Part 13 (1/2)
Sabrina had to smile a little at his tone, and Rylan did not press her. Instead he asked her if she'd seen Eliza and the baby. ”Yes. She was on her feet but looking as awful as she felt.”
106 ”I stopped to see Kaderly. They found a very drunk man with scratches on his face and hauled him in.”
”She won't press charges,” Sabrina said.
”But you could,” Rylan said, having already discussed this with the sheriff.
”Not if she cares about him. As soon as he gets out, she'll welcome him back.”
Rylan nodded, knowing how true it was. Sabrina thought she might try talking to her again but wasn't sure if that was a good idea.
Both were still thinking to themselves when Jeanette made an appearance.
”What am I going to do with her?” she asked Rylan. ”Getting herself hurt like that! I tell you, Bri, you need to move home with me.”
Sabrina smiled at her but didn't comment. Rylan had all he could do to keep his mouth closed. She was not the least bit afraid after what happened, and she lived in that neighborhood.
”Well, ladies,” Rylan said, feeling a need to get out before someone asked him what he thought. Also, Jeanette's back room was not a large place. He barely fit on his own without two other people joining him. ”I've got a sermon to work on. If you need me to check that machine again, Jeanette, I'll be at home.”
”Thanks, Rylan,” she said, still a bit put out. ”I hope you preach on folks letting others take care of them.”
Sabrina laughed out loud over this. Rylan would have joined her, but he caught sight of Jeanette's scowling face and decided to make his exit.
Sabrina found herself glad that folks only saw what they wanted to see. By Sat.u.r.day afternoon when she was working at the mercantile 107.
the bruises had faded but the scratch was still slightly discernable. Jessie had noticed, and Sabrina had given a brief explanation, but not until late in the day did anyone else say a word. Unfortunately the person who paid the most attention was Bret Toben. He wanted more tobacco and a razor, but before Sabrina could find what he needed, he'd stepped in front of her.
”Who scratched you?” he asked quietly, all charm and teasing gone. Indeed, he looked angry or concerned; Sabrina could not tell which.
”It's a long story,” Sabrina answered as she slipped around him to find the razor. But Bret wasn't done. He followed Sabrina to the back of the store.
”I think I AAT.nt you to tell me about this. What time are you off?” ”It's kind of you, Mr. Toben, but I'm fine.”
Her tone and expression told Bret he wasn't going to get anything out of her, but he still wasn't done. Bret got and paid for his things, but he left with a whole lot more. He didn't care how long it took, he was determined that someone was going to tell him what happened to Sabrina Matthews' cheek.
”How are you doing with your memorization?” Rylan asked at the end of his sermon, having a.s.signed a new verse from Colossians each of the last few weeks. ”Does anyone want to give chapter two, verse six a try? Okay, Franklin,” Rylan said, smiling at how fast the boy's hand went up. ”Let's hear it.”
”Colossians 2:6,” the little boy stood and started. ”As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”
”Excellent,” Rylan praised. ”How about chapter one, verse ten? Heather, go ahead.”
”That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of G.o.d.”
108 ”Very good,” Rylan praised. He called on several others to say the verses as well and then a.s.signed a new one, Colossians 4:5, for the following week. When he was done, Chas came to the front.
”The Fourth of July is just about a week away,” he announced. ”Token Creek will have its annual picnic and races, and we hope everyone will be there. That, however, is not the last big event of the summer. I am pleased to tell you that we have saved enough money to paint our building.”
Chas waited for all the laughter, cheers, and clapping to die down before continuing.
”We'll have certain days we set aside for painting, and if you can make it, we'll welcome you. If you have been working with your son or daughter, and he or she knows how to use a brush, that's fine. Otherwise we would like these painting sessions to be for the adults.”
A few folks smiled and laughed at Chas' expressive face, but all understood.
”We'll organize the dates in the next week or so and let you know about those.” This said, the congregation was dismissed. As might have been expected, nearly all talk was about the upcoming holiday and the painting parties that were sure to be just as good a time.
The next week sped by. The days were very warm now, and for some reason, the closer they got to the Fourth of July, the more raucous Token Creek became. Nate came for Rylan twice during the week, the first time when a gun went off by accident and a child was shot and injured. The second time the sheriff came for Rylan was on Sat.u.r.day night. It wasn't that late, only about ten o'clock, and the crying woman did not want him there, so Rylan was headed home in fairly short order.
His mind was busy with the activities of the streets and praying for various people he saw. Not until he cut down a side street that 109.
bordered the Lucky Nickel saloon did he hear a familiar voice. Rylan came to a dead stop and listened to Sabrina speaking.
”Do you want to come back to my place and talk, Paula?” Sabrina asked.
”Crystal said you would talk to me here.”
”I will,” Sabrina replied matter-of-factly, ”but we're less likely to be interrupted if we're at my apartment.”
”You're in Crystal's building?”
”Yes, upstairs.”
”h.e.l.lo,” the woman said when she spotted the man coming near them. He did not look familiar, but in her line of work it was always good to be friendly.
”Do you want to talk to him?” Sabrina asked, having no idea that the man approaching was there for her.
”Sabrina,” Rylan said, and she turned.
”What are you doing here?” she asked, well and truly surprised. I could ask you the same thing, Rylan thought, but he said, ”Can I see you ladies home?”
”Who is this?” Paula asked.
”A friend of mine. I think he's just concerned that I'm out here after dark.”
Rylan had come up to stand beside Sabrina. Nothing would make him leave without her. He only hoped it wouldn't come to a confrontation.
”I'm Rylan,” he said as he put his hand out and Paula reached automatically to shake it.
”Are you the pastor?”
”Guilty as charged,” he said, trying to keep the situation light. It must have worked because Paula laughed a little.
”What would you like to do?” Sabrina decided to press her, not sure what she thought of Rylan's presence.
In truth, Paula wasn't bothered by Rylan, but neither did she want to talk tonight. She'd already had a few drinks, and her head wasn't quite clear.
110”I'll come see you sometime,” Paula said. ”I'm sure Crystal can show me the way.”
”Sure,” Sabrina agreed, telling the woman she would see her around. She had already told the Lord that whatever happened tonight was in His hands and that she would not try to take things into her own.
111.