John looked to be in his mid forties, tall, and thin with smile lines on his face. His blue eyes twinkling, he pointed with his fork and chuckled. “Made you sound like a saint. You look like a regular person to me.”
Blake grinned at the telegrapher. “Although I try to lead a good life, I’m hardly saintly. I’m sure any of my nine siblings will attest to that.”
The deputy swallowed a huge bite. He was a tall, broad man with a long mustache that curled on the ends. “We can always use more who try to be good. Mostly that’s what we have in town, but sometimes the rail line brings in drifters and troublemakers as well.”
Blake set down his coffee. “Guess a lawyer wouldn’t have much to do otherwise.”
The woman who’d first greeted him swished by. “Everything all right here?”
When everyone nodded, she asked, “Is your room all right, Mr. Woolf?”
“Very nice and looks comfortable. I’ll check the office after supper. I’ll go through my uncle’s things as I have time.”
“Let Polly or me know if we can help.” With a smile, she was off to another table.
He watched her then turned back to his food. “Odd arrangement for a boardinghouse. I thought residents always shared one big table.”
Gideon waved his fork in a circle around them. “This was the dining room when this was a hotel. Merry and Polly changed it to a boardinghouse because they didn’t think a hotel was proper for single women to operate. This way they can choose who stays here.”
“Looks like you have music sometimes. Do professionals come in and perform?”
“No, when this was a hotel, they had dinner music on Friday and Saturday evening. Now whoever wishes can play the piano.”
“You lived here long?”
Gideon cut a bite of meat. “Since my wife died six years ago. So much easier since my shop is here. Of course, the railroad hadn’t come in then. Didn’t arrive until two years ago.”
Blake asked, “Was there much traffic before then?”
John broke open his roll. “Not like now, but we had a fair share of cattle drovers, overflow from Fort Worth I reckon.”
“Bet the previous owner is kicking himself for selling now that there’s a rail line through Mockingbird Flats.”
Gideon shook his head. “Could be, but I doubt it. He was getting older and wasn’t in good health.” He tapped his chest. “Bad ticker. Moved to California to live near his daughter and her family, enjoy his grandchildren.”
Blake peered around the dining room. “Looks like a nice place. Uncle George wrote he liked living and working here. I didn’t know if he was trying to ease Ma’s mind or if he was truthful.”
John cut a bite of his roast beef. “I have to say this is a much friendlier and nicer place to live now that the Bird sisters are owners.”
Bass mopped his plate with the last of his bread. “That’s true. Everything is kept nice and clean. For instance, they recently had the outside repainted. They spruced up inside first and we all appreciated that.”
John chuckled. “A couple of the women will never admit it, of course. We’re all friendly except for two of them.” His gaze was directed at a table of three women.
The deputy leaned back in his chair. “There’re always some who’d complain if they were hung with a new rope.”
Blake smiled at the lawman. “My pa used to say ‘If it was raining money some would complain about the small change’ and I have to agree.”
Gideon nodded. “Heeheehee. Now that’s the truth. Reckon we ought to go on into the lobby, only now they call it the parlor.”
Blake pushed back from the table and stood. “I believe I’ll check out my office. I’m eager to get started to work. I need to find out how much business my uncle had.”
Blake pulled his keys from his pocket and opened the door from the parlor into his office. Getting used to two entry doors would be an adjustment but he liked being able to go from the parlor into his office. He expected the two rooms to smell stuffy with disuse.
Instead, the scent of lemon and beeswax greeted him. All the surfaces gleamed with care. He doubted that was his uncle’s doing, but had to be the result of the Bird sisters or their staff.
Tomorrow morning, he would make a tour of downtown, introducing himself to storeowners and businessmen. Hopefully, his business would consist of real estate purchases and wills. He couldn’t depend on court cases since the courthouse was over ten miles away in Fort Worth.
Chapter Three
On Wednesday, Polly helped Merry organize their record keeping for the orphans. She and Polly were at the side of the altar where they could easily see the children and the prospective parents who’d come. A crisp tablecloth covered the table and draped almost to the floor in front. She and her sister sat on a bench provided for them.
Two matrons herded about two dozen children up the aisle and lined them across the altar as if they were going on the auction block. Tears burned the back of Merry’s eyelids when she surveyed the children and listened to the matrons give orders. Painful memories stabbed her heart.
She glanced at Polly. From the grim expression on Polly’s face, she must be experiencing similar memories. Although Polly had been at the orphanage longer than Merry, they hadn’t actually met until they were put on the train.
Years of hard work in harsh conditions had Polly and Merry’s hands broken out in bleeding sores before the couple that adopted them had died four years ago. She and Polly weren’t blood kin, but they had been adopted together from the orphan train when they were both eight. Almost ten years of slaving for Ruby and Joe Bird had been hard.
The Birds decreed that if anyone ran away, those left would suffer for it. Out of loyalty to one another, Polly, the two boys, and she endured their servitude. She and Polly had managed to survive and then each had inherited a fourth of the mean-spirited couple’s Nebraska estate.
The two boys adopted at the same time as them, Bartholomew and Newton, had each received a fourth of the inheritance. The young men went further west to homestead their own places adjoining one another. She and Polly hadn’t lived in the same place because the boys slept in the hay loft while the girls slept in the home’s attic space—both places freezing in winter and hot in summer.
A flood of recollections rushed at her and threatened to carry Merry into despair. She fought to reclaim her normally optimistic outlook. She had so much to be grateful for now. Focus on the good.
Reverend Zebediah Jones stood at the church door, as if to bar anyone he thought unfit. Merry had confidence the kindly preacher would do just that. Too bad no kindly minister had protected her and Polly—although the Birds put on a good act in front of others.
Some children wore hopeful expressions, some fearful, some so downtrodden their eyes were those of old people in young faces, and others looked only at their feet. Several particularly tugged at Merry’s heartstrings—the ragtags, the unadoptable. What would happen to them?
Couples from town came forward and chose one or two children. Of course Fiona and Brent Bushnell would be good to the boy they adopted. Gwen and Marshal Nate Canup also adopted a boy. Lavinia and Dennis Zimmerman chose a girl of four who Lavinia carried as they left.
Helga and Gustav Swenson had lost their sons to diphtheria last year and chose two brothers. Sophie and Dieter Mayer had lost two children in the same epidemic and selected a girl and two boys. Sophie cried with happiness as they ushered their new children away.
Merry recorded each couple’s names and the names and identification numbers of the children they selected. She was comfortable, believing these children would receive good treatment.
A scrawny little girl whose nametag said Abigail wore a pinafore too large that drooped off one shoulder and had a torn pocket. Her hair looked as if she wore a bird’s nest. The poor child limped badly, but something was off there.
Merry whispered to Polly, “Notice she changes legs for her limp.”
Abigail hovered around a t
oddler labeled Tamara. Occasionally, Abigail brushed against Tamara and the baby would cry.
Polly leaned toward Merry. “Did you see Abigail pinch the baby? I think she wants her to appear disagreeable so they can stay together.”
Merry gazed at the two girls. “Tamara is a pitiful sight. Her nose needs wiping. Do you suppose she’s old enough to blow her nose?”
Polly pretended to pick something up from the floor in front of the table. “The baby has red spots everywhere on her exposed skin.”
Merry stood and walked around the table. On closer inspection, the spots appeared to be from a paint crayon. Sorrow and mirth warred inside Merry.
What an ingenious child Abigail was. The poor girl must be frantic thinking she’d be parted from Tamara. Merry wondered if they were sisters.
A boy whose nametag said Calvin stood with feet braced, arms crossed, and a mulish expression locked on his face. His age would be around nine, a very desirable age for a boy. He glared as if he dared anyone to adopt him. No one did.
Merry got Abigail’s attention. “You must be tired from standing on your injured leg while taking care of baby Tamara. Why don’t you both sit beside me?”
Abigail pulled at a lock of her disheveled hair. “Both of us? You mean Tammie can stay with me?”
Merry smiled as reassuringly as she could. “Yes, that’s what I mean.”
Abigail picked up Tammie and deposited her at Merry’s feet then promptly sat beside her so that she and Tammie were obscured by the tablecloth’s skirt.
Merry motioned to the boy. “Calvin, I can see you don’t need anyone to look after you, but would you help me by standing beside Abigail to make sure no one bothers her or Tammie?”
He didn’t move for a full minute before he inhaled and released a deep breath. “S’pose I can.” Slowly, he ambled to stand behind Abigail and Tammie, as if daring anyone to touch the girls.
Merry wrote the names of the three children on the list and her name as the person adopting. To mask the fact there was no husband, she wrote her first name and then sort of scribbled her middle and last name in what she hoped passed for a husband’s name. Murphy Bird could be a man’s name, couldn’t it?
Beside Merry, Polly whispered, “What have you done?”
“You know exactly what I’ve done. I am not deserting these children to chance.”
Polly’s eyes sparked fire. “Neither am I.”
When the matron nudged a boy labeled Noah forward, she announced that he was mute but followed directions. He clutched the hand of a girl whose nametag said Evelyn and who appeared younger than him. The little girl was thin except for swollen joints and belly. She leaned on Noah as if she could hardly stand.
Polly stood. “You can put my name down for Evelyn and Noah. You know that no one will adopt a boy who’s mute, at least not for any decent purpose, and clearly that little girl is ill.”
Polly rose and stepped over to the two she’d chosen. “Evelyn, Noah, I’d like you to come live with me.”
Noah stood clasping the girl’s hand, his brown eyes holding suspicion. After a brief exchange which the girl translated, hope sprang into the girl’s eyes as she clung to Noah’s hand.
“I’m called Evie. Noah don’t never talk. He’s good to watch out for me and he’s real smart.”
“I’m sure he is. He won’t have to talk at our house unless he wants to.” Polly took Evie’s free hand and led the two to the table.
The children sat on the floor beside Polly’s chair. They chose the same spots as Abigail and Tammie at the table’s other end. When Polly had reclaimed her place, she leaned near Merry. “Can we really get away with this?”
“Proceed as if everything is secure and above board. We can’t let these children suffer as we did just because we don’t have husbands. We can do this, Polly. Both matrons are busy talking to Vallie and Jessica.”
Merry wasn’t as familiar with the other rural families but she’d heard nothing bad about them. Reverend Jones had welcomed each couple. Hilde and Arvid Larsen had a dairy farm and selected the two oldest boys. Lena and Jurgen Webber wanted strong boys, but had shied away from the belligerent look on Calvin’s face and the fact that Noah was mute. Instead they chose two slightly younger boys. Claudia and Steven Bailey chose a girl and a boy.
Elsa and Martin Witt, local ranchers, chose a girl and a boy. Ingrid and Espen Olsen also chose a girl and a boy. Maybelle and Orville Darnell had come to adopt only one boy but accepted two since they were the only children remaining.
From where the matrons stood, probably only Calvin was visible. “Calvin, perhaps you’d like to rest by sitting down behind Abigail.
With his gaze focused on the matrons, Calvin dropped to the floor and sat with his legs crossed and his elbows on his knees. The clever boy understood the need to disappear.
Merry checked her lapel watch. “Ten minutes until time for the matrons to head to the train and depart for Fort Worth.”
Merry stood, carefully avoiding stepping on a child, and took the list to the matrons.
After appearing surprised there were no children remaining, the senior woman in charge beamed at Merry. “All the children gone to good homes, isn’t that wonderful? Thank you, ladies, for your help.”
Vallie and Jessica escorted the matrons toward the train. The other volunteers also left.
Reverend Jones walked beside Merry to the table she and Polly had used. “I suppose you think I didn’t notice you each acquired a family of your own?”
Merry smiled at the kindly minister. “You also know they’ll each have a wonderful home with us. We’ll love them as if we’d given birth to them.”
“If I didn’t believe that was true, I would have alerted those two matrons who appeared more interested in talking than in doing their job. To be kind, I suppose traveling with only children leaves them starved for adult conversation.”
Polly held her children’s hands. “We have room, plenty of wholesome food, and a good place for them to live and grow.” She spoke to the children. “Aren’t you excited?”
Merry picked up Tammie. “Let’s go to your new home, children. You’ll love living there.”
The sisters hurried toward the boardinghouse by a route that avoided the matrons. No point in calling attention to the fact no men accompanied them.
Chapter Four
In the boardinghouse, Merry and her sister took their new families to their suite at the back of the first floor. She and Polly had separate bedrooms and there was a vacant bedroom between them. Their place had seemed spacious but with five more they would be snug.
Polly stood with hands on her hips. “I’m moving to the vacant suite on the third floor. It has two sleeping rooms so everyone will be less crowded.”
Merry hadn’t been without Polly for fourteen years. Already she sensed a loss, as if part of her had been ripped away. Looking at the situation logically, she realized Polly’s decision was the right one.
“We’ve been together so long, Polly, I’ll be sad to see you leave this suite. I understand why you want to move, though. If you’d prefer, I can move up there.”
“You have three and I have two children, so my moving makes more sense. Besides, Noah is quiet so he and Evie won’t disturb anyone.”
Evie’s face clouded as if she was about to cry. “You’re not gonna keep us?”
Polly hugged both children to her. “Of course I’m keeping you. I mean we can move upstairs so we have more room. Come on, I’ll show you how nice it is. You can see all over town from the windows.” After exchanging a meaningful gaze with Merry, she took Evie’s hand and led the two toward the stairs.
“Calvin, I’ll show you to your room.” Merry opened the door to what was currently Polly’s room. “We can decorate it to look more masculine.”
He stood barely inside the room and stared. “You mean nobody else is sleeping in here?”
“Just you. The girls will be next door and then I’m next. Will you be a… all right i
n here alone?” She’d almost asked if he’d be afraid, but caught herself.
He narrowed his eyes. “And nobody else’s stuff will be here?”
“As soon as my sister moves her things upstairs only your things will be in here. I’ll only come in to clean and to tuck you in at night. I won’t bother your things if they’re put away.”
He scowled. “Don’t have nothing to bother.”
“You will have. We’ll go to the mercantile tomorrow and get you new clothes, toys, and books.”
Except for crossing his arms, he appeared ready to run. “What do I hafta do to keep them?”
“Just be yourself, Calvin.” She crossed her heart with her forefinger. “Honest, I give you my word this isn’t a trick. This is your new home. I’m your new mother and I will love and protect you with all my might.”
He stepped inside the room and sat on the bed tentatively as if afraid it would suddenly swallow him.
“Come on, Abigail and Tammie, so I can show you your room.”
Merry noticed Abigail’s limp had miraculously disappeared.
“You’re in the middle between Calvin and me. For now, you’ll have to share a big bed, but I’ll get Tammie a smaller one of her own soon.”
“I don’t care if she sleeps with me. Are you gonna be my new mother too and love and ’tect me?”
“I certainly am. You and Tammie and Calvin are my children now and this is our home. If you need something, you should tell me.”
Abigail tugged on Merry’s skirt. “I needa pee.”
Merry pulled the chamber pot from under the bed. “This is for you to use unless I’m available to take you to the privy out back.”
She looked at Abigail. “Does Tammie know how to use the chamber pot?”
“Mostly she does but sometimes she forgets. You’re not going to spank her when she has an accident, are you?”
“Of course not.” This was a part of adoption Merry hadn’t considered thoroughly. In fact, acquiring three children was a spur-of-the-moment decision. She had no idea how to potty train a toddler but she didn’t regret taking charge of Tammie with her other two.
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