by Bonnie Leon
“You’re a prize all right.” Jim smiled.
“We’ll have a grand house, eh?”
“Don’t know about grand, but it’ll be sturdy.” Jim pushed a strand of hair off his face. When he looked at Cambria, his brown eyes turned tender. “It’ll be small, but we can add on later.”
“You’ll have to,” Willa said, joining the three on the porch. “One day there’ll be babies, and you’ll need the space.”
Cambria blushed.
“Sons first, I figure,” Jim said with a grin.
“And if not?” Cambria challenged.
“If we have a daughter, I’m sure she’ll be like you, and that would suit me just fine.”
Daniel’s mind went to Rebecca and his children. His mood deflated. Jim was planning his future, and Daniel was about to lose his.
His distress must have shown, because Jim turned a challenging gaze on Daniel and asked, “So you bringing Rebecca home?”
“Ya goin’ ta Boston?” Cambria asked.
“Can’t afford to go, but I’m thinking of sending for her. What do you think I should do?” His eyes moved from Cambria to his mother.
“She ought ta come home,” Cambria said.
Willa reached into her apron pocket. “A wire came today. It’s from Rebecca.”
Daniel took the envelope and tore it open. “Why do you think she wired me?”
“Can’t say, son. You’ll have to read the message.”
Quaking inside, wondering what could be so urgent that she’d wire him, Daniel looked down at the short note.
“All is well,” Rebecca wrote. “Children are fine. Want to come home. Soon. Love. Rebecca.”
“So what does it say?” Cambria asked.
“She wants to come home,” Daniel said, his voice breaking with emotion.
“I dare say, it would be nice to have them here.” Willa looked at her son. “Maybe the payment you made to Mr. Marshal will see him through for a while.”
“Wish I believed that.”
“She can’t stay away forever, son. And we haven’t had any trouble for some time.”
“I don’t think ya should have sent her off in the first place,” Cambria said. “She’s tough, and she wanted to stay.” She settled her eyes on Jim. “I wouldn’t leave. Ya couldn’t make me.”
“No. Don’t figure I could,” Jim said with a grin.
“It would be nice to have the school open again,” Willa interjected. “Koora keeps asking about it and about Callie.”
“He’s been moody ever since she left,” Cambria said.
“And what if Marshal’s men show up?” Daniel asked. “What about Rebecca and the children?”
“They can stay close to home and not go anywhere without you or one of us,” Jim said.
“A lot’s happened, and more will,” Daniel cautioned.
“She wants ta come home.” Cambria set a challenging gaze on Daniel. “Ya have ta think of her too and how hard this is for her.” She clasped a knee in her hands. “It would be grand ta have her ’ere.” She looked at Daniel. “I’ve a wedding ta plan, and she would be a fine help.”
“I care about you, Cambria, but I won’t bring Rebecca home to be a help to you.”
“Course not,” Cambria said. “I was just teasing.”
Daniel moved to the railing and let his eyes travel from the cottages to the barn and beyond. “We wouldn’t be in this predicament if it weren’t for my poor judgment.”
“Enough of that,” Willa said. “You’ve said all that needs to be said and more. What’s done is done. No reason to be bringing up the past. It’s time to make things right.”
“The grass is greening up, and the rivers are running again. The herds will grow,” Jim said.
“Marshal won’t wait. And I don’t know where to get my hands on the money I owe.” Daniel gripped the top rail and smiled wryly. “I suppose the place is just right for someone else to take it over.”
“Feeling sorry for yourself won’t help.” Willa stepped up to Daniel. “You can’t look at this problem through your human eyes. If you do, all you’ll see is the trouble and not the solution. The Lord has the answers.”
“And what if God takes Douloo?”
“If he does, then that’s his choice. We either trust him or we don’t.” Willa smiled softly. “After all we’ve been through, I thought you’d learned that lesson.”
“I should have,” he admitted. He couldn’t let go of either his fear or his sense of failure.
“Remember the day of the fire when you thought Joseph had died?” Willa asked.
“I’ll never forget.”
“What was it you said when you discovered he was still alive?”
Daniel thought back to the dreadful day. He’d believed Joseph and Callie had perished. He’d been angry and bitter. But when he saw his son and held him, joy was all he knew. And then he remembered the words he’d uttered. “I had no faith, but he remained faithful,” he said.
“That’s right,” Willa said. “God was faithful then, and he is faithful now.”
Daniel looked at his mother. “I remember, but that was different. I brought this trouble on us.”
“Either way God is the one in control.”
“And if Marshal takes Douloo?”
“We’ll begin again. I’m not so old that I can’t do that. Are you?” Willa challenged.
“No. I could give it a go.”
Willa smiled.
Daniel studied the open plains. He could see his father and remembered his respect for the land and for this station. How would he have felt about risking Douloo? Dad would have trusted.
Daniel turned to his mum. “There’s someone living across the sea who’s waiting to hear from me.” He smiled. “I’ll send the wire.”
Wind drove cold air beneath Rebecca’s collar. Shivering, she huddled deeper inside her coat and wondered why she’d decided a walk across her childhood estate would be a good idea.
She gazed at the frozen grounds. Sorrows cold as the frigid air settled inside her. The estate seemed untouched, and yet it wasn’t at all the same. Without her father nothing was the same. And Tom and his son, Jimmy, were gone. Tom had died, and Jimmy had set out to make a life for himself. Even the housemaid, Flora, had moved on to another post.
The house looked in good repair, and the barns seemed to be as they’d always been, but the family living in the house no longer belonged to Rebecca. Mr. and Mrs. Fortier seemed nice enough, and their three young sons were well mannered, but they were strangers. It felt odd to have people she didn’t know in her home.
Her eyes moved from the empty pastures to the barn, and she was reminded that Tomlin and Chavive were no longer tucked warmly inside, munching hay. After her father’s death, Tomlin had been sold off, as had Chavive. An ache squeezed her heart as she thought of Chavive. She’d been elated and thankful when Daniel had purchased her mare and had shipped her to Queensland. Now what had become of her? Was Marshal seeing that she was well cared for? Rebecca doubted it. Lord, please bring her back to me.
She remembered the days when Chavive had carried her over the lush estate. So often they’d gone to their favorite spot, the place that overlooked the valleys. They’d often stood and gazed at the view that reached all the way to Massachusetts Bay.
The wind blustered, and dry snow sifted into the air, exposing patches of frozen ground. Rebecca had celebrated Thanksgiving with Mildred, Thomas, and the children, but it hadn’t felt festive, at least not the way she remembered it. Without Daniel it had seemed an empty ritual. She needed him; she needed Douloo.
Again her eyes lingered on the estate. How and when had it happened? When had this place ceased to be home? The dry, open lands of Queensland called her now. I’d never have believed Douloo would feel more like home than this place, she thought. Tears burned. What shall I do? She’d hoped for an immediate response from Daniel, but she’d not heard from him.
Swiping at stray tears, she straightened her spi
ne and set her jaw. “That’s enough of feeling sorry for yourself,” she said. “Your children are counting on you. And Daniel needs you to be strong. Crying will change nothing. You’ll be going home when the Lord sees fit.”
Her mind settled on Daniel. What was he doing at this very moment? She could envision him on the back of his stallion. Then her thoughts carried her to more frightening possibilities. Had he faced more confrontations with Marshal? Surely Cambria would have mentioned them in her letter.
Rebecca remembered the last time she’d seen Daniel—the set of his shoulders, the weariness in his step, and the uneasiness in his eyes. So much had been placed on his shoulders. Lord, you promised to carry our burdens. Remind Daniel to give you his.
Why hasn’t he written? Fear pressed down on her. Was he safe, or had something happened to him? Had Marshal done something awful?
Thomas’s carriage rolled up to the house. Mildred was driving. Alarm charged through Rebecca. Something must be wrong. Mildred wouldn’t travel all the way out here without cause. Lifting her skirts, Rebecca hurried over the frozen ground toward the drive.
Mildred pulled back on the reins and stopped the carriage. Cautiously she stepped down.
“Auntie!” Rebecca called. “What’s happened?” She ran to her aunt. Gasping for each breath, Rebecca met her at the gate. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Yes.” Mildred said. “Well, I believe so.”
Rebecca rested a hand on her chest. “You frightened me nearly to death. Why are you here?”
“A telegram,” Mildred said, extending an envelope. “From Queensland. I knew you’d want to read it right away.”
Rebecca stared at the envelope but didn’t reach for it. What if it was bad news? She looked at her aunt. “You open it.”
“It’s not for me to read.”
“If everything was all right, wouldn’t Daniel have sent a letter?”
“Open it.”
Rebecca reached for the envelope. With trembling hands she removed one of her gloves and tucked it into her coat pocket. Then she tore open the telegram and lifted out the message. “Rebecca. I am well. Miss you. Please come home.”
“Oh my! He wants me to come home!”
“I knew it was good news.” Mildred hugged Rebecca.
Pressing a hand against her chest, Rebecca reread the short message. “I pray everything has been settled with Mr. Marshal.” She slipped the note back inside its envelope. “I must start packing immediately. I wonder if I can make it home in time for Christmas?”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s possible. But of course you can celebrate after you arrive.” Mildred smiled kindly, her eyes tearing. “I shall miss you, but I’m so glad you’re going home. Do you think the trouble has passed?”
Rebecca looked at the telegram again. “Daniel says he’s well, but he doesn’t mention anything else.” She placed the envelope in her pocket. She didn’t care about what kind of trouble she and Daniel had to face. All that mattered was that they would be together.
“Well, I’d best get to that packing, and I’ll have to make arrangements for travel.”
Joseph was dressed in his traveling clothes. He’d been instructed not to get dirty; however, while he waited for the carriage to be brought around, he climbed up and down the staircase on his hands and knees, dirtying his pants.
At the top of the stairs, Rebecca picked him up. “Oh dear. Look at those knees.” She dusted him off and sent him downstairs to wait.
She changed Audry’s diaper and then smoothed the little girl’s dress. Hefting her into her arms, she stood at the mirror and stared at their reflection. “You ready to go home?”
The infant smiled and cooed and then clapped her hands. Rebecca ran a baby’s brush through her dark, fine hair. It was beginning to curl like her mother’s.
Rebecca kissed her cheek. “Not long now. We’ll be home soon.”
Rebecca walked to the door, then stopped and looked around the room before stepping into the hallway. It was time to go. She felt a swell of sadness. Returning home meant saying good-bye to her aunt.
Mildred met Rebecca at the bottom of the stairway. “Ah, let me have that little girl,” she said, reaching for Audry. She took the baby and held her up in front of her. Audry smiled. “What a love you are.”
Audry’s smile broadened.
“You are a beautiful child,” Mildred said, cuddling her. “I’m going to miss you.”
Rebecca watched, realizing that her happiness would bring her aunt sorrow. “I wish you were going with us.”
“Ah, we’ll come for a visit just as soon as we can.” She gently patted Audry’s back.
“Oh, Auntie. I’m going to miss you.”
Mildred’s eyes were kind but concerned. “I’ll miss you too, but you’ve more to think about than an old woman in Boston. You need to take care of that husband of yours.”
“I know. And I can hardly wait to see him.”
Callie walked in from the kitchen. “I’ve got me things packed, mum. Is there anything I can do for ya?”
“No. Well, you could see to Joseph. Make sure he doesn’t get dirty. I’d hate to have people thinking I have unruly children.”
“Roight, mum.” Callie smiled. The light in her eyes told of her anticipation. “It’ll be roight nice ta be home, eh?”
“I don’t suppose you’ll be glad to see Koora?” Rebecca teased.
“He’s waitin’ for me, that’s for sure.”
Thomas stepped into the room. “So you’re nearly ready to go, then?”
“Yes.” Rebecca faced Thomas. “I can’t thank you enough for allowing me and the children to stay. You’ve been a great help to us.”
“It was Mildred’s and my pleasure. We’ve loved having you here. And you’re welcome to visit anytime.” Thomas hesitated, seeming a bit ill at ease. “Here, this is for you,” he said, offering an envelope to Rebecca.
“What’s this?” she asked, taking the envelope.
Thomas glanced at Mildred. “It’s a loan, actually. Mildred and I want to help. Over the years I’ve managed to set aside a fair amount of cash. I had a bank draft made out to Daniel. It ought to be more than enough to cover your debt.”
Rebecca looked at the envelope, then back at Thomas.
Mildred laughed. “Why, Rebecca, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you speechless.”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes stinging from unshed tears, Rebecca turned the envelope over in her hands.
“Don’t worry about paying me back right away. There’s no rush.” Thomas said.
“I had no idea.” Rebecca was breathless.
“When Mildred told me about your predicament, I knew I had to do something.”
“But this is far too generous.”
“Not at all. It’s the least I can do.”
Joy bubbled up inside Rebecca. “It’s possible Daniel has already settled the debt.”
“If so, all the better.”
Rebecca moved to Thomas and hugged him. “Thank you so much. I’m forever grateful.”
Thomas stepped back. His face was flushed. “My pleasure.”
Holding Audry against her shoulder, Mildred moved close to Thomas. “We’re grateful we can help.”
Rebecca couldn’t control her tears as they brimmed over and spilled onto her cheeks. “This is a miracle, an answer to prayer. I can’t wait to tell Daniel.”
“Well, you’ll have to surprise him. There’s no time to send a wire now,” Mildred said. “We’d best get you to the depot. You don’t want to miss your train.”
Joseph stood up in the dory, grabbing hold of Callie’s arm to steady himself. “Daddy!” he called.
“Joseph, sit down,” Rebecca said.
Callie picked up Joseph and set him in her lap.
While the oarsman maneuvered the boat toward the dock, Rebecca forced herself to remain seated. She stared at Daniel. He looked wonderful!
Daniel smiled at Rebecca. When
the boat was close enough, he grabbed a rope thrown by one of the crewmen and tied it, then grabbed another tossed from the rear of the boat and secured it.
“Daniel,” Rebecca said in a hushed voice. Her heart pounded hard.
“Daddy,” Joseph said, stepping toward the edge of the boat.
Daniel grabbed him and hauled the lad onto the dock and into his arms.
“Grand to see you, lad.” He hugged the little boy, then held him away from him. “You’ve grown. I barely recognize you.”
“I’m big now,” Joseph said proudly.
“Right you are.”
Callie remained seated, her brown eyes bright with anticipation. “You go ahead, Callie,” Rebecca said.
The servant stood and grasped Daniel’s hand, allowing him to haul her onto the dock.
“Welcome home,” he said.
“Roight good ta be ’ere.” She reached for Joseph. “I’ll take him for ya.”
Daniel handed off the boy and turned to Rebecca. He took her hand and helped her and Audry out of the boat. Lifting the little girl out of Rebecca’s arms, he held her up. “You’ve gotten so big.” He looked at Rebecca. “She’s changed so much.” He smiled in such a way that Rebecca’s heart did a little flip. “She’s beautiful. Just like her mother.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Rebecca said. Unable to restrain her joy any longer, she wrapped an arm around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” She held on to him tightly. “I love you.” She couldn’t restrain her tears.
“I love you,” Daniel whispered against her hair. He sucked in a deep breath and stepped back, looking into her eyes. “You look fine. Right fine.”
“So do you.” Rebecca wanted to kiss him but restrained herself. It wouldn’t be proper. “I’m never leaving you again.”
“I’ll never let you go.” He grinned. Tucking Audry in close to him, Daniel looped his free arm through Rebecca’s. “I’ve a room here in Brisbane, not far from ’ere. Figured you could use a night’s rest before we set off for home.”
“That sounds just right to me.” She leaned against Daniel as they walked toward the hotel.
“The bybies will be just fine,” Callie said. “Ya ’ave a good time.” She smiled, and her white teeth looked bright against her dark skin.