All My Tomorrows

by Al Lacy

  The first couple to approach the orphans smiled at the boys, and the woman said, “Sorry, boys, we’re looking for a girl.”

  They chose the first girl they came to and took her to Lorinda Radcliff so they could get the paperwork done.

  The next couple paused in front of the boys, and the man started asking Clint questions. At the same time, his wife moved to the remaining girl and began talking to her.

  After a few minutes, the man called to his wife: “Dear, I like this boy. His name is Clint Albright. Let’s take him.”

  Teddy and Jerry exchanged fearful glances.

  The woman shook her head. “No, dear. I want this girl.”

  They argued for a moment; then the man shrugged. “All right, we’ll take the girl.” He looked at Clint. “Sorry.”

  Clint managed a thin smile.

  When the man walked away, Teddy let out a big sigh of relief. “Boy, Clint, I sure thought that man was gonna take you. I’m glad he didn’t. I mean, unless you really wanted to go with him.”

  “Naw. I don’t want to go anywhere unless both the husband and wife want me. It just wouldn’t work. I already lived in a family like that with my real parents. It was my father who didn’t want me. I don’t want that situation again.”

  The boys stood close together, trying to look like they were not upset that they were the only ones left. But the hurt caused by the number of rejections was hard to bear.

  Two more couples passed by, gave the three boys a glance, and left the depot.

  Another couple drew up, but were already agreeing that they wanted a younger child.

  The next couple was smiling at each other as they approached the boys. They looked to be in their late forties.

  Teddy elbowed both his friends in the ribs. “Maybe these are the ones. They look nice and friendly.”

  “Yeah.” Clint’s voice was filled with doubt.

  The smiles were then turned on the boys as the man said, “Hello, young men. My name is Marvin Dalby, and this is my wife, Doris. We would like to ask each of you some questions about yourselves.”

  All three had to give their life stories in brief, then Marvin Dalby looked at his wife, who smiled and said, “Yes!”

  The boys looked at each other quizzically.

  “Boys,” said Dalby, “my wife and I own four large fruit orchards east of Los Angeles. We came to the depot today, first of all to find three boys about your age whom we could adopt as sons, and secondly, by that adoption, to gain additional workers for our orchards.”

  Doris warmed all three with a smile. “As far as I’m concerned, you boys are an answer to prayer.”

  Teddy, Clint, and Jerry stood in mute astonishment.

  “I assure you,” said Marvin, “you will not be slave labor, as Doris and I know sometimes happens to orphan train children. But we will need your help, as any boys would help their natural parents. What do you say?”

  The boys exchanged glances, eyes wide with wonder, and Clint said, “We would love to be your adopted sons, Mr. and Mrs. Dalby! We’ve been hoping all along that we’d be chosen by the same family. We’re best friends, and this is what we’ve prayed for!”

  Doris clapped her hands. “Oh, thank You, Lord!”

  She quickly hugged each boy, saying how happy she was, and Marvin followed suit.

  Jerry looked at both of them. “We’ll be happy to do our share of the work.”

  Marvin said, “Now, boys, I want you to understand that your work will be done as it fits in with school. We want you to get your education.”

  The boys thanked him and said they would work hard in school and in the orchards.

  Royce Nelson was called over. The Dalbys explained to him that they would sign the papers to become foster parents to the boys, but that they would seek adoption immediately. Royce was happy to hear it and told the boys how glad he was that the Lord made it possible for them to be taken into the same home.

  Good-byes were said to all four sponsors and the nurse, and the Dalbys ushered the boys out of the terminal toward the parking lot.

  As they moved that direction, an ecstatic Teddy unleashed his exuberance. “It’s happened, Clint! It’s happened, Jerry! We’re really gonna live together! Can you believe it?”

  Clint laughed. “Yes, I believe it! The Lord did it for us, just like Mr. Radcliff said!”

  “Yes!” said Jerry, wonder making his voice quiver. “It’s like a dream come true! Only the Lord could do this!”

  A broad smile captured Teddy’s face from ear to ear. “It’s a certain sure miracle, that’s what it is! Thank You, God! Thank You!”

  The Dalbys were thrilled to hear all three boys so maturely giving praise to the Lord.

  On the ride toward the Dalby home in the buggy, the boys were full of questions, and the Dalbys took their time answering each one. As the miles slipped by, the boys felt more and more at home. Marvin and Doris smiled at each other as they listened to the boys talk among themselves.

  Doris looked toward heaven. Thank You, Lord. Like always in our lives, You have given above and beyond our greatest expectations!

  At Wild Horse, Colorado, Ken and Molly Talbert left the judge’s office that afternoon with Donna walking between them.

  Donna’s face was beaming. “Oh, this is so wonderful! I am now Donna Rae Talbert!”

  She put an arm around each of her new adoptive parents. “Thank you for choosing me at the depot that day. Thank you for leading me to the Lord, and thank you now for adopting me!”

  Molly hugged her in return. “Sweetie, we love you as if you were our natural daughter.”

  “That’s for sure!” said Ken.

  From the judge’s office, the Talberts went to the general store. While Ken was picking up some items from the grocery shelves, Molly took Donna to the spot where several bolts of dress material were on display.

  “Okay, Miss Donna Rae Talbert, pick out the material you like for new dresses.”

  Donna’s eyes widened. “But, Mama, you’ve already made me three new dresses!”

  Molly hugged her. “Well, you’re about to get three more.”

  Half an hour later, Ken loaded the groceries into the back of the buckboard, helped the ladies up onto the seat, then climbed up beside Donna, who sat in the middle. A broad smile creased his tanned face as he said, “Well, ladies, now that our shopping is done, let’s go celebrate the adoption. We’ll have supper at the hotel restaurant. Donna, they have the biggest pieces of chocolate cake you’ve ever seen.”

  Donna giggled. “That sounds good to me, Papa. I’m so excited, though. I don’t know if I can do a big piece of cake justice, but I’ll sure try.”

  Ken drove the three blocks to the hotel, helped the ladies down from the seat, and ushered them into the restaurant.

  Replete with roast beef and mashed potatoes and all the trimmings, topped off with pieces of chocolate cake, the Talbert family left the restaurant in high spirits.

  Once again on the buckboard seat with Donna in the middle, Ken put the team to a trot and headed out of town. The rim of the golden sun was barely visible on the western horizon. For a while, they talked together, reminiscing over the events of the day and moving on to the plans for their future.

  Soon they grew quiet, with each one lost in their own reverie as twilight settled over the land.

  Molly’s attention was suddenly drawn to Donna when she felt a shiver go through the girl’s body. Thinking the cooler air was getting to her, Molly turned to ask if she was cold and saw the tears cascading down her cheeks.

  Molly frowned. “Sweetie, what are you crying about?”

  Donna wiped tears. “Deena.”

  Molly patted her arm. “Of course. I know you miss her terribly.”

  “That I do, Mama. But it’s worse because I know she is very unhappy. I’m sure of it. My heart goes out to her. Here I am, so happy with such wonderful parents. But I just know it isn’t the same for Deena.”

  Molly squeezed her arm. “We
must continue to pray earnestly for Deena.”

  “Yes,” said Ken. “It won’t be too long now, Donna, until we can make the trip to Salina so you can see her.”

  Donna wiped away more tears. “I can hardly wait.”

  At the Dexter farm in Kansas, Deena Mitchell was trying daily to come up with a way to run away without being caught.

  One night Deena dreamed that she and Donna were together in a field of green grass and wildflowers. They were holding hands and skipping delightfully across the field. Deena couldn’t remember when she had been so happy.

  Suddenly in the dream, Donna’s hand slipped from Deena’s and she disappeared. Deena cried out for her and the sound of her own voice awakened her.

  With the dream so fresh in her mind, Deena sat up. “Donna! Oh, Donna! Come back!”

  Suddenly her bedroom door swung open and an angry Ralph Dexter stepped in, clad in his nightshirt, holding a lantern.

  “I’m sick of you crying about your sister, girl! You woke me up bellowing for her! Now stop it!”

  Deena was sobbing. “I dreamed about her. We were together in the dream, then she was gone.”

  Moving up to the bed, Ralph put a tight pinch on Deena’s shoulder and shook her. “You’ve got to stop this pining for your sister, girl! You hear me? Forget her!”

  Norma padded into the room, wiping her eyes as Deena said, “I can’t help it, Mr. Dexter. The bond between Donna and me is much stronger than the bond between regular siblings. Please help me find her.”

  Norma moved close and touched the hand that was pinching Deena’s shoulder. Ralph let go and looked at her as she said, “Deena, honey, you can’t let this bond between you and Donna tear you to pieces. There is no way we can find Donna. She could be anywhere between Salina and Los Angeles. That’s a lot of territory. It would be impossible.”

  “She’s right! Now, you forget that twin of yours. Face it. You’re never gonna see her again.”

  Deena became hysterical. “I can’t forget her, you beast! We are part of each other! Donna’s missing me as much as I’m missing her! I’ve got to find her! I’ve got to find her! I’ve got to find her-r-r!”

  Deena’s high-pitched screams infuriated Ralph Dexter. He slapped her face so hard, it knocked her out of the bed. She hit the floor, still screaming at him.

  Fear filled Norma as she saw the awful expression on Ralph’s red face. Her hand went to her mouth and she bit down on her fingers as Ralph stomped to Deena and stood over her, breathing hotly.

  Deena’s entire body was trembling and her eyes were wild. She raised up on her knees, her face wet with tears. “How can you be so mean? You’re a beast, that’s what you are! You’re a horrible beast!”

  Ralph’s beefy features turned thunder black. “Stop screaming at me!”

  Deena felt only hatred for the man. “You’re a wicked beast! I don’t have to obey you!”

  He slapped her again, knocking her flat. He headed for the door, saying to Norma over his shoulder, “She’s gonna feel my belt again!”

  When Ralph vanished through the door and stomped down the hall, Norma knelt beside Deena. “Honey, calm down. You know about his uncontrollable temper.”

  Deena’s eyes were glazed. She stared Norma’s direction, but couldn’t seem to focus on her face.

  “Deena,” Norma said softly, “don’t scream at him, honey. Don’t talk back to him. It only makes him—”

  Ralph’s heavy footsteps could be heard, growing louder.

  “Worse,” concluded Norma as the man stomped through the door, belt in hand.

  The wrath on Ralph’s face was terrible to behold. He rudely shoved Norma aside. “Get outta the way! Go back to bed!”

  She fell to the floor and rose quickly, glancing at Deena with pain-filled eyes as she headed toward the door. She knew if she tried to argue with Ralph, it would only make things worse for Deena, as well as herself.

  Ralph turned to watch Norma go, and when he turned back, Deena was on her feet but staggering. He grabbed her and threw her on the bed facedown.

  When Norma reached the hall, she stopped just out of view from the door and leaned against the wall, throwing her hands to her face. She heard the belt whistling and striking Deena repeatedly as her husband railed at her, saying she had better never disobey him again, and she had better never call him a beast again. With each blow, Deena whined pitifully.

  The lashing went on for what seemed an eternity.

  Finally, it stopped, and Norma hurried back to their bedroom.

  She was sitting on the edge of the bed when Ralph returned and threw his belt on the chair where his trousers were draped. Deena could be heard sobbing.

  Ralph stood over his wife. “I suppose you want to go stop her bleeding.”

  Norma looked up at him, her face pale. “I … I’d better.”

  “Well, go on. I left the lantern in there. I’m going back to sleep.”

  When Norma returned to the room, she found a sobbing Deena lying on the bed. She had pulled her nightgown over her legs, but there were blood spots on it. Deena looked up through tear-filled eyes, but said nothing.

  Norma said softly, “Would you turn over for me, honey?”

  Deena gritted her teeth as she turned over.

  Norma lifted Deena’s nightgown and saw red welts on her back, buttocks, and the backside of her legs. Some of them were oozing blood.

  “Lie still, honey. I’ll get some water and cloths. I’ll wrap the places where you’re still bleeding.”

  It took Norma about twenty minutes to treat Deena’s wounds. After pulling the nightgown back down over the crude bandages, she said, “There you are, Deena. I’m sure the bleeding will stop soon. You try to get some sleep now.”

  The girl rolled onto her back and pulled up the covers. Through lips that barely moved, she said, “Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate your kindness.”

  Norma leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I love you, honey. I wish I could keep you, but I can’t blame you for wanting to run away. Just be extremely careful when you do it.”

  “I will. Thank you, again.”

  Deena awakened several times in the night and the pain lanced through her back and legs. She was awakened by more pain at sunrise and decided to get out of bed. She checked the wounds and found that the bleeding had stopped.

  She moved gingerly to the dresser and observed herself in the mirror. There were purple bruises on her cheeks where Ralph had slapped her. While brushing her hair and dressing for the day, she told herself she must find a way of escape soon.

  Chapter Seventeen

  As Deena Mitchell left her room and headed toward the kitchen, she grimaced from the pain that walking brought to the welts on her body.

  There was grim determination within her. I’ll be successful next time. No power on earth will keep me here a day longer than absolutely necessary. That beast will never beat me again.

  Just as Deena was about to pass Rex’s room, the door opened. She thought about hurrying to avoid him, but she knew it would intensify her pain.

  Rex spotted her instantly and stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

  She gave him a bland look and made a step sideways to get around him, but he countered by moving in front of her.

  Anger surged through her. “Get out of my way.”

  Rex sneered. “When Pa and I were doin’ chores this mornin’, he told me what happened last night. You got pretty sassy, I hear. I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”

  Deena burned him with hot eyes. “Will you get out of my way? I’m going to help your mother with breakfast.”

  “She’s got it about done. That’s where I’m headed. I’ll walk to the kitchen with you.”

  Deena ignored him as he moved along beside her. When they entered the kitchen, Norma was at the stove. Deena saw that the table had already been set. Leaving Rex behind, she moved to Norma and said, “Mrs. Dexter, I would have helped you with breakfast if you had—”

  “It�
��s all right, honey. I figured you needed to rest. I’m sure you didn’t sleep well after—well, you know.”

  At that instant, Ralph came into the kitchen. He gave Deena a cold look, then said to Norma, “Breakfast ready?”

  “Yes. Let’s all get seated.”

  When everyone was in their place, Ralph said, “We’re all going into town today. We need groceries and supplies.”

  Later, when they pulled away from the house, Norma was beside Ralph on the driver’s seat, and Rex and Deena were sitting in the wagon bed. Norma had provided a folded blanket for Deena to sit on, but as they headed toward town, Deena winced at the times when the wagon hit bumps in the road.

  When they had hit an especially hard bump and Deena let out a tiny cry, Rex looked at her with eyes the color of slate. “Maybe the pain you’re feelin’ will remind you never to talk sassy to Pa again.”

  Deena gave him a sullen look, but did not reply. She was more determined than ever to get away from the Dexter farm.

  While the wagon rocked along, Norma turned around. “Deena, Ralph and I have been talking about this. We want you to stay in the wagon when we get to town. We don’t want anyone to see those bruises on your face. Keep your bonnet low over your face and don’t talk to anyone.”

  Deena nodded. “I’ll do as you say, ma’am, but if you didn’t want anyone to see me, why didn’t you just leave me home?”

  Ralph looked over his shoulder. “Norma suggested that, girl, but I told her I don’t trust you. If we left you alone at the house, you might get the wild idea of running away like you did that day. So you’ll just have to stay in the back of the wagon.”

  Rex was grinning at Deena when his father said, “Rex, I want you to stay with her.”

  Rex’s grin faded. “Why, Pa?”

  “Like I said, I don’t trust her. She just might decide to hop out of the wagon and run away.”

  Rex knew better than to argue with his father. “Okay, Pa. I’ll stay with her so she don’t pull somethin’ like that.”

  Deena continually adjusted herself on the blanket as the wagon bounced along the road. One way or another, the day will come when my opportunity will present itself. I’ll get away from the Dexter prison farm forever!