“You still want to leave?”
Rachel nodded, this time unable to hold back her tears.
Cash’s face filled with agony as the sun rose over the mountains.
“I’ll drive you, then. Your car won’t make it out of town, much less the four hour drive to Lexington.” He walked toward her, taking the suitcase.
Rachel climbed into the truck while he placed her suitcase in the back. Climbing in, he started the motor and then backed out with a hard face. At the bottom of the driveway, he flipped on the blinker.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
When his startled face turned toward her, Rachel reached across the seat, taking his hand in hers. “Let’s go home, Cash.”
Chapter 38
Cash set the sandwich and cup of tea down in front of the computer. “Eat.”
“Let me finish this sentence; I’m almost done,” Rachel said wearily.
The university had given her another advisor, since Homeland Security found out Dr. Alden had been a member of Scorpion’s anti-government group. He had fed them the information that Rachel would be able to get them into the restricted facility, setting her up to be killed. Rachel wanted a front row seat when he went to court.
“You said that over four hours ago. Taking ten minutes to eat isn’t going to set you back. Your paper isn’t due until tomorrow at twelve.”
“I know, but I want to go to church and—”
“Eat, Rachel, or I’ll take the computer away.”
Rachel stopped typing long enough to pick up her sandwich while glaring at him. He sat down on the chair next to the desk in his room at The Last Riders’ clubhouse.
Cash had been busy fixing up his fishing cabin for them to live in. Monday, the trucks were coming to pave a driveway to the isolated cabin. He’d said that he’d had enough of potholes to last a lifetime. Rachel hadn’t argued, too filled with happiness at the thought of living with him at the beautiful spot.
The mountain their parents and Sunshine were buried on looked down on the spot where the cabin was built. Rachel wanted to think all of them would be able to watch her and Cash’s lives through the coming years.
Rachel swallowed the bite of sandwich she had taken. “Thank whoever made the sandwich for me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You made it?” Her shocked gaze met his.
“I did.” He grinned, standing up. “Hurry up and finish. When you get done, I’ll show you I’m a handy guy to have around.” His thumb brushed her nipple. He then let her be after she swatted at his hand.
It was another two hours before she finished, pressing the send button. She didn’t bother taking off her clothes, lying tiredly down on the mattress next to Cash.
“Finished?”
“Mmhmm.” She had nothing left, letting Cash snuggle her against his side.
“Go to sleep.”
Rachel sank into a deep sleep, not waking until Cash shook her awake the next morning.
“Get dressed or you’re going to be late for church.”
Rachel burrowed under the pillows. “I’ll go tonight,” she mumbled.
He took the pillows away and pulled the blanket back. “Up.” He helped her to sit up. “Get dressed. I thought I would join you today.”
Rachel’s bleary eyes opened wide.
“But you don’t go to church,” she reminded him.
“I am today. I need to repent for what we did last Friday and Saturday.”
Rachel smacked him in the face with a pillow, jumping out of bed before he could retaliate. “I better go, too, before I break the commandment: thou shall not kill.”
She slammed the bathroom door on his laughter.
* * *
“Come on; we should have left ten minutes ago,” Lily chastised her as she came down the stairs.
“I’m ready. Let’s go.” Rachel grabbed her purse. “What’s the hurry? Where’s Cash; he told me he was coming?”
“He said he would meet us there. Let’s go.”
“I’m coming. I don’t know why you’re rushing me. I could crawl and get there faster than you,” she teased Lily, whose rounded belly was becoming bigger every time she saw her. The woman looked like she was ready to give birth any minute.
“Very funny. Wait until you begin to show, then you’ll see how funny it is for—”
“Wait, what did you say? I’m not—”
“We don’t have time.” Lily and Beth rushed out the door.
Rachel hurried after them or she would be left behind without a ride.
Razer had already strapped in the twins and was sitting behind the wheel when Rachel got to the car, grinning smugly at Lily when she got in.
Rachel listened as they talked about getting ready for Lily’s baby. They had decided not to have a shower with so many hand-me-downs from Beth’s boys, and Lily said Shade wasn’t up for it.
Rachel looked at Lily’s face, glowing with happiness, with a lump in her throat.
At the church, Razer let them out before he parked the car. Beth carried Noah while Rachel carried Chance.
“Rachel, can I talk to you a second?”
Rachel handed Razer Chance as he approached before turning to Cal. “Of course. Lily, you and Beth go ahead. Save me a seat.”
“All right, but hurry.”
Rachel nodded, aware of the face Brooke made any time someone entered late.
“Is something wrong?” Rachel asked after the sisters had left her alone with Cal, seeing the guilty look on hi
s face.
“I wanted to thank you for asking your cousin to help my dad get a job.”
She started to deny it.
“Drake told me.”
“Oh. I hope your family is doing better.”
“We are. That’s why I haven’t had to come back for more groceries.”
Rachel smiled at him, happy Drake had been able to help.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, though. I feel bad since you’ve helped me out so much.”
“What is it?” she asked gently, seeing his remorse.
“I’ve been sneaking into your brothers’ weed patch. I didn’t take it for me. My mom’s got cancer; it helped her… I’m sorry.”
Rachel nodded, unable to speak because she was afraid she would burst into tears. Cal was too young to deal with everything he’d had to for the last year.
“I’ll tell Tate. Don’t be afraid.” Rachel saw his fearful reaction. “He’ll keep a small bag for your mother. No charge.”
Rachel saw the puppy worship in his eyes. “Thanks, Rach.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I better go before Lily gives my seat away.”
Rachel hurried inside the packed church. The crowd was unusually large. She even saw Mag, who never attended Sunday services, sitting in the front row.
The church choir had already started by the time Rachel saw Lily and Beth sitting in the front with Diamond and Winter. Raci, Stori, Evie, and the other women filled out the row.
“Brooke’s not happy,” Lily whispered to her after Rachel had managed to squeeze into her seat.
“That’s all right,” Rachel whispered as Pastor Merrick walked toward the podium.
She scanned the crowded room, looking for Cash, waving back at Mag who had turned in her wheelchair to wave at her. Cash had already promised to get The Last Riders to build an additional room for Mag if she decided to move in with them.
She didn’t see Cash until her eyes were caught by his. He was casually leaning against the side of the church, near the pulpit.
Rachel frowned, wondering why he was standing there, facing the crowd instead of sitting in one of the pews.