At last he spoke, lowering his voice as if that prevented others from hearing. “Katherine, we talked about this. It is not possible for a single woman to take on orphans.”
“How about a newly married couple?” Wyatt came up behind her, startling her. He grabbed for her hand that now bore her wedding ring, raising it to eye level, displaying it next to his.
Timothy’s mouth fell open. His eyes betrayed the shock and hurt Katherine knew he must feel.
It pained Katherine to have caused him such grief. Regret cut through her.
A thick silence fell over the room. Katherine pulled her hand free of Wyatt’s grasp. She wished it were possible for her to just disappear. Though she turned her face away, she felt everyone’s gazes still on her, judging her.
Her salvation came minutes later when Mayor Jacobs stepped forward, drawing the attention from her when he addressed the group. “It seems the Reverend and I need to confer for a moment.”
Taking the preacher’s arm, Mayor Jacobs pulled Timothy to the far side of the dais. They spoke for several moments. Were they deciding which couple was most suited for the children?
Katherine watched, her eyes glued to Timothy. His posture was stiff as his head bobbed and shook. But it seemed as if the mayor did most of the talking. As she looked on, she felt nothing, numbed by Timothy’s reaction. She hadn’t expected anything different, but the reality of it stung.
At length, the mayor returned to the pulpit. Timothy remained where he was, in the background, and he seemed to be avoiding Katherine’s eyes. Perhaps it was for the best. Could she truly face him right now if he did look at her?
“After much consideration,” Mayor Jacobs said from his position on the dais. “We have determined it would be best for the children to remain together. So, we have decided to award custody to Dr. and Mrs. Sullivan.” The last words came out of his mouth with some hesitation.
All else flew from Katherine’s mind. Filled with joy and relief, she whirled around, throwing her arms around Wyatt’s neck. They had done it! Wyatt’s arms slid around her back and held her in a warm embrace.
Only for a second, Katherine became lost. But then the flush of heat came. Though her body longed for more, she was surprised she would allow herself even a moment in Wyatt’s arms. She pulled away, her movements awkward. But her embarrassment was covered by the sudden appearance of the mayor’s wife.
Katherine turned, moving away from Wyatt. Alma carried a wiggling baby girl in her arms and urged the small boy to step forward even while she held his hand. So these were the orphans. And they would soon be hers to care for. What did she know of raising children?
“Congratulations!” Alma said, smiling. It deepened the lines around her face. “They are both precious angels. If John and I were even a few years younger, we would have considered taking them ourselves. As it is, these old bones would be no good chasing these little ones around.”
She held out the tiny bundle toward Katherine. Should she accept the child? Her stomach dropped. This, too, was something she hadn’t considered. Her goal had been keeping the children together. But what did she know about babies or toddlers?
Still, she opened her arms to receive the small package, hoping Alma wouldn’t notice her slight shaking or that she held her breath.
Little Susie felt so light in Katherine’s arms, weighing almost nothing. Her eyes were a bright shade of blue. The cutest chubby cheeks reminded Katherine of a baby doll, and the child’s blonde curls peeked out from underneath her bonnet. She waved her arms at Katherine’s face as she gurgled and cooed. Something stirred in Katherine’s chest.
Alma crouched down with careful movements until she was at eye level with the young boy. “Jack, you’re going to go with Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Matth—Mrs. Sullivan. They’re going to take good care of you.”
Jack looked at her with large blue eyes set below shaggy brown hair. Mrs. Jacobs pulled him toward her for a hug. He complied, snuggling into her embrace at first, but soon squirmed to be set free.
She stood again, her eyes meeting Katherine’s. “I’ll send John over with their clothes, bottles, and the cradle.”
Katherine nodded, swallowing hard. She couldn’t let anyone know how overwhelmed she felt.
“And I have just the place for this little guy,” Wyatt said as he swung Jack up into the air and into his arms. The boy beamed.
Good. Wyatt had some semblance of a plan. Katherine relaxed for the first time in weeks. But only slightly. The hairs on her arms prickled. An odd sensation. Glancing around the room, she spotted Timothy, still behind the dais, his eyes boring into her.
What must this be like for him? Watching this scene play out? It could not be pleasant. The intensity of his gaze told her that much. As her eyes met his, she wished for a moment for the two of them. Perhaps she could explain. But no explanation would fix this, and she knew it.
Wyatt stepped up beside her. So close. Too close. The familiar heat from his body emanated through her travel jacket and dress sleeves. How did he always radiate such warmth? She wanted to step away, but his hand was on her arm. Her eyes moved from Timothy’s face to Wyatt’s only to find that Wyatt watched Timothy as well.
“We’d best get these children home. By the time we get settled, it’ll be time to put them to bed.” Wyatt shifted his focus to Katherine.
She no longer felt comfortable looking at either man, so she turned her attention to the wriggling baby in her arms. The tiny face blurred. No, she would not cry.
Mayor Jacobs and Alma moved toward the exit. Katherine raised her head to their backs. It would not be wise for her and Wyatt to be in the church alone with Timothy. So, she nodded.
His features softened. Did he see the unshed tears in her eyes? Did he care? How could he? Either way, he became distracted when Jack started playing with his nose.
“Did you get my nose?” Wyatt faced Jack.
The boy giggled.
Wyatt took a couple of steps in the direction the mayor and his wife had gone.
But Katherine hesitated, inexplicably torn.
Turning back toward her, Wyatt shot a look in Timothy’s direction before holding out a hand to Katherine. “It’s time, Katie.”
Katherine chanced one more apologetic glance toward Timothy before she moved to join Wyatt.
He placed his free hand at her elbow and escorted her outside.
Chapter 9
A couple of hours later, they were at Wyatt’s homestead with Katherine’s things from the boarding house and the children’s things from the Jacobs’ home. Everything had been stacked in the great room. Yet another daunting task for Katherine—unpacking. Staring at the mountain of work in front of her, it was all she could do not to break down. All she wanted to do was bathe to clean up from her long trip, eat, and climb into bed. That was not possible. There were other responsibilities now.
The door banged open. Wyatt and Mayor Jacobs shuffled in carrying a rather large cradle.
“Let me help you get this to the room Susie will be sleeping in,” Jacobs said.
“This way.” Wyatt indicated they should go down a short hallway.
Susie started to fuss and Katherine bounced her a little. She had been examining her new home. It appeared to have been originally built as a one-room homestead and since updated. Perhaps by the Womacks and then again by Wyatt. But she couldn’t be certain. Bedrooms had been added and the kitchen had been updated with a sink and pump. The space that used to serve as the dining room, family room, and bedroom was now one large open dining room and family room with a large fireplace.
It could use a woman’s touch. Still, Wyatt had done a good job making a nice home. One bedroom was situated directly off the great room and then a short hallway carved out where the other two bedrooms were built.
At that moment, Wyatt and the mayor came back into the large room.
“Thank you,” Wyatt said, gazing over the trunks and boxes that littered his living area.
“Not a pro
blem.” Jacobs looked between Wyatt and Katherine.
An awkward silence fell over the room.
The mayor pulled out his pocket watch and noted the time. “I best be getting along. Good luck to y’all.”
Katherine smiled her thanks.
Wyatt clapped him on the back and walked him out.
“I’m hungry,” Jack said, looking up at Katherine.
“Hungry? We’ll see about getting you something to eat then, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, his manner trusting.
Katherine had no idea what they were going to do. She was relieved to see Wyatt when he returned.
“Jack is hungry,” she said simply, trying not to panic, hoping he had a solution. “And I think Susie is, too.”
“Sure,” he said. “Let’s see to some dinner, then.” He came over and crouched down on Jack’s level. “What say you help me make sister’s bottle? Can you be a big boy and help me out?”
Jack nodded; it was apparent he liked being called a ”big boy.”
“What can I do to help?” Katherine asked.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Wyatt called over his shoulder. “Keep that little angel occupied.”
Katherine nodded, not that he could see her. She walked around the room and continued bouncing the fussing baby while Wyatt and Jack worked in the kitchen. What were they doing? Wyatt seemed to have some sort of plan. It wasn’t long before Wyatt brought her a contraption filled with milk. He handed it over to her, warm to the touch.
“How do I . . . ? That is . . . I’ve never . . . ”
“Let me show you.” Wyatt took her elbow and led her over to the rocking chair. Once she was seated, he adjusted Susie in her arms so that she was reclined on Katherine’s arm. “Try to angle the bottle so she doesn’t swallow any air.”
Katherine put the bottle’s tip in Susie’s mouth.
Wyatt went back to the kitchen and grabbed a towel. Bringing it to Katherine, he laid it over her shoulder.
“Now, take the bottle out.”
Katherine obeyed.
Susie protested with a cry. What did Katherine do wrong?
“Yeah, she’s not going to like that,” Wyatt explained. “Turn her so her tummy is against your shoulder and pat her back.”
Katherine followed his instructions, unsure how much she truly trusted him. She didn’t like the unhappy sounds Susie made.
After some time, Susie let out a burp.
“Good. Now, let her have some more milk. And stop every few minutes and burp her like that again.”
Katherine looked up at him, this time with a grateful smile.
“I’ll get to work on some dinner for the rest of us.” He shifted his attention to the young boy who had watched the whole exchange rather curiously. “If my friend Jack over here can help me.”
Jack nodded, a broad smile across his features.
Katherine found herself once again thankful for Wyatt. He seemed to know what to do when she didn’t. How was that possible? He was a valuable partner indeed.
* * *
Lauren Matthews placed the last cleaned and dried dish on its shelf in the cupboard. Moving her hands over her apron, she took in the stillness around her. Tom sat in the great room, enjoying the crackling fire. But, peaceful as it might seem, the Matthews’ home was too quiet for Lauren’s liking. She was used to the noises of grandchildren in these rooms and the laughter of her now-grown children bouncing off these walls. The loss of it seemed even more poignant this evening knowing her youngest child had moved in with her new husband. Things would never be the same.
Hanging her apron on its nail, she took a moment to gaze out the window. And she wondered just how Katherine fared with her new situation—new house, new children, new husband.
I should be there for her.
Lauren turned toward the great room; all she could see of her husband was the back of his head. “Tom, don’t you think we should check on Katherine and Wyatt?”
“Whatever for?” He leaned over the side of the chair, turning sideways so he could look back at his wife.
Lauren fidgeted with her hands. “To make sure she’s settling in all right.”
Tom settled back into his chair. “She knows just well how to move into a place.”
Taking a step toward him, she said, “Surely I should go over and help her set up the children’s things . . . ”
“Katherine is quite capable.” Tom’s voice was firm.
Lauren searched for a reason, any reason Tom would agree to. “Should we go over and take something for them to eat?”
“I’m sure they will be just fine.”
She set her hands on her hips. “Should I . . . ”
He rotated in his seat again to catch her eyes. “I think, my dear, that the best thing we can do for them is to let them be. They need to figure it all out on their own.”
Lauren didn’t like that answer, but her husband was right.
“Now, come here.” He patted the arm of the chair next to his. “Come sit by my side for a while. Let the fire warm you.”
Lauren took slow steps toward the room and sat in her chair. She watched the flames flicker and dance. She couldn’t help but reflect on their early days as a married couple. They were just kids. But they learned how to manage without their parents’ help.
Turning toward her husband, she reached out a hand for his. “Tom, remember our first night together?”
He grasped her hand. “I sure do. How can I forget having to round up all those horses because I forgot to latch the gate? Must have taken me an hour.”
Lauren’s shoulders shook with barely contained laughter.
Tom was not one to let sleeping dogs lie, however. “Hey now, I wasn’t the only one that goofed that night.” He gave her a sideways glance. “You know, I could use a piece of corn bread.”
Lauren’s eyes opened wide. She had waited on the front porch for him to return, and ended up burning her corn bread.
“Now hold on,” she protested, dropping his hand. “We promised to never speak about that ever again.”
He smiled back at her, broadly enough to show teeth.
“And I told you that was the best corn bread I ever ate. My conscience is clear,” he said as a laugh escaped his lips.
“Those were good times,” Lauren said, leaning back and putting her hand in his again. “Things were simple then. We didn’t have two children to feed yet.” She enjoyed reminiscing but bit at her lip, still finding herself worried about Katherine. “Are you sure they’re all right?”
Tom met her eyes again. This time, his voice was gentle and loving. “We had our own ups and downs, and we made out just fine. Katherine and Wyatt may be dealing with some things we never did, like raising a couple orphans, but they have to figure it out on their own. If they ever need us, they know where to find us.”
“You know, that’s the fifty-eighth reason I married you. You seem to know when to help and when to let go.” Lauren began to relax, letting the warmth of the fire pervade her body and drive away her uneasy thoughts.
Tom nodded. “Only the fifty-eighth?”
She squeezed his hand. “Yes, dear. But, trust me, there are more.”
And they continued the rest of the evening staring at the fire, enjoying each other’s presence. In silence.
* * *
Katherine paced with Susie, bouncing her with gentle movements while she listened to Wyatt weave together a tall tale for Jack’s bedtime story. As he recounted the story of The Three Little Pigs, Jack sat, wide-eyed, enamored with Wyatt’s interactive storytelling technique. She, too, found herself drawn into this old tale as if hearing it for the first time. All too soon, the story came to a close. His droopy eyelids and slackened body told Katherine that Jack was indeed ready for bed.
Wyatt must have noticed too. He took Jack in his arms as he recited the closing lines of the story. His voice faded as he carried the young toddler to one of the back bedrooms. Katherine couldn’t help
but smile after them as they went. As awkward as the events of the evening may have been, this already began to feel more like the interactions of a family. How she hoped Jack could sense that and find security in it. This little boy deserved it after everything he had been through.
“I think she’s asleep.”
Katherine startled.
Wyatt’s soft voice was behind her, perhaps a little too close.
“Oh?” Katherine tried not to react lest she stir the baby.
“She’s off to dreamland,” he said, peering over Katherine’s shoulder and down at Susie’s face. His breath warmed her ear and neck, his lips so close. It made her dizzy. He must have spoken again, for when she gathered herself, he watched her expectantly.
“What?” She turned to create some distance between them.
“I think we should put her down.” Wyatt motioned down the hallway toward the bedroom she would share with Susie.
Katherine nodded, taking a deep breath. Her body protested her movements, longing for the respite of sleep.
Taking a small lamp, Wyatt led her down the short hallway and through the doorway of the bedroom to the left. It was a fairly large room with a dresser, bed, her trunk, Susie’s trunk, and Susie’s cradle. The bed, covered with a red and blue quilt, looked rather inviting. Her muscles ached to release her weight onto the comfort of the cushion. But she and Wyatt had some work yet to do before she retired for the night.
Moving over to the cradle, Katherine laid Susie down, covering her with a small blanket. Working to tuck the blanket around Susie, she watched the sleeping child. Part of her did not want to leave this peaceful moment and part of her just did not want to be alone with Wyatt. Things with Wyatt were . . . complicated. Why shouldn’t they be? Her head and emotions were a jumbled mess on the matter.
After some moments, a hand on her shoulder drew her attention away from the small form. Wyatt gestured toward the door. They should leave Susie to her rest. Sighing, Katherine followed him out of the room though everything in her protested.
Wyatt turned to face her as they stepped into the great room. He stopped so abruptly, she almost bumped into him. His hands were at her elbows to steady her, but she pulled away.
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