.”

  “Well, now, isn’t that convenient.”

  Sabrina almost looked at Rylan. She didn’t know what she’d done to gain this man’s animosity, but it was nearly palpable in the room. Sabrina stood uncertainly for a moment, her old fear of police officers coming up and having to be pushed down.

  “What will you do?” Sabrina finally asked.

  “Do? I don’t know if there is anything to do. I have only your word on the matter.”

  “Why isn’t the lady’s word enough?” Rylan asked with far less force than he felt.

  Lewis looked up at him. He knew the sheriff thought the pastor was something special, but Lewis was not taken in.

  “Listen,” Lewis said, looking back to Sabrina. “I’ll mention it to Sheriff Kaderly, but the fact that you didn’t come in for hours, with only your word for what happened, makes it a little hard to press.”

  Sabrina only nodded and turned for the door, Rylan at her heels. He waited only until they were outside to speak.

  “What was that about?”

  174 “I don’t know. I’m glad I had a nap or I might have overreacted.”

  “Have you had dealings with him before?”

  “The only time I’ve ever seen him was that first night with Eliza and Zeke. Maybe I’m being judged by where I live.”

  “Speaking of which…” Rylan began.

  “I’ll look for something,” Sabrina agreed. “I guess it’s for the best.”

  “I’ll keep my ears open, and Jessie hears just about everything.”

  Sabrina didn’t mention the money. She didn’t want pity, but she was still figuring out what it cost to live in this town. So far she was making it, but there were many things she would like to add to her apartment. If her rent was higher, that was going to be impossible. Eliza had given her some kitchen items, and that helped.

  “Are you going up?” Rylan asked, and Sabrina realized she was standing at the bottom of her stairs.

  “Yes, thanks for walking with me.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sabrina climbed the stairs and knew by the top that the nap had not been enough. She would sleep hard this night.

  “How are you doing with praying for Token Creek?” Rylan asked the next morning at the end of his sermon. “Are you remembering? Sometimes I don’t hear from Sheriff Kaderly for weeks, but lately I’ve been called out to the homes of many folks. There are hurting people here, lost people who need your prayers.

  “A woman named Eliza lost her baby this week. Mirabel was just a tiny scrap of a thing, not even six weeks old when she died. Eliza decided not to stay in town anymore, but I’ll remember her often. She took a Bible with her and knows that I’m praying for her. I want you to pray too.”

  Rylan closed in prayer then, still weary from the day before but

  175 also thankful for this group of fellow believers. A few of the men, as well as Sabrina, were the only ones who saw folks from all parts of town, but he knew they prayed with him and counted those prayers as a blessing to his heart.

  When he came from behind the pulpit, several folks came to him and said they would remember to pray for Eliza. Rylan believed there was not a dearer church family in all the world.

  “Hug my mother,” Meg told Patience, wanting to cry at the thought. “And have such a good time.”

  “We will, and I have all the things you wanted to send.”

  “Tell them that Savanna is getting so big and that she loved the hat and little vest. She wears the hat every day.”

  “I’ll tell your parents all of it, and when we come back we’ll bring all the news.”

  Jeb was next, hugging Meg and kissing the baby goodbye. Brad shook Jeb’s hand and bent to kiss Patience’s cheek. The farewells said, Brad and Meg went to their wagon, but Brad could see his wife was upset.

  “Wish you were going?”

  “A little,” Meg said, her voice wobbling. “I don’t have the energy right now, and the train ride would be so long for Savanna, but I miss my parents, Brad. I can’t tell you how much.”

  “I’m sorry you can’t go. I wish they’d made this trip before we

  started having children. You could have gone with them then.” “Without you?” Meg asked, looking as surprised as she felt. “Just for a visit. I would understand.”

  “It’s not really about me,” Meg admitted. “I want them to see Savanna.”

  Brad nodded in complete agreement because he was in the same boat. His mother lived in town, but for all of her awareness she might as well have been across the country.

  176 It was a quiet couple who made their way home to Holden Ranch.

  “Are you busy?” Sabrina asked Becky late in the afternoon on Sunday.

  “What are you doing at the kitchen door?” Becky scolded, pulling the other woman inside with a shake of her head.

  “My bread pudding didn’t turn out.” Sabrina showed her the pan. “What did I do wrong?’

  Becky looked down at the unrecognizable mass and had to cover her mouth.

  “You’re laughing,” Sabrina said, catching the action.

  “No,” Becky denied, but she couldn’t stop her smile.

  Sabrina smiled a bit sheepishly, and then Becky began to question her.

  “Was the bread fresh?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you beat the liquid throughly?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you poured the mixture over every bit of the top?” “Yes.

  “How many eggs did you use?”

  Sabrina bit her lip. “I think I forgot the eggs.”

  Becky gave her usual longsuffering look and said, “What am I going to do with you?”

  “I’ll remember next time.”

  “Did you find an apartment yet?”

  “How did you know about that?”

  “I know a lot of things,” she said, not admitting that she talked to Rylan earlier that day. “So have you?”

  “Not yet. I have to talk to Jessie in the morning.”

  “You need to get yourself moved back here. We all want it.”

  177 Part of Sabrina wanted it too, but it wasn’t that simple. She couldn’t live there indefinitely, or at least that’s what she told herself.

  “Thanks, Becky,” Sabrina said, closing the conversation and heading for the door. Becky would not let her leave empty-handed. She packed a basket with food and sent that on Sabrina’s free arm.

  178

  RYLAN SPENT THE DAY alone. He thought about Sabrina quite a bit

  and wanted to see her, but he didn’t give in to the idea. The Vicks ha
d asked him to join them in the evening, but Rylan was taking all Sunday afternoon to read his Bible and pray.

  It was not an unusual thing for him to do, but never had he done it with such a distraction. Sabrina was beginning to be very special to his heart, and she came to mind often. He asked the Lord not to let her get between them, and by working hard to control his thoughts, she did not dominate.

  He spent a long time studying in Colossians and kept up his memorization of Psalm 144. He climbed into bed at the end of the day, thankful the sheriff had not come for him and he’d had so many hours with just the Lord. It was the refreshment he needed.

  “Do you know of any other apartments in town?” Sabrina dutifully asked Jessie on Monday morning.

  “Not since the last time you asked,” Jessie said. “What’s up?”

  179 “I don’t think I can stay where I am on Willow Street. It’s gotten unsafe.”

  “Gotten?” Jessie asked, her brows raised.

  Sabrina ignored her and asked a few customers who came in that day if they knew of a place. No one was very helpful, but she told herself to keep trying.

  The day dragged a bit, her mind on the apartment as well as a letter she owed Danny and Callie. She walked home, her mind adrift, only to find Zeke sitting halfway up her stairway. Sabrina could not tell if he’d been drinking, but he was angry and wanted to know exactly where Eliza had gone.

  “Get off my stairway, Zeke,” Sabrina wasted no time saying. “Answer my question.”

  “Eliza is gone. I’m not sure where she is right now.”

  “Where was she headed?”

  “I won’t tell you that.”

  Zeke came at her, and Sabrina backed away. The area was quiet right now, and Sabrina’s eyes darted toward Crystal’s window. That window was closed, but Sabrina still called her name. Zeke lunged for her, and Sabrina fought hard, but Eliza was not there to chase him off this time, and Zeke did not give up until Sabrina was unconscious.

  Sabrina woke slowly, tasting dirt and blood in her mouth. She coughed a little, trying to find air and wondering which part of her hurt the most, her face or throat. She heard movement just then and tried to move away.

  “No more, Zeke,” she mumbled. “No more.”

  “Sabrina?”

  “Who is it?”

  “Crystal. What happened?”

  “Please,” Sabrina croaked past a raw throat. “Please find the sheriff.”

  180 Sabrina wasn’t sure if she hesitated or not, but she heard her run off and worked to push herself into a sitting position, glad there was still plenty of light and she could see to navigate. Sabrina sighed when she felt the building against her back.

  Okay, Lord, I’m giving up now. No matter how I feel about Jeanette’s house, I’ll go. If she’ll have me, I’ll move back.

  Sabrina thought she had prayed for an hour before the sheriff came, when in reality only five minutes had passed. Sabrina looked up at that man, her eyes unconsciously pleading for help.

  “Crystal is finding Doc,” the sheriff said, silently horrified over what had happened to her.

  Sabrina wanted to thank him but wasn’t sure she could push any more words past her throat.

  Again time seemed to stand still. Sabrina closed her eyes and wished she could sleep and have the pain and Zeke’s image go away, but then she opened her eyes and Timothy was there with the wagon. But more than that, Rylan was jumping down from the seat and coming toward her. Sabrina didn’t know when anything felt as comforting as his arms lifting her and his voice telling her it was going to be all right.

  Sabrina’s silence bothered Jeanette. Her neck was bruised, but it was more than that. Some of the light had gone out of her eyes. She looked weary-completely spent-but would not close her eyes to sleep.

  Jeanette and Heather helped her with gentle efficiency, and when Sabrina was cleaned up and tucked under the covers, Jeanette opened the door for Rylan to enter. She took a position at the corner of the bed and listened.

  “Hi,” the big man said, keeping his voice low and taking the chair that had been pulled up close to the bed. “I just have one question for you: Was it Zeke?”

  181 “Yes.”

  Rylan nodded and would have spoken again, but Sabrina beat him to it.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, having held the words inside for so long that it hurt.

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “It’s all my fault.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You all wanted me to move back here, and I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.” Rylan picked up her hand. It was scratched and bruised, as was her arm, but he held it gently.

  “No one thinks this is your fault, because it isn’t. I don’t want you to think like that anymore.”

  “I’m more trouble than I’m worth.”

  The words did funny things to Rylan’s heart. He shook his head no and said, “Nothing could be further from the truth. Will you do me a favor?”

  “Yes.”

  “Go to sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  “You’re coming back?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure you have time?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Don’t come if you don’t.”

  “All right,” Rylan agreed, knowing they had bridges to cross over the way she viewed herself and this incident.

  “Rylan,” Sabrina said with the last of her energy, her throat very sore.

  “What?”

  “Thank you.”

  For just a moment Rylan took her hand in both of his. Sabrina watched him and then closed her eyes. Rylan heard her sigh and relinquished the hand. He and Jeanette exited the bedroom together and closed the door.

  182 Jeanette stood in the hallway, her hand to her mouth in horror over Sabrina’s face.

  “What was that man thinking?”

  There was much Rylan could have said to that, but he said only,

  “I need to let Nate know that it was Zeke Masters, since he doesn’t

  know any of the details. Why can’t Doc get here tonight?”

  “He’s not in town. His neighbor said he’ll be back tomorrow.” “I’ll be by in the morning if that’s all right.”

  “Certainly. Anytime.”

  Jeanette saw him to the door before going back to check on Sabrina who was very much asleep.

  Sabrina woke in the night, not sure how she could hurt in so many places at one time. A low moan escaped her as she tried to shift against the pillow, and she wondered how close she’d come to dying. It wasn’t the first time she’d been hit, but it was the worst.

  Sabrina knew she would not get back to sleep unless she could relieve herself, but it was taking some courage to move. She had resigned herself to the pain when the light of a lantern came through the doorway.

  “I thought I heard you.”

  It was Heather. She set her lantern on the table by the bed and looked down at Sabrina.

  “Did I wake you?” Sabrina asked.

  “I’m a very light sleeper, and I sleep with my door open so I can hear Theta. Do you need to get up?”

  “Yes.”

  Sabrina stifled more than one groan climbing from the bed, even with Heather’s help. It was a wearying ten minutes before she was tucked back under the covers, and as though it was not the middle of the night, Heather sat down on the side of the bed and looked at her.

  “I think you were very brave tonight.”

  183 “Why do you say that?”

  “Unless I miss my guess, you fought back.”

  “I did, but he was angry, and that gives a man strength.”

  “Don’t go back, Bri,” Heather begged. “I’m afraid for you. I’m trying to trust in God for your safety, but I don’t know if my heart can take your going back there.”

  “I won’t, Heather. I don’t know where I can find a place I can afford, but I won’t return.”

  “We’ll help you,” Heather said, knowing they would do everything they
could to keep her with them as long as possible. “Maybe Jessie knows something.”

  “I just checked with her,” Sabrina said.

  Heather could have cried. She was already looking for another place to live, but it hadn’t been soon enough.

  “Can you sleep now?” Heather asked.

  “I think so. Heather?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you think Timothy would have time in the morning to go ‘to the apartment and get my Bible?”

  “I’m sure he will. I’ll ask him.”

  Heather slipped out after Sabrina thanked her, planning to be up early to check on her, but when she got to Sabrina’s room, it was empty.

  “Lord, You have a plan for Rylan and Bri,” Chas said quietly. He and Rylan were in Chas’ living room, the children still asleep. “Help us to trust You for this. None of us would have chosen this road for Bri, Lord, but Your ways are perfect. Your glory is the goal, Father.

  “Give Rylan wisdom to think well and trust You. He might be tempted to rush in and try to be more to Bri than she needs. Help him to remember that she needs a pastor and a friend right now

  184 more than anything else. She might not be thinking well about this attack, and Rylan can’t minister as he should if he doesn’t guard his heart carefully.

  “Turn this to Your glory, Father. Let Bri’s light for You not be dimmed in this community. Help her to trust as she should and understand how much You love Zeke and how much he needs our prayers.”

  When Chas was finished, Rylan began to pray. He started by thanking God for Chas and his good reminders about what was important. He finished by asking God to guard his heart for other more serious reasons. This was new territory, and in truth he did not know how Sabrina would respond. If she was angry at God over Zeke’s attack, it would uncover a side of her that he’d not seen before.

  Rylan did not think she would be angry, but he also could recognize wishful thinking in himself. He wanted Sabrina to be the one, and in such cases blindness could be a major temptation.

  The men talked for a while after they prayed, Rylan thanking Chas for meeting with him so early and on such short notice. When they had finished, Rylan started for the door. He hadn’t counted on Miranda, who expected him to stay for breakfast and was already bringing mugs of coffee to the men. He stayed, reminding himself that Sabrina was probably still asleep and would not be up to company for a few hours.