Tumbleweed Weddings (62 page)

Derek stared at the pastor.
A desire
.

His eyes shifted to Cheyenne. He had a perfect view of her profile from where he sat. She kept her attention on the pastor, nodding her head slightly at what he was saying.

She is so pretty
.

Another realization hit him. He couldn’t go back to what he was before—a bachelor who didn’t want to marry until age forty, or maybe never. He wanted what his brother had. He wanted a wife to love, children to raise for Christ’s kingdom.

Did that involve Cheyenne?

It wouldn’t be a
struggle
to have a relationship with her. His mind traveled back to that intimate moment in his truck, the time he held her in his arms at Tonya’s party, the closeness at the campfire last night. He raised his eyebrows before a grin stole to his face.

No, it wouldn’t be a struggle at all. Unless …

What if Rex wouldn’t give her up without a fight? Or what if she really wanted to marry him?

Pastor Wes concluded his message. “Let’s all stand for a closing prayer.”

Derek stood as the congregation rustled to their feet. Bowing his head, he didn’t hear the pastor’s prayer. He had his own petition.

Cheyenne was stuffed. The entire “church” had shared a huge dinner on the grounds, and now she sat on the grassy banks of the Shoshone River that ran through the rancher’s property. The orphans played together, hiding behind the trees or wading in the river. She smiled at Arthur and Noah as they played near some large rocks at the river’s edge.

“Be careful, boys,” she called to them. “Don’t fall in the water.”

Arthur wielded a thin stick. “We’re looking for snakes!”

“Yeah.” Noah’s thin face broke into a smile.

Cheyenne shook her head.
Boys will be boys
. “Don’t let them bite you.”

“We won’t.” Arthur turned back to a crevice between the rocks.

A few yards away, Derek stood on the river’s bank, demonstrating how to skip stones across the water. A group of kids surrounded him, each one trying to ricochet a stone along the water’s surface. Kandi stood by Derek’s side.

Closing her eyes, the pastor’s sermon entered her mind. Was Rex really God’s will for her? Was she destined to get that inheritance, or would Mr. Sommers sink the money into his casino? How long before she would know?

A scripture verse penetrated her thoughts.
“Wait on the L
ORD
: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the L
ORD
.”

Wait
. Cheyenne would wait—for the Lord’s plan, not her own. Strangely, she had more peace about adopting Arthur than she did about marrying Rex. If she legally adopted Arthur, that would take care of the child part, but she still needed a man.

A scream pierced the air.

Cheyenne’s eyes flew open.

Noah ran toward her. “Miss Cheyenne!” His face was pale. “Arthur fell.”

Cheyenne jumped up and followed him to the other side of the rocks. Arthur lay at the base of two large rocks, his right leg twisted at an odd angle.

“Arthur!” Her heart pounding, she knelt beside him.

His blue eyes looked up into hers, his face wet with tears. “It hurts!”

“What happened?” Derek hunched down beside her.

“I don’t know.” Cheyenne clasped Arthur’s hand as he whimpered.

“We were jumping on the rocks.” Noah’s voice quivered. “And Arthur fell.”

“I’ll take him to the house.” Derek examined Arthur’s leg before carefully lifting him.

Cheyenne stepped back, wiping a tear from her eye.
I should have been watching more closely!
All she could do now was pray.

By the time Derek walked the five hundred feet to the house, the entire group of children and counselors followed en masse. Arthur cried softly in his arms, and Derek shifted him to a more comfortable position, trying to keep his voice calm. “You’ll be okay, Arthur. You’re very brave.”

Mr. Lindley ran out of the house. “What happened?”

“We have a casualty.” Derek nodded to Arthur’s leg. “It might be broken.”

“I’ll take him to the hospital.” Mr. Lindley looked at the crowd. “The rest of you get in the vans. It’s time to go back to Casper anyway.”

Amid a murmur of conversation, the counselors and children turned toward the vehicles.

“Mr. Lindley?” Holding Noah’s hand, Cheyenne looked up at the orphanage director. “Could I go with Arthur? I feel so responsible.”

Mr. Lindley shook his head. “These things happen, Cheyenne. It wasn’t your fault. You need to go back with the others.” He turned to Derek. “Take Arthur to Wesley’s car.” He nodded to a late-model Chevy on the driveway before striding toward the house. “I’ll be right back.”

Derek took a step to the car, but Cheyenne stopped him. She gazed at Arthur, who had stopped crying. His eyes were closed. She brushed back a lock of his blond hair. “I think he fainted, Derek.”

“Looks like it.” Derek kept his eyes on Cheyenne. If only he could pull her into his arms and comfort her. “Don’t worry. He’ll be okay.”

“I hope so.” She looked up, and her blue eyes held tears. “I wish I could stay with him.” Looking down at Noah, she pulled on his hand. “Let’s go, Noah.” They slowly walked away.

Turning toward the Chevy, Derek bumped into Kandi, who lingered by his side. A prick of annoyance hit him, and he used his head to motion to the van they came in. “Go with the others, Kandi.”

A little pout formed over her lips before she left. Derek strode to the car, carrying Arthur in his arms.

“Derek.” Mr. Lindley walked up with Pastor Wes. “Wesley will drive Arthur and me to the hospital. I’m putting you in charge of getting the orphans back to Casper. You’ll have to take my place driving one of the vans.”

“Okay.”

Wes opened the back door of his car. “Lay him on the backseat.” Derek did so, clicking a seat belt around the boy’s middle. Pastor Wes got behind the wheel and started the engine.

Mr. Lindley walked around to the other side of the car. “Thanks, Derek. I called my wife, and she and the staff will be waiting for you when you arrive.”

Derek nodded, relieved that his only responsibility would be driving the orphans back to the children’s home.

Two hours later they neared Casper, and Derek was thankful. The noise level from the nine orphans in the van had reached a peak when someone suggested they sing. With help from Jean and Leslie, the two counselors in the back, the van exploded with renditions of “Father Abraham” and “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

At least they didn’t sing “Kumbaya.”

Kandi insisted on sitting in the front, replacing Nathan in the passenger seat. That annoyed Derek, but she didn’t even attempt to talk to him. He spent the time praying for Arthur. Poor kid. Did he break anything besides his leg?

When the children finally expended their energy, the van became quiet. In the seat behind him, Cheyenne talked to Noah. Derek heard snatches of their conversation.

“Will Arthur be okay, Miss Cheyenne?”

“The Lord can make him better, Noah. We’ll just have to pray and trust God.”

Pray and trust God
. That’s what Derek would have to do concerning Cheyenne.

In the stillness a cell phone rang.

“That’s mine.” Kandi turned around to look back. “Chey-enne, could you get my purse?” She pointed. “It’s under your seat.”

“Here you go.” Cheyenne handed it to her.

Pulling out her phone, Kandi flipped it open. “Hello?” She listened for a few moments then turned wide eyes on Derek. “Really? Oh that’s terrible.”

He frowned. “What happened?”

“My grandfather had a heart attack.”

Derek raised his eyebrows. “Bruce?”

With a gasp, Cheyenne leaned toward Kandi. “Is he going to be all right?”

Kandi listened intently on the phone. “Yes, we’re on our way to the Bolton Creek Children’s Home… . I’ll let you talk to Derek.” She handed him the phone. “It’s my dad. He wants to know how to get there.”

Derek took the phone. After giving directions and then talking for several minutes, he closed the phone and handed it back to Kandi.

Cheyenne touched his shoulder. “Is Bruce going to be okay, Derek?”

“They don’t know. He’s at the county hospital in Lusk. Kandi’s parents are driving in from Salt Lake City, and they’re almost to Casper. We should get there about the same time that they arrive.”

Kandi nodded. “I’ll go with them to the hospital.” Her eyes filled with tears. “What if Grandpa dies?”

Cheyenne reached out and touched Kandi’s arm. “Let’s pray for him.” Without waiting for a response, she bowed her head. “Father in heaven, we lift Bruce up to You right now. Please heal him, Lord. Keep him on earth for a few more years. Comfort Kandi’s parents, and keep them safe as they travel. And comfort Kandi, too. In Jesus’ name, we ask. Amen.”

“Amen!” Looking into the rearview mirror, Derek caught Cheyenne’s eyes. “Thanks, Cheyenne.”

“Yes, thank you.” Kandi whispered the words before she turned back to the front.

Derek glanced at Kandi and saw her lower lip quiver. Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “We’ll trust the Lord. Your grandfather will pull through.”

She just nodded.

He dropped her hand and concentrated on his driving. That was certainly nice of Cheyenne to pray for Kandi.

Cheyenne’s heart dropped as she watched Derek squeeze Kandi’s hand.
They certainly have a strange relationship
. Turning to the children sitting around her, she attempted to smile. “Let’s sing another song.”

Noah perked up. “Can we do the army song?”

“Yeah.” Joshua smiled. “I like that one. Let’s sing it loud.”

Cheyenne glanced behind her at Jean and Leslie. “Are you guys going to join us?”

“Sure.” Jean looked at the girls beside her and gave them a motherly smile. “We can sing loud, can’t we?” She started the song, and everyone joined in, singing at the top of their lungs.

Within fifteen minutes, Derek parked the van in front of the orphanage. Cheyenne gazed up at the large house. She would pray about adopting Arthur someday. Maybe that was God’s will for her.

C
heyenne threw her duffel bag in the back of Derek’s pickup, then opened the passenger door. Climbing in the cab, she pulled the door shut and rolled down the window. Kandi was still waiting for her parents, and Derek sat beside her on the front steps of the orphanage. The low murmur of his voice floated on the breeze. Kandi just sat there, staring at the ground.