Part 13 (2/2)

SABRINA STARTED BACK DOWN the street toward home, knowing Rylan was right behind her. She wondered if now was a good time to ask questions on that one verse, and then she remembered that he might have to get up early to ready his sermon.

”I don't suppose there is any point in telling you that I can get home on my own.”

”You suppose right.”

Sabrina didn't hear any anger in his voice, but neither did she hear any flexibility. She kept her mouth shut and, when Rylan took the lead, walked slightly behind him.

Rylan was taking them on an indirect route he felt was the safest. He didn't fear for himself, but should they come across a group of drunken men who wanted him to share the woman he'd ”found,” it could get ugly. Rylan hoped and prayed they wouldn't see anyone at all. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when Sabrina's stairs came into view.

”I'll see you tomorrow,” Rylan said, standing to one side so she could take the stairs. The moon was almost full tonight, the sky clear and full of stars. He could see her quite easily and that her head 112 turned when someone walked by. She looked much too interested, in Rylan's opinion, and he stepped a little closer so he could keep his voice low and still make himself clear.

”Whatever you're planning needs to wait. Go upstairs and lock yourself inside. I'm not asking, Sabrina Matthews. I'm telling.”

Sabrina's chin came up just a bit, but she said not a word. Taking the key from her pocket, she climbed the stairs, unlocked her door, and then looked back down. Rylan was standing just were she had left him, watching her. Still not speaking even to thank him, she slipped inside and locked the door. She would fall asleep before she could figure out how she felt about Rylan Jarvik's actions tonight.

Rylan let himself into his house but got no farther than the living room. He didn't bother to light a lantern but made his way to the rocking chair, sank down, and began to pray.

I know she cares about these folks, Lord, but she has to have more care of herself Denver is no different. It might even be worse in some areas. The contrast between how sheltered and yet how knowledgeable she is completely confuses me. I so appreciate her wanting to reach out, but if she's hurt or killed, I don't think my heart could take it.

Why do I feel responsible, Lord? She came here, and our church family has taken her in, but it's more than that. I feel I must protect her, as if I'm the only one who can.

Thoughts came to mind just then that Rylan had not been willing to entertain. For the first time he let his mind go to possibilities that he would hate to be true but would make sense.

Fatigue settled on him like a heavy garment. He knew he needed to turn in. His congregation was counting on him to bring truth and hope in the morning, and he could not let them down. Lighting the lantern now so he could ready himself for bed, Rylan turned in, asking G.o.d one more time to care for Sabrina and to keep her safe this night.

113 ”Will we ever be on time for the service again?” Meg asked Brad when they were finally in the wagon and on the road. ”I get up earlier and earlier, but something always happens.”

”You can't predict when you're going to be sick, Meg. You're being too hard on yourself.”

Meg didn't comment, but it certainly bothered her.

”You definitely amused a certain child,” Brad said, a smile tugging at his lips.

”Why is that?” Meg asked, even as she s.h.i.+fted Savanna on her lap. ”She can't stop giggling when I vomit.”

”It will be a few years before she figures out that there's nothing funny about it.”

”She laughed at Ca.s.s one time, but Ca.s.s didn't notice and because she was feeling so lousy that first month, I never mentioned it.” This said, Meg looked up to find Brad smiling a little. ”Do you think it's funny too?” she asked.

”Not your being sick, but the hysterical giggles from our daughter are very contagious.”

Meg had no choice but to smile. Savanna's laughter was fun, and Brad was right, it would be some time before she fully understood.

”We won't try to start painting until the week after the Fourth. Plan on the twelfth and continuing on the thirteenth, but those are the only two days that week,” Chas announced at the end of the service. ”Rylan will usually be on hand, but if he's not around, I should be available. See me if you can bring ladders. If you can spare an hour or two to paint, you don't need to see me, just show up with your brush.”

Chas thanked the congregation and dismissed them. Folks began 114 to mill around and talk, but Sabrina had missed breakfast and didn't take long to head for the door. She wasn't even to the street when Rylan caught her.

”We need to talk,” he said quietly, wasting no time with formalities. Sometime that morning he realized he had to get back to Sabrina about the night before and saw no point in waiting.

”All right,” Sabrina agreed, knowing it was about last night. She was still working out in her mind what happened and thought talking about it might be a good idea.

”Why don't I come by about four o'clock, when it's not so warm,” Rylan suggested. ”We can take a walk or go over and use one of Jeanette's parlors. She won't mind.”

”All right,” Sabrina agreed again, and Rylan wished he knew what she was thinking. Her eyes were amazing, the most crystal blue he'd ever seen and clear as a child's, but he could not always read them. To him it seemed that she could become inscrutable at will, like right now.

”I don't suppose you want to tell me what you're thinking,” Rylan couldn't resist saying.

”I don't know what I'm thinking,” Sabrina admitted. ”I'm still trying to work out what happened.”

”Since I'm in the same boat, I'm glad we're going to talk.” Sabrina nodded.

”I'll see you at four.”

”I'll be ready,” Sabrina said. She started again for home but did so very slowly, her hunger now at the back of her mind.

”Did I see Rylan speaking to Bri after the service?” Ca.s.sidy asked Trace when they had a moment alone. Jeanette had invited them over for dinner but had left for a minute to check on Heather and Theta.

”I noticed that too. He seemed to follow her out of the church.”

115 ”Has he spoken to you about her?”

Trace was only able to shake his head no before Jeanette rejoined them, but that man could see in his wife's eyes that the subject was still on her mind.

Rylan was at Sabrina's door promptly at four o'clock. Without a lot of words they began to walk to the outskirts of town, catching the creek line some ways out. It was still fairly warm so when they pa.s.sed under the shade of a large tree, Rylan came to a stop. He sat on the long gra.s.s, and Sabrina sank down some eight feet away.

”Can you tell me about last night?” Rylan asked.

”You mean, before you got there?”

”Yes.”

”I had seen Crystal earlier in the day, and she had asked me if I'd ever met Paula. I guess Crystal told her about what happened with Eliza, and Paula said she had questions about G.o.d.”

”And you felt you had to talk to her downtown on a Sat.u.r.day night?”

”To tell you the truth, I forgot it was Sat.u.r.day night until I was partway to there.”

”How did you know where to go?”

”Crystal.”

”Had you just gotten there?”

”Yes, maybe five minutes ahead of you.”

Rylan opened his mouth to ask another question, but Sabrina cut back in.

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