Cassidy (Big Sky Dreams 1) (24 page)

"I'll take her," Trace offered, no longer hungry. He settled Savanna on one arm, kissing her brow and seeing that she was already headed back to sleep. When he looked up, Meg was staring at him.

"I love you, Trace," she whispered.

"I love you too, Meg."

to her supper. Brad finished his as well, but he didn't taste a thing.

k

Meg's tears had started again, but she forced herself to go back

His eyes were on his wife, and his mind was asking God to help

the last.

as

them in every way. The next few weeks were sure to be as I eventfu

"Oh, hi, Pastor," Cassidy said when she answered the knock on her door that evening.

"Hey, Cassie, is this a bad time to join me for a walk?" "Not at all. Let me grab a sweater."

"I didn't get a chance to come by the shop today," Rylan explained

know how you are."

to

when she came out and they walked down the stairs. "But I d wante

"I'm doing well, thank you, Pastor Rylan."

"I'm glad. Trace stopped by and said you were, but I thought would check."

"That's good news. Do you think you've seen the lastof your "I appreciate it. He took care of something specific today had

that ha

beenThat

weighing on me. at was very helpful."

"

brother?"

"Yes. He moves around a lot, and I doubt he'll see a reas°n to come back."

199"And your mother? Will you feel free to see her now?"

"If my business falls apart, there's nothing keeping me from visiting her. I've already sent her a letter. I'm sure to hear back from her any day."

"I'm glad for you, Cassie. What a relief."

"Yes, it is," Cassidy agreed and laughed a little. "When Abi Pfister gets wind of all of this, my life will be a whole chapter in her book."

"Did you not hear what happened?" Rylan asked. He then went on to explain the way Abi had been hurt. Cassidy was sorry to hear it but glad that Rylan was going to have further contact with her.

"Why would someone beat her up?" Cassidy asked.

"She said they wanted information on her book. It made no sense to Sheriff Kaderly or me."

"I'll pray for her," Cassidy said, thinking how frightening the attack must have been.

The two had walked full circle. They'd gone down by the mill before turning back and returning to Cassidy's shop. It was also growing dark.

"I'll let you get in out of the cold."

"Thanks for stopping," Cassidy said sincerely. "Your support in all of this has been wonderful, Pastor. Thank you."

"Your business might not survive this, Cassie, but you're safe and still a part of our church family. I thank God for that."

Before heading up the stairs, Cassidy smiled and told him she was thankful for the same things. Rylan waited until she was safely inside before heading for home.

"Well now," Trace said softly, meeting Cassidy's buggy as he always did and helping her down, hours earlier on this day. "This is a nice surprise."

200"I left a note on my door," Cassidy said, "saying I would be open again on Thursday."

"Well done," Trace praised her.

Meg was close behind, hugging her friend and trying not to cry. "Have you had breakfast?" she asked.

"Not much."

"Well, come in because I'm going to feed you all day."

Cassidy laughed and went along to the house. Trace watched them go and then took care of the horse and buggy. From there he wasted no time getting into the house, not having to pretend anymore that he had other places to be.

"The trees out here are amazing," Cassidy said, taking in the colors that were turning fast and telling everyone that October was approaching. The two were on a ride before dinner. Meg had to feed the baby, and both men had already planned to take it easy all week.

"My mother saw to that," Trace said, his eyes on the trees as well. "She brought plantings of several varieties of maples when we moved here from Pennsylvania."

"How old were you?"

"Almost six."

Cassidy smiled, trying to picture him.

"What an adventure this must have been for you and Brad."

"It was. We got into more trouble that first month than all the other years combined."

"Why was that?"

"Oh, just so much going on and we thought we could do it all. Our father took the switch to us over and over, but we were pretty willful."

They rode for a little while in silence, but Trace's curiosity got the best of him. "What were you like as a child?"

201"I don't know," Cassidy admitted. "Just a normal little girl, I guess."

"I don't think so," Trace argued.

"Why not?" Cassidy asked on a laugh, sounding as incredulous as she felt.

"No one with your guts and independence comes from a normal childhood."

"I don't know if that was an insult or not," Cassidy said. "It wasn't," Trace assured her.

Cassidy took some time to think on what he said and finally admitted, "I was alone much of the time. I guess that would account for the independence. But I don't find myself very gutsy, even though my brother said the same thing."

"He said that when he was just here?"

"Yes. I stood up to him, and he complimented me.".

"Why are you able to?"

"I always have. Edson doesn't scare me for myself, just for others."

"How do you mean?"

"I'm afraid he's going to cheat people I know, and they'll lose all they have. He's done it so many times."

"Do you think he'll come back here?"

"I doubt it. None of his schemes worked, or he would have flaunted that in my face. There's no reason for him to return."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. Edson doesn't go where there isn't a profit."

This made sense to Trace, and he hoped it would be true. Cassidy didn't need her brother coming in and out of her life and making her miserable. The damage he'd done already would be felt for a long time.

"What are you thinking about?" Cassidy asked when he was silent.

"Your brother. I'm almost glad I didn't meet him."

202"He's very charming. Neal, on the other hand, was not." "Who is Neal?"

Cassidy wasn't sure how Neal had been left out of the story, but then maybe she hadn't told Meg about him. She filled Trace in, and he did not look happy. He pulled his mount to a stop, and Cassidy naturally stopped with him.

"I want you to take a gun back to town with you."

"Trace," Cassidy said patiently. "They're not going to come back here. I'm sure of it."

Trace did not look convinced, but Cassidy thought nothing of it. She learned otherwise after dinner when he took her out to work on her shooting lessons again.

fr

"How are you?" Meg asked Cassidy when the men went to feed the stock. Supper was almost ready, but they had some time alone.

"Oh, Meg," Cassidy said with a smile. "I feel like this is all a dream and I'm going to wake up any moment."

Meg smiled before saying, "Should I pinch you?"

Cassidy laughed but then had to ask, "Why did you never ask me if I had feelings for Trace?"

"What if you hadn't?" Meg asked, having anticipated this question. "It would have made you feel awkward. I would have hated doing that to you."

"Did you not suspect?" Cassidy asked, thinking she'd been transparent so many times.

"I hoped, but you would laugh and have a good time with Chandler and Rylan too, and even with Philip. You were very relaxed around everyone in the church family, and that's not usually what it looks like."

Cassidy had to agree. Since knowing that Trace had feelings for her, she blushed easily, something that was not normal for her. "What are you thinking about?"

203"Just the newness of it all. I've been holding myself in check for so long. It might take some time to realize my special feelings for Trace are welcome."

"They're welcome," Meg said, sounding a bit dramatic. "Brad has been asking God to send you our way for a very long time." "What do you mean by that?"

Meg explained the way Brad prayed almost every night that God would bring a godly wife for Trace. Meg ended up telling the story and then laughing until she was red in the face becauseshe had managed to shock Cassidy into complete silence.

And that woman was still thinking about what Meg had said when it was time to help her put on supper. She knew Meg was serious, but such a thing had never occurred to her. Not until Brad prayed for the meal more than an hour after the conversation did she really take it in, and only because he ended his prayer with "And, Father, we have asked You for many years to bring Cass into Trace's life, and now it's Your will and timing. We thank You from hearts that are awed by Your love. Amen."

204

"WHAT'S THIS?" TRACE ASKEDwhen Cassidy handed him a wrapped

bundle a little while after supper. They had just finished the dishes and were at the kitchen table.

"Open it," Cassidy said quietly and waited, her eyes watchful. Trace tore back the paper and began to smile.

"You made me a shirt?" Trace asked the obvious, looking as pleased as he felt.

Cassidy nodded, feeling suddenly shy.

"You could not have made this last night."

"No. It was a while ago."

Trace nodded, his eyes holding hers until Cassidy forced hers to her lap.

"How did you know my size?" Trace asked to break the tension between them.

"I'd helped Meg with Brad's."

"I keep telling you," he started to tease. "We're nothing alike." Cassidy only shook her head and laughed at his innocent expression.

"Thank you," he said finally.

"You're welcome."

205Trace suddenly leaned back in his chair and studied her. "I never considered this part."

"What part of what?" Cassidy asked, smiling at his look of pleasure.

"The part about having Cassidy Norton as my girl."

"What are you talking about?" Cassidy asked on a laugh, partly because he was so funny and partly because she was so delighted to hear him call her his girl.

"I can have all the new shirts I want."

"You think so, do you?"

"Of course."

"Fabric costs money, Trace Holden. Don't forget that."

The change in .him was visible. His face lost all its teasing, and he even reached for her hand where it sat on the table.

"I meant to check with you about that. How are you doing?" "I'll be good for a few months," she told him sincerely but with his same serious tone. "Then I'll have to look for work."

Or
marry me,
Trace thought, but he didn't say it, fairly certain it was too soon for such talk.

"You'll keep me informed?" Trace asked instead, wanting to say so much more.

"Yes."

Trace kept her hand for a little longer. Cassidy could have sat and talked to him all night, but an hour later she said it was time to get home. Trace took her back to town as he always did, but tonight was different. Tonight when she said goodbye, there was no need to keep her eyes from showing the things she'd been feeling for a very long time.

"Hello, Mrs. Potts," Cassidy said to that lady on Thursday. "How are you?"

206"That's just what I've been wondering about you. Are you still in business?"

"Yes, I am. Did you need something?"

"I needed something yesterday," that lady stated.

"Well," Cassidy replied, deciding to be honest, "business has been very slow, so I took the entire day off."

"I need a skirt," the other woman said next, as though Cassidy should have known this.

"I have several fabrics you might like. Dark or light?"

"Dark, I think. Blue or black. I don't care for brown."

Cassidy moved without haste to retrieve the fabric she had in mind, but her heart had started to pound a little fast. She hadn't expected this. Mrs. Potts was a valuable customer, and to keep her business was a wonderful surprise.

They worked together for the next thirty minutes. Mrs. Potts was well pleased with her choice and even more pleased to learn she could have the skirt on Saturday.

"Just so you know, Cassidy," Mrs. Potts said when they had finished and before heading toward the door, "I never believed any of those things I'd heard. And no one had better spread such rumors in my hearing."

Before Cassidy could even thank her, she went out the door. Cassidy thanked God instead, wondering if maybe it was His plan that she keep her business after all.

"How did it go yesterday with Cass?" Brad wanted to know. They were in the barn together, still enjoying the week off but getting out of Meg's hair for a while.