by Lori Wick
"Todd," Cash ordered, his voice belying the feelings
inside, "go for Doc Bruce."
"Max went," Brenda told him, still breathless.
"Who's with Katy?" Cash asked, even as he moved
toward his mount.
"Some woman. I didn't have time to get her name."
With this cryptic news, Cash's horse left Brenda's in the
dust as he rode for all he was worth back to the main house.
He went in the back way, and when he couldn't find her
inside, he rushed for the front yard.
A mixture of surprise and concern filled him when he
saw the bike, Reagan/ and his housekeeper, who was still
lying in the dirt.
"Katy!" he said, running fast and dropping to her side.
'I've done it this time, Cash," was all she said, her eyes
clouded with pain.
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Afraid to move her or even touch her, he naturally
turned to Reagan for answers.
"She fell off the bike," Reagan told him, her face
showing her own measure of misery. "She was doing so
well..."
"It's all right, Reagan," he said, hoping it was true. "The
doctor is on his way. He'll get her all fixed up."
City Girl 129
Part of which proved to be true. The doctor was on his
way, and when he arrived, they moved Katy, a terrible
ordeal for the older woman, to a bed in the small downstairs
bedroom. But fixing her up was not going to be so
easy.
"Her hip is broken," Dr. Bruce told Cash, Brenda, and
Max after they'd waited outside the closed bedroom door
for about 20 minutes. Reagan had gone in to help. "She'll
be laid up for a good long time."
"How much pain is she in?"
"Right now if s intense. She needs to lie still and not
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worry."
The doctor continued to speak with Brenda and Max,
but Cash needed to see Katy. He slipped past the threesome
and entered quietly.
The curtains were pulled back, allowing plenty of light
to filter in. Cash found Reagan sitting next to the bed gently
bathing Katy's face and hands. The fact that his housekeeper
allowed this spoke volumes to him concerning her
condition.
Cash took the other side of the bed. There was no chair,
so with a hand to the oak headboard, he leaned down to
speak into her face, asking himself as he did if she'd looked
that old at breakfast that morning.
"How is it?"
"I've never broken anything, Cash."
He nodded. All three of the Rawlings boys had broken
and cracked various bones, and although Katy had been as
compassionate as they'd ever known her in her ministrations
of them, she had not experienced this pain before.
"The doctor says you have to lie still and not worry."
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"How am I supposed to do that? Who's going to take
care of you?"
It was her standard line, and Cash smiled at her, glad to
hear she had at least one small tease left.
"Maybe if s time I grow up."
130 lori wick
Katy sighed. "I should have insisted that you take me to
my house/' she said, referring to the small bungalow that
sat next to the foreman's house.
"Then I wouldn't be able to take care of you like I can
now," Cash reasoned.
"You've got a ranch to run."
"Brad will be back in two days. When he's here, I'm not
even needed."
Had Katy not been in so much pain, she would have
given her customary snort. Instead she closed her eyes,
thinking she might cry for the first time since Virginia
Rawlings moved back to St. Louis.
Seeing her eyes closed, Cash motioned to Reagan. The
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two left the room together. The doctor slipped back in to
check on his patient, and Cash was glad for a few minutes
alone with his guest.
"You're not to blame yourself for this," he said to
Reagan's set features.
"She didn't ask me to bring the bike. I just thought it
would be fun."
"So you forced her?"
"No, but--"
"There are no 'buts.' It was an accident. She'll be fine."
"She's not a young woman, Cash. Why didn't I see
that?"
"She'll be fine. It will take awhile, but she'll be back to
her old self again."
Reagan only half heard him. She was already making
plans to fix things, and her mind had shifted away from the
man who faced her.
"All right, Cash," the doctor interrupted him, "come in
here, and I'll tell you what she needs."
Without being asked, Reagan joined them. She listened
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in silence, but with every word the doctor spoke to the
rancher, her resolve strengthened.
Cash did not comment as Dr. Bruce mapped out his
expectations, but he could see that it was going to be a lot
City Girl 131
of work in the weeks and months ahead. The doctor had a
powder for the pain, but not enough with him. The men
eventually exited the room so Cash could send a man to
town to get the medicine.
Reagan went back to the edge of the bed. Katy's eyes
were still closed, but her mouth was open and her
breathing told Reagan she was lying in very great pain.
Without a word, the small, dark-haired woman exited-- not just the room, but the ranch house itself, heading for
her bike. She was back on the road just a minute later and
headed for town. She had a lot of work to do before nightfall.
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"You're not riding back there in the dark!" Sally said for
the second time. "And I mean it."
"But don't you see, if I go now it won't be dark."
"That's not true, Reagan. The day has gotten away from
you. It'll be dark in an hour, andyou said you haven't even
gone home."
' Reagan sighed.
"I know what this is about," Sally guessed. "You haven't
told Cash Rawlings that you're going to do this, and if he
hears a wagon, he'll send you packing before you can even
climb out."
Reagan looked away from her and admitted, "I'm going
to do this, Sally, with or without your help."
"Thaf s just it, Reagan. I am willing to help you."
She turned back.
"So you understand?"
"Completely. Now, I think you should head home and
get your stuff. Talk to Holly or Russell if you can so they
won't worry, and then come back here. I can take you
almost all the way there, and you can ride yourself the rest
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of the way."
132 lori wick
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Sally."
"Well, I know what I'm going to do without you," she
retorted. "I'm going to get up before dawn tomorrow and
start baking."
Reagan gave her a hug. She couldn't help herself.
"Get out of here," she ordered, and Reagan hurried on
her way.
Just 30 minutes later she was back, not having been able
to speak with her landlords. Sally promised to tell them
abou
t the change. As soon as Reagan was ready, they settled
into Sally's buggy and that woman, good friend that
she was, took Reagan as far as the gate.
Reagan put her carpet bag handle over the bar on her
bike and rode as steadily as she could manage. It was
almost fully dark, but she could see what she needed.
Heart pounding in her chest, she knocked hard on the door
and waited.
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"Reagan," Cash said with surprise. He answered the
door, a lantern in his hand. "I wondered where you'd
gone."
"I had to go home to get my things."
This said, she scooted past him and walked to the living
room, looking for all the world as though she was there to
stay. A moment later, Cash learned that she was.
"I'm here to take care of Katy and to do her jobs until she
mends."
Cash stared at her, finally taking in the bag.
"You don't have to do that/' he tried.
"But I'm going to. I've quit my job; I have money to live
on for a time, and I'm here to do whatever needs to be
done."
"You will not quit your job," he started to declare, but to
his surprise, Reagan turned her back on him and started
toward Katy's room. Cash was hard on her heels.
"Reagan," he began again, but she marched resolutely
away.
City Girl 133
241
"Reagan?" This time the name came from Katy as
Reagan crossed the threshold of her room. "I was looking
for you."
"Well, you don't have to look anymore. I'm here to take
care of everything."
"You're not," Katy said, hoping above hope that it was
true.
"Yes, I am. I'm going to take care of you and this house
until you're up again and as bossy as ever."
Cash had entered the room right behind Reagan, so it
would have been impossible for him to miss the sob that
broke in the old woman's throat.
"I didn't know what I was going to do," she cried softly.
"I've got to take care of Cash and this house. If s my job."
"It's all right," Reagan said gently, coming to take her
hand, "I'm here now, and I'll see to it."
Cash had never seen this woman cry. He didn't know
she was capable of such an act. He stood still while Reagan
bent over her, talking in soothing tones and bathing her
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face again. Even in the lantern light he could see some of
the worry lines easing around Katy's brow and temples.
He had no idea how it could possibly work to have
Reagan living and working in his home, but sending her
away from Katy right now was just not something he was
willing to do.
reagan suluvan is sleeping downstairs with Katy, Cash
told God that night, speaking as though this would be
news to Him. I'm not sure I can do this. I'm not sure I can have
her here. There's so much I don't know about her, and she doesn't
know anything about us either. I understand that she's here
because of what happened, and I can see why she'd blame herself,
but in the space of a few hours, she quit her job and moved here!
For a moment Cash only lay on his back and stared at
the ceiling. The events of the day had put him in a near
state of shock. It broke his heart to see Katy as he never had:
broken and flat on her back. And then to have Reagan
show up at the door! It was all too fantastic to be real.
Help me, Father. I need to take care of my Katy. Maybe this is
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what will draw her to You, but before I can help her spiritually, I
have to figure out a way to help her physically. Brenda is willing
to help, but she has the girls to care for, and if her changing shape
is any indication, she has another one on the way. I'm willing to
do anything Katy needs, Lord, but I'm not a woman and...
Cash's mind came to a complete stop. He had been
staring up with his eyes open, but they now closed as he
remembered Reagan.
I think You must have sent her, Lord. I would never have asked
her to come, but Katy was so glad to see her. I have never seen
Katy cry.
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I
City Girl 135
Cash's own throat dosed at the memory. It had been
awful to see her vulnerable and tearful, but the more he
thought about Reagan's presence, the way she comforted
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Katy, and the fact that that woman even accepted it, the
more a peace stole over his heart. He would not have
planned to end the day the way he did, but he now chose
to be thankful. '
In a moment of time things change so quickly. Lord, but
You're never surprised. Vfhatever You have far tomorrow, help
me to be ready and thankful for Your care.
Suddenly realizing he wasn't the least bit tired, Cash
relit the lantern and opened his Bible. He read for almost an
hour, and when he did fall asleep, it was with the sweet
knowledge that God was still very much in control.
%r %r
"I wasn't sure how you liked your eggs" were the first
words that greeted Cash the next morning; he had barely
taken two steps into the kitchen. "I scrambled them. Will
that be all right?"
"Yes," Cash said, not used to having his opinion asked.
Katy knew his likes and dislikes very well. Neither was he
245
accustomed to having such a young, attractive woman
flushed and working over the stove in his kitchen, but
clearly she had found her feet. As efficiently as if she did it
every day, she laid the table service where he always sat, set his plate in front of him, and filled his coffee cup while
he watched.
"I found a small pitcher of cream and assume you take
it in your coffee."
"Yes, I do. Thank you," Cash said, getting over his surprise
enough to sit down.
Reagan put both sugar and cream in close reach, her
movements relaxed but very capable.
136 lori wick
"Now she might eat something for me," Reagan muttered
good-naturedly, turning away to replace the coffeepot
and lift a waiting tray that held a second breakfast.
"Kar/s awake?"
"Yes, but she wouldn't eat a thing until you'd been
served."
Cash's mouth tightened. "Well, this is the last day for
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that. Here, give me that tray."
Upon seeing his expression and hearing his tone,
Reagan knew better than to argue. She stayed where she
was, and realizing she, needed to eat as well, fixed herself a
small plate.
Cash, on the other hand, did not give his own stomach
or cooling food a second thought. Tray held firmly in his
large, work-roughened hands, he headed in to straighten a
few things out with a certain stubborn old woman.
"Cash," Katy said in soft surprise. "Did you finish your
breakfast already?"
"No, I have not," he said, his voice sounding more angry
than she had ever heard him. Cash set the tray on her bedside
table, pulled the chai
r close, sat down, and looked at
her. "We will have one thing straight right now, Kathleen
Sims. I am not the one in need of tender care."
"Well!" Katy said with a small spark of her old indignation.
"What did she fix you that you're so put out?"
"I mean it, Katy," he said in a no-nonsense way. "You
can lie in this bed and tell Reagan how you want things
247
done until you're blue in the face, but you'll not tell her to
feed me and take care of my needs first."
"What will you do?" Katy challenged. The pain was
riding her hard, but she could not let this pup have his way.
Cash sat back and crossed his arms.
"Thaf s easy. I'll forbid her to see to a single one of my
needs. No food cooked, no clothes washed, nothing."
"I'll just tell her otherwise."
City Girl 137
Cash stood, moved the tray so she could reach everything
and then put his hand on the headboard to lean over
her once again.
"This is still my home," he said with deadly calm, "ft
was a surprise to see Reagan at the door last night, but after
a few hours of thinking it through/1 see her as a blessing.
But her main purpose here is to take care of you. If she
doesn't understand that, I'll get someone who does." Cash
straightened, his voice returning to normal. "Start your
breakfast, Katy, and I'll ask Reagan to check on you as soon
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as I've explained the situation to her."
Cash left the sickroom without a word. He found
Reagan in almost the same position as he'd left her. As he
sat back down at his now-empty place, movement caught
his eye. He looked to see Reagan using the corner of her
apron, and taking his meal from the oven. She set the hot
plate before him.
"Please sit down, Reagan. I need to tell you a few
things."
Reagan obeyed, her face sober, but rebellion growing in
her heart. She was not leaving here, no matter what he said!
"You're not here to take care of me," Cash stated. "I can
understand Katy's distraction with that since she's done
nothing but see to my needs and the needs of others for
many years, but if she's ever going to get out of that bed
and walk again, she needs to take care of herself."
Reagan's heart turned with pain at the thought that Katy
might not make a full recovery.
"If it makes her feel better to have you changing beds
and doing other household chores, thaf s fine. But you're
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never, and I repeat, never, no matter what Katy says, to set
her needs aside for mine. You won't hear this from her, but