Big Sky Dreams: Sabrina Part 22

"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 pa.s.sed. 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 s.h.i.+ft 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d for Chas and his good reminders about what was important. He finished by asking G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 was.h.i.+ng 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.

"Now, little miss," Timothy spoke from across the kitchen table, not overly mindful of the fact that Sabrina was a few inches taller than he was. "Where will I find your Bible?"

That had been an hour earlier. Becky had gone with Timothy, and they had brought back much more than Sabrina's Bible. Sabrina was now dressed and sitting under the window in the small parlor, her Bible in her lap. The house was alive around her, and from time to time someone would check on her. Sabrina had not wanted anyone to wait on her, but she'd used all her energy to dress, so Heather had to brush her hair and Becky made her breakfast.

Zeke had hit her so hard on one side of her face that a tooth was loose, but Sabrina had managed some porridge on the other side. The juice she drank was the most satisfying, and at the moment she was enjoying a cup of coffee. She was reading in the book of Joshua about Rahab when Nate came.

"I'm glad to see you up, but you look like you should be in bed," that man said, taking a seat, his face showing the concern he felt over the terrible bruising and scratches on Sabrina's face and neck.

"I must admit I have felt better, but I'm not sure lying around will help."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

186 Sabrina did so, not mentioning that all of this could have been avoided. She didn't know if he understood how biased his deputy was, but she wasn't going to be the one to inform him.

"Had Zeke been drinking?"

"I haven't had enough contact with him to be sure about that. I don't recall smelling any alcohol."

"We're still looking for him," the sheriff said.

"Who is 'we'?"

"My deputies and I."

Sabrina was tempted to say something then, afraid that his one deputy would not actually arrest Zeke Masters even if he had the chance, but she kept her mouth shut. The sheriff didn't stay much longer, and that was fine with Sabrina. She finally admitted to herself that she was completely spent and returned to her room to sleep.

"How did you get involved last night?" Sabrina asked Rylan when she saw him later that morning. She had slept for nearly two hours and then gone downstairs to find him there. She also learned that Jessie had visited.

"Timothy and I were moving a davenport for Mrs. Cornwall when Crystal saw us."

Sabrina nodded, but she was trying to remember how Crystal got involved. It wasn't like her to lose details, but the night before was fuzzy in places.

"How are you feeling?" Rylan asked, still surprised that she was up and dressed. It was true that she had come into the room very slowly, but he hadn't expected her to be on her feet at all.

"Not so great, but I think I came close to getting killed, so in light of that, I can't complain."

"I a.s.sume he wanted to know about Eliza?"

"Yes. I wouldn't tell him anything, so he just kept hitting me. Why does a man do that?" Sabrina suddenly added. "Why does a 187 man feel so attached to a woman that he'll kill to find her, but he's not kind to that woman? He uses her and hits her."

"It's sad and strange, isn't it?" Rylan replied. "You would think from the way he acted that he never wanted to see her again, but if she was the one thing in his life he had control over or believed he had control over, he wouldn't want to lose that."

Sabrina nodded. He was suddenly talking her language. Having control over things or even believing she did gave her confidence and security. Danny had been working with her about giving that up, but it had been coming slowly.

"Are you angry with Zeke? Or anxious about him?" Rylan asked, reminding himself that she needed a pastor right now and a friend- nothing else.

"I don't think I'm angry. Men like Zeke are confusing to me, but the idea of his needing control makes perfect sense. I won't tell you I'm not afraid of him because I am-he was strong-but I don't feel overly anxious about it."

"Why is that?"

"Danny taught me that there's no point in worrying about what might happen. He said I just needed to be ready to handle everything G.o.d sent into my life, and if an event arrived that I wasn't ready to handle, I would learn and know better next time."

"That was good counsel. He would be pleased to know how well you listened."

"I hope Zeke doesn't come back and find me again," Sabrina suddenly said, forcing herself not to touch her aching face. "Is it all right to hope for that?"