by Arlene James
“Did she?” Cissy asked.
Gil shook his head. “She disappeared, and we never knew what became of her. Colombia could be a very dangerous place in those days.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Nodding, Gil said, “She wanted her son and grandchildren to have a chance for something better, and they got that.”
“Thank God!”
“Yes. Grandpa Oscar often said the same thing.”
“He was a believer, then.”
Chuckling, Gil said, “He was a preacher. That’s how the family wound up in South Dakota. He answered a call to a church there.”
“Then he would understand why I have to go to Mexico,” Cissy declared.
“I’m sure he would,” Gil agreed. “He loved Colombia, and he loved Texas, but he felt God prodding him to move to South Dakota. Through his example and his words, he taught us the importance of following God’s plan for each of us. Eventually your mama will understand that you’ve been called to Mexico.”
“I hope so,” Cissy said fervently.
He bowed his head, saying, “I might not be seeing you again, so I’ll wish you well now. Vaya con Dios, as Grandpa would say.”
“Go with God,” Cissy repeated in English.
Valenzuela pulled away from the fence and walked back toward the horse. Her eyes flooding with unexpected tears, Cissy turned and quickly left him there.
Chapter Six
Gil backed away and surveyed the results of his labor. For some time now, the church had not been able to find filters for one of their air units because that size was no longer manufactured, so he’d built a new filter frame.
“Looks good,” said a familiar voice behind him.
He turned to smile at Cissy Locke, pleased to encounter her—despite having every intention of doing just the opposite. “Thanks. I’m surprised you’re here on a Friday evening.”
“There’s a meeting about the church providing regular financial support for the orphanage.”
“I see.”
“I’ll be making a presentation, if you’re interested.”
Gil shrugged. He wasn’t an official member of the church, but he privately admitted to some curiosity. Still, considering how attracted he was to her, it wouldn’t be wise to get involved in her mission.
Making a noncommittal comment about having to clean up the work site, he turned away and began doing just that. Cissy went off to her meeting.
But he was unable to stay away, and a few minutes later, Gil slipped into the meeting room.
He was impressed with Cissy’s presentation. She showed photos from her last trip to the orphanage. Smiling children crowded into a shabby classroom, a basic but neat dormitory. While Cissy spoke of the work of the mission, Gil couldn’t help noting small improvements that would make life easier there. He even thought about making a list for the orphanage handyman. If they had one. But no, it wasn’t his business.
After Cissy’s presentation, Belle Colby, Gil’s employer and the senior partner at the Colby Ranch, rose to speak in favor of recommending that the church offer regular, ongoing support for the orphanage. Others followed suit. Belle proposed that Cissy make her presentation during the evening worship service the following Sunday. A formal congregational meeting would be called afterward, allowing the membership to vote on the matter. Gil couldn’t imagine that the church would not support such a worthy cause, and he couldn’t help feeling a certain pride in Cissy.
As the meeting adjourned, she noticed him sitting in the back of the room and started toward him. Gil’s heart sped up, but then he looked to the video screen at the front of the meeting room. Cissy’s enlarged image smiled down at him. The child on her lap gazed up at her with obvious adoration, and Gil knew that no one and nothing could or should compete with that. She had a true calling, and even Sally had to see it on some level. Cissy could not possibly be meant for him.
Turning, Gil quickly slipped away before Cissy could reach him. What was the point in another goodbye, after all? He would pray for her and leave it at that. Given the circumstances, God couldn’t expect more from him.
Chapter Seven
Gil argued with himself on Sunday morning. Part of him wanted to stay safely in his bunk at the ranch and far from Cissy Locke, and yet part of him felt a newly aroused yearning for worship. The latter won out. He told himself—yet again—that he would keep his distance from Cissy. Then he laid eyes on her.
She looked as pretty as a picture, her vibrant hair piled loosely atop her head. The crisp, tan, short-sleeved dress that she wore belted at her surprisingly narrow waist showed off her shapely figure with admirable modesty, its turned-up collar emphasizing the graceful length of her neck and providing a pedestal for her lovely face. It was all Gil could do to concentrate on the service. Afterward, he could no more snub her than he could take root and grow branches, especially as she suddenly appeared right in front of him.
“You saw the presentation Friday night,” she said urgently. “What can I do to make it better?”
Surprised, he told her the blunt truth. “Nothing.”
She paled, her freckles standing out in stark relief. “I knew it! I’ll have to redo the whole thing.”
“No,” he said, taking her by the arm and propelling her quickly up the aisle through the crowd. “You misunderstand.”
They wove their way to the door and slipped out, nodding at the pastor as he shook hands with others. Gil walked her to the edge of the trees surrounding the green in the center of town.
“Your presentation is wonderful. You don’t need to change a thing. You’re just having an attack of nerves.”
She nodded. “But making the presentation to a few people in a small room is a lot different than making it in front of a large crowd. I feel like I’ve swallowed a gallon of butterflies.”
Gil chuckled. “You’re going to do fine tonight. Just talk about the photos the way you did last time.”
She nodded, eyes averted, as if trying to convince herself. “Yes. That’s what I’ll do, focus on the slides.”
A horn honked. They looked up to see Sally Locke wave as her pickup truck flashed past them. Gasping, Cissy stamped a foot.
“Mother!” Her cheeks flamed a bright pink as she turned to Gil. “She did not just leave me here!”
Gil couldn’t help grinning at the blatant maneuver. “She did. It’s okay. I’ll drive you home.”
Groaning, Cissy dropped her face into her hands. “That’s what she wants. She thinks if we get together I won’t go to Mexico. She’s just around the bend about it.”
Gil could understand that. He wasn’t thrilled about Cissy leaving, either, but he understood that she was called to this work at the orphanage. She would go. And soon. Just as she should.
So why not make the most of the time left? Avoidance certainly wasn’t working.
“Come on,” he said, sliding an arm across her shoulders. “Might as well grab a bite to eat on the way.”
Chapter Eight
They picked up sandwiches at the local convenience store. Cissy felt a moment’s guilt, knowing that her mother would most likely be preparing a meal at the house, but two could play at Sally’s game. Besides, just because she didn’t want to give her mother the satisfaction of bringing Gil home for Sunday dinner didn’t mean that she wanted to miss his company. Something about Gil Valenzuela calmed her fears. With hardly a word, he gave her confidence and strength. She would need both in her job as director of the orphanage in Mexico. Why shouldn’t she take in his soothing effect while she had the opportunity?
They ate sitting in his old pickup truck. He’d thrown a colorful blanket printed with a striking pre-Columbian geometric design over the ragged upholstery, and Cissy found the pattern intriguing. She asked enough questions about it that he finally began to speak about his ancestry. His Colombian grandparents had made certain that their son and grandchildren were educated on the subject.
“Mom found it all fascinating, too,” G
il said with a smile.
“Is she Colombian?”
“No. Her maiden name is Austin. She’s almost as redheaded as you are. Two of my brothers married redheads, and one of them has hair like living flame. When she stands in the sunlight, you’re tempted to throw a bucket of water on her.”
“Two of your brothers?” Cissy mused, pleased. “How many do you have?”
“Six,” he answered automatically.
Cissy had to ratchet her jaw back into place. “Six!”
“In order, it’s Monty, Josiah, Owen, Brett, Milt, me and Cody, ages forty-one to twenty-five. I’m twenty-nine, by the way. Only Cody and I are unmarried.”
Cissy tried to wrap her mind around the idea of a family of seven sons. “What do they all do?”
“Oh, this and that,” Gil replied. “Monty is a preacher, like Grandpa Oscar, and Milt is a rodeo cowboy. Broncs. That’s how I got into horses. The others are farmers, carpenters, plumbers, a mechanic…”
“No wonder you have so many skills!”
Gil nodded. “You do tend to pick up a few things when you’re the second youngest.”
“Pity the mechanic brother isn’t around,” she teased. “My old clunker was giving me problems, so Mom has been letting me drive her old car. She doesn’t need it now that she has the new truck.”
“I could take a look at your car,” he volunteered. “I’m a fair mechanic, if I do say so myself.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t really matter. I have Mom’s car.” He seemed inclined to argue, so she changed the subject. “You said you came to Texas because your grandfather used to tell you stories about it.”
“That’s right. He and Grandma settled in Texas when they first came to this country. He worked some of the ranches down south of here. Then later, he attended seminary in Fort Worth. When I started talking about ranching, Grandpa insisted that I come down to Texas. He felt so strongly about it that he left me a little money when he died, so I drove south to try my hand. My brothers thought I was crazy.”
“I wish I had a brother or sister,” Cissy mused. “Maybe then Mom would understand why I have to go to Mexico.”
Gil shook his head. “I doubt it. My mother didn’t want me heading off to Texas, and she’s got seven sons and eleven grandkids, all living within easy driving distance.”
Cissy bit her lip. “My mom just has me and my cousin.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you have a calling,” Gil pointed out. “I have to admit, it makes me feel a bit…selfish. You’ll be helping poor children. I’m stashing cash to set myself up in business. Doesn’t seem right.”
“Your hard work is admirable,” she told him, “and ranching is your calling. There’s nothing selfish about that.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Think about it,” she advised. “Better yet, pray about it. But I don’t have to tell you that.”
Brow furrowed, he murmured, “Maybe you do.”
She just laughed. “Will you be at the presentation tonight?”
He smiled. “Sure.”
Something inside Cissy relaxed. She could get through this so long as he was there.
Chapter Nine
Her mother refused to come to the Sunday evening presentation, even after Cissy delighted her by admitting that she’d spent the afternoon with Gil.
“I just do not understand how you can move to Mexico to become the director of an isolated orphanage,” Sally complained. “You might as well be burying yourself alive. It’s just not fair. God wouldn’t require me to give my only child like this.”
“You know that God calls some of us to such work,” Cissy countered. “And He didn’t hold back when we required His only son for our salvation.”
Undaunted, Sally insisted that she couldn’t be a party to Cissy’s plans. “If you go tonight, you go without me. And if you go to Mexico, you go without my support. That includes the car you’re driving.”
Cissy disciplined her tongue, remembering that she, her cousin, Della, and Della’s children were the only family that Sally had. Believing that God would provide everything she needed to perform His will, even transportation, Cissy called a friend and begged a ride to church. Stephanie Gray and her husband warned that they might have to stay late for a meeting. Cissy gratefully accepted the inconvenience and set off to make her presentation.
Gil met her at the church door with a reassuring smile. Cissy decided that she would speak as if to him alone during her presentation, and the next hour flew by with merciful speed. After her presentation, several people spoke in favor of formally supporting the orphanage. In addition, several others came up to her afterward and promised monthly support as individuals. Gil was one of those.
“But you’re saving for your ranch,” she reminded him.
“Fifty dollars a month won’t make much difference,” he said.
“It will to the orphanage.”
When Stephanie came to remind her of the committee meeting, Gil immediately offered to give Cissy a ride home. Again. She accepted. Again. She was thrilled with the support God had provided that night, but when they pulled up next to the other vehicles in her mother’s drive, Cissy was reminded of her need for transportation.
“Did you mean what you said earlier about taking a look at my old car? It turns out that I’m going to need it. I’ll buy any parts required, of course.”
“I’ll take a look at it in the next day or two,” he said.
“Wonderful. You know,” she teased, “you’d sure be a good hand to have around the orphanage. Are you certain you’re called to ranching?” To her surprise, he didn’t laugh or even smile. Instead, his somber gaze locked on hers.
“Lately,” he said in a soft voice, “I’m not certain of anything, except…”
She didn’t know what made her lean forward, but when he slipped his hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her to him, she didn’t have far to go. He tilted his head, and his lips met hers with gentle but substantial pressure. Suddenly, Cissy realized she’d been waiting for this moment from the moment they’d met. She lifted a hand to his cheek, scratchy with its evening beard.
All at once, she heard the sound of children’s laughter from afar, and instantly the orphanage came to mind. She jerked back, appalled that she had lost sight of her purpose, even for a moment.
“Cissy, I’m sorry,” Gil apologized immediately. “I told myself I wouldn’t do that. I know you’re going away, but—”
“Good night, Gil!” she interrupted brightly, yanking on the door handle. “And, uh, thank you.”
She bailed out onto the ground and all but ran into the house.
And though her heart hurt when she lay down to sleep that night, she told herself that the pain would pass as the joy of obedience to God’s perfect will filled her.
Chapter Ten
Mentally kicking himself for kissing Cissy, Gil kept his distance for several days. Still, he caught himself thinking of ways he could take care of all the little problems that would probably crop up around an orphanage. Then he told himself that the very notion was insane. If he’d wanted to take care of a bunch of kids, he’d have stayed in South Dakota where all his nieces and nephews lived. By Wednesday, he’d convinced himself that the thing to do was to help Cissy fulfill her calling so he could get back to his. That meant fixing her car.
As he drove over to the Locke place, he was struck anew by how much he loved Grasslands. It was a picture-perfect little ranching community, tucked into a broad expanse of excellent pastureland. The ground didn’t freeze ten feet deep in the winter, and he’d learned to tolerate the steamy summers while delightedly basking in the autumns. Spring could be a bit nerve-jangling with thunderstorms and tornadoes popping up, but Gil considered that a small price to pay for all the positives. He’d have to be crazy to give up this place for a dusty, bare-bones orphanage in Mexico.
Sally’s truck was gone, so he didn’t bother knocking on the door when he got to the Locke place. Instead, he got right to work and
began a methodical survey of the engine of Cissy’s little wreck of a car. He saw at least two problems right away and was investigating various hoses when he heard footsteps. He looked around to find Cissy approaching.
She offered him a set of keys, asking, “Need these?”
“That would help, yes.” Smiling, he reached out and took the keys, careful not to touch her fingers. She seemed as eager to avoid his touch as he was to avoid hers. He told himself that was sensible, but it rankled nonetheless.
“Been here long?” she asked too brightly.
Noting that she had her purse with her, he shook his head. “Going somewhere?”
“Only if you’re heading to church and willing to give me a ride. Mom left without me.”
“The two of you have words again?”
“Something like that.”
He should’ve told her that he needed to work, but instead he said, “Hop in the truck.”
“Only if you intended to go to the prayer meeting anyway,” she said.
He hadn’t, of course, but perhaps he should have. Besides, he had a light with him so he could work on the car after the service. “Get in.”
She didn’t argue further, just hurried around to climb up into the cab of his old truck. Gil couldn’t help sighing as he pocketed her keys and took out his own.
Why was it that he could neither avoid nor resist her? Every time he saw her, he felt more drawn to her, and that could lead to nothing but heartbreak.
The sooner she was on her way to Mexico, the better for both of them.
He just wished the idea didn’t make him quite so sad.
Chapter Eleven
A very pregnant blonde with two kids in tow and hair almost as curly as Cissy’s greeted Gil and Cissy as they moved toward the sidewalk framing the church.
“Your mama is some steamed at you,” the blonde remarked as soon as she drew close enough for conversation. A little girl who couldn’t be much older than two clasped her hand, while a boy a couple of years older stood pouting next to them.
