Sabrina (Big Sky Dreams 2) (20 page)

176 It was a quiet couple who made their way home to Holden Ranch.

"Are you busy?" Sabrina asked Becky late in the afternoon on Sunday.

"What are you doing at the kitchen door?" Becky scolded, pulling the other woman inside with a shake of her head.

"My bread pudding didn't turn out." Sabrina showed her the pan. "What did I do wrong?'

Becky looked down at the unrecognizable mass and had to cover her mouth.

"You're laughing," Sabrina said, catching the action.

"No," Becky denied, but she couldn't stop her smile.

Sabrina smiled a bit sheepishly, and then Becky began to question her.

"Was the bread fresh?"

"Yes."

"And you beat the liquid throughly?"

"Yes."

"And you poured the mixture over every bit of the top?" "Yes.

"How many eggs did you use?"

Sabrina bit her lip. "I think I forgot the eggs."

Becky gave her usual longsuffering look and said, "What am I going to do with you?"

"I'll remember next time."

"Did you find an apartment yet?"

"How did you know about that?"

"I know a lot of things," she said, not admitting that she talked to Rylan earlier that day. "So have you?"

"Not yet. I have to talk to Jessie in the morning."

"You need to get yourself moved back here. We all want it."

177 Part of Sabrina wanted it too, but it wasn't that simple. She couldn't live there indefinitely, or at least that's what she told herself.

"Thanks, Becky," Sabrina said, closing the conversation and heading for the door. Becky would not let her leave empty-handed. She packed a basket with food and sent that on Sabrina's free arm.

178

RYLAN SPENT THE DAY alone. He thought about Sabrina quite a bit

and wanted to see her, but he didn't give in to the idea. The Vicks had asked him to join them in the evening, but Rylan was taking all Sunday afternoon to read his Bible and pray.

It was not an unusual thing for him to do, but never had he done it with such a distraction. Sabrina was beginning to be very special to his heart, and she came to mind often. He asked the Lord not to let her get between them, and by working hard to control his thoughts, she did not dominate.

He spent a long time studying in Colossians and kept up his memorization of Psalm 144. He climbed into bed at the end of the day, thankful the sheriff had not come for him and he'd had so many hours with just the Lord. It was the refreshment he needed.

"Do you know of any other apartments in town?" Sabrina dutifully asked Jessie on Monday morning.

"Not since the last time you asked," Jessie said. "What's up?"

179 "I don't think I can stay where I am on Willow Street. It's gotten unsafe."

"Gotten?" Jessie asked, her brows raised.

Sabrina ignored her and asked a few customers who came in that day if they knew of a place. No one was very helpful, but she told herself to keep trying.

The day dragged a bit, her mind on the apartment as well as a letter she owed Danny and Callie. She walked home, her mind adrift, only to find Zeke sitting halfway up her stairway. Sabrina could not tell if he'd been drinking, but he was angry and wanted to know exactly where Eliza had gone.

"Get off my stairway, Zeke," Sabrina wasted no time saying. "Answer my question."

"Eliza is gone. I'm not sure where she is right now."

"Where was she headed?"

"I won't tell you that."

Zeke came at her, and Sabrina backed away. The area was quiet right now, and Sabrina's eyes darted toward Crystal's window. That window was closed, but Sabrina still called her name. Zeke lunged for her, and Sabrina fought hard, but Eliza was not there to chase him off this time, and Zeke did not give up until Sabrina was unconscious.

Sabrina woke slowly, tasting dirt and blood in her mouth. She coughed a little, trying to find air and wondering which part of her hurt the most, her face or throat. She heard movement just then and tried to move away.

"No more, Zeke," she mumbled. "No more."

"Sabrina?"

"Who is it?"

"Crystal. What happened?"

"Please," Sabrina croaked past a raw throat. "Please find the sheriff."

180 Sabrina wasn't sure if she hesitated or not, but she heard her run off and worked to push herself into a sitting position, glad there was still plenty of light and she could see to navigate. Sabrina sighed when she felt the building against her back.

Okay, Lord, I'm giving up now. No matter how I feel about Jeanette's house, I'll go. If she'll have me, I'll move back.

Sabrina thought she had prayed for an hour before the sheriff came, when in reality only five minutes had passed. Sabrina looked up at that man, her eyes unconsciously pleading for help.

"Crystal is finding Doc," the sheriff said, silently horrified over what had happened to her.

Sabrina wanted to thank him but wasn't sure she could push any more words past her throat.

Again time seemed to stand still. Sabrina closed her eyes and wished she could sleep and have the pain and Zeke's image go away, but then she opened her eyes and Timothy was there with the wagon. But more than that, Rylan was jumping down from the seat and coming toward her. Sabrina didn't know when anything felt as comforting as his arms lifting her and his voice telling her it was going to be all right.

Sabrina's silence bothered Jeanette. Her neck was bruised, but it was more than that. Some of the light had gone out of her eyes. She looked weary-completely spent-but would not close her eyes to sleep.

Jeanette and Heather helped her with gentle efficiency, and when Sabrina was cleaned up and tucked under the covers, Jeanette opened the door for Rylan to enter. She took a position at the corner of the bed and listened.

"Hi," the big man said, keeping his voice low and taking the chair that had been pulled up close to the bed. "I just have one question for you: Was it Zeke?"

181 "Yes."

Rylan nodded and would have spoken again, but Sabrina beat him to it.

"I'm sorry," she said, having held the words inside for so long that it hurt.

"Why are you sorry?"

"It's all my fault."

"Why do you say that?"

"You all wanted me to move back here, and I wouldn't. I'm sorry." Rylan picked up her hand. It was scratched and bruised, as was her arm, but he held it gently.

"No one thinks this is your fault, because it isn't. I don't want you to think like that anymore."

"I'm more trouble than I'm worth."

The words did funny things to Rylan's heart. He shook his head no and said, "Nothing could be further from the truth. Will you do me a favor?"

"Yes."

"Go to sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow."

"You're coming back?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you have time?"

"I'm sure."

"Don't come if you don't."

"All right," Rylan agreed, knowing they had bridges to cross over the way she viewed herself and this incident.

"Rylan," Sabrina said with the last of her energy, her throat very sore.

"What?"

"Thank you."

For just a moment Rylan took her hand in both of his. Sabrina watched him and then closed her eyes. Rylan heard her sigh and relinquished the hand. He and Jeanette exited the bedroom together and closed the door.

182 Jeanette stood in the hallway, her hand to her mouth in horror over Sabrina's face.

"What was that man thinking?"

There was much Rylan could have said to that, but he said only,

"I need to let Nate know that it was Zeke Masters, since he doesn't

know any of the details. Why can't Doc get here tonight?"

"He's not in town. His neighbor said he'll be back tomorrow." "I'll be by in the morning if that's all right."

"Certainly. Anytime."

Jeanette saw him to the door before going back to check on Sabrina who was very much asleep.

Sabrina woke in the night, not sure how she could hurt in so many places at one time. A low moan escaped her as she tried to shift against the pillow, and she wondered how close she'd come to dying. It wasn't the first time she'd been hit, but it was the worst.

Sabrina knew she would not get back to sleep unless she could relieve herself, but it was taking some courage to move. She had resigned herself to the pain when the light of a lantern came through the doorway.

"I thought I heard you."

It was Heather. She set her lantern on the table by the bed and looked down at Sabrina.

"Did I wake you?" Sabrina asked.

"I'm a very light sleeper, and I sleep with my door open so I can hear Theta. Do you need to get up?"

"Yes."

Sabrina stifled more than one groan climbing from the bed, even with Heather's help. It was a wearying ten minutes before she was tucked back under the covers, and as though it was not the middle of the night, Heather sat down on the side of the bed and looked at her.

"I think you were very brave tonight."

183 "Why do you say that?"

"Unless I miss my guess, you fought back."

"I did, but he was angry, and that gives a man strength."

"Don't go back, Bri," Heather begged. "I'm afraid for you. I'm trying to trust in God for your safety, but I don't know if my heart can take your going back there."

"I won't, Heather. I don't know where I can find a place I can afford, but I won't return."

"We'll help you," Heather said, knowing they would do everything they could to keep her with them as long as possible. "Maybe Jessie knows something."

"I just checked with her," Sabrina said.

Heather could have cried. She was already looking for another place to live, but it hadn't been soon enough.

"Can you sleep now?" Heather asked.

"I think so. Heather?"

"Yes."

"Do you think Timothy would have time in the morning to go 'to the apartment and get my Bible?"

"I'm sure he will. I'll ask him."

Heather slipped out after Sabrina thanked her, planning to be up early to check on her, but when she got to Sabrina's room, it was empty.

"Lord, You have a plan for Rylan and Bri," Chas said quietly. He and Rylan were in Chas' living room, the children still asleep. "Help us to trust You for this. None of us would have chosen this road for Bri, Lord, but Your ways are perfect. Your glory is the goal, Father.

"Give Rylan wisdom to think well and trust You. He might be tempted to rush in and try to be more to Bri than she needs. Help him to remember that she needs a pastor and a friend right now

184 more than anything else. She might not be thinking well about this attack, and Rylan can't minister as he should if he doesn't guard his heart carefully.

"Turn this to Your glory, Father. Let Bri's light for You not be dimmed in this community. Help her to trust as she should and understand how much You love Zeke and how much he needs our prayers."

When Chas was finished, Rylan began to pray. He started by thanking God for Chas and his good reminders about what was important. He finished by asking God to guard his heart for other more serious reasons. This was new territory, and in truth he did not know how Sabrina would respond. If she was angry at God over Zeke's attack, it would uncover a side of her that he'd not seen before.

Rylan did not think she would be angry, but he also could recognize wishful thinking in himself. He wanted Sabrina to be the one, and in such cases blindness could be a major temptation.

The men talked for a while after they prayed, Rylan thanking Chas for meeting with him so early and on such short notice. When they had finished, Rylan started for the door. He hadn't counted on Miranda, who expected him to stay for breakfast and was already bringing mugs of coffee to the men. He stayed, reminding himself that Sabrina was probably still asleep and would not be up to company for a few hours.

Sabrina stood by the stove in the kitchen, wrapped up in a blanket, trying to heat water for a bath. She was sore, very much so, but also desperate to gain some sense of normalcy.

"Well, now," Heather said quietly, "I didn't expect to see you up."

"I need a bath," Sabrina said. "I'm ignoring the pain to have one."

185 Heather began to help, going into the small room off the side of the kitchen they all used for bathing. The warm weather meant she did not need to make a fire, but she set towels out and put some cold water into the tub while the rest of the water heated.

Becky eventually arrived, and contrary to her normal response, she didn't scold but took over for Heather. In less time than Sabrina expected, she was on her way to being clean, even washing her hair. She didn't try to look in the mirror, knowing that would make her feel worse. She was certain to be even achier when she was through, but at the moment getting clean was all that mattered.