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“What do you need in town? It seems the ranch has everything you could want.”
Mercy sighed. “Not everything.” But she didn’t elaborate. She stared in the direction of Edendale and sighed again.
Sybil recognized her friend’s restlessness. But she didn’t share it. “Let’s go back.”
“Why? There’s nothing back there. Everyone has someone to spend the afternoon with.”
Sybil tucked her arm around Mercy’s and pulled her close. “We have each other.” She couldn’t leave her friend alone in this mood. “Let’s walk along the river.” That was one of their favorite pastimes.
Mercy shrugged. “We’ve done that a hundred times.”
“So let’s do it a hundred and one.”
“Oh, very well.”
Sybil knew Mercy agreed only because she could think of nothing else to do. They wandered along the river for a bit.
“This is pleasant.” Sybil pointed out the birds in the trees nearby. “They sing so nicely, don’t they?”
Mercy shrugged. “They’re just birds.”
They reached the bridge and saw Seth wave as he headed to the barn.
“He’s going to do chores,” Sybil said. “Let’s go visit Jayne.”
Mercy let herself be shepherded toward the cabin.
“Come on in and help me arrange these flowers.” Jayne had a basket of golden gaillardia, white daisies and branches with clusters of red berries. She handed Sybil a blue pitcher and Mercy a tall red tin. She had a glass vase. “I love to brighten up the place.”
Would the Sunday activities never end? But Sybil tucked away her impatience, chose her flowers carefully and cut the stems in various lengths. She envisioned a full, well-shaped bouquet.
Mercy grabbed an assortment of flowers and branches and stuck them in the tin, then stepped back. “I like it wild and free like that.” She moved toward the door. “I’m going to practice my roping. I’ve got to get it down to a fine art if I’m going to catch a man that way.” She laughed merrily as she closed the door behind her.
Sybil stared after her. “You don’t think she really means it, do you?”
Jayne shrugged. “I can name at least two cowboys who would willingly let her rope them.” She chuckled. “Not that she’d need to.”
“I hope she doesn’t make a foolish mistake and fall in love unwisely.” Sybil paused, then added, “I can see her seeking someone wild and untamed. Wouldn’t that make for a fine pair?”
Jayne held a branch of red berries and considered Sybil. “You mean like Brand?”
It was exactly what she thought, but she didn’t want to admit it to either herself or her friend.
Jayne didn’t wait for her to answer. “He’s certainly wild and untamed, but I don’t sense any spark between him and Mercy. Not like I do with you.”
Sybil pushed her thoughts into submission. “What do you mean? I’d never be interested in someone like him. Why, he never stays in one place.”
“He might if he had reason enough.”
“He’s running from something.”
“Probably. But sooner or later, don’t people have to stop running? I had to stop running from my fears. You need to stop running from yours. So does he. There comes a time when we need to trust God for those things.”
“Me? I’m not running. What on earth do you mean?”
Jayne gave a tender smile. “You run—or maybe hide—from change. You think it’s the same as danger.”
Sybil drew back, her upper lip stiff. “I left home and crossed the continent to get here. That’s a lot of change. And a lot of danger. So you are wrong. So very very wrong.”
Jayne shrugged, her smile never fading. “Would you ever consider following a man like Brand into the wilds?”
“No.” Her lungs clenched so, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t leave the safety of her life. Certainly not to follow a man who would surely ride away one day and leave her on her own.
Her friend nodded, then leaned forward and caught Sybil’s arm. “Don’t be so careful you rob yourself of the very thing you seek.”
