Most Unsuitable Husband

by Clemmons, Caroline

  "You know Mr. Barton and Mrs. Galloway are going to travel with me to Texas. I've hired a special railroad car to ride in, one with comfortable chairs, beds, a kitchen, and a privy."

  Cindy's face screwed up and tears ran down her cheeks. "But you're my angel. I don't want you to leave us. I like it here. I love you."

  Sarah's heart sang. She touched Cindy's hand and leaned over to plant a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, too, dear. And we can still be together. That's part of my plan."

  Joe narrowed his eyes. Poor boy wouldn't trust anyone.

  Luke slid to the edge of the seat and asked, "What do you mean you and Cindy can stay together? Cindy's my sister and I take care of her."

  Nate flashed her a sympathetic look, but remained silent.

  "Not just Cindy. All of us. You and Joe and Cindy and me, we can stay together. You three can come with me and be my children and live on a big ranch in Texas. We'll be a family."

  Nate put up a hand. "Wait, Joe, hear all she has to say.”

  It was then Sarah noticed Joe poised to run for the door. The hall door, not the one to his room.

  "Joe, please listen to me. I wasn't lying when I said I would find you a place as good as the one you had if you wanted me to. I meant it. But, please, just listen for a while and think about what I'm saying.”

  Joe settled back on the sofa, but looked unconvinced.

  Sarah continued, "I live on a ranch with my sister Pearl and her husband Drake. They have a big house with lots of bedrooms. Cindy could have her very own room, and you boys would share a room like you do here until we get our own house. You could have a dog, and each have a horse.”

  The boys exchanged looks, and Luke seemed interested. Joe tried to hide it, but she could tell she had caught his notice also. Cindy's little face shone with fascination.

  Sarah pressed on while she had their attention. "There will be other children your age to play with. You'd be warm in winter and cool in summer. We live near the river so there's lots of fishing and swimming in warm weather. My sister is about the best cook in the whole world and there's always lots of cookies and pie and cake around."

  Cindy said, "Oh, I want us to go, don't you, Luke?”

  Joe nudged Luke and made scrubbing motions.

  Luke nodded and asked, "Would we have to take baths?"

  Darn. That Joe sure knew how to fight dirty.

  "Yes, you would," Sarah admitted. "But the house has one of the new bath rooms. One of the men who works on the ranch, Mr. Isaacs, arranged an ingenious system where the water runs right to the bath room. No one has to haul buckets of water to take a bath. There's even a boiler to heat some of the water."

  Nate added, "I'll bet you'd have lots of places to run and get dirty again."

  "That's right." She nodded. Nate seemed instinctively to know what to say to the children while she, a schoolteacher used to children, was having a hard time. "You could play by the barn, or in the meadow, or climb giant trees. My nephews built a play fort near the river. Sometimes my brother Storm takes them camping and they get to sleep under the stars and cook out on a campfire."

  Joe nudged Luke again and made signs like digging.

  "Would we have to work hard?" Luke asked.

  "No, but you'd have responsibilities. On a ranch everyone has to do his fair share."

  "What're res--resbilities?"

  She looked at Nate for support. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

  "Jobs you do. A man always has responsibilities. That's how you know you're not a baby any more. I'll bet you two would have to help bring in the wood for the stove. Probably help feed the chickens, things like that."

  She smiled her thanks at him, then turned back to the children. "You wouldn't have to work very much, just help out a little like my nephews do. The main job of children is to play and grow strong."

  The two boys exchanged surprised looks, as if the concept of having play a part of their lives was new.

  "Who are the other kids?" Luke asked.

  "My nephew Robbie is six and Evan is almost five. They help me gather eggs each morning when I'm home. As Mr. Barton said, they help feed the horses and chickens and bring in the wood for the stove. Then there's the baby named Parker, but he's too young to work."

  She turned to Cindy. "I have two nieces, also. Katie is four, and Beth is three. You can play with them. They have dolls, a little doll house, a little tea set for parties, and a big swing in a tree by the house."

  "Oh, let's go with her," Cindy pleaded with the boys.

  Joe shook his head and motioned for Luke and Cindy to go.

  Her heart broke. How could she leave this troubled child behind? She couldn't, of course, but she hadn't much time. She had already reserved the train scheduled to leave just over a day later. Maybe Luke would help convince Joe to go with them.

  "You don't have to decide now, Joe," she assured him. "Think about it and we'll talk about this some more tomorrow."

  Sarah explained her arrangements with Mrs. Galloway while they ate supper in the suite. Nate nodded as if he approved of all she told him, but his face wore that mask again. For some reason she couldn’t fathom, she very much wanted him to think her mature and capable. She had no idea what he really thought or what kind of person he might be.

  Was he a wolf waiting to pounce when she least expected it, or merely a helpful person? What would he have to gain? She could think of nothing except the funds in her money belt, and he knew nothing of those.

  The boys played checkers until bedtime. Luke giggled and acted as if he hadn't a care in the world. Joe seemed worried. Over and over she caught him looking at each person in the room as if memorizing them, his expressive brown eyes sad.

  Later, when the boys had gone to their room and closed the door, she said, "If only Joe could talk. I think he wanted to tell me something. I should have given him some paper and asked him to write me a message."

  "I doubt he would tell you what he's feeling. Seemed worried about something, though. Probably the trip. He'll see things will be all right for him with you."

  "I hope so. It breaks my heart to see him so untrusting."

  "Give him time.” Nate stood and picked up his hat. "You need help watching Cindy tonight?"

  "No, thank you. She's already sleeping much better. Mrs. Galloway promised to arrive early tomorrow to help."

  He bowed. "Then I'll say good night."

  The next morning, Sarah wakened to the sound of the wind moaning against the windows. Her first instinct was to snuggle into the pillow and go back to sleep, but she remembered all she had to accomplish today. If she didn't hurry, Mrs. Galloway would arrive and catch her in her nightclothes.

  She rose and chose a black wool dress. Mama had been gone less than two weeks, and already Sarah had tired of wearing the traditional black mourning garb. Mama hadn’t wanted her to wear black, but Aunt Lily wouldn’t hear of anything else and made her order several new black dresses made in St. Louis even before Mama died. How lucky for her, Aunt Lily wouldn’t know the difference. When Sarah returned home, she planned to wear her own clothes in the soft pastels she preferred.

  She finished brushing her hair and pinned it into a bun at her nape. The scrape of the washstand across the floor caught her attention. Luke slipped through the partially opened door.

  "Joe's run away."

  "My stars. How could he do that?” Sarah rushed to the next room. Sure enough, no sign of Joe. The wardrobe still blocked the hall door. Frigid air whooshed in an open window, moving the heavy draperies with each gust. She pushed them aside and peered out. A narrow ledge ran the length of the building and intersected with the roof of a balcony on the floor below. As she searched for a sign of the missing boy, the first snowflakes glided on the wind.

  She closed the window and crossed the room. "Are all his clothes gone?"

  Luke nodded. "Yes, even the new ones, and his stick, too."

  "We have to find him. Dress warm, I'll go across the hall and
ask Mr. Barton to help us search."

  Sarah rushed from the suite, thankful Cindy still slept. She rapped on Nate's door. He mumbled something unintelligible, then opened the door. Buttoning his shirt, barefoot and with his hair rumpled, he looked like an overgrown boy himself. That didn't explain the sudden urge she had to unfasten the shirt he'd just buttoned closed and wrap her arms around him. How could she think of such a thing when poor Joe had disappeared into freezing weather?

  "Sarah?" Nate shook his head, as if he couldn't believe she stood at his door.

  "Could you help, please? Joe's run away."

  To her relief, he didn't waste time with questions. "Let me get my boots on and I'll be right there. Get a warm coat. It's snowing out."

  As Sarah opened the door to her suite, she saw Mrs. Galloway down the hallway. Two porters followed with a trunk and two valises.

  "Oh, Mrs. Galloway. Thank goodness you've come." She hurried into the room and held the door for Mrs. Galloway and the porters to follow.

  Mrs. Galloway entered and took off her hat. "Top o’ the mornin’ to you! Why, Miss Kincaid, you look fair upset. Whatever can be wrong?"

  Sarah tipped the porters and said, "Joe's run away and I must find him. Will you sit with Cindy while we search?"

  "Of course. Now, don't you be worrying about a thing here, dearie, and just find that boy-o. Cindy and I will be fine."

  Sarah tied on her warm velvet bonnet, then pulled her heavy cape around her. She grabbed up her gloves and wished she had given some to Joe. Perhaps he at least wore the new coat she bought for him. Oh, dear Lord, what if he had fallen getting down from the hotel window? She prayed he was all right and they could find him soon.

  Chapter Five

  A rap sounded before Nate opened the door and stepped in. He wore a long brown coat, black boots, brown leather gloves, and black hat. The red silk muffler at his throat seemed out of place with his other clothing.

  "How long has the boy been missing?" he asked.

  "We don't know," Sarah said. "He left sometime after Luke went to sleep last night and before he awoke this morning."

  Nate strode to the boy's bedroom. "He take everything?"

  Sarah nodded. "Yes. I hope he's wearing the warm coat we bought him.” Fighting tears, she halted on her way to the door and put a gloved hand on Nate's arm. "I hope he's all right. He crawled out the window, didn't even say goodbye."

  Tears sprung to her eyes, but she bit her lip and turned back to Mrs. Galloway. "We'll check back periodically to make sure you're all right here and see if he's come back."

  The three hurried out into the cold and made straight for the place where Joe would have landed in his climb from the window. "At least he isn't lying here from a fall," Sarah said.

  "Let's go to our place," Luke said. "He'd go there first."

  They walked the few blocks to the alley leading to the shanty the three children had called home. Sarah ducked her head against the wind. Swirls of snowflakes grew thick and stuck to her eyelashes. Her nose already felt like an icicle, and she pulled her woolen scarf over her nose and mouth.

  Luke led the way down the treacherous alley. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. They heard movement inside. Luke knocked again and called, "Joe, open up. It's me."

  The door opened a crack and a man of indeterminate age stood there. "Ain't no Joe here, kid. Get lost."

  Nate stepped in front of Luke and shouldered the door open. He walked in and inspected the room as he talked. "We're looking for a boy. He used to live here."

  Sarah followed and also looked around to be certain the men were not holding Joe there against his will. The room looked the same as the children had left it. A second man sat on a packing crate. The same fire burned in the same bucket and the same lantern glowed dimly from an upended barrel. Two pallets lay on the floor near the fire.

  "If it's the kid we saw, he can't have this place back. I told him as much, but he didn't say nothing. Just run off."

  "How long ago was that?" Sarah asked.

  "Woke us middle of the night banging on the door. Offered to let him in 'til mornin', but he just backed up and run."

  "Which way did he run?" Nate asked.

  The man looked from Nate to Sarah, greed alight in his eyes. He stroked the stubble at his chin. "Mebbe I could remember more if I was to feel the comfort of money in me hand."

  Sarah bristled. "I can't believe you would put money ahead of the safety of a young boy lost in this weather. He's mute and can't even ask for help. Now, tell us which way he went."

  "La-ti-da. Aren't you the fine lady, ordering me like I worked for you? Well, I don't. Not yet. What's it worth to you?" The man's face scrunched into an evil grin and he extended his hand to receive payment.

  Sarah pulled at the strings of her reticule, willing to pay the horrid excuse for a human if it helped them find Joe. Before she could pay, Nate grabbed the front of the man's clothing and jerked the lout several inches off the floor. His roommate stepped forward but one glare from Nate sent the second man back to his crate.

  "You heard the lady ask you a question. I'd better hear an honest answer. Now."

  The man sputtered and struggled but Nate held firm.

  "Thataway," the man pointed further down the alley.

  "If we don't find him, we'll be back here for a long discussion.” Nate let him go and straightened the man's filthy jacket. Then, he smiled and said, "Thanks for your help."

  When they were back in the alley, the man slammed the door.

  "You know where this leads?” Nate asked Luke.

  "Sort of. We didn't go that way much. The people and places with food are the other way."

  "Maybe the man lied to us.” Sarah bit her lip and looked up the gloomy passage. "There must be a thousand places for a little boy to hide in this town. Should we split up?”

  Nate shook his head. "I think we should stay together. One lost person is enough. Let's try this path."

  ***

  Hours later, Nate and Sarah slogged through ankle deep snow. They had stopped for food about midmorning, more for Luke's sake than anything. Then they'd taken him back to the hotel room to stay with Cindy and Mrs. Galloway. There was no point in his continued exposure to the bitter elements. He'd already shown them all the places he knew where Joe might hide.

  She'd give Nate one thing. The man was organized. Just an hour ago he stepped into a mercantile and purchased two lanterns, kerosene for them, and a blanket for Joe when they found him. Now they each carried a lighted lantern against the gloom of dusk.

  Sarah knew Nate was worried, almost as much as she was. The temperature had dropped all day with the late winter storm. She felt as if she had trudged fifty miles since morning. Now she was so tired and frantic she could hardly speak.

  Her voice sounded far away to her, "Let's go back and make those men talk to us. You could beat them up. Make them tell us where Joe went.” She knew she wasn't being reasonable but panic threatened to overwhelm her.

  Nate pulled her into the shelter of a doorway. He set down his lantern and took her by the arms. "Those men don't know anything, Sarah. We have only a few more blocks to cover and we'll have made a circle around the hotel. Why don't you go back to your room and let me finish this?"

  "No. Joe's my responsibility. I knew something was wrong last night. I should have asked him about it then.” She put her head against Nate's chest and sobbed, letting her lantern dangle from her hand. He took the lantern from her and set it down, then slid his arms around her.

  That poor child, alone in this horrible weather. Some good works she could do. She couldn't help one small boy who had nowhere to live. They had to find him soon. What was she to do?

  Patting her back gently, Nate said, "It'll be all right, Sarah. We'll find him.”

  She sniffled and met his gaze. "But what if we don't? People freeze to death every winter in storms like this."

  "Don't give up yet.” He gave her a hug, then held her away from h
im. "Come on. If you insist on going with me, let's get this over with."

  They were behind the rail depot now where a long line of warehouses stood. Some of the buildings were double-sided. On the depot side, the doors were boxcar high to allow for ease in loading and unloading. Doors also opened on this side to allow access for wagons. Some buildings had planked walkways and porch-like docks stacked high with crates. Many had walkways from one warehouse to the next.

  He nodded to the first warehouse. "You stay here and look from this angle while I walk up there and look around the stacks of crates. Stay even with me so we don't get separated."

  Sometimes all she saw was the glow of his lantern as he stepped behind crates, barrels, lumber or machinery. Walking on the road, she looked under the raised walkway. They had come almost a block when she saw a dark shape where two warehouses met, one set back from the other by several feet.

  She called, "Joe!” On her hands and knees, she crawled to the huddled form.

  Joe was curled into a ball, and he was crying. She heard steps overhead as Nate cleared the edge and jumped down.

  Setting down the lantern, she wrapped her arms around the shivering child. He wiped at his tears and tried to pull away. She clung to him with all her strength.

  "Oh, Joe. Thank God, we've found you. We were so worried." Cold fingers of icy wind flicked at them in the rapidly dropping temperature.

  Nate crouched at the edge of the walkway.

  Sarah motioned him to come under the dock with her and Joe. Nate’s face, red from the cold wind, turned pale and his eye widened. She motioned to him and said, "Bring the blanket. Joe's freezing."

  Nate shook his head in a burst of motion.

  “Nate?” she snapped.

  He grasped a plank overhead and then duck-walked as close as his reach allowed. He set the lantern close to Joe. "We've been looking for you all day, son.” Nate glanced back at the road then at Joe. “We were worried about you.” With a shake of his head he moved forward and slid the blanket around Joe.