by Lori Wick
“Do you remember my wife?” Mr. Davidson asked.
“Hello, Lizzy. Hello, Thomas,” she smiled at them. “How was the train?”
“We sat by the window,” Thomas informed her.
“You did? That’s my favorite place too. Now before you come inside, let me tell you some things.” Her tone was kind and authoritative, much like Rusty’s, and the children hung on her every word. “You can call me Jessie, and you can call Mr. Davidson, Doug. You don’t share a bedroom, but if you want to sleep together, you may. We’ve tried to make everything comfortable for you, but if you need something and can’t find it, you just need to ask.” She paused to smile at them again. “Are you ready to come inside?”
Thomas nodded yes and came to his feet to be helped out. Lizzy turned to Rusty.
“Are you coming, Aunt Rusty?”
“I certainly am. You go ahead, and I’ll be right behind.”
Rusty watched in amazement as Lizzy lifted her arms to leave the wagon. Douglas performed the act as a matter of course and let go of the little girl as soon as she was on the ground. Rusty watched her move away with Thomas and the adults and noticed that she didn’t even look back. Chase had moved around the wagon and was watching as well.
“Did you see their faces?” she asked softly. “They already love them. Lizzy has to stay here. No matter what, she and Thomas have to stay.”
“The Lord will work it out.” Chase’s deep voice came to her ears, and she looked at him, her expression telling him she was thankful for the reminder. He helped her from the wagon and then grabbed all the bags. Motioning Rusty to precede him, they followed the others inside.
5
Rusty found the ranch house was as warm and comfortable as the people who lived there. She was no more inside, Chase bringing up the rear, when Jessica Davidson approached, her voice low.
“I’m so sorry, Miss Taggart. I was so excited about the children that I left you sitting in the wagon.”
“That’s fine. I was so busy watching Lizzy that I didn’t even notice.”
“She came right with us.” Jessie breathed the words, her face full of hope.
“I noticed. Has she even asked about me?”
“No. Right away Doug asked them if they wanted to see the kittens, and they both said yes. He took them out the back door to the barn.”
Rusty’s heart lifted. They were off to a wonderful start.
“I’m Rusty, by the way,” she said as she held out her hand.
“Jessie,” the older women replied as they shook. “It’s so good to have you here.”
“Jessie, this is Mr. McCandles.”
Chase’s hand came out. “Please call me Chase.”
“Thank you for bringing Rusty and the children,” Jessie told him, her heart in her eyes.
“It was my pleasure. They’re wonderful children.”
“We think so too. Come upstairs, and I’ll show you to your rooms. You have the children’s bag?”
“I have it,” Chase filled in, following Rusty as Jessie led the way to the stairs.
“They don’t have very much, Jessie,” Rusty felt the need to explain.
“I figured as much,” Jessie responded. They were at the top of the stairs, and she led them down the hall. “I bought some things—not much—I didn’t want to overwhelm them. But no matter what happens, I want them to take the clothes we bought.”
Rusty nodded. Given similar circumstances, she knew she would feel the same way.
“This will be your room, Rusty. Lizzy is on one side of you, and Thomas is across from her. Your fiancé will be across the hall from you.”
Both Rusty and Chase stopped and looked at their hostess. Jessie had moved past them slightly, so it took a moment for her to see that they had both gone very still.
“Is there a problem?” she asked carefully. “Did I misunderstand? Are you already married?”
Rusty blinked, wanting to be as kind as possible in this awkward situation. She was still framing a reply when Chase responded, “As a matter of fact, we are not married, and as engaging as I find Miss Taggart, neither are we engaged.”
“Please forgive my assumption,” she begged them kindly, but her mind was in a muddle, and she had to work at hiding her confusion and embarrassment. It wasn’t anything anyone had said. It was more the way she had witnessed Chase’s treatment of Rusty; more specifically, the way he looked at her. Since they had come into the house, he’d been watching her. Jessie realized now that Rusty hadn’t even been aware of his scrutiny. With the difference in their height, it was very easy for Chase to subtly watch the petite woman’s every move. Rusty, however, would have to tip her head back even to look into his face.
“Did you say this was Miss Taggart’s room?” Chase asked as if nothing had gone on.
“Yes,” Jessie replied, relieved to hear his voice sound so normal.
“I’ll just put your bag inside,” he told Rusty, and she thanked him politely. He slipped into her room long enough to do so and then came out to hand the children’s bag to Jessie.
“Did you want some help with their things, Jessie?” Rusty asked the older woman, but Jessie shook her head no, her smile tender as she held the satchel in her arms.
“I think I’ll put them away myself. That way I’ll know what they have.” She hesitated. “I’m not certain how this works, Rusty. Do you need to see the children now?”
“No. If they’re happy where they are, I’ll let them look for me.”
“All right. If you’d like to freshen up while I see to the children’s clothing, I can meet you both downstairs and offer you something cool to drink.”
“That sounds wonderful, thank you.”
“Thank you,” Chase echoed.
Both Chase and Rusty watched Jessie move down the hall, and then Rusty looked at her traveling companion. She couldn’t stop her smile.
“Did I miss a joke?” he asked comfortably, his eyes on hers.
“No,” she returned, looking very amused. “I was just thinking how blessed you are that you aren’t actually stuck with me for a wife.”
“Would that be so bad?” he asked as he smiled in return.
Rusty gave a mock shake of her head. “A wife who keeps forgetting that she actually has a husband.” She clicked her tongue. “That wouldn’t do at all, Mr. McCandles.” With that she tossed him a saucy smile, went into her room, and shut the door.
Chase entered his room as well, thinking how different she was from the women he knew in Colorado Springs. None of them would ever think of bantering with him, but with only a few hours’ acquaintance, Rusty Taggart was teasing him. It was a fascination. Indeed, he was so centered on the thought that it was some time before he shut the door, and even longer before he removed his coat, moved to the basin, and had a quick wash.
“They’re soft,” Thomas told Lizzy, but for just a moment she couldn’t move. The kittens were climbing in the straw and even on Thomas, but the kittens, the nice man with them, the barn, indeed, this whole place—Lizzy was afraid that it was all too wonderful to be real.
“Did you want to hold one?” Doug offered a kitten to her, but she shook her head no.
“This one has a purr,” Thomas told his sister, and Lizzy leaned close to listen. She smiled a little, and watching her, Doug knew that he would never be the same if she left. He thought he could weep at the prospect, and just as he’d been doing since he found them at the livery, he made his mind move to other things.
“Now this black—” he picked up a kitten, “she has hair almost as pretty as yours, Lizzy.”
Lizzy’s hand went to her hair. “It’s the same color,” she said with wonder.
“I think you’re right. Maybe you should name this kitten, since you look alike. Can you think of a name?”
Her little brow lowered for just a moment. “Betsy.”
“Betsy?”
Lizzy nodded. One time she thought she had heard Aunt Sammy say her mother’s name was Betsy,
and Lizzy had been partial to the name ever since.
“Betsy’s a fine name. I would never have thought of it.”
“Should I name this one?” Thomas asked of the kitten in his arms.
“I think you should, Thomas. What do you think, Lizzy?”
“Do, Thomas,” she urged him, almost absently taking the black kitten Doug was handing her. “Name that kitten so she won’t feel left out.”
“Is it a girl?” Thomas looked aggrievedly at Doug.
“I think that one is a boy.”
“Oh, good.” He didn’t bother to hide his feelings on the matter. “I didn’t want a girl kitten.”
“I wish it was a girl.”
“Why, Lizzy?” Thomas frowned at her.
“Because then Betsy would have a sister.”
“Brothers are better,” Thomas proclaimed and went back to his task of naming the kitten. Lizzy looked at Doug and found his eyes on her.
“I have a sister,” he told her. “In fact, I have two sisters and two brothers.”
Lizzy’s eyes got large. “I just have Thomas, but he doesn’t go to school yet.”
“Do you like school?”
“I like Miss Linley.”
“Your teacher?”
Lizzy nodded.
“The name of the teacher here is Miss Kay. She’s very nice.”
“Will we go to school?” The worry was on her face again.
Doug wasn’t certain how to answer; he opted for honesty. “Only if you stay.”
Lizzy nodded. She knew all about this. If she was frightened, she could go back to Manitou with Aunt Rusty.
“Shall we go inside now?” Doug asked, but he made no move to stand. He had sprawled in the hay as soon as they arrived in the barn, and his manner made the children feel like he had all the time in the world.
“Can we take the kittens?”
“I’m afraid not,” he told Thomas. “Jessie has rules about such things, but unless I miss my guess, she’ll have made cider or lemonade, and that sounds awfully good to me.”
“Come on, Thomas,” Lizzy said on that note. Not until he mentioned something to drink did she realize how thirsty she was.
“We can come back later?” Thomas had to be certain.
“You certainly may.”
Doug came to full height then and watched as both children stood looking up at him.
“You’re big,” Thomas couldn’t help but comment.
“Thomas Parks, that’s not polite,” his sister scolded. “What would Aunt Rusty say?”
The little boy dropped his head.
“It’s all right, Lizzy.” Doug’s voice was gentle.
Thomas peeked a glance at him, and Doug smiled at both of them.
“Come on now,” he encouraged. “I’m thirsty. Let’s head to the kitchen.”
“That was a wonderful meal,” Rusty told her hostess much later that day. “Thank you very much, Jessie.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, Jessie,” Lizzy said as well.
The six of them were sitting on the large front porch. Dinner was over, the sun was dropping in the sky, and the heat of the day was fading fast. Rusty sat in a rocking chair, Thomas at her feet, his little hands stroking the Davidson’s dog, Tina. Lizzy was on a little bench by the railing, her eyes working subtly to study their hosts. Chase was on the swing, and Doug and Jessie had chairs. At the moment, Rusty’s eyes were leveled on Thomas, who, after noticing her, took a few seconds to catch her meaning.
“Thank you for dinner,” he told the woman with the black hair and smiled when she gave him a wink. Thomas was completely unaware of the way the men had to cover their grins. They both remembered those days as little ones. Food was to be eaten, not talked about, and once you ate you moved on to other things. In Thomas’ case, that was paying attention to the black lab that lay at his side.
Having gotten the response she was looking for, Rusty let her eyes roam the land again. There were a few other homes visible, but they sat much in the distance. Cows could be heard, but for the most part, they were just little dots roaming the acres of fenced-off land. It was a serene place, and once again Rusty asked God to help these children stay. Thoughts of them caused her to turn and study each of them.
The evening had gone very well, but the children were accustomed to an early bedtime, and Rusty could see they were beginning to flag. She was certain they would adjust to whatever time schedule the Davidsons followed, but until she left them in their care, the children were her responsibility.
“Lizzy, Thomas,” she began in a tone they knew well. “It’s been a long day.”
“Must we, Aunt Rusty?” Lizzy surprised her by asking.
“Not this moment, but soon.”
Lizzy looked content, her eyes shifting to the distance.
“Do you see that building, Lizzy?” Doug asked. He’d been watching her.
The little girl nodded.
“That’s the schoolhouse.”
Lizzy bit her lip.
“The children will be there tomorrow during the day, but in the afternoon they’ll have all gone home. I think we should go and visit.”
Lizzy’s eyes flew to Rusty.
“Well, now,” Rusty said gently. “Doesn’t that sound like fun? Do you think we should all go?” Rusty inquired of her charge. “Or do you want to go with Doug on your own?”
“All of us.”
“We’ll plan on it. Be certain to thank Doug for offering.”
Lizzy looked back at that man. “Thank you, Doug.”
“It’s my pleasure. We’ll have a fun day on the range, ride horses and such, and in the afternoon we’ll all go to the school.”
“We’re going to ride horses?” Thomas had heard only that portion of the plan.
“Of course. You can’t live on a ranch and not do that.”
This was enough to make him leave the dog. He approached Doug, and standing by his chair, his little body leaning close, Thomas asked, “Big horses?”
“Some are quite large, others are smaller, but I suppose when you’re five they all seem pretty big.”
“Are they nice?”
“The one you’ll ride is very nice.”
“And Lizzy too?”
“Lizzy too. Her horse will be nice for her also.”
While this conversation went on, Rusty caught Jessie’s eye. With just a few movements Jessie understood her meaning, and when Doug and Thomas had exhausted the subject of horses, Jessie stood.
“It’s time to head up to bed now,” she told the children. They stood and moved automatically toward her. Doug also rose to accompany them.
“Aren’t you coming, Aunt Rusty?” Lizzy stopped when Rusty kept her seat.
“I think Doug and Jessie want to tuck you in.”
“What if we can’t find our things?”
“Jessie put everything away, so she’ll know just where they are.”
Lizzy still looked uncertain.
“I’ll tell you what,” Rusty suggested, knowing that a compromise was needed. “If you need me, you can ask Doug or Jessie to come for me. If not, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You’ll be here?”
“Yes I will,” Rusty told her and tenderly stroked her little cheek. “Kiss me now, and unless you call for me, I’ll see you in the morning. My room is right next to yours.”
Lizzy’s thin arms went around her neck and hugged her fiercely. Thomas was next, hugging and kissing Rusty and rubbing his nose against hers. She crossed her eyes and made him laugh, and then both children turned to Doug and Jessie, who were waiting by the door.
“Children,” Rusty said softly. Both did an immediate about-face.
“Goodnight, Mr. McCandles,” they chorused.
“Goodnight, Lizzy; goodnight, Thomas,” he told them with a smile.
A moment later they were gone.
From where he was sitting, Chase heard Rusty sigh.
“It’s going well,” h
e commented.
“I think so too. It’s going to be hard to know how long to stay.”
“You’re afraid that if you leave too soon, Lizzy will want to come with you?”
“Exactly. I want to see her settled, but I can’t move in here.”
“Maybe the next time she asks if you’re going to be here, you ought to give her a specific day that you’re planning to leave.”
She looked at him with such surprise that he had to hide a smile. “That’s a wonderful idea.” Her voice should have insulted him, but he found it amusing.
“I’m so pleased that I come in handy in some areas.”
Rusty’s hand went to her mouth, but her eyes were still brimming with laughter.
“I’ve been just awful to you,” she said on a small laugh. “You must think me the rudest woman in the state.”
“Not just the state—the whole nation,” he told her gravely.
Rusty couldn’t hold her laughter. Chase listened to the sound. It was not light, soft, or feminine like the woman herself. It was loud and boisterous and spoke of pure delight. Watching her, Chase wasn’t at all surprised that the children adored her.
6
“I have a new nightgown,” a little girl’s voice intruded into Rusty’s dreams. The redhead’s eyes opened slowly. Sitting beside her on the bed were the Parks children. Both wore new night apparel and both looked as if they could burst with pride.
“Where did you get those?” she asked sleepily.
“Jessie had them for us.” Lizzy’s eyes were brimming with excitement. “They were waiting for us right in our rooms last night.”
“And I have boots,” Thomas added.
“Well, now,” Rusty replied, still trying to wake up. “How wonderful.”
“Remember, Aunt Rusty, we’re going to ride today.”
“I remember,” she said as she stifled a yawn. The day before must have been more taxing than she’d thought. She was certainly tired today.
“Do you want to sleep some more, Aunt Rusty?” Lizzy asked in a concerned voice.
Rusty blinked at her. Part of her thought she still was sleeping.
“Come on, Thomas,” his sister decided. “Aunt Rusty needs to sleep some more.”