Читать книгу Her Motherhood Wish - Keli Gwyn - Страница 13
ОглавлениеJoyful shouts and bubbly laughter filled the air. The older girls at the orphanage congregated around the swings, while the older boys performed gymnastic stunts on three sets of parallel bars. Several younger children were engaged in a rousing game of follow the leader.
“Faster, Miss Callie. Faster,” Jasper called from his end of the seesaw.
Callie stood behind Ruby, who sat on the end opposite her brother, and helped the little girl spring back up after Jasper had sent his sister’s side down. “I’m going as fast as I can. Ruby isn’t as big as you are.”
“But I wanna go so fast that I bounce when I hit the bottom.”
Callie smiled. “You’re an adventurous one, Jasper. I have an idea. I’ll give Ruby a ride.” She reached for the little girl, who had clung to her ever since Tess’s oldest daughter, Lila, had brought the children back outside. “Come here, sweetheart.” Callie scooped Ruby into her arms, sat in front of the seat and T-shaped handle, with her legs to one side of the seat board, and held the little girl close.
The seesaws Callie had used as a girl had simple rope handles and had been made from roughly hewn white pine planks. The builder of this one had used Monterey pine, known for its strength and durability. Having been sanded until it was smooth, there was little likelihood of getting a splinter, as she had after riding the seesaw in a park near her parents’ house in Chicago.
The memory of her father removing the sliver resurfaced, causing tightness in her chest. Although he’d been gentle, his words had cut her to the core. See that you’re more careful after this, Caroline. I haven’t time for such trivial matters. I’ve got more pressing business to attend to.
As far back as she could remember, neither her mother nor her father had shown much interest in either of their children. As a result, she and Isaac had grown close. Her brother had been there for her back then, just as she was there for him now.
Although the war had been over for ten years, Isaac continued to deal with Soldier’s Heart, an affliction many soldiers had developed, especially those who’d endured as many battles as he had. They experienced bouts of anxiety brought on by sudden loud noises, along with elevated heart rates. Aside from a limp, the result of an invading minié ball, her brother was as healthy as the horses he loved. But if his routine was upset or something startled him, he could become as skittish as a newborn colt. With her new job at the Double T, she could help him move beyond his painful memories and enjoy life again.
“Hold on, Jasper.” Callie pushed her toes against the ground and bounced up, sending the boy dipping down a short distance.
He stated the obvious before she had an opportunity. “This won’t work. You’re too big.”
“You’re right.” Even though she’d attempted to compensate for their size difference, the weights were uneven.
A tall young man of around thirteen crossed the yard and squatted beside Jasper. “Looks like you could use a partner.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “I thought orphans was little. You’re almost all grown up.”
“I’m not an orphan. My parents run the Double T. You met my mother earlier.”
“Mama Tess is your mama?”
“She is. I’m Luke. Mama told me you’re Jasper. Would you like to ride the seesaw with me and make your sister and Miss Callie go way up high?”
“Yes!”
Callie moved to the seat, putting Ruby and her ever-present doll in front of her. Luke took his place behind Jasper and shoved off with gusto, sending Callie and Ruby rushing down. Thanks to the wood chips spread under the seesaw, they had a soft landing. Callie used both feet to push against the ground as hard as she could. Ruby squealed as they shot upward.
Up and down they went, over and over again. Since Jasper and Ruby were having such a good time, Callie couldn’t bring herself to put an end to their fun. Reality would return soon enough.
Chip’s hearty laugh came from behind her. “What do we have here?”
At the sound of his rich, full voice, she experienced a rush of breathlessness that had nothing to do with her descent as Luke kicked off on the opposite side, and everything to do with the man who’d filled her thoughts ever since he’d left on his sorrowful errand. She’d missed his solid strength and reassuring presence.
“We’re riding on a seesaw, Mr. Chip,” Jasper said, as he and Luke started upward again.
“Would you mind letting me take your place, Luke? I’d like to get in on the fun.”
“Not at all.” Once stopped, Luke climbed off and headed to where the older boys continued their impressive feats on the parallel bars.
Chip positioned Jasper in front of him. “Let’s see if we can make Miss Callie and Ruby bump a bit when they hit the ground.”
“No! I wanna go bump.” Jasper’s mouth drooped.
Callie was eager to cheer him up. “Oh, you’ll bump, Jasper. Ruby and I will see to that, won’t we, sweetheart?”
Ruby nodded. “Don’t be sad, Jaspy. We’ll make you bounce weal hard.”
“Yee-haw!” Chip hollered. “Let’s have some fun then.”
His enthusiasm was contagious. Before long both children were laughing, a welcome sound that warmed Callie’s heart. There would be plenty of time for tears and cuddles, but showing the children that life would go on and they could still have fun was important, too.
Despite her best efforts, Callie couldn’t send the seesaw upward with enough momentum to offset Chip’s larger size and grant Jasper’s wish. “We need to make a switch, Chip. I’ll take Jasper, and you can take Ruby.”
“That’s a great idea. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. I’ve got a lot on my mind, I suppose.”
Understandable after his mournful task. “I’d like to hear about it. Later.”
He and Jasper hopped off when they reached the bottom. Chip kept a firm grip on the handle and lowered the plank slowly until Callie and Ruby were resting on the ground. He covered the short distance between them and swept Ruby into his arms. The look he gave Callie, a mix of sorrow and determination, sent the message that he cared about the children as much as she did and would help ease their pain. “I talked with Tess, and there’s to be a change in plans. When we’re finished here, we can discuss it.”
His serious tone didn’t bode well. She hoped he hadn’t balked at the idea of having her as his assistant because, despite her reservations, she wanted to spend time with the handsome, hardworking carpenter. As long as she reminded herself that he would finish the job in a few weeks and walk out of her life, everything would be fine. She could do that. Couldn’t she?
* * *
By kicking off the ground as hard as he could while holding Ruby tightly, Chip managed to make Callie and Jasper hit the ground with a satisfying thump. Jasper’s gleeful grin and Callie’s musical laugh were his rewards.
Working with the cheerful young woman would present a challenge. Not only was she fun to be around, but she was also mighty nice to look at. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, transforming her blond hair into a rich gold. Several strands had come loose from the thick braid swirled on top of her head, and they framed her lovely face.
Her radiant smile drew his attention to her pretty pink lips. Without warning, she pressed them together and raised a dainty eyebrow. Heat crept up his neck. She’d caught him staring at her. He would have to be content with surreptitious glances in the future.
Tess appeared a few minutes later, bringing their seesaw ride to an end. “Jasper and Ruby, I’d like you to come with me. I’m going to show you around the place.”
Ruby tensed in Chip’s arms but said nothing.
He summoned his most reassuring tone. “It’s all right, princess. Mama Tess is a nice lady. She’ll take good care of you.”
“I wanna stay with you and Miss Callie.” The tremor in the little girl’s voice touched a chord. He could remember vividly the day he’d found himself alone in the world, bouncing around in the back of his father’s prairie schooner, weak from the cholera that had claimed his last family member hours before. No one in the wagon train had cared about an orphaned boy likely to die.
But these children weren’t alone. They would receive loving care at the Double T. “We’ll still be here. You’ll see us at supper.”
Jasper hopped off the seesaw and rushed to his sister’s side. “Don’t worry, Ruby. I’m here with you.”
Mollified, the little girl allowed Tess to take her by the hand. The caring woman offered Jasper her other one and headed for the playground, leaving Chip alone with Callie.
She stood beside him and watched with furrowed brow as the children got farther away. Ruby trudged alongside Tess, her tiny shoulders hunched as she hugged her doll tightly, but Jasper had a spring in his step. The energetic boy seemed to have Callie’s positive outlook on life and wasn’t ready to deal with his grief. Ruby, on the other hand, was understandably scared. Her fear brought out a protective instinct in Chip unlike anything he’d experienced before.
“The poor dears.” Callie shook her head. “I know they’ll be all right, but they’ll have a difficult time ahead of them.” She turned to him. “Were you able to give their father a proper burial and find out why those horrid people did that to him?”
He inclined his head toward two giggling girls skipping by with linked arms. “Let’s go somewhere else, shall we?” He headed for Jack and Jill House, the largest of the three dormitories, beyond the two smaller ones. The impressive three-story clapboard building, recently completed, sat empty, awaiting furniture he’d been hired to build. He had a busy month ahead of him, but that was how he liked it.
Callie fell in step beside him. “Do you mind slowing down a bit? I can’t keep up when you take off with that determined stride of yours.” Although her tone was pleasant, he sensed an underlying edge.
“I cover ground when I’ve got work to do. I’ll have to remember to take it easy when you’re with me. I can’t be leaving my assistant in the dust, can I?” He flashed her a grin.
She ground to a halt and stared at him in disbelief. “So, I am working with you?”
He stopped. “Yes. Tess told you that, didn’t she?”
“She did, but you said the plans had changed. I thought...” She shook her head. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
He’d built homes and furniture to suit the wives of many men through the years and had made an important discovery. If a woman said something didn’t matter, that was rarely the case. “It obviously does, but I’m not sure what it is. Care to enlighten me?”
She took a sudden interest in her boots, clicking the heels of the tiny things together. “I thought you’d asked Tess to find you another assistant.”
“Why would I? You know as much about lumber as most carpenters and have an impressive grasp of design. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
He’d obviously said the right thing because Callie look up, beaming. “Thank you, Chip. I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
Three resounding rings of a cast-iron bell sent a swarm of children their way. He’d learned during the many hours he’d spent at the Double T that Tess used the bell to convey messages to the children. Earning the right to swing the striker inside the large triangle was a privilege the orphans eagerly awaited. Three rings meant the end of playtime.
The boys scurried past them on their way to the barn, where their chores awaited them. The girls flocked to the kitchen on the bottom floor of Miss Muffet House, where they would help prepare supper.
“Let’s get out of here before these young’uns run us over.” Chip chuckled and put a hand on the small of Callie’s back, steering her clear of the hubbub. Reluctant to release her, he kept his hand there as they walked. To his surprise, she didn’t pull away. Interesting.
They reached Jack and Jill House, but he decided to take her to the woodshop on the far side of it instead. He opened the door for her. She stepped inside and inhaled deeply. “I love the smell of freshly cut lumber. Don’t you?”
He fought a grin but lost the battle. “I like watching you enjoy it.”
She gave his arm a playful swat. “Don’t go making fun of me.”
“I’m not. I like the way you embrace life.” He wouldn’t mind if she embraced him, too.
But The Plan didn’t call for him to court a woman yet. From what he’d seen, the lovely Miss Caroline Hunt had potential, but if he gave in to his attraction so far ahead of schedule, he wouldn’t accomplish his goals.
Callie’s face fell. “Most days I have no trouble keeping a sunny outlook, but sometimes shadows cross our paths when we least expect them. I can’t help thinking that the children’s father drew his last breath this morning. Were you able to take care of everything?”
“Spencer’s ranch hands helped me bury Mr. Tate at the cemetery in town.” An image of the man’s lifeless body rushed in, causing Chip’s stomach to pitch, as it had earlier. He’d watched far too many cholera victims buried in the middle of the trail on the wagon train’s trek to California—including the five from his family. He strode to the open window at the front of the woodshop, placed his palms on the ledge and drew in several deep breaths of fresh air.
With a swish of her skirts, Callie was at his side, standing just to his left. She rested a hand on his upper arm and stood there, offering silent support.
Gradually, his nausea passed, and he became aware of the warmth radiating from her. He turned, putting her mere inches from him. She took his hands in hers and lifted compassion-filled eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
He was tempted to jerk his hands free, but the pull was too strong. It had been years since someone had reached out to him and offered comfort. Like a weary traveler crossing the barren desert of Nevada, he drank in this unexpected outpouring of kindness. “I’m fine.”
“You will be, I know, but in talking with Isaac, I learned that witnessing the aftereffects of such an atrocity can be difficult. But you did it, and I thank you for that. When the children are ready, they’ll be able to visit their father’s grave site and say their goodbyes.”
“I just did what anyone else would have done, but I appreciate your kind words.” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze.
She lowered her gaze to their clasped hands, pulled hers free and backed away. “I’m s-so sorry. I didn’t realize what I was doing.”
“I didn’t mind.” His admission surprised him as much as it did her.
She gave a nervous laugh, composed herself and continued as though nothing had happened, much to his relief. He didn’t want to explore the reasons behind his confession.
“We couldn’t talk earlier, but I’ve been battling curiosity ever since you told me about the letter you found. What else did you learn from it?”
“The children’s father was George Tate. He was coming here from Marysville, where he worked in a jewelry shop. He was going to open his own, as Jasper said. It sickens me to think that he was brutally murdered less than five miles from his destination.” He unfurled the fists he’d formed.
“It’s tragic, but I take comfort in knowing that he spent his last days on earth looking forward to the fulfillment of a dream.”
He scoffed. “How can you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Dismiss Mr. Tate’s anguish. His final minutes must have been horrific.”
Her features hardened, but her voice was calm, controlled. “I realize that, but focusing on the dark side of life does nothing but drag a person down into a pit of despondency and despair. I much prefer to look for the good in a situation.”
“Sometimes there is nothing good.” Sometimes people were so consumed by their own grief that they would leave a nine-year-old boy to battle a deadly disease on his own. But he’d shown them he was made of tougher stuff than they’d thought. He’d survived, and he would ensure that his family’s legacy would live on in the children he would have one day.
Callie jerked her chin up. “The Good Book says that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God.’ I firmly believe that. Don’t you?”
He wasn’t in the mood for a theological debate, tired as he was after his harrowing task, but she deserved a response. “I believe God can bring good out of bad, but He doesn’t promise that life will be easy.” He had a hard time seeing how anything good could come out of losing his entire family inside of one week or Jasper and Rudy being robbed of their father.
Callie wandered over to his workbench, one of three in the spacious woodshop, where he’d set his toolboxes. She trailed a fingertip over the lids as she walked past each one. “No, but He does promise to be with us no matter what comes our way. That’s a promise that fills me with hope.”
Hope. Callie embodied it. He admired that, but her rosy-hued outlook could keep her from accepting the harsh realities of life. And they were facing one now. As much as he’d like to spare her, he couldn’t. “I’m afraid trouble could be coming our way.”
“What do you mean?”
“In his letter, the landlord assured Mr. Tate that a safe would be installed before his arrival so he’d have a place to store the gemstones he was picking up in Sacramento City. The attempted robbery doesn’t strike me as a random act. I think it was planned by someone who’d learned about the shipment.”
She stopped and gave him her full attention. “You think it was premeditated, then?”
“I do.” But there was more to it than that. “I’m not sure they got the jewels.”
Her clear blue eyes bored into him. “Why? It seems to me they wouldn’t have left until they did.”
He disagreed. “Since his attackers beat him before taking his life, it makes sense they hadn’t found what they were after and used force to get him to talk.”
She challenged his supposition. “But why kill him if he hadn’t revealed their whereabouts? Wouldn’t they have kept him alive until he told them? I think it’s more likely that he told them what they wanted to know, thinking they’d take the jewels and leave. They could have killed him so he couldn’t report the report the theft or describe them. Since they didn’t pursue us, I think they’ve probably left the area and are busy trying to sell the stones somewhere else.”
He saw her point, but... “If he had the jewels, wouldn’t he have given them up right away? I think it’s more likely he didn’t have them with him and that’s why they did him in.”
She placed her palms on his workbench, looked across it and studied him with narrowed eyes. Skepticism and concern waged a war in their depths. Concern won out. “If what you believe is true and he didn’t tell them because he didn’t have the jewels, where are they?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps he entrusted them to Wells, Fargo and Company. I hope that’s the case.”
“Why?”
A simple question requiring an answer he was loath to put into words, but he must. “Mr. Tate’s attackers were willing to resort to murder in order to get his gemstones, so I expect they won’t stop looking until they find them. If they don’t show up in an express delivery, I’m afraid his killers might come looking for the children and try to get information out of them.”
He waited for Callie’s reaction, expecting anger, shock or fear. Instead, she laughed.
“You can’t be serious. They have no idea where the children are now since they took off when we showed up.”
“I’m quite serious. It wouldn’t take them long to find out, and once they did, they could try to find them.”
“Why would they do that? They left the children behind so they wouldn’t have to witness the...crime. That tells me they must have scruples.”
Her positive outlook was admirable, but he dealt in facts, and those he’d collected had decided his course of action. “Given their history, it seems more likely they would stop at nothing to get what they want and wouldn’t let the fact that Jasper and Ruby are children get in their way. We have to protect the youngsters, which is why Tess changed the plans. In most cases, she puts a new child in with the others right away to help them adjust as quickly as possible, but she wants us to keep a close watch over Jasper and Ruby. He and I will bed down on the third floor of Jack and Jill House, and Ruby will share your room on the second. I’ll bring beds over from the bunkhouse to use tonight until I can get those we need done.”
Callie sobered. “If Tess is concerned, she must believe the children are in danger.”
“We don’t know that for sure, but she agreed that taking precautionary measures would be wise.”
“I understand why you’re doing this, but I still think the murderers got the jewels. Even if they didn’t and they came looking for the children, I believe they’re safe here.”
He wanted to believe that, too, but unlike Callie, he’d seen what Mr. Tate’s attackers were capable of. The fatherless children were now in Chip’s care, and he would do everything in his power to protect them.
But what if it wasn’t enough?
