Place to Belong, a (34 page)

———

Mavis felt so relieved she could dance. Or sing. Or something.
Thank you, God!
She led the way toward the house. “It is, but I have a question. You think Smith and Jones were their real names?”

“I'm sure they weren't, but I didn't bother to try to find out more. They'll run out on their bail, and I'm fine with that.” Ed lifted his hat and tipped it toward Cassie. “I know it sounds hackneyed, little lady, but my hat is off to you.” He looked at Arnett. “When did you get to be so wise? I woulda thought you were a lawyer or some such the way you studied those papers.”

But Arnett was frowning. “Somethin's bothering me over
that, Sheriff. Why'd you believe liars and thieves like that over us, folks you've known and trusted for all these years?”

Mavis opened the front door and ushered them inside.

“They had a legal piece of paper is all I can say, and any judge would have said I had to enforce it. That's one side of my job that I'd gladly give away. I'm just grateful it all ended well.”

“Thanks be to God.” Mavis led the way to the kitchen to find the table cleared, the dishes washed and put away, and their guest family out weeding and hoeing the garden. “Well, I'll be . . .” She rattled the grate and, after inserting a couple of small hunks of wood, carried the coffeepot to the sink to wash and refill. “Cassie, would you please bring the applesauce cake from the pantry, and Gretchen, a pitcher of cream.”

“I promised that young man we'd shoe Biscuit, so I'll pass on the coffee.” Ransom headed out back. Mavis heard him call, “Come on, Jimmy, and anyone else who wants to come too. We'll shoe Biscuit, and when we finish, Gretchen can give you kids another riding lesson.”

When Cassie picked up the cake pan, she caught her breath and fought the tears that threatened. She'd almost lost Wind Dancer. She locked her knees to keep them from buckling and grabbed on to the counter. How could a man who claimed to be her friend, even to being called Uncle Jason, act like that? How could she ever have trusted him? He even lied about her father.

“Are you all right?” Gretchen asked, standing right at her shoulder. “Should I get Mor?”

Cassie shook her head. “I'll talk with her later.” She picked up the cake pan again. “We have company, so on with the show.” She could keep it all together till evening, couldn't she?

T
wo days later, they all helped the Prewsky family get loaded into the wagon and waved good-bye as Ransom clucked the team forward to take them to the train in Argus. At the last minute, Gretchen climbed in back with the children to comfort the two younger ones, who had tears streaming down their faces.

“See you next year, I hope. A week's vacation was not nearly enough,” Evelyn called. “Maybe we'll be able to stay two weeks, if you don't mind.”

“Our door is always open for you. It was our pleasure!” Mavis and Cassie waved until the dust obliterated the departing wagon.

“I hate to see them leave,” Cassie said with a sniff. “You know, it's a shame Lucas couldn't enjoy this week with all of us. If the other ranches had as great a time as we did—”

“I know,” Mavis said. “Guess it is back to our real world. Good thing we got the calves branded, even though I thought those kids were going to fly to pieces. Jimmy and the mister sure pitched right in.”

“And the family stayin' at my house left me a note, or rather
us
a note, thanking us for the perfect place to visit,” Arnett said. “They said they didn't take part in a lot of the events, but they treasured the time to just relax. Exactly their word,
treasure
. Said they sure appreciated living in the quiet of the country.” Arnett smiled a little. “But then, I can understand that, 'cause so do I.”

He held out the note. “Lookee here. They even enjoyed using the cookstove to warm up the meals you sent over.” He read a line: “‘And the barbecued beef was so great, we'll return next year just for that.'

“Can you beat that? And here we were concerned about their meals.” Arnett slowly wagged his head. “Thank the good Lord all this worked out so well.”

The three turned back toward the house
.
Cassie thought about the children riding Biscuit, riding Wind Dancer. If she had children—no,
when
she had children—they would learn to ride at a younger age than these. As soon as they could walk, like Cassie did. Children. Whose children? And immediately, Ransom leapt again into her mind, for the thousandth time.

She smiled. “You really have patience with children, Arnett. I was watching you with Jimmy.”

“Funny.” He gazed off toward the barn. “I like kids a whole lot better now than when I was a father. See ways I shoulda done the job different. Like give them a better sense of home.”

A better sense of home.
What a curious turn of phrase. Cassie mulled it over and over. Ransom had a powerful sense of home. So did Gretchen. Lucas? In a different way, perhaps. And yet the youngest, Jesse, had moved far away from home to go to medical school. Would that sense of home pull Jesse back here one day? Her father had left home, and for the rest of his life dreamt of returning. How do you instill that in a child, and what did Arnett do differently that he thought he should not have? Or should have.

Arnett heaved a sigh. “Guess Micah and I better finish up repairing that corner of the barn roof. Since the Prewskys helped us get the fencing done, we can cross that off Ransom's list. Maybe the roof too. Gonna seem mighty quiet around here without them kids. Maybe next year we could do this longer, like Mrs. Prewsky asked, that is if you all enjoyed it as much as I did. That Jimmy has a real knack for wood carving. I hope he keeps it up.”

“You be careful out there,” Mavis warned. “Don't climb up on the roof.”

Arnett rolled his eyes. “Yes, my friend, I'll be careful. I won't go up on the roof. I'll let Micah do the roof work, and I'll hand him supplies. Chief will prob'ly be there too.”

“Well, we certainly don't need any broken bones. I think when you men go back to the furniture building again, Cassie and Gretchen and I will come clean your house.”

Cassie followed her into the kitchen. Mavis watched through the kitchen window as Arnett ambled off to the barn to join Micah and Chief. Ransom was planning on stopping off at the Stilsons' to tell the boys to come back to work, Cassie knew. She could not imagine Ransom and Lucas, without Arnett and the Stilson boys, handling this spread alone, and not to mention Arnett's ranch.

How should she go about this? Cassie sucked in a deep breath. “Can we talk?”

“Of course. Inside or out? Either way, the tone of your voice says we need coffee.” Mavis checked the coffeepot and pulled it to the hot part of the stove. “I miss those folks already. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. When God orchestrates something, it always turns out better than I could have dreamed. Get us a plate of cookies too, please. Might as well enjoy our break.”

I don't think you're going to enjoy this, no matter how I say it
. Cassie fought to control her mind. If she truly trusted God, like
Mavis kept trying to teach her, the fear of what's ahead would not be gnawing on her stomach.
Lord God, how can I do this
?

When they were situated on the back porch overlooking the growing garden and the oak trees on the rise behind the ranch house, Cassie rolled her lips together. “Mavis, I cannot stay here.” There, she had said it.

“Oh.” Mavis nodded slightly.

“I know Ransom dislikes me, intensely. You said he does not hate me, but I know he blames me for all the problems around here.”

Mavis held her coffee cup in both hands and tipped her head against the back of the rocking chair they had moved outside. “And how do you know that?”

She sounded peaceful, as if they were discussing what to serve for dinner. Cassie laid a hand on her middle, trying to keep the rest of her from shaking. “I heard him say that.”

The rocking chair sang its rocking song. Two birds up in the oak tree were having a rather heated discussion. Othello came and lay at Cassie's feet and then sat up to rest his chin on her knees. His eyes implored her not to be upset. She stroked his head. “At the furniture booth last week.”

“I see.” Mavis took a sip of her coffee and moved her head from side to side, small motions that told Cassie she was thinking hard. And most likely praying. “And what did you do when you heard him say that?”

“I left.”
I couldn't stand to hear any more
.

“Then you didn't hear him say how grateful he was that you came into our lives. That since you came, the furniture business is bringing in the needed cash money. George saved the calves from the wolves. How much you contributed to the success of the Hill City Wild West show and rodeo, and he figures you are the reason for our success.”

Cassie stared at her. “You're making that up.”

“Dearest Cassie, have you ever heard me speak an untruth? At least knowingly?”

Cassie shook her head and hid behind her coffee cup. “Then why doesn't he talk to me? Why does he act like I'm not here?”

“Because he's afraid.”

“Hah! Ransom is not afraid of anything. When I was in trouble, he stood up to three grown men.”
And he said, “Cassie is family
.
”
It still rang in her heart.

“Oh, when it comes to manly things, like defending a lady, he's fearless. It's emotions he fears, especially his own. He's afraid he's fallen in love with you and that you declared Engstrom men could not be trusted. That was when you were so angry with Lucas.”

“But it's my fault Lucas left.”

“No, no. Lucas left because he finally realized he was making a mistake. Then he made a bigger mistake by not talking his feelings over with any of us. Betsy is the right woman for him. In that he did not make a mistake.” She half smiled. “You were wise when you said you loved him like a brother. He just had some growing up to do yet.”

Cassie stared at the garden rail fence, seeing but not seeing the targets Chief had lined up for her there. Ransom was afraid of loving her? The tingle she first felt in her middle warmed to a glow. Cassie opened her mouth to say something and then shut it again. Finally she screwed up the courage to ask, “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why is he afraid?”

Mavis shrugged and shook her head at the same time. “Why anything. Because he's a man. Because he sees himself as slow of speech. Because he is Ransom, and he can't bear the thought of rejection.”

“He sure manages to say a lot for someone who thinks he is slow of speech.”

“Compared to his brother?”

“Who is glib and speaks before he thinks?” Cassie smiled.

“Well, that too.” Mavis reached for a cookie. “So what are you going to do about this?”

“What do you mean, me? He's the man. He makes the decisions.”

“Bottom line question: Do you love him?”

Cassie answered without a pause. “Yes.”

“Then we'll keep praying about this and see how God works it out.”

Othello leaped to his feet and raced off around the house to join Benny in announcing someone was coming.

Mavis frowned. “Too soon for Ransom to return. So now who?”

The dogs quit barking, and no one knocked at the front door. The murmur of a male voice arrived before Lucas appeared around the corner of the house. No
Hello!
No
I'm back.
Just “What is Arnett doing up on that ladder?”

Curiously, Mavis did not greet him.

So Cassie started right in. “The three of them are doing a job you promised to do several months ago.”

“He could slip and fall.”

“True.” She could feel anger building, or at least righteous indignation.

Mavis asked, “Is he on the roof or on the ladder?”

“On the ladder with his belt buckle pushed up against the eave. He's nailing down all the shingles he can reach, leaning way out.”

Cassie almost had to smile.
Well, he promised not to climb up on the roof, didn't he?

Lucas asked, almost like demanding, “Where's Ransom?”

“Taking our guests to the train, if it is any of your business. And hello to you too.”

Lucas had the grace to look sheepish. “Sorry. Hello, Cassie,
Mor.” He glanced over his shoulder. “That just scared me. He's too old to be doing things like that.”

Cassie snorted. “I wouldn't mention that to him if I were you. Where's Betsy?”

“With her folks. We took a few days off at the hotel so we could come visit.” He looked at the small stack of split wood. “No one has time to split wood even?”

“Been a bit busy here,” Mavis drastically understated. “Our guests thought splitting and stacking wood, though necessary, was hard work. They cook with gas back home. I'm not worried. The Stilson boys will set to that when they come tomorrow.”

“Stilson boys? Ransom has the money to hire help?” Lucas was frowning.

So here was Lucas, gone for how long, and now he thought he could evaluate and criticize. That irritated Cassie immensely. “There's a lot of work to do here. He had no choice, and they are good workers.” She held out the plate of cookies. “You plan to stay for dinner?”

He took one. “Not sure I'd be welcome.” He slumped down on the top step and leaned against one of the posts holding up the porch, sat up, and then dropped forward again, his elbows on his knees. “Mor, I've come to ask your forgiveness, and yours too, Cassie. I sure made a mess of things.”

Why couldn't she be more gentle and charitable, like Mavis? “You did, when all you had to do was have the guts to talk to us. Sure, we'd have been hurt and probably angry, but we could have worked it out. Better than you running out on us.”

His voice choked. “Mor, please, can you forgive me?”

“Of course I can, and I already have.”

“Cassie, I know I treated you shamefully.”

“I was hurt and then angry and then I got over it. And yes, I forgive you too.” Did she really? Yes, she could honestly say she did.

“And Ransom?”

Mavis wagged her head. “Cassie and I cannot speak for him. The two of you will have to work that out.”

“He wouldn't even talk to me in Hill City. Until that dustup. I heard Talbot and his two friends hightailed it out of here. Bet they forfeited bond.”

“Long story, but all is taken care of.” Mavis pushed to her feet. “Come, Cassie. We better get dinner ready. And of course you are welcome to stay, Lucas. Ransom and Gretchen should be home in a couple of hours.”

He grimaced. “Maybe I'd better start splitting some wood.”

“Go take care of your horse first.”

Cassie watched Lucas rise and go back around the corner. Obviously, a married man is still his mama's son, to do as he was told. She noted too that no longer did he walk with that cocky stride he used to. It looked almost like life had taken him down a peg or three.

She followed Mavis into the house. What a day this was turning into. And she'd not even brought up the contract she'd been offered, and not the one from Talbot either.