Hopeful Hearts

by Diann Hunt

  “I will be here, Katie, for as long as I’m able.”

  The child seemed satisfied with the answer and squeezed her once more before trotting off to play with the rag doll Abigail had given her weeks ago.

  “Come, Barnabas,” Abigail called. Once the hound was on a leash, she waved good-bye to the children and made her way out to the carriage. The strain of the child’s sincere question had tired Abigail. She kept her tears at bay, refusing to think further on parents who abandoned children and gentlemen who left broken hearts behind.

  Titus pulled the carriage to a stop in front of the post office. Abigail waited as he opened the door for her. “I’ll only be a moment,” she said, making her way to the door.

  Once inside, she exchanged pleasantries with the woman who ran the post office. The woman then pulled Abigail’s mail from the proper box and handed it to her. Abigail sorted through it and looked curiously upon one parcel in particular. A letter from Uncle Edward out in Colorado Territory. Why would he be writing to their family? She fingered the envelope, turning it over in her hands. Uncle Edward had cheated her father out of a job at least fifteen years ago. Pa forgave him, even tried to keep in touch, but Uncle Edward avoided his brother. Father had said Edward needed the Lord and they should pray for him, Aunt Elizabeth, and their daughter, Eliza. Her father had prayed faithfully over the years. The letter could bring good news. The mere fact he was writing would encourage Father, she felt sure.

  Abigail thought of her cousin. Eliza and her pa were just alike in looks … and behavior. Spoiled, mean, and selfish.

  Remembering her mother’s scolding on the subject over the years, Abigail chided herself for such thoughts. After all, those were childish pranks Eliza had pulled, tattling and lying to the adults. They were grown up now. Abigail wondered what had happened to Eliza.

  She could hardly wait to get home and get the mail to her parents.

  “Good news?” Titus asked, helping her back into the carriage.

  “Possibly,” she said, holding up the letter.

  “I’m glad,” Titus answered. A look of affection flittered across his face. Abigail was pleased she had noticed.

  Abigail and Mother sat on the sofa in the drawing room while Father opened the letter. The solemn look on his face made Abigail a little uneasy. Concern shadowed Mother’s face as well.

  “Thomas, what is it?” Mother asked.

  He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, as if searching for the right words. “Well, it seems Edward has been down on his luck. The gold rush didn’t work out. He’s in Colorado Territory now and without work.”

  Ma lifted her chin.

  He held out his palm. “Now, hold on, Lavina. Before you get yourself out of sorts, let me finish.” He dropped his hand and glanced at the letter again. “It seems they barely have food on the table. Eliza is down to skin and bones, and he fears for her. He says here that since we’re good Christian folks—” Father glanced up. “He’s sending Eliza to live with us.”

  Ma gasped. “What?”

  Abigail felt her stomach turn to lead. All the childhood memories once again burned across her mind like a fire out of control. How silly, she thought, pushing the immature matter aside. She looked at Mother, who seemed to bite her tongue. “What is it?” Abigail asked.

  No one answered. Mother sucked in a long, deep breath and wiped her hands on the front of her skirt. She kept her gaze on her skirt. “When will she be here, Thomas?”

  “It looks as though she’ll arrive by train within a week.”

  “Nice of Edward to give you an option,” Mother said through clenched teeth.

  “Now, Lavina.”

  This time she held up her hand. “I know, I know. Just let me have a moment of self-pity to get used to the idea.”

  Father walked over to her and pulled her to her feet. He placed his arms around her waist. “Lavina, if ever there is a woman who forgives, it’s you. It’s your gift. Besides, it’s not Eliza’s fault her pa is the way he is.”

  Mother seemed to melt in Father’s arms. “You’re right. We’ll make her welcome, Thomas, because she’s family and because God loves us even when we don’t deserve it.”

  Father smiled. “I love you, Lavina O’Connor.”

  Abigail quietly stepped out of the room, giving her parents a moment of privacy. The love between them had always made her feel secure. Eliza had probably never known that kind of security with a pa like Uncle Edward. Despite their differences in their childhood days, Abigail decided she would do what she could to make Eliza feel welcome.

  A knock sounded at the door. Abigail looked up from her novel. Barnabas barked and ran toward the sound. She put a marker in her book and walked over to answer the door. Pulling on the knob, she was surprised to see her best friend standing at the entrance.

  “Sophia!” she exclaimed, reaching over to hug her. “Come in.”

  The two walked into the drawing room, Barnabas prancing at their feet. “So, you’re the wonder dog I’ve been hearing so much about,” Sophia said with a laugh as she settled into her seat. She pulled off her gloves and let Barnabas sniff her hands. When he finished, she tousled his hair. He seemed to lose interest in the visit, ambled over to Abigail, circled three times, then plopped in a heap at her feet. They both laughed.

  “How is the little mother doing?” Abigail asked, looking at Sophia’s growing midsection.

  “I’m doing fine. The sickness has subsided, so things are looking up.”

  “Oh Sophia, how are you?” Mother entered the room and gave Sophia a hug.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “How would you ladies like some tea?”

  “That would be nice,” Sophia answered.

  “Thanks,” Abigail agreed.

  In the blink of an eye, Mother was out of the room, with the sound of clanging dishes coming from the kitchen.

  “I hope you don’t mind I stopped by. Since I haven’t been able to make it to church as much lately, I had to see for myself how you were getting along.” Sophia flashed a look of concern toward Abigail.

  “You mean without Jonathan?”

  Sophia nodded.

  “I’m fine, really. I mean, I miss him, but I’m getting along all right.” Abigail shrugged. “Just wasn’t meant to be.”

  “What about your chauffeur?” Sophia asked with raised eyebrows. “He seems like a good catch.”

  “You and Gramma!” Abigail said with a laugh. She shook her head. “I’m not sure I want another relationship. I’m happy with my work at Barnabas House, and—”

  “You don’t want another relationship? Of course you do! My child has to have a playmate!”

  They both laughed. Mother brought in the tea and handed a cup and saucer to each one.

  “Tell her, Mrs. O’Connor,” Sophia encouraged. “Tell her she has to find someone and get married soon so my child will have a playmate.”

  The older woman smiled and shook her head. “I learned long ago that once Abigail’s mind is made up, I’m hard-pressed to change it.” She threw a wink at Abigail and started to leave the room. Turning, she looked at Sophia. “But you’re more than welcome to try.” She laughed and went back to the kitchen.

  “What about this Christopher you told me about at Barnabas House? Any chance of something with him?”

  Abigail smiled. “Christopher is a wonderful friend, but it’s not like that.”

  Sophia sipped her tea. “Well, the way I view it, you have two handsome men in your life, and you just can’t throw away good prospects. I can see I’m going to have to pray harder.”

  Abigail groaned before taking a sip of tea. “How’s your ma and Mrs. Baird?”

  Sophia chuckled. “Mrs. Baird is ornery as always.”

  Abigail laughed and nodded.

  “It’s all Mama can do to keep up with her.”

  Abigail could hear the affection in Sophia’s voice for the women. And rightfully so. They were both easy to love. “She has a lot of energ
y; I’ll give her that.” They paused a moment. “Still keeping busy sewing?”

  Sophia nodded, put her cup in the saucer, and placed them on a nearby stand. “Do you remember Marie Zimmerman?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “She still helps me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  “How is her husband—wasn’t it Seth?”

  Sophia nodded. “He found a job with the railroad. They’ve managed to move out of the shanty and into a fine little cottage and are doing well. Their girls love school.”

  Abigail smiled, thinking of the little girls. “They are so cute.” She took another drink of her tea.

  Sophia looked into the distance. “I love those two.” She absently rubbed her stomach.

  Abigail looked at her and laughed. She put her teacup on the table then turned to Sophia. “I can’t believe you’re married and expecting your first child! Where does the time go?”

  Sophia shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know.”

  “So, tell me about you and Clayton.”

  Sophia nodded with a sparkle in her eye. “I never knew I could be so happy, Abigail.”

  Abigail smiled. “I know. I can see it in you. You practically glow!” A comfortable silence followed. “His business is going well then?”

  “Yes. And his father and mother are doing well.”

  “You’ve been very blessed.” Abigail looked away for a moment.

  “It will happen for you one day, Abby. If not with Jonathan, then with someone else God has in mind for you.”

  Abigail shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Don’t give up. There are eligible men out there besides Jonathan Clark.”

  “I suppose.”

  They each drank some more of the tea while Mother answered another knock at the door.

  “You know,” Sophia said, “it’s all so exciting. Why, the man of your dreams could walk through that door at any moment!”

  No sooner had the words left Sophia’s mouth than Titus appeared in the doorway. “Abigail?”

  Her head jerked up with a start. With teacup still in hand, her sudden movement caused it to rattle on the saucer, sloshing the hot liquid about.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, hat in hand.

  Sophia and Abigail exchanged a glance.

  “What can I do for you, Titus?”

  “I wanted to see when you would be heading for Barnabas House so I could have the carriage ready.”

  Sophia chimed in, a smile on her face. “I really need to be going anyway. We’ll visit again soon,” she was saying, already on her feet.

  Titus looked to Abigail.

  “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

  He gave a quick nod and left. Sophia looked back at Abigail, and they both burst into laughter.

  Chapter 6

  The weekend passed much too swiftly for Abigail. The children had most of their homework caught up, leaving her little to do at Barnabas House. Deciding to leave early, she asked Titus to take her to visit Gramma. She needed to see how Gramma was faring.

  Once they arrived at Gramma’s, Titus helped Abigail and Barnabas from the carriage. With his leash trailing behind him, Barnabas ran to the front door, barked a couple of times, then scurried over to a tree for a good sniffing.

  Though Abigail was put out by Barnabas’s moment of freedom, she laughed with Titus at her dog’s antics. Upon hearing the creak of the front door, they turned to see Gramma standing at the entrance in a sensible gray dress. Titus stayed near the carriage and lifted his hand in greeting.

  “Good day to ye,” Gramma said, embracing Abigail at the door and nodding to Titus. “Come in, come in.” Abigail stepped through the door. Barnabas rushed in behind her just before Gramma closed the door. Abigail made her way toward the sofa and settled in. Paws and leash clinking lightly against the wooden floor, Barnabas strolled up beside her and snuggled at her feet. Abigail gave a token scolding to the independent hound then patted him for reassurance. Gramma opened the door again and called, “Ye come join us, laddie.”

  A scuffle sounded at the step, and Abigail turned in surprise to see Titus in the doorway. He fingered his hat as he talked. “I don’t mean to intrude, ma’am.”

  “’Tis no intrusion. No intrusion at all,” Gramma said with a brush of her hand. “Please, come in.” She turned back to Abigail and winked.

  Abigail sighed and shook her head. Gramma was up to her frolics again. Abigail looked at Titus, and he smiled, throwing her a what-could-I-do look. They settled down to tea.

  After Gramma gleaned every bit of information out of Titus that she could possibly gather, she proceeded to list Abigail’s attributes. By the time Gramma had finished her little speech, Abigail thought herself a saint by Gramma’s standards.

  “Enough of this, Gramma. You’re making me blush.”

  Gramma shrugged. “So ye add a little color to ye face, aye?”

  Titus walked over to her piano. “May I?” he asked.

  A pleasurable smile lit Gramma’s face as she nodded her approval.

  Titus scooted onto the piano bench and began to play some classical themes that Abigail had heard before but whose titles she didn’t know. She closed her eyes and listened, letting the music lift her from her fatigue and stress of the day and carry her to a place of comfort. Once the last note faded, she lingered a moment longer then opened her eyes.

  Gramma’s eyes, alight with sparkle as if she had stumbled upon a well-kept secret, stared at her. The expression on Gramma’s face brought Abigail to her senses. She turned to Titus, who was also looking her way. “It’s beautiful, Titus. Where did you learn to play like that?”

  He shrugged. “Ma taught me. She used to be quite the pianist and occasionally helped out at Hooley’s Opera House.”

  Abigail found the information intriguing. She didn’t know that about Titus. But then, she didn’t know much about him at all.

  He turned in his seat and started another tune. “Amazing Grace.” This one she knew; she hummed the melody then started singing the words. Before they knew it, beautiful music filled the air. They passed the hour playing and singing such tunes as “Buffalo Gals,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Jim Crack Corn,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” song after song until they were finally spent.

  They laughed and visited awhile longer then decided they had to leave.

  “This afternoon ye have brought great joy to this tired heart, that ye have,” Gramma said, cupping Abigail’s face in her hands. Gramma kissed Abigail’s cheek then turned to Titus. “And ye, laddie. I’ll be thanking ye for the fine music.”

  Titus’s face lit up. The smile that stretched across his face made Abigail’s heart flip, startling her. They turned and walked out the door, Barnabas following close behind. Once they reached the carriage, Titus stopped and looked at Abigail for a fleeting moment. Her pulse drummed hard against her ears. Neither said a word. Yet their silence spoke volumes.

  Titus led the horses through the streets as dusk crept into the sky. He took off his hat and shoved his fingers through his hair. What had gotten into him? He couldn’t let this woman get under his skin. He had a job to do. Abigail and the O’Connors were muddling everything. Why did they treat him like family? He wanted to think it was their guilt, but deep down, he knew such a burden didn’t drive them. Their faith made them care about others. Not just him. They weren’t doing good for appearance’s sake. They lived a “life of thankfulness,” as Mr. O’Connor had put it, for what God had done for them. That knowledge pricked him. Why couldn’t God do things for him, too? Why did God take his pa? Why did God strip Titus of his dream to one day be a doctor?

  By the time the horses arrived at Abigail’s home, he had worked himself up good. He wanted no part of that woman. Keep his distance—that’s what he’d do. No more letting her rattle him with her gentle smile, the sparkle in her eyes, and her kind ways. No, he had to stand firm, find what he needed to bring them down, and get on with his life.

&nb
sp; He jumped off his carriage seat and helped Abigail down, his jaw taut, teeth clenched. She smiled, then upon seeing his face, quickly lowered her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered before heading for the door.

  He felt like a heel, a scoundrel. She didn’t deserve his treatment, but he couldn’t stop now. He’d come too far. The O’Connor family had to pay. He’d suffered too much.

  Unhitching the team from the carriage, his thoughts rambled on when he was struck with an idea. He would go to their church and see what he could find out, see what made them tick, so he’d know better how to bring them down. Putting the horses back in their stalls, he decided that’s what he’d do.

  Come Sunday, he would go to church.

  Abigail went straight to her room. She had had a wonderful afternoon, but what just happened out in the stable? One minute Titus seemed wonderful, and the next, well, she didn’t know what to think.

  She laid across the bed, but Barnabas whined from the floor. “Oh you!” she said, pulling herself up to console him. “I’m the one who needs a kind pat or two, not you.”

  Barnabas seemed to ignore her completely. Abigail continued to comfort her dog while thinking of Titus. Where had his thoughts taken him during the carriage ride? Was he afraid she would read more into their afternoon than was there? Perhaps he had another young lady in his life. She gasped, causing Barnabas to look up. Until that very moment, she hadn’t thought of that possibility.

  Abigail heaved a big sigh and plopped back on her bed again. As long as she lived, she would never understand men. One minute you felt quite sure they were smitten; the next minute their attention was focused fully on newspapers, horses, or who knew what.

  Maybe when her cousin arrived, she and Abigail could share secrets. Some cousins were close like that. Abigail hoped they could be. Of course, Sophia was her best friend. Still, it would be nice to have a cousin with a shared spirit. Kind of like having a sister.

  Her mind replayed the afternoon’s events. Titus playing on the piano, the look in Gramma’s eyes. The look of affection filled Titus’s eyes when he watched her from the piano. She hadn’t missed it. It warmed her clear through.