AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He cleaned the plate and handed it back to her. “Thanks for the meal.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell her she’d best be going, but she must have sensed his unspoken words. Her expression flattened and she pushed herself to her feet.
“I’ll be getting along.” She paused to pat Dawg on the head. “Good night.” She sucked back a gust of air and turned to face him. “Brand, I don’t know who you are or what you’re running from, but remember wherever you go, God goes with you. He loves you and protects you.”
Before he could pull a word from his stunned brain, she was gone.
God loves and protects you.
Words Ma had said over and over. When had he quit believing them? He sat back and stared into the darkening sky. About the time Ma died. Or maybe when the Duggan gang—in the hopes of getting Brand to find out when the payroll was being delivered—had beat up a young man he had befriended.
Brand had learned two valuable lessons that day. Don’t make friends and don’t let Cyrus and Pa catch up to him.
So why was he still here?
Only a few more days and he would ride out as fast as his horse could go.
He hadn’t prayed much in many years, but tonight he asked one favor of God. Please don’t let them find me while I’m here, where my presence could put Sybil in danger.
Did God love him enough to hear the prayer?
Chapter Six
Sybil had gone to the corrals twice the following day, but Brand barely glanced her way. She told herself she wasn’t disappointed. Of course he was busy. She knew that and appreciated his dedication to his job.
When he disappeared at suppertime, she prepared a plate of food again. At least he’d never refused to eat.
Yesterday she had learned wonderful things about him. He’d had a faithful Christian mother. The way he talked about her revealed a tender side. Something or someone had wounded that tender spot.
Sybil slowed her steps to savor the memory of the previous evening. She couldn’t explain why she’d told him about losing her parents, but she didn’t regret it. Not for a moment, because he’d touched her arm in comfort. His eyes had softened as she shed a few tears. She had almost expected him to pull her close and pat her back.
Maybe expected was too strong a word. She’d wished for it.
Now she could hardly wait to learn more about him.
He stood as she stepped into the clearing and handed him the plate.
“Go ahead and eat. You must be starving.”
“I shouldn’t be. I’ve eaten better the last few days than I have in months.”
She waited until he sat and then chose a spot beside him, careful not to touch him lest he think her too bold.
“You worked hard today.”
“Lots of horses to break,” he said.
“Guess you’re in a hurry to finish up and move on.”
He seemed preoccupied with his food, but after a moment said, “It’s what I do.”
She didn’t detect so much as a whiff of regret. Not that she was surprised. She’d known from the start he meant to leave. She expected it. People left. One way or another. Suzette by death. Colin by choice. Afterward Sybil could only do her best to put the pieces of her heart back together. It had never quite been whole again, so she hardened the fences around her heart now, not intending to let anyone hurt her.
“My parents weren’t the only ones I lost.” She didn’t mean to talk about it, but the words escaped and once started, she couldn’t stop. “I had a dear friend, Suzette. I knew her from as early as I can remember. We were so close.” Sybil held up two fingers pressed together to indicate what she meant. Her breath jerked out and in again before she continued. “We liked to play in the bushes, making playrooms in little spaces beneath the branches.” She tipped her head back as sweet memories filled her thoughts. “We had all sorts of babies. Real dolls but also pretend babies we made out of knots of wood.” A tiny laugh escaped her lips. “The gardener made a swing for us at the bottom of the yard. My, we spent many happy hours on that swing. The seat was wide enough that we could sit side by side and swing together.”
“Sounds nice.”
She had stopped talking as she recalled the warmth and joy of those days. “It was real nice, but it ended so fast. I wish I could have stopped time before that dreadful day.”
