by Lori Wick
“How’s this?” Chase asked of Rusty as he waited for her to slip into the booth.
“Fine. Thank you.”
Rusty had half-expected something to prevent them from going out, but it didn’t happen. Quintin was with his grandmother, and she was out with Chase McCandles—just the two of them—with the whole evening waiting to be explored.
“How hungry are you?”
“Not very,” Rusty had to admit. She had not eaten since lunch, but her stomach felt jittery and nervous. What if he learned that she was not the woman he wanted after all? Rusty’s eyes left her menu to study the man across the table. His gaze was still on the food list, but she stared at him so long that he finally looked up.
“Did you decide?”
“No.”
Chase put his menu down. “What is it, Katherine?”
“We don’t know each other very well, do we?”
Chase was well able to understand her hesitancy and said, “And you’re naturally wondering what type of man has asked you to be his wife.”
“No, I’m wondering if you’ll want me after you get to know me.”
Chase looked at her for a moment. This conversation was somehow familiar. At last he remembered.
“If I could give you any advice right now, it would be for you to take care of yourself and not me. Do you remember when I asked you to come work with Quintin?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t remember your asking me any questions. You were more worried about my response to you. You can’t do that this time, Katherine. You’ve got to make sure that I’m the man with whom you can spend the rest of your life. Does that make sense?”
“Yes. I’m still just getting used to the whole idea.”
“Then don’t let me rush you. I might be tempted to do that since I’m a little further along in my feelings, but just tell me, and I’ll give you time, as much as you need.”
“Thank you,” Rusty said simply, but then her head cocked to one side. “I don’t really know what you do. I know you make investments and such, but I’m not exactly sure what that entails.”
“I do make investments, but mostly I own a lot of property. If I see a piece of land that I think would develop well, I buy it and build on it.”
“That’s why you need to travel.”
“Yes, and that’s one of the reasons I’m looking into selling off some of those properties or hiring a manager. I can’t keep up with all of it and be home as much as I want.”
Rusty was thrilled to hear that he was committed to being home more, but she also wondered what it would be like to have the kind of money he had at her disposal.
“What are you thinking?”
“I was just letting my mind wander. What would I do if I had money to invest?”
“What would you do?”
She didn’t have to think long. “I’d see if I could buy that large piece of land by the pond.”
“What would you do with it?”
Rusty smiled. “Put up an orphanage.”
Chase did not smile back. “I already own that land,” he said softy.
Rusty’s brows flew upward.
“And it never once occurred to me to put an orphanage on it,” Chase admitted.
His voice was so thoughtful, so stunned, that Rusty felt she needed to remain silent. The silence lasted until the waiter returned. They asked him to wait and take their order. When he left, the conversation didn’t go back to land and investments, but Rusty could tell she’d said something that would make Chase think.
Nearly two hours later, as they were leaving the restaurant with plans to walk through town, Rusty remembered something Chase had said while they were standing in his office.
“Do you want me to look for another place to live?” she now offered.
“I’ve already started looking into that. I can’t imagine you not living at Briarly, but I think it’s for the best. The space between us will also help me give you the time you need.”
“All right. Maybe I should ask around at church.”
“That’s a good idea. I know of a couple of women who live together; maybe they would have room for you to join them. I’ll introduce them to you on Sunday.”
“I could also live with a family who needs help with their children,” Rusty suggested in complete sincerity.
Chase smiled. This one was special; his heart had told him that all along. He knew he would never find another like her. The orphanage came to his mind again. It was a fascinating idea. He praised God that Rusty had suggested it. He praised God for her. He glanced beside him now and caught sight of her lovely profile. They hadn’t been touching, but he reached for her hand.
“Does that bother you?”
“No,” Rusty said, but she could hardly breathe. He made her feel so cherished and special.
I think I love this man, Lord. I wasn’t planning on it, but I realize now that he hasn’t been far from my thoughts in weeks. Help me to go slowly with this. Help me to enjoy it, to be thankful and wise.
“Are you all right?” Chase suddenly asked, seeing how intense her face had become.
Rusty looked at him and smiled. “I’m just fine.”
Chase smiled right back at her before tucking her arm in his and slowing his stride just a little more. It was going to be a wonderful evening.
42
Chase led the way up the center aisle of the church but then stood politely aside so that Rusty and Quintin could precede him. Once in the pew Quintin snuggled happily between his father and Rusty. He had been quite sad when Cap and his grandmother had left the day before, but his father had reminded him to be thankful for the time he’d had with them. He was now back to his cheerful self. His hand went into the folds of Rusty’s skirt as he moved especially close to her.
Rusty lovingly touched his little knee, letting her eyes scan the other pews and her mind wander. Not for the first time she noticed how many children there were. Quintin was just one of three or four dozen. She found herself wishing there was a program for them here as there was in Manitou—not a time to replace church, but to have a Bible story and time of singing a little more on their level. Rusty’s brow lowered. She had no way of knowing if there were many biblically qualified teachers, but Colorado Springs Bible Church certainly had enough people to set up several teams of teachers.
“That’s quite a look.” Chase’s quiet voice was softer than usual. He had an arm along the back of the pew behind Quintin’s head. His hand lay lightly against Rusty’s back. She glanced up to find him watching her and felt horrible for her thoughts.
“I’m being difficult,” she whispered back. “I always think I have the answer to everything.”
Chase’s brow rose. “You don’t strike me as being extemely opinionated, Katherine.”
Rusty shook her head in self-accusation. “I can be impossible. Right now I’m sitting here thinking that this church needs a children’s program like the one in Manitou. What arrogance on my part! I don’t know these people well enough to know if any of them meet the Bible’s standards for teachers. Even I know that you don’t set up a program before you have obedient workers.”
“It’s an experience knowing you, did you realize that?” Chase surprised her by asking, his eyes tender.
“Why is that?”
“Well, I couldn’t agree with you more that godly workers have to be found before committees or programs are instituted, but the whole idea of a children’s church time never occurred to me. I’ve even attended yours and still didn’t think of it for this church.”
“Well, at least you’re not a know-it-all.”
“You’re too hard on yourself,” he said gently. “But it wouldn’t hurt to talk to the elders. They might be thinking along the same line.” Chase managed to get these words in before the song leader stepped behind the pulpit and asked them to rise. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before Chase opened the hymnal.
Rusty thought about his words. He might b
e right, she said to the Lord, but it’s all in my attitude. Instead of looking around and praying for a children’s class, I’m critical. Instead of asking You to prepare hearts so that this church could have a great children’s program, I’m scowling at innocent people and making judgments. Instead of finding out the path the leaders are on, I’m making my own.
As Rusty sang and prepared her heart for the sermon, Chase was doing a little praying of his own. She has ideas that challenge me. Sometimes I think my world is small. She has such a different outlook. My view has been business, and hers has been children. I know you need godly businessmen here on the earth, Lord, but something tells me that Katherine’s dreams and focus have a much more eternal reach.
Chase forced his mind onto the sermon and was pleased that he did. As he had been for the past few weeks, Pastor Radke was in 1 Corinthians, and Chase was convicted by what he heard. At times his walk with the Lord was inconsistent. He prayed that he would have a no-matter-what attitude of obedience seven days a week.
With that in mind, Chase remembered his words to Clayton Taggart. He must honor Rusty and their relationship and move her out of the house before their courtship went much further. He was praying about how to go about it when Darcey Lackland, the church organist, walked up for the closing song.
Darcey wasn’t elderly by any stretch of the imagination, but she was a widow, all her children grown and gone. She lived alone in a comfortable home downtown. Chase remembered that he’d taken care of the sale of some property for her several years earlier, and they had gotten along very well. He decided to approach her at once.
“I need to speak to someone,” Chase told Rusty when the congregation was dismissed.
“All right. Quin and I can visit. Do you want to find us, or should we come for you?”
“I’ll find you.”
The last strains of the postlude were just ending when Chase reached the front. Darcey spotted him immediately and came off the bench with a smile.
“Well, Chase McCandles, how are you?”
“I’m well, Mrs. Lackland. How about yourself?”
“Can’t complain,” she said with a smile. “You look like a man with a mission.”
“As a matter of fact, I am. I have a business proposition for you.”
“This sounds interesting.”
The two sat in the front pew to talk, and although Chase could see that he had surprised the organist, she was not against the idea of giving up one of the bedrooms in her home. She liked her privacy, she explained, and Chase was able to reassure her that Rusty would be at Briarly nearly every day. He offered her a generous monthly amount that made her brows rise, and even insisted when she tried to protest.
“When would you need her to come?”
“The sooner the better.”
Darcey eyed him. “Like that, is it?”
Chase looked pleased without smiling. “Yes. It’s not going to be as easy or convenient to have her away from Briarly, or as much fun for that matter, but it’s the best thing right now.”
“May I let you know in a week?”
“Absolutely. I haven’t checked with anyone else. I will, though—ask around a little bit more. That way you won’t feel pressured.”
“Please don’t,” Darcey replied quickly. “I can all but give you a yes right now, but I tend to do things too swiftly. By making myself think about this for a week, I’ll know if I’ve done the right thing.”
“That’s fine. Would you like to meet Katherine?”
“I believe I would. Who knows, she might take an instant disliking to me.”
Chase laughed, remembering all at once how fun this woman was. Five minutes later, Rusty thought so too. Chase introduced them and then explained the plan. Rusty wasted no time learning whether Darcey had grandchildren, and with that they were off. She heard all about their ages and personalities. As fascinating as Rusty was to watch, Chase’s eyes were on Darcey as the women spoke. Her smile was nonstop, and he felt confident that the older woman’s forthcoming answer would be in the affirmative.
Rusty enjoyed herself as well. She had wondered where she would end up in all of this, but there was no need to worry. By the time they said their goodbyes and walked to the waiting carriage, she was floating on a cloud.
“I forgot to check with her about the cost,” Rusty commented as she stopped and looked back to find her.
“I’ll be taking care of it,” Chase told her and turned to help her into the carriage.
“All right. I guess adjusting my salary would be just as easy.”
“I won’t need to do that.”
Rusty wasn’t very comfortable with Chase spending more money, but she didn’t question him right then. Back at Briarly, however, Quintin said his pants made his legs itch and asked if he could go right to his room. Rusty gave him leave, but she did not step down from the carriage herself.
“I don’t know much about the way the well-to-do live,” she began quietly, “but I do know that they don’t keep their money by giving all of it away.”
“You’re talking about the salary.”
“Yes. You already pay me a generous amount. If you’re going to pay for my room, then I think you should cut my pay or let me pay Mrs. Lackland out of the salary I get now.”
Chase didn’t answer her. He sat next to her in the carriage, his arm along the seat back, and stared into her eyes.
“Have I told you that your eyes are beautiful?” he said suddenly.
“I’m not sure.”
“I’m not trying to distract you, by the way. We can talk about the salary for as long as you like, but I didn’t want to forget to tell you that I think your eyes are beautiful.”
“I hated the color when I was a child,” Rusty admitted.
“Why?” Chase asked gently, wishing he could have seen her as a little girl.
“People stared, and one of the other girls at school was cruel about them. She and I eventually became friends, but for a few years she hated me.”
“Jealousy?”
“I think so. Her home was a mess. Her father yelled a lot. Our teacher was wonderful—everyone loved him—and of course he was my father.”
“When did you begin to love children?”
“When an abandoned baby was left at our door.”
Chase blinked at her. “What did you do?”
Rusty smiled. “We kept her. It’s Dana.”
Chase’s mouth dropped open. “I had no idea. I mean, she even has red hair like you and Les.”
Rusty smiled. “Amazing, isn’t it? No one even remembers that she wasn’t born to my parents. It’s as though she’s always been there.”
“No wonder you’re so special.”
Rusty smiled. “That was a nice thing to say.”
“I meant it. And it’s also the reason I want to take care of your room with Darcey Lackland, as well as leave your salary where it’s been.” He paused and stared at her again, his hand coming up to caress her cheek. “If you really aren’t comfortable with it, I’ll do what you want, but if you haven’t caught on yet, Katherine, I do things differently where you’re concerned. I always have, even before I realized I loved you.”
“How can I possibly refuse an offer like that?”
Chase smiled. “You can’t, just as I hoped you wouldn’t.” This time he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Ready for some lunch?”
“Yes, I am. Quintin never came back. I wonder if he got out of his pants.”
Chase helped her to the ground and offered to see to Quintin. He left the carriage for Whit.
The afternoon was spent in idle pursuits. Rusty and Quintin put a puzzle together, and Chase fell asleep on the davenport while reading a book. They walked in the woods and talked a little of the future; Rusty knew her heart was falling fast. It was bedtime before it hit her that this was probably her last week at Briarly, at least for a time. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep quickly—anything to block out the pain of leaving for who
knew how long.
Tuesday morning found Rusty and Quintin on the floor of the drawing room, newspapers spread in front of them, working on small dolls they had made from sticks and pieces of cloth. They had two families completed, including grandparents, a dog, and one horse.
“This is your mother, Aunt Rusty,” Quintin said seriously.
“Thank you, Quin. I’ll put her with my father. Now, does your family have the dog or the horse?”
Before he could answer, Chase wandered through. He took a seat on the nearest ottoman, and Quintin explained to him all about the families. The little boy stumbled a little as he got to the mother of his own family—he didn’t have a name for her—but he went on to tell the dog’s name, and Chase praised him warmly before saying he had to get back to work. He stood and moved away after a smile to Rusty, and the two dollmakers went back to their play.
“I wish our dolls had hair, Aunt Rusty.”
“Oh, Quin, what a good idea! We could use some of my hair.”
“Really?” The little boy’s eyes were round with excitement. “Could we really?”
“Of course. It’s a great idea. Do you know where my little sewing scissors are?”
“Katherine, I would have a word with you,” Chase spoke, very suddenly back at her side.
He was roundly ignored.
“In your little sewing box in your closet?” Quintin questioned. “That’s right. Now you mustn’t run or even walk fast once you have them in your hand.”
“Katherine.” Chase’s voice came through again, but the woman in question had eyes only for Quintin.
“I’ll find some glue and—” Rusty cut off when Chase stepped directly in front of her. Bending low, he brought her to her feet.
“If you’ll excuse us for just a moment, Quintin, I must have a word with Aunt Rusty.”
Without waiting for an answer, Chase pulled Rusty through the drawing room, into his office, and shut the doors. Quintin dropped back to his knees next to the newspaper but did not pick up his dolls. His eyes were on the glass doors that led to his father’s office and the man and woman inside.
