Sarah Jane (Countdown to Christmas Book 1)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  While they drove, they peppered Chrissy with questions. "Do you know why you were brought here from the orphanage in Fort Worth?" Sarah Jane asked. She wanted to know as much as possible about the girl.

  "They said there was no more room for girls, and someone needed to go. I said I would. I didn't mind."

  "You volunteered? Why?" Sarah Jane had assumed one of the adults at the orphanage had chosen her to leave.

  "Because I knew my new parents were waiting for me. I just had to find them. They weren't in Fort Worth."

  Sarah Jane smiled at Micah over Chrissy's head. The child had been confident that she'd find her parents there in Nowhere, and she'd been right. Sarah Jane knew she and Micah would always put Chrissy first, and make sure she felt happy and safe in her new home.

  "I'm glad you came here to us," Sarah Jane said. "I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come along."

  "Me neither," Micah added. "I may never have found the courage to ask Sarah Jane to marry me. Why, I'd already been thinking about it for hours when you sat on my lap at that party."

  "I was meant to be here to help you get together, and you were meant to be here to adopt me. God has a plan for everything."

  "He certainly does!" Micah said with a smile. "You seem to know a lot about God."

  "Well, sure. My last orphanage taught us about God every day. I learned a lot from them. I'm glad I'm going to be the daughter of a pastor so I can learn even more."

  Eventually the buggy rocked little Chrissy to sleep, and she tipped over, putting her head on Sarah Jane's lap. "She's out," Sarah Jane whispered.

  Micah glanced over and smiled. "I'm glad we're doing this."

  "You're not nervous?" Sarah Jane asked, putting her hand over her belly where the butterflies were writhing and kicking.

  He reached over and took her hand from where it rested on Chrissy's back. "I'm a little nervous, but mostly because I don't want to disappoint you. You're too special for me to upset."

  Sarah Jane frowned. "I'm not special."

  "Of course you are! God made you, didn't He?"

  She smiled at him. "You make me feel like I'm special." She glanced down at Chrissy. "So does she. Why did she want us to be her parents so badly? I've asked other people, and there was no one else she was determined to have as her parents. Just the two of us."

  He shrugged. "I have no idea."

  Sarah Jane used her free hand to stroke Chrissy's hair. "She looks so angelic when she's asleep." She turned and looked at Micah. "Tell me about your house. Are you living in the parsonage in town?"

  "I am. It's just a two-bedroom house." Micah bit his lip, thinking about the tight quarters. "If you'd like, you can share a room with Chrissy to begin with. Then when we know each other better, and we're more comfortable, you can move into my room. It might help her transition better."

  "And help us transition better?" Sarah Jane asked with a smile. "Yes, I think that's a wonderful idea. I'll be a good wife in every other way."

  "I really do think that's for the best. And I have no doubt you'll be a fine wife. I was at the party you organized the other night. I've never seen anything like it."

  "I worked on that for over a month. I think we'll be good partners."

  He smiled at her, bringing her hand to his lips. "I do too. You're someone I can see myself growing old with. I know we don't really love each other yet, but I think it'll happen."

  Sarah Jane felt her stomach fall. She was in love with him. Having him say he didn't love her—well, it hurt! She wanted him to love her. Even if he only did it in her imagination.

  "I think it'll come as well. Edna Petunia keeps telling me that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and I'll be feeding you nonstop!"

  "And I will appreciate that. I've eaten your cooking, and trust me, the thing I've missed most since coming to town is good home cooking. Edna Petunia has taught you well."

  "Actually, I was a good cook before we ever came here. That was my job back in New York. I cooked most of the meals."

  He frowned at that. "I thought people took care of orphans. It never occurred to me that you cooked your own meals."

  "It's not like there are people crawling out of the woodwork to volunteer in orphanages. The chores are divided among the children as much as possible. We were on the outskirts of town, so we had a farm. The boys milked the cows and they grew the vegetables, and then we girls canned them. It was a lot of work for all of us, but it was good work. We learned a lot."

  "Did you enjoy it?"

  "Oh, I love to cook, and that was mainly what I did. Some of the others would take care of the small children. Penny did all the sewing, because she was good at that. Opal and Evelyn took care of the little ones. We all had our talents, and Mrs. Hayes was very competent at figuring out what the strengths of each child under her care were and assigning them to do just that. It may not have been an idyllic childhood where we sat around with our watercolors painting landscapes, but we learned the life skills we needed to survive."

  "What about little ones? Like Chrissy? Would she have been made to work?"

  Sarah Jane nodded. "Oh, sure. Nothing major, but she'd have helped in the kitchen or been assigned to do some of the weeding. There were a lot of things she could have done."

  "And in our home? Will you have her work?" Micah hated the idea of the little girl having to do anything but comb her baby doll's hair.

  "Yes, of course, she'll have chores. I'll need to train her so she'll be a good wife and mother." Sarah Jane had never heard of a mother who didn't teach her daughters that way.

  "Well, what if she doesn't like it?"

  She looked at him. "Micah? I don't think she's been abused in any way. She's too sweet-natured for that. Yes, she's had a difficult life, but no more difficult than any other orphan. Learning to do chores and work hard is part of growing up."

  He sighed. "I suppose it is."

  "Did you have no chores growing up?"

  He laughed. "My life was a constant string of chores. I grew up on a ranch. I was always helping with the branding, the roundup, mending fences."

  "Do you think your parents did something wrong, raising you that way? To work hard?"

  "Well, no, but I wasn't an orphan."

  "We aren't going to mollycoddle her and turn her into a brat, Micah. We need to start out as we intend to go forward. I remember Mrs. Hayes being very strict with some new children who came, and Opal got angry with her. She thought it was too much. Mrs. Hayes told her that she could start out strict and soften up as she went along, but she couldn't start out soft and get stricter. It just doesn't work that way."

  "And you think Mrs. Hayes knows everything about child-rearing?"

  Sarah Jane shrugged. "I don't think anyone but God knows everything about child-rearing. I do think she knows a great deal more than I do, and I believe she has done a good job raising the children she's raised."

  "That makes sense. I just hate the idea of making her work at all at her age."

  "At her age, she'll have to make her own bed and sweep the floor. I'll start teaching her to cook, but she won't be touching anything hot or be allowed to work with knives. Trust me. She's not going to do anything that's beyond her abilities, and I would never ask her to."

  "I trust you. All right. I agree with that." He looked at her as if a thought just occurred to him. "Are you going to continue volunteering at the orphanage?"

  "Probably for a little while. At least half days. I can't imaging leaving the matron to do everything she has to do with no help. There just aren't enough volunteers in town."

  "Will you take Chrissy with you?"

  "Of course. She's much too little for me to leave her at home alone. She'll have other children to play with as well. Once she starts school in the fall, it'll be easier."

  Micah nodded. "I'm glad you're here to help me with her. I would probably spoil her so badly, no one would ever want to be around her."

  "It's an easy thing to
do. Especially with a child you so obviously adore. You want what's best for her, and it almost seems counter-intuitive to have her work. It's exactly what she needs, though."

  "I know that in my head. My heart says differently." He smiled down at Chrissy, who was still sleeping soundly. "She must have had a hard night."

  "We both did. She was so excited about us getting married today that she was bouncing around last night. Today was like Christmas for her."

  "Christmas. I almost forgot about Christmas. It's also her birthday, and it's in two weeks. What are we going to do for it?"

  Sarah Jane grinned. "I was planning on making her some new clothes. The ones she has are in terrible condition. I'll also make her doll some clothes to match hers. She'll love that."

  "You think? She doesn't need anything else?"

  "She'd have gotten a whole lot less at the orphanage. I'm sure she'll feel like she's someone special with all that." She smiled. "Besides, all she really wanted was for someone to make her their own for Christmas. We're doing that."

  "That's very true. She did say that's all she wanted."

  "Trust me. It's all any orphan wants for Christmas. We all talked about Christmas morning and how someone would come along and take us home with them. Someone would look over all of the orphans and choose just us. It never happened, but we all dreamed about it. Constantly."

  "Well, I hope she's happy. I plan on being a strict father, but a loving one."

  "I don't think you can be loving without being strict. People who are too lax with their children are doing them a disservice."

  "I agree." He squeezed the hand he still held tightly. "See? We're already agreeing on how to be good parents together."

  Less than twenty minutes later, they reached a small church on the outskirts of town with a parsonage right next to it. He jumped down. "Let me run up. One of my friends from seminary is assigned to this church."

  Sarah Jane nodded with a yawn. She was more tired than she'd realized. Chrissy had been so happy and giggly during the night that she really had barely slept.

  Chrissy woke up and looked around. "Are we married now?"

  Sarah Jane smiled at the child's words. "Your new daddy is talking to the pastor of the church. After he comes back, we'll get married."

  "Oh, good." Chrissy sat up and rested her cheek on Sarah Jane's shoulder. "I'm glad I didn't miss it."

  "We're not going to let you miss it! This wedding is what will make us all a family."

  "When my mama got married, she left me at the orphanage. She said her new husband didn't like kids, so I couldn't live with her anymore."

  Sarah Jane was saddened by the little girl's words, but not at all surprised. She'd heard the same kind of story many times. "Well, we're not going to leave you anywhere, because we both love you."

  "He's coming back!" Chrissy told her, watching as Micah walked toward the buggy.

  "He's happy to marry us. His wife said you could take a few minutes to wash your face if you needed, and she'll keep an eye on Chrissy during the ceremony." He walked around to her side of the buggy and lifted Chrissy down, before holding out his hand to help Sarah Jane to the ground.

  Sarah Jane smiled, resting her hand in the crook of his arm. They walked up to the house together.

  A young woman not much older than Sarah Jane opened the door. She had red hair and dancing green eyes. "You must be Sarah Jane. Welcome!"

  "Thank you. This is Chrissy." Sarah Jane smiled as the girl nodded regally.

  "I'm Jill, Thomas's wife."

  "Thomas went to seminary with Micah?"

  Jill nodded. "They were roommates there. I've met Micah before. It's nice to see him marrying. And getting a little girl as well. He's going to be the best father!"

  Chrissy nodded again. "That's why I picked him. He was dressed like Santa, but I knew he was just a regular man under the beard."

  Jill laughed. "Now that's a story I'll need to hear while you get ready." She took Sarah Jane's arm and tugged her toward one of the back rooms.

  "Chrissy, stay with Daddy." Sarah Jane went with her new friend to get ready for the wedding.

  Chrissy nodded, walking over and slipping her small hand into Micah's. Micah's eyes met Sarah's Jane's. "I've got her. You go on."

  Sarah Jane shrugged off her coat off and used the pitcher and bowl Jill provided. It seemed like she was going back in time. Edna Petunia's house had a real bathroom, and she'd gotten used to it.

  "So, tell me how you met Micah!"

  She was in what looked to be a spare room. She briskly washed her hands. "He's the pastor at the church in my town. I had never even spoken to him until last Sunday, when I asked him to play Santa Claus for the party at the orphanage. I volunteer there."

  "Oh, that's a great way to meet!"

  "I thought so. My family had him over for Sunday dinner, and we got to know one another a bit better. We decided to start courting, but then Chrissy moved into the orphanage, and she changed everything."

  "How did she do that?" Jill asked, her face perplexed.

  "When she arrived, she told me her story, and something about it just tugged at my heartstrings. I knew I had to have her. I still lived at home and had no job, so there's no way I could do it on my own."

  "She told the story to Micah, and he reacted the same way. So we're marrying, so we can adopt her. He said love will follow."

  Jill frowned. "You're not in love with him?"

  "I didn't say that, did I?" Sarah Jane had no intention of talking about her real feelings with someone she'd just met a few minutes before, whether she felt like a friend or not.

  "He's awfully lovable. Why, if I didn't have Thomas, I think I'd fall for Micah in a trice."

  "He's a good man. I'm glad he chose me."

  "Well, let's get out there and make this wedding happen then, shall we?" Jill led the way back into the parlor, where they'd left the two men with Chrissy.

  Micah held out his free hand for her as she entered the room. "Sarah Jane, this is one of my school friends, Thomas. He's going to marry us."

  "It's nice to meet you, Thomas."

  "So, are you ready to marry this scalawag?" Thomas asked.

  Sarah Jane smiled, her eyes cutting over to Micah. "I think I am. I'm not making a mistake, am I?"

  Thomas laughed. "I wouldn't say so. I mean, he has redeeming qualities that make up for his nonsensical ways."

  Chrissy moved in front of Micah, looking up at Thomas. "My daddy is going to marry my mama, and you're not going to stop them. So do it!"

  Everyone laughed at that. Thomas leaned close to Sarah Jane and Micah to whisper, "If she had a gun, I'm sure she would have pulled it by now."

  "No doubt," Micah said, his hand atop Chrissy's shoulder. "It's all right. We're getting married right now."

  Chrissy moved to stand beside Sarah Jane, back to her normal well-behaved self. Ten minutes later, Thomas pronounced them man and wife, and Micah kissed Sarah Jane softly.

  "What about me?" Chrissy demanded as soon as the kiss broke apart.

  Micah laughed, picking her up in his arms and kissing her cheek with a loud smacking sound. Sarah Jane followed suit, kissing her other cheek. "There, now we're all a family."

  Chrissy frowned. "He said you were married, but he didn't say we were a family. He has to say it!"

  Thomas quickly said, "And you're all a family now and forever."

  Chrissy sighed happily, scrunching up her little face. "Now and forever. That sounds nice."

  Sarah Jane hugged Chrissy, who was still held in Micah's arms. "I like the sound of it too."

  Micah turned to Thomas, shaking his hand. "Thank you for marrying us. I really appreciate it."

  Sarah Jane watched them and was surprised at how different Micah carried himself when he was talking to his friend than he did when he was talking to her. She decided not to worry about it as they walked outside. Maybe all men were different with their friends than they were with their wives.

  Chapt
er Six

  Chrissy pulled away from Sarah Jane as soon as they got to the front yard, and Sarah Jane kept walking to the buggy, assuming Chrissy was right behind her. It wasn't until Micah helped her into the buggy, and she held her arms out for the girl that she realized she was missing. "Where's Chrissy?" she asked, not letting panic enter her voice.

  Micah looked around. "I thought she was with you."

  "She was! She's gone now!" She didn't wait for him to help her down, but instead all but leaped from the buggy, standing beside it and looking in every direction for the little girl. "I have no idea where she went!"

  Micah gave her a look she could only interpret as annoyance before running up to the house. She heard him say, "Between the house and the buggy we managed to lose Chrissy. We need help looking!"

  Thomas called for Jill, and the two of them were outside within moments, both wearing coats and ready to look.

  Micah and Sarah Jane went one way, calling for the girl as they walked, while Thomas and Jill went the other. "Chrissy! Where are you?" Sarah Jane called, feeling the panic spread through her body.

  "Chrissy!" Micah called, wondering how they could have lost her in such a short amount of time. "Chrissy!"

  They were a good way from the parsonage, at least a half mile, when they heard a response to their calls. It was faint, but it was there. "I'm here!"

  Sarah Jane gathered her skirts in her hands and rushed in the direction of the voice. She found Chrissy kneeling on the ground beside a mother dog, with four puppies climbing all over her. "Chrissy, you can't just wander off that way! We were worried sick!"

  "But Mama, I saw this dog, and she seemed to be all alone. I want to keep a puppy. May I?"

  Sarah Jane looked over her shoulder at Micah who had run after her.

  Micah frowned. "No, Chrissy. Those puppies look too young to leave their mama. And your mother is right. You can't just wander off. Even if there are puppies."

  Chrissy looked down, mumbling under her breath, as if she was upset they had scolded her for chasing the dog. "I just want a puppy."