"What were you doing out?"

"There was a shooting, but the woman didn't want me there." "I heard gunfire earlier."

"And you didn't run out to see what you could do?" Rylan asked, his eyes wide to add to the sarcasm.

"It's not like that," Sabrina objected, but then stopped. She looked 116 out over the creek, feeling foolish. Rylan read her face and wished he hadn't teased her. He was going to say as much when Sabrina spoke, not looking at him and almost in a whisper.

"They don't know about the shed blood of Christ. They don't know that He died for them and that He's waiting to take their sins away and save them for all time. Someone has to tell them."

"Sabrina," Rylan began, touched by her words. "I think what you're trying to do is amazing, but it can't be at the risk of your own safety."

"I'm not afraid," she said quietly but with utter conviction. "I can see that, but maybe you should be."

Sabrina finally looked at him.

"Listen to me," Rylan tried again. "There must be a way to do this during the day."

"You go out after dark," Sabrina argued, and Rylan had to laugh. Sabrina turned her head again and wouldn't look at him, but she wanted to laugh too.

"Tell me you know that was a ridiculous thing to say."

"Yes, it was," Sabrina admitted, her face still in profile.

For a long moment there was quiet between them. Rylan knew what he wanted to say, but he also wanted to hear more from Sabrina if she wanted to share. When she didn't, he began.

"I want to tell you something I've had to learn about Token Creek," Rylan began, and Sabrina finally looked his way.

"Real hunger will come to the fore. I used to pursue people but no longer. They know who I am and where they can find me. They know how available I am. If someone is truly tired of his sin or stops long enough to feel the hunger inside, he'll seek out the truth. I have to keep living a holy life, but G.o.d will bring the people and give the increase. I don't have to put myself in danger to share Him."

Sabrina had to think about this. She probably had been too zealous, and Rylan was right, going out after dark if she didn't have to was risky.

"Thank you for not saying I need to move back to Jeanette's."

117 "On the contrary, except when you go out after dark I think you handle where you're living very well. To be honest, I've never known a woman with your guts. I just don't want you to be foolhardy."

Sabrina nodded. He had given her much to think about, and she knew he'd said it with a concern for her safety. In truth she did need to be more responsible. If she was hurt because she had not been careful, someone would have to care for her, and that would be selfishness on her part.

"Can I ask you one more question?" Rylan said.

Sabrina nodded.

"Did you really think I would let you walk home alone last night when you suggested it?"

"Well, it was getting late, and I didn't know how early you had to be up when you preach."

This was the last thing he expected. Stubbornness maybe, or not wanting to be ordered around, but certainly not concern for his getting enough rest.

"What's the matter?" Sabrina asked, trying to read his face. "You just surprised me."

They looked at each other for a moment.

"Do you get up early on Sunday mornings?" Sabrina asked. "Yes, I do."

The black-haired woman nodded.

"Why don't we go to Jeanette's," Rylan suddenly suggested. "Is she expecting us?"

"No, but maybe Becky made bread pudding."

Sabrina could not stop her laughter. It rang out over the creek line and made Rylan laugh in return.

"And one of these days," Rylan said when they were on their feet and headed back toward town, "maybe you'll tell me how you came to believe in the shed blood of Christ."

Sabrina said that she would, and that she wanted to hear Rylan's story as well. Rylan certainly agreed even as he prayed. Please help 118me to hold myself in check, Lord. She's special, very special, but I can't rush this. There are too many things I don't know, and I'd rather lose a limb than hurt her.

Sabrina, completely unaware of the pastor's thoughts, knew it was finally time to ask Rylan about some of his sermon points. Naturally he was more than happy to answer.

"Things a little quiet on the streets?" Bret asked of Crystal when he wandered over to the corner table she was sitting at on Sunday night. The Boar's Head was not overly busy, and she had a drink in front of her.

"Just resting my feet," Crystal said, thinking he was too good- looking and knew it.

"Do you see much of Bri Matthews?" Bret asked next, trying to appear nonchalant. Crystal's smile turned a little mean before she answered.

"You're out of your cla.s.s there, Bret. She's a nice girl."

Bret's eyes grew cold. He did not like the word no, and he didn't like to be told he wasn't good enough. With a move he couldn't quite pull off, Bret shrugged and shifted in his chair, glancing around the room in disinterest.

"I just noticed a scratch on her face and wondered what happened."

"Oh that." Crystal took the bait and didn't even know she'd been caught. "Zeke was drunk and giving Eliza the once over. Bri came at him, and he hit her too."

The anger that flooded through Bret was a surprise to him. Women like Sabrina Matthews were not for hitting, and Bret thought men like Zeke were worthless even when they weren't drunk.

"What was Bri doing there?"

"I guess she heard the fight and went in to check."

Crystal finished her drink then and pushed to her feet. She 119 halfway hoped that Bret would want a little more of her time, but she was suddenly weary of men talking to her about Sabrina. Without saying goodbye, Crystal went to the bar. A man had come in that she hadn't seen before. Maybe he would want to talk about her and no one else.

"Over here!" Clancy called the moment she spotted Sabrina. "Over here, Bri."

Sabrina wasted no time. She had made her bean stew again, and a loaf of bread, And arrived at the town's Fourth of July celebration hoping to sit with someone she knew. Tables were lined up along the creek, and the meal was potluck.

"How are you?" Sabrina asked when Clancy rushed to hug her legs. She bent enough to hug the little girl in return.

"Mama made cake."

"Did you help?"

"Only with licking."

Sabrina laughed as she asked, "What kind of cake?"

"Spice. It's Hannah's favorite."

"Where is Hannah?"

"She's with Heidi." A sudden frown appeared. "I don't have anyone."

"Well, that tells you where we stand, Bri," Jessie put in, more amused than offended by her daughter's words. "Here, give those to me and I'll take them to the food tables."

"What shall we do?" Sabrina asked, having handed off her dishes and taken a seat at Jessie's table. Clancy took a seat beside her, and for a moment the little girl only smiled at her.

"You look pretty," Clancy suddenly said.

"Well, thank you, Clancy. I like your dress too."

"Mama sent for it."

"That must have been fun."

120 "Oh, look!" Clancy jumped to her feet. "It's Mrs. Vick, with Nellie."

Sabrina saw that Miranda was headed her way. She had a picnic basket in hand and Nellie on her free arm.

"Is there room here, Bri?" she asked.

"I think so," Sabrina said, not sure who else was joining Jessie. "We've got Rylan with us too," Miranda added, and Sabrina was surprised to feel her heart skip a beat.

"h.e.l.lo, Miranda," Jessie greeted as she returned. "Going to join us?"

"If you have room."

"Certainly. Where is Rylan?"

"He and Chas are on their way."

Jessie looked at Sabrina and said, "For some reason Rylan and I always end up at the same table. It's become tradition."

Sabrina didn't have time to reply. Miranda had spread a blanket near the table and put Nellie in the middle of it. With a baby to play with, Clancy soon had plenty to do, but she also wanted Sabrina on the blanket with them. Watching both the baby and little girl play, Sabrina completely missed the slow way the men joined the group.

"She took it well," Rylan said, having told Chas all the details. "She listened to everything I had to say. She argued a little, but when that fell flat, she still stayed and listened to me."

"And you think you got through?" Chas asked. "She's going to be hurt if she keeps this up."

"I won't swear that she'll never find herself in another sc.r.a.pe, but I don't think she'll repeat her actions of Sat.u.r.day night. And she asked me some very thoughtful questions about Colossians. I can tell she's taking a lot in."

Chas stopped. They were close to the crowds of townspeople now, and he did not want to be overheard.

te 121 "And how well are you thinking about all of this?"

"I can honestly say I don't know anyone else like her. I'm still very drawn, but I think I'm keeping my heart in check."

Chas might have had something else to say, but Mayor Lake was trying to get everyone's attention. It was time to eat.

"Aren't you going to join the lifting compet.i.tion, Rylan?" Jessie asked when plates were nearly empty.

"I was thinking I would pa.s.s."

"Why is that?" Sabrina asked.

"My work at the livery puts me at an unfair advantage."

Everyone took this at face value, and the topic was dropped with Rylan, but Franklin wanted his father to compete. Chas put up with some good-hearted ribbing for the next few minutes, bringing laughter all around.

Sabrina was reaching for her gla.s.s when Rylan leaned a little closer from the chair next to hers with a question.

"Do you know who Bret Toben is?"

"From the Boar's Head Saloon, yes."

"Do you have much contact with him?"

"A little. He was in the alley one day when I was looking for an apartment. It was that first day I saw you."

"I remember."

"Why do you ask?"

"He just keeps looking over here, and I don't think he's interested in Jessie."

Sabrina thought about this and remembered their last conversation.

"He saw the scratch on my face, and it seemed to bother him." He's not alone, Rylan thought, but instead he asked, "Where do you see him?"

"At Jessie's, but I got the impression that he'd given up."

122 "On what?"

"Trying to see me."

Before Rylan could respond to this, Mayor Lake was standing on a chair and announcing that the races and compet.i.tions were about to begin.

Rylan did not get out of the lifting compet.i.tion as he'd hoped, but Sabrina missed the whole thing. She told Miranda she would sit with Nellie, who had fallen asleep on the blanket. Part of her wished she hadn't volunteered, and another part of her knew it was for the best.

You can't have feelings for your pastor, Sabrina, she told herself. You're all wrong for him. He can't have a woman with a past like yours, and he's just being kind. He cares and checks with you only because he's your pastor. It's his job.

"Is she still out?" Jessie asked, having come back by the table to find her gla.s.s.