by Lori Wick
"Let me help you to the sofa."
Trace's idea of help was to lift her and take her that way. All the time he walked, Meg told him she was all right, but he didn't listen.
"I'm getting Brad."
61"Trace!" Meg raised her voice, and her brother-in-law stopped and looked at her. Meg opened her mouth to tell him she was all right but decided against it. The pain had subsided, but she knew that Brad would only worry unless he could see her.
"Nothing," Meg ended up saying, and Trace placed her on the sofa and left the house.
Not surprisingly, he and Brad were back in just minutes, both a little breathless. They found Meg sitting up, not lying down as Trace had left her.
"Are you all right?" Brad asked, taking a seat beside her. Trace did not speak but sat in a chair and looked on.
"I am. It was one of those pains again. No worse than last time."
Brad stared at his wife and made himself say what he was thinking. "Have you considered the possibility of moving into town?" Meg looked at him in surprise.
"No," she said slowly. "I must admit such a thing never occurred to me."
"What are you thinking, Brad?" Trace asked.
"Only that she might need to be at Jeanette's or the Dorns' so she would be closer to the doctor."
"I want the baby to be born here," Meg said.
"I want that too," Brad agreed, "but not at the risk of you or the baby."
The three sat for a time in silence. It was on the tip of Trace's tongue to ask Brad if he was being hasty, but with the lives of two people to consider, it wasn't that simple.
"Why don't you discuss it with Doc Ertz," Trace suggested. "See if he has any ideas or thinks that being closer will help?"
Both Brad and Meg liked the idea, but Meg wanted to wait until Monday.
"Are you sure?" Brad asked. "We can go right now."
"No, I'm tired, and last time it happened I was tired. I don't want
62to run the risk of a pain hitting on the way into town. I'd rather wait until Monday morning."
"All right," Brad agreed, and then turned to his brother. "When you get into town tonight, I want you to tell Rylan and then Cass that we have to cancel for tomorrow."
"No, Brad," Meg argued, touching his arm. "Cassie will help me, and I'll nap after the meal."
Brad looked at her. "You'll tell me in the morning if you suspect you're not up to this?"
"I will. Please, Brad. I've been looking forward to having them all week."
Brad bowed his head until higforehead lay against Meg's. He did not have the words to explain what this woman did to his heart. The desire to protect her and lay the world at her feet was amazingly strong.
"For the moment you're all right?" Brad questioned again, his voice soft, his mind barely aware of the way Trace left them on their own.
"Yes. I'm going to lie down for a while to make sure."
Brad put his arms around her. Meg held him right back. Brad did not want to rush this baby, but a part of him wondered if he would survive the waiting. He thought it might be almost more than a man's heart could take.
Trace rode away from Token Creek on Saturday night, his mind half on the town, half on the time he'd just spent with Rylan, Chandler, and Philip.
They'd been in the book of Mark, and the discussion had been very good. Rylan had shared some things that Trace had never thought of before. The authority of Jesus Christ in the Gospels was unmistakable, but for the first time, Trace really looked at the response of
63the people. Some were quietly skeptical, some openly doubted, and others wanted to put Christ to death.
It made Trace think about the kind of message a man had to have to rile folks that badly. He'd had his brother mad at him more than one time in his life, but Brad never wanted to kill him. There was no getting around the fact that Jesus did not garner a lukewarm response. And another thing was also clear: People had not changed all that much in all these years. They still wanted God on their own terms.
As Trace was recalling some of what the men had talked about and shared, some things he'd seen while riding through town came back to mind. He could not remember the last time he'd been in Token Creek on a Saturday night. It was not a safe place. Boisterous noise, both music and voices, poured from the saloons, and two women had tried to speak to him from the shadows of a building. Two drunks argued over a horse, and at one point Trace heard gunfire.
Rylan's words about praying for Token Creek came to mind. Rylan lived in town, not near a saloon but close enough to hear the noise each week. In some ways the ranch was insulated, and Trace realized how much he needed those reminders. He finished the ride home, praying for the folks of Token Creek and remembering the church family's role and need for prayer as well.
Cassidy came from her apartment Sunday morning, taking the stairs with practiced ease but coming up short when she noticed Trace waiting for her at the bottom.
"Well, good morning," Cassidy said, finishing the stairs and joining him at the bottom.
"Good morning. Can I walk you to church?"
"Certainly."
"Tell me something," Trace began as soon as they started down the boardwalk. "Do you go out on Saturday nights?"
64"Rarely. It's not very safe."
Trace nodded. Amid all his thoughts the night before, it had taken some time to remember Cassidy, but as Trace prayed, her safety came flooding into his mind, and he'd not been able to think of anything else.
"Do you own a gun, Cass?"
"Do you know how to shoot one?"
"No." This time she frowned. "What is going on, Trace?"
"I was in town last night to meet with Ry and the other men." "Oh." Cassidy was catching on.
"I had a quick refresher of how bad Token Creek gets on Saturday nights. I forgot how noisy and drunken it could be."
"It's pretty bad," Cassidy had to agree.
"Do you feel safe?"
"Most of the time. It's hard if someone starts a fight outside the store or I hear gunshots."
"How do you get to sleep?"
"If I'm very tired, it doesn't matter. If not, it takes a while."
They weren't far from the church then, so Trace stopped, knowing they had time. He looked down at Cassidy, wanting to change her situation but not knowing how. The thought of her not being safe bothered him no small amount.
"What are you thinking?" Cassidy asked.
"I'm just wanting you to be safe. Nothing has changed for you. You've lived here for months, dealing with Saturday nights as they come, but it's new for me."
"Well, thank you for your concern, but as I said, I make sure I'm inside, even before dark falls. And lost sleep is not the worst thing that can happen."
They had turned off Main Street now and moved on toward the church.
"Good morning," Chandler greeted.
65"How are you?" Cassidy asked.
"Doing well. Yourself?"
"Fine, thank you."
"How are you, Trace?"
Trace said he was flue but then went ahead and explained to Chandler what he'd been discussing with Cassidy.
"It helps that she's upstairs," Chandler said. "And none of her apartment windows look down on the street."
Cassidy listened to this and felt just a bit amazed. It never occurred to her that these men had given this any thought. It was nice. She felt cared for, but it was also a surprise.
Music could be heard coming from inside the church now, and Cassidy moved toward the door. The men trailed her, and the three sat together. Rylan started the service just a few minutes later.
"Are we set?" Brad asked Meg, looking around the laden table, seeing that she had put on another great meal.
"I think so," she told him with a smile and then said to the group, "If you want something you don't see, just ask."
Everyone sat down, and Brad prayed. "Father God, it's a privilege to have Rylan and Cassie join us. Thank You for their presence in our lives. Thank You for the fine
meal, all the hands that worked on it, and Your great provision to us. Amen."
No other words were needed. Food and conversation were in abundant supply, and no one wanted to waste either. They spent more than an hour eating and talking, and then without further discussion, all ended up in the kitchen doing the dishes in record time.
"Meg is going to lie down for a while," Brad said when things wound down a bit and the group began to make their way back to the living room. "Don't feel like you have to rush away."
"If you don't mind," Rylan said, taking the opportunity, "Cassie and I are going to take a little walk down by your stream."
66"Sounds good," Brad said encouragingly. "We'll have dessert when everyone is back."
Cassidy had not been expecting this, but she appreciated Rylan remembering that she wanted to talk. The pastor headed toward the door, and Cassidy followed.
"I hope this was all right," Rylan said as they left the porch. "Thank you for remembering."
"How are things at the store?" Rylan asked.
"Much better than I ever dreamed. I'm not going to retire wealthy, but I have plenty to live on."
"What's your favorite part about the work?"
"Well, I love to sew, but the people are the best part. It's never the same twice."
"Token Creek is a special place."
"I didn't know that a year ago at this time, but it's very clear to me now."
"We've never talked about how you came here."
"I tell people I was looking for a business opportunity, and that's true, but it's not the whole story."
Walking along the stream, Cassidy told Rylan about her past, the painful details of her family, and her biggest burden of all: whether she'd been wrong to keep this information to herself.
"Whom do you think you should have told?" Rylan asked.
"I don't know. Meg doesn't seem to think it's everyone's business, but I wonder if I should be more open about it."
"I can't see a reason to broadcast your life, Cassie. Unless I've missed something you're not seeing any of the men in the church family. You would certainly have to share if that were the case."
"No, you haven't missed anything," Cassidy reported without bitterness. "There's no romance in my life."
Rylan watched her for a moment. She was so special. He could think of several young men who would do well to have her as a wife.
"Thank you, Pastor, for hearing me out," Cassidy said, "and not holding anything against me."
67"There's nothing to hold against you, Cassie."
The two started back toward the ranch house, the conversation moving to the sermon and Rylan's reminders that morning about showing hospitality. Cassidy said she'd learned a lot about that from Meg.
By the time they got back to the house that lady had gotten up from her rest. The five of them enjoyed the pie Cassidy had brought and visited for the rest of the afternoon.
c-yt,irz.
"Is Rylan interested in Cassidy?" Brad asked Trace when the men were out Sunday evening feeding the stock.
"Are you referring to the walk they took this afternoon?" "Yes. Is there something going on?"
"I don't think so," Trace said. "If Rylan planned to pursue Cass, he wouldn't wait until they were here to do it. They live four blocks apart."
Brad let the matter drop, but it stayed on his mind. Trace, on the other hand, had been completely up front with his feelings and didn't give it another thought. If Rylan's interest was suddenly turning toward Cassidy, he'd be very surprised indeed.
Doctor Ertz was not overly concerned about Meg's pains. He was glad she'd checked with him, but he did not think there was anything to panic over. Getting closer to town might be a good idea, but he didn't think it was time for that just yet.
Meg and Brad were both glad for his opinion but realized it didn't answer their questions about when Meg should move to town, if at all.
"We'll figure it out," Brad said, walking Meg across the street
68so she could pick up some things at Wheeler's. "And you'll have to stay rested."
Meg's mind went to work on the changes she could make in her daily routine, not even seeing that Brad was holding the door for her once they'd reached the store.
"Oh, my, Meg," he said quietly, smiling at her.
"What?"
"You're plotting or thinking."
Meg bit her lip, her eyes brimming with a smile.
"Am I right?" Brad pressed.
"Yes," Meg forced herself to admit before slipping inside the store. She had a long list and wanted to get to it, but her concerns about finding ways to have more rest were real. Predictable and caught by her husband or not, it was something they would have to discuss.
"You'd better get to the livery," Jeanette told Cassidy on Wednesday afternoon. "Meg will wonder where you are."
Cassidy noticed the time and realized she was right. With a few last-minute instructions, Cassidy headed toward the livery and found Mr. Stillwell in attendance.
"Hello, Mr. Stillwell," Cassidy greeted the livery owner. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Miss Norton. Here for your rig?"
"Yes," Cassidy answered, wondering where Rylan was and wishing she could ask.
"I'll have it for you in just a few minutes."
Cassidy thanked him and learned in a hurry that his idea of a few minutes was not hers. About thirty minutes later than her usual
time-and wishing she had asked if she could ready the rig herself- Cassidy finally headed for the Holden Ranch.
69
Meg and Trace sat on the front porch, watching for Cassidy's buggy. She was running late today, and Trace felt disappointment fill him. He'd been planning this for two days, and Cassidy's not being on time had never occurred to him.
"Are you going to ask or tell?" Meg wanted to know.
Trace smiled and said, "How does 'strongly suggest' sound?" Meg smiled at her brother-in-law, thinking he was almost as sweet as her husband.
"You don't mind, do you, Meg?" Trace asked.
"Not at all. We are talking about Cassidy's safety here. How could I object to that?"
Before Trace could reply, he spotted the buggy. He met her before she could climb down and helped her alight.
"Change in plans today," Trace said, glad that Meg had come off the porch to join them.
"What's up?" Cassidy asked.
"Shooting first, sewing later."
Cassidy looked at Trace, then Meg, and back to Trace. Finally she asked of Meg, "Is he serious?"
"He is."'
"Why do I need to learn to shoot?" Cassidy asked Trace, feeling she needed to add, "I don't own a gun."
"We'll work on that detail later," Trace said with complete calm. "You need to know how to protect yourself"
Cassidy looked as though she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
"What's the hesitation?" Trace asked, not wanting to railroad her but convinced this was necessary.
"Guns are a little scary."
"I don't think you'll feel that way when you've learned to handle one."
70Cassidy looked at him a moment. "Meg," she finally asked her, friend, "do you know how to shoot?"
Meg nodded. "Brad taught me."
Cassidy's gaze dropped to Meg's stomach. "You'll be in the house, far away from all of this, right?"
"Yes," Meg said with a laugh, and Trace took that as agreement.
"Okay," he wasted no time in saying, "you take your things inside, Cassie. I'll see to your horse and come for you as soon as I'm done."
Cassidy felt as though she'd been swept up in a storm but could find no reason to object. She was waiting with a certain degree of fear when he showed up just ten minutes later.
71
RYLAN HAD ASKED PETE STILLWELLfor the day off, feeling behind
in several areas of study and ready to take some extra time to pray for the church family. His plan worked until just after lunch, when a knock on his door interrupted everything.
Abi Pfister was standing there, paper ready, requesting-almost demanding-an interview. Rylan was not thrilled, but neither did he have a good reason to say no, realizing this was better than her showing up at the livery. Rylan was sure his boss would not appreciate that, and someone who did not understand the workings of a smith could make it downright dangerous.
"When did you come to Token Creek, Pastor Jarvik?" "Five years ago."
"Exactly?" Abi asked her standard question.
"Let me see." Rylan had to think. "It will be five years in August."
Rylan, standing on his front porch, watched the woman write, wondering what would come next.
"Why Token Creek?"
"I knew the pastor who was here. Pastor English was not in the best of health and knew he wouldn't be staying in the pulpit much
72longer. He wrote and asked me to come and meet the folks here. I did and I stayed."
"Where are you from?"
"Denver."
Abi, head bent, ready to write, stopped and looked up at him. "Denver? I didn't know that. It's a long way."
"Yes, it is. The trains make it shorter these days, but five years ago, when it was trains and the stage, it took a very long time." "How long before you leave for another church?"
"I don't have plans to leave Token Creek."
"I thought all preachers moved around."
"Not all."
"Wallis told me they did."
Rylan had heard this about Abi Pfister. She liked to tell as much as she was told. He didn't want to get into a gossip session with her, but he thought this might be a good time for the conversation to get a bit personal.
"I think some do, but when I read my Bible I see great value in the local church family. The New Testament displays over and over again the importance of the local church, and as long as Token Creek needs a pastor, and I'm able and qualified for the job, I plan to stay."
"What qualifies you?" Abi asked, her paper dropping in spite of herself.
"The qualifications for an elder are laid out in First Timothy." "An elder? I thought you were a pastor."
"I'm called pastor, but my job is that of elder."
"I never read the Bible," Abi said softly, still forgetting she was supposed to be interviewing Rylan.
"Is there a reason you don't?" Rylan asked kindly.
"It's an old book, and I like new ones."
