Part 16 (1/2)

Sabrina went back to work, but she asked G.o.d for these very things until Jeanette arrived.

Sabrina had not thought about what Rylan's reaction would be.

131 She came to church on Sunday morning, a little earlier than usual, only to have Rylan take one look at her and pull her off to one side of the foyer area.

”What happened to your cheek, Sabrina?”

”Oh.” Her hand came up to her cheekbone. She'd almost forgotten. ”A box fell from a shelf in Jessie's storeroom.”

Rylan looked so surprised that Sabrina smiled up at him, clearly amused.

”Was I almost in trouble?”

”Almost,” Rylan had to admit, knowing it was time to face the fact that his reactions to this woman were anything but calm. He honestly thought she'd been out again, and he was ready to put her under lock and key.

”Would that have been so bad?” Sabrina pressed him. ”It all depends on the circ.u.mstances.”

”So there are rules now?”

”There have always been rules. I thought we were in agreement on this.”

”We are,” Sabrina agreed, ”but I've also been thinking about the fact that if we never go outside of our circle, when will we share Christ?”

”You're right, and it's easy to forget that. It's also easy to forget that going outside the circle has to be done wisely.”

”I'll remember. I'll just tell Jessie I need to stay out of the store- MOM.

Rylan tried to look stern, but a smile peeked through. Sabrina's smile had turned a bit cheeky when she saw she'd gained the upper hand, and Rylan chuckled a little.

Trace and Ca.s.sidy, just coming in the door, noticed the smiles between the two in conference, and Ca.s.sidy did not waste a moment. She turned to her husband, her brows raised, her meaning clear. Trace knew she wanted him to question Rylan, but he wasn't ready to do that. It was too much fun watching from afar and asking G.o.d if this might be the one He had for their pastor.

132 ”What happened to your cheek?” Jeanette asked, looking instantly upset.

”A box fell on me in Jessie's storeroom.”

”Oh, you poor dear,” Jeanette said, gently touching Sabrina's other cheek and telling herself to calm down.

Heather joined the women at that moment, and Sabrina had to explain again.

”Don't forget the women come to our house tomorrow, Bri,” Heather reminded her.

”I don't think I'll be there. Jessie has me organizing part of the storeroom, so even if we're slow, I'll probably be doing that.”

Heather asked a few details, and the women were still discussing that when the service began. Sabrina made a mental note to visit at Jeanette's as soon as she could. There was never enough time to visit the way she liked, and not being with them made her miss Callie as well as feel very far from home.

”Where is Sabrina?” Ca.s.sidy wanted to know when she and Meg got to Jeanette's on Monday.

”Jessie needed her at the store today.”

The women of the church gathered at Jeanette's house most Mondays. They prayed together and shared a time of fellows.h.i.+p that each woman enjoyed. The children played in the room with them or in Jeanette's other parlor. Becky did her part with treats and drinks, and Heather managed to go back and forth between both groups and still keep an eye on Theta.

”You can pray for me,” Jeanette requested when the ladies had settled. ”Savanna's first birthday is coming up, and not having Theta know about it is bothering me.”

133 Both Meg and Ca.s.sidy were in the room and nodded with compa.s.sion.

”It's funny when it hits me. Most days, I go along, just thankful that she's here, but when the big events come on the calendar, I ache to have my sister back.”

Miranda said she would take that request, and Patience shared about her upcoming trip to New York to see her brother and sister-in-law, Meg's father and mother. She was excited to go back after all these years, but it was a long way to travel and she said she wasn't 19 any longer.

For some reason this got everyone to laughing. It took some moments to settle back to the requests, but before it was over, all the women had shared something they wanted special prayer for. The women each prayed, interrupted only twice by the needs of children, before they broke to have the pastry Becky had made. Not leaving for almost two hours, each one was very thankful she had come.

Sabrina had been correct. She was back in the storeroom at Jessie's, restacking shelves and hopefully making more items and shelf s.p.a.ce available. She was working steadily along when she heard a male voice. Jeb Dorn had come to help her.

”What can I do?”

”Oh, Mr. Dorn, that's kind of you, but-” Sabrina stopped when he put his hand up.

”Patience took one look at that bruise and gave me the look. If you get hurt again, I'll be in all kinds of trouble.”

Sabrina laughed, but she believed with all her heart that everyone was overreacting. A vision of her face after a violent customer got done with her one night in Denver floated through her mind. The pain of the memory was intense, and Sabrina was surprised that it took this to bring it back. It would have made more sense to recall it after the night with Eliza.

134 ”What shall I do?” Jeb asked, and Sabrina was happy for the distraction.

The two worked along, with occasional visits from the girls, until dinnertime. Jeb couldn't stay in the afternoon, but with his help, Sabrina finished that day. She nearly fell into the door of her apartment, too tired to even eat, and thinking that she was not cut out for such work. The storeroom, coupled with a day of painting last week, was making Sabrina wonder if she shouldn't try to find work at the bank.

”I'll check with Rylan first,” Trace said to Ca.s.sidy as they entered town on Sunday morning, ”if you're sure you're not up to something.”

”I'm sure,” Ca.s.sidy said with a laugh. He'd checked with her twice already. ”I don't know Bri at all, and if Ry's not comfortable with it, you know he'll be honest.”

Trace knew that Ca.s.sidy would never play games with a person's heart, but she was a romantic. He had told her straight up that he was not going to speak to Rylan, but he had agreed to ask him for Sunday dinner. It wasn't until they agreed to this that Ca.s.sidy also mentioned having Sabrina.

”Can you join us for dinner today?” Trace asked Rylan as soon as he got in the building, even before the service could begin. ”I can, thank you, Trace.”

”Great. Ca.s.s also wants to invite Bri, but if you'd rather we didn't do that, just say the word.”

”Why would that bother me?” Rylan asked in all sincerity. ”Because it might look like we're up to something. We're just inviting the two of you.”

”I don't have any objections. Have you checked with Sabrina?” ”Ca.s.s will do that if you're good with it.”

”I'm fine,” Rylan agreed, but a little part of his heart feared 135 rejection. If he got to the ranch and Sabrina wasn't there, he would know where he stood.

As it was, both Rylan and Sabrina rode to the ranch with Trace and Ca.s.sidy. It meant that Trace would have to take them back to town later, but he didn't mind. Rylan could have taken something from the livery, but Trace was quick to offer.

When they arrived at the house, Sabrina enjoyed the large front porch and thought she could have sat on it all day. However, when Ca.s.sidy went to the kitchen to put dinner on, Sabrina went to lend a hand.

”Is there something I can do?”

”Sure,” Ca.s.sidy agreed. ”Those biscuits need to go into a bowl. You'll find one in that cupboard on the wall.”

Ca.s.sidy glanced over as she worked and had to make a comment.