Hope sighed. "Miss Hardesty was taking them to a family in Laramie, Wyoming."
"So far away?" Grace exclaimed.
Hope nodded. "A couple were to adopt them. Miss Hardesty was employed by an organization which takes children who've been living in orphanages and places them with willing families out in the west."
"That is such a long journey for them to make. Those poor dears will be so far from everything they've ever known." Grace shook her head. "Texas and Wyoming might as well be on different continents," she added sharply.
Hope leaned even closer to Grace. "But there is one thing Miss Hardesty told me which I find quite troubling. And perhaps it might be something more in your line of expertise."
"What do you mean?" Grace asked.
"It is a legal matter, Grace," Hope said. "And, since you spent some time in Kansas City working for a law firm before you came to the ranch, I figured you might be interested to know about this."
Grace couldn't imagine what Hope could be talking about. "Is there some kind of a problem with the adoption arrangement?"
"I'm not sure," Hope replied. "But Miss Hardesty suggested to me that there might be some aspects to the children's adoption which might be a cause for concern."
Grace stared at Hope. "Like what?"
Hope frowned. "Miss Hardesty suggested to me that the man who arranged the sending of Jack and Katie to Wyoming might have had some other reason for doing it."
Grace was perplexed. "Is Miss Hardesty suggesting something illegal might have taken place?"
"I'm not sure. She was only employed recently by the organization. This was the first time she was to accompany children out west." Hope thought for a moment. "But she definitely got the impression that Mr Morgan from the organization might have had other reasons for sending Jack and Katie away. It seems the arrangement was put in place very hastily. And Miss Hardesty was about to express her concerns to Mr Morgan, but she was ordered to take the children and leave with what she considered to be an unusual haste."
"Perhaps they were waiting for a reply from the family in Wyoming?" Grace suggested.
Hope shook her head. "No. Miss Hardesty believes there was more to it than that."
"Does she suspect some kind of wrongdoing?" Grace asked, realizing that this wasn't the first time she'd been asked to deal with legal problems in Testament Creek. During the summer, Grace had been instrumental in bringing a judge to the town to deal with the corrupt sheriff. Now Hope was asking her to get involved in another unsettling issue. This time, though, it concerned the children.
Hope shook her head. "I don't know. I thought I'd bring it to your attention." Hope smiled. "I know how you like to look into things like this."
"If we know the name of the organization we could contact them," Grace suggested. "Apart from which, they should know what happened. They really should be told," Grace said to a skeptical-looking Hope.
"I suppose you're right," Hope admitted.
"Leave it with me, Hope," Grace said to her friend. "Maybe Miss Hardesty will want to contact them herself."
"I'll be visiting the doctor tomorrow," Hope said. "I'll speak to Mary then."
For the rest of the evening Grace and Hope spent some time in the parlor, chatting and doing some knitting. Finally, it was time for bed. Grace made her way upstairs to her room, while Hope went to her own room at the end of the hall.
Grace thought about what Hope had told her earlier. If the children were in some kind of jeopardy, then Grace would make it her business to find out what it was. She couldn't imagine what kind of situation would prompt someone to send the children away at such short notice. But one thing was certain. The organization would have to be informed that both the children and Miss Hardesty were safe. Once that was done, then it would be time to look into other matters.
Grace read by candlelight for a while until she started to feel sleepy. She put on her sleeping gown and got into bed. As she lay there, in the darkness, she listened for any sounds in the house. It was utterly silent. Then, just as she was starting to drop off to sleep, she heard a sharp sound as something hard struck the window. Grace sat up quickly and slid out of bed. Once again she heard the sharp crack. Looking at the bedroom window she saw what looked like a small stone hitting the glass pane.
Grace went to the window and gazed down into the yard. She gasped when she saw Tyler standing there. He was smiling right up at her. Her heart filled with joy. He'd returned unharmed from his dangerous journey. She smiled down at him.
He gestured for her to come down and she raised a hand telling him to wait. She dressed quickly in a loose cotton gown and slippers. Grace raced downstairs, careful that her footsteps not be too loud. She didn't want to waken the children.
Outside, she saw that Tyler had tied his horse over by the far end of the house. It seemed like he hadn't wanted to disturb anyone in the house with the sounds of his arrival.
Grace padded across the porch in her slippered feet. Tyler came quickly toward her. She saw the delight in his bright gaze. She knew what he wanted to do and she wasn't going to do anything to dissuade him.
Tyler swept her into his arms, embracing her. Then his head dipped and he kissed her. His lips were cool with the chill of the night air. But his kiss made Grace feel warm. The kiss seemed to last a wonderful eternity. Then he lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. "I told you I'd come visit when I got back."
"It's late. Everyone is in bed," she said.
"I'd still have come to you even if it was three o'clock in the morning. I had to see you, Grace," Tyler breathed. There was an urgency in his voice. A passion she hadn't heard before. He held her closely against him. She didn't want him to let her go.
"Did everything go well?" she asked.
Tyler nodded. "Black and his gang are where they belong."
"I'm glad you're back," she told him.
Tyler lifted a brow and gave Grace a mischievous grin. "You missed me?"
Grace knew how playful he could be when he wanted to be. "A little," she teased.
Tyler laughed quietly and then kissed her again.Grace allowed herself to settle into his embrace, savoring every moment of being with him. It seemed like being apart, even for a day, had made them both appreciate one another.
Grace felt Tyler's body become suddenly tense. He moved away from her, loosening his embrace. "How are the children?" he asked.
"They're fine. Sleeping in bed. The visit to Miss Hardesty went well. She was really happy to see them," Grace said. "And they brought her flowers." Grace laughed quietly. "That went down well." She wanted to share with him what Hope had spoken about a few hours before, but he looked tired. She didn't want to burden him with extra worries. He already looked like he had a lot on his mind.
"That's good," Tyler said almost absent-mindedly.
"You look like you've got something you want to say, Tyler," she said.
He lifted a brow. "Do I?"
Grace nodded. When Tyler gazed into her eyes she felt her heartbeat quicken. That seemed to happen most times these days whenever he looked at her with that expression in his eyes, she reflected.
Tyler scuffed his boots on the dusty yard. Looking down, he seemed thoughtful for a long moment. When he looked up at her again, she saw worry in his gaze. "I've been thinking."
"Really," Grace said. "Anything I should know about?"
Tyler smiled warmly at her. "Yes." There was a steady look in his eyes now. A decisive look. As if there was something very important he wanted to say to her. For some reason she couldn't understand, Grace folded her arms and took a step back.
Tyler watched her carefully for a moment. She saw hesitation drift across his features. He glanced up at the front of the house. Then his shoulders sagged. "It's getting late. I don't want to keep you up."
She felt puzzled by his reaction. An awkward moment passed when neither of them said anything. Then Grace said: "Can we meet you in town before going to church, tomorrow?"
"Sure," Tyler said. "I'l
l be at the jailhouse." He grinned. "Thankfully it'll be quieter, now that the gang has gone."
Grace nodded. Something had changed in the last few moments. She didn't know what had happened. But it seemed like Tyler had changed his mind just before saying something to her. Maybe he was right. It was getting late.
"Goodnight, Tyler," Grace said.
Tyler smiled warmly at her. "Goodnight, Grace."
Then she turned and headed back into the house.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
For the first time in days, Tyler allowed himself to sleep later on the Sunday morning. After yesterday's long ride every muscle and bone in his body was aching. As he dragged himself out of bed he still felt tired.
Tyler made his way to the jailhouse around nine o'clock. He was pleased to see that the cells were empty. There had been no trouble, which was surprising for a Saturday night, he reflected. Even a town like Testament Creek had the occasional wild Saturday night, usually caused by newcomers or those passing through.
He relieved his deputy and readied himself for church. Just before eleven, he locked the jail up and headed around to the doctor's house. He wanted to find out how Miss Hardesty was doing. When he got there, he said a quick hello to the woman and found that she had passed a good night and was looking better than she had the last time Tyler had seen her. He was encouraged by the speedy progress she was making.
On his way out, Doc Clanton pulled Tyler to one side of the porch. "Seeing as how you're the sheriff, I thought you should know something I overheard Miss Hardesty telling Hope yesterday."
"Yeah?" Tyler asked lifting a brow. "Sure you want to break patient confidentiality like that?"
The doctor nodded. "I know you're partly right. Strictly speaking, I shouldn't be telling anyone. But I reckon you should know because it might lead to something you'll need to get involved in."
"You talking about something illegal?"
Doc frowned. "I don't know for sure." He lowered his voice. "But I'm going to tell you, and hope nothing bad happens."
That last part got Tyler's full attention.
"Miss Hardesty was telling Hope that she was worried there was something wrong with the way the children were being sent for adoption."
"In what way?" Tyler asked.
"Miss Hardesty believes the children might have been sent away very quickly because of some other reason. Something that wasn't in their interest."
Tyler squinted at the doctor. "Who was responsible for arranging the adoption?"
"It's an organization that specializes in sending children for adoption to families out west. Those children were meant to go to Laramie, Wyoming."
"That far?"
The doc nodded. "Anyway, Miss Hardesty overheard the boss of the organization having a conversation with someone about the children There was also some talk of money changing hands."
Tyler frowned. "That don't sound right, at all."
Doc Clanton nodded. "So Miss Hardesty had real misgivings about taking the children all the way to Wyoming. But she felt, really strongly that if they stayed in the orphanage they'd come to some kind of harm."
Tyler felt an instant wave of indignation seize him. "Harm?"
The doctor nodded. "So she took it upon herself to take the children away."
"She did?" Tyler asked abruptly.
"Of course she had the full intention of taking them to their final destination in Wyoming. Eventually. But she intended to make some further inquiries once she got the children away from the orphanage. I think she was planning to stop over for a while in Kansas City."
Tyler shook his head. "She must have been real worried if she was willing to do that." He peered at the doctor. "You're saying there was something wrong about the way the children were being adopted. And that Miss Hardesty was trying to keep them safe by taking them away."
"Of course the organization had no idea she intended to stop in Kansas City for a while. All she wanted was to get them to safety until she could decide what should be done next."
Tyler sighed. "You were right tell me, doc. This sounds bad." He shook his head. As if the children hadn't had life hard enough already, Tyler reflected. They'd had to be dragged into something nefarious involving their adoption. There had to be an explanation.
"Maybe you can look into it," the doctor suggested.
"I will," Tyler agreed. He pulled his watch out of his waistcoat pocket. "I have to be going." He smiled at the doctor. "Grace and I and the children are going to church together."
For a moment the doctor looked like he was about to say something, but then he stopped himself and just smiled. "Give Grace my best wishes. And the children, too."
"I will, doc." Tyler stepped down off the porch and then paused. "Thanks for telling me that. I know it can't have been easy."
"I just want the best for Miss Hardesty once she gets better. And for the children, too," Doc Clanton said.
"We all do, doc," Tyler agreed and then headed back down the road toward Main Street.
Once outside the jailhouse he leaned against the rail and scanned the trail which led from the north down into Main Street. He knew Grace wouldn't be late. She'd be coming on a buckboard with the children and Hope. Later, he assumed Hope would go across to the doctor's house to help with Miss Hardesty.
Last night, Grace had looked like she had something on her mind. Tyler had been close to following through on the decision he'd made just before arriving in Austin.
He'd almost asked her to marry him.
Tyler had been moments away from asking for Grace's hand. Just thinking about that made him shake his head in amazement. But, at the last moment, he'd had a feeling that the time wasn't right. There had been a look in Grace's eyes which had made him pause.
Just like before, there was a barrier between him and Grace. A wall which looked like it could never be breached. There were times when Tyler felt that it would take something really big, something life-changing, to break down that barrier.
Tyler lifted his heart up to the Lord and prayed silently.
Lord. I know You are guiding me into Grace's life. And I surely appreciate You bringing her to me. But there are times when I just don't know what to do. Its like my tongue just won't form the words I feel in my heart. Help me, Lord. Help me find a way to tell Grace how I feel. Amen.
Just at that moment, Tyler saw a buckboard heading into Main Street. It was Grace and the others. Grace drew the buckboard to a halt outside the jailhouse. She was dressed in a beautiful blue gown and matching bonnet. She looked pleasing to the eye, Tyler told himself.
He felt his heart leap when she smiled at him. "Are you ready?" she asked brightly.
Tyler went up onto the buckboard seat. It was just about long enough to accommodate himself, Grace, Hope and the children. Although he had to admit it was a bit of a squeeze. He clutched onto the edge of the seat as Grace flicked the reins and drove the buckboard across Main Street, and down the wide road heading toward the church.
Tyler pointed at the white-painted spire above the church building. "There it is," he said to the children.
Jack and Katie stared at the church, temporarily speechless. Tyler wondered how long it had been since they'd been inside a church. But, right now, wasn't the time to ask that question.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Hope asked.
Still the children acted like they'd lost the power of speech. Finally, they both nodded. That was about as much as they were going to get for now, Tyler concluded. Maybe Jack and Katie were nervous. Tyler decided he'd need to try and put them at their ease.
There was already a large crowd outside the church. Some were already making their way inside. Tyler could see the pastor standing at the entrance greeting the arrivals. Grace drew the buckboard to a halt and everyone got down.
As they all prepared to enter, Tyler glanced across at some of the congregation who were getting ready to go into the church. The arrival of himself, Hope, Grace and the children had caught the attenti
on of many of the good folks of Testament Creek. Tyler smiled and waved at the onlookers. Some folks waved tentatively back. He figured they felt the obligation to be polite because he was the town sheriff.
Tyler glanced at the children. They were both neatly dressed. Jack wore a dark jacket, pants and hat. Katie wore a plain blue gown and bonnet which almost matched what Grace was wearing.
"Let's go to church," Tyler said and smiled at the children. There were other children from the town making their way inside. "Maybe you can make some new friends today," Tyler suggested.
Katie nodded. "Maybe," she agreed hesitantly. Tyler felt momentarily encouraged. However, Jack remained silent. There was still some work to be done with him, Tyler told himself.
Tyler stretched out his hands to the children. They each took one. Then Tyler started to stride confidently toward the church. Grace walked on his right side next to Katie, while Hope walked on his left alongside Jack.
Tyler felt his spirits lift as he strode toward the church. This was quite a thing. Walking into church while holding the hands of two children and with Grace alongside him. Even a week ago doing something as delightful as this would have seemed like an impossibility. In spite of his every effort, he couldn't contain the broad smile which stretched across his face. Grace glanced at Tyler, saw his expression, and smiled right back at him.
They were met at the door of the church by the pastor. He smiled at the children. "You must be Jack and Katie," the pastor said in his charming Scottish accent. "I'm delighted you've come, this morning." The pastor looked at Tyler, Hope and then at Grace. "I've been hearing some good things about you all, lately," he said.
Tyler saw Grace's cheeks flush slightly. "Is that so?" Tyler responded. "We've had quite an eventful last few days," he added. "I'll tell you about it later, if you like, pastor."
The pastor smiled at Tyler. "I look forward to that."
Then it was time to finally go into the church. As they made their way to Tyler's usual place near the front of the pews, he saw glances filled with curiosity come his way. Tyler ushered the children and Hope into the pew. Edging close to Grace, he leaned his head close to her and whispered. "I think we've got people wondering."
The Texas Sheriff's Family Blessing (Testament Creek Book 2) Page 9
