Theresa (Orlan Orphans Book 15)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Theresa

  At the Altar Book 14

  Kirsten Osbourne

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Kirsten Osbourne

  One

  Theresa Sanders swung a bag of books over her shoulder and walked out the front door of the Sanders’ house. It was a crisp fall day in Nowhere. Leaves from the trees had begun to turn orange and red, drifting to the ground. Theresa hurried away from the house and toward Main Street.

  Now that she had finished her own education, she had taken a job assisting the teacher at Nowhere’s local schoolhouse. Her parents, Edna Petunia and Cletus Sanders, who had adopted Theresa and her fourteen sisters, had a rule that all of their daughters needed to either find a job or work around the house while they lived in the family home.

  Theresa loved having a job. Each morning, she arrived promptly at seven o’clock to sharpen pencils, clap the erasers to clean them of chalk dust, and prepare the books and papers for the day’s lessons. She had the small building to herself, and if there was extra time, she would sit and read quietly as she waited for the teacher and students to arrive.

  As Theresa walked, she reflected on how lucky she was to lead such a comfortable life in Nowhere. Theresa didn’t remember anything about her early childhood. She knew that at some point, both her mother and father had perished, leaving her to be raised in an orphanage in Orlan, New York. The people running the orphanage had separated the male and female children when Theresa was a young girl. She, the fourteen other female orphans, and their matron, Cassie, had been sent to Texas on a school bus. When they’d arrived, however, they’d learned that there’d been a terrible mix-up. There was no home for fifteen female orphans.

  Theresa recalled how frightened she’d been when she worried she would be separated from the girls she considered her sisters.. They had grown close in the orphanage and truly cared for one another, and they didn’t know a soul in Nowhere outside of each other and Cassie, along with her husband, Valentino.

  Then Edna Petunia and Cletus Sanders, an eccentric, wealthy couple, had stepped in. They offered to provide a home for all fifteen girls. Since Edna Petunia and Cletus hadn’t found each other until Edna Petunia was well past her child-bearing days, they had felt that their marriage, though quite strong, was lacking something.

  Soon, the laughter of the Orlan orphans filled Edna Petunia and Cletus’s large, comfortable home. In no time at all, many of Theresa’s older sisters had fallen for some of Nowhere’s eligible bachelors. One by one, they had married and even started to have children of their own. These days, Theresa found it hard to count the number of nieces and nephews she had. With each passing month, the family seemed to get bigger and bigger.

  Theresa and her younger sister, Katie, were the only two Sanders sisters who had not been paired off. Theresa wasn’t sure if she would ever want to get married. She didn’t say anything disparaging because she didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but privately, she thought marriage sounded like an awful lot of work. She enjoyed her life exactly the way it was.

  There were times that she wondered what having a family might be like, especially when she saw her sisters playing with their infants. They seemed so happy and fulfilled. It reminded Theresa of the joy she got when she helped the students in the classroom. For now, that was enough. Maybe one day she would meet a man who interested her enough to consider starting a family—but as far as Theresa was concerned, that day was far away.

  As Theresa approached the one-room schoolhouse, she noticed something odd. She heard a strange, high-pitched noise that seemed to be coming from the front door. As she got closer, she saw a large, wiry basket perched on the steps to the schoolhouse.

  Theresa frowned. Miss Carroll, the schoolteacher, hadn’t mentioned that she was expecting any packages. Theresa walked up to the basket. It seemed to be filled with old, dirty rags. Theresa looked around. Who could have left such a strange item on the steps to the school? Was this some prank by the mischievous older boys?

  Theresa bent down to pick up the basket and set it aside so she could enter the building, but as she leaned down, she heard the high-pitched wailing again. Theresa peered down into the basket and gaped at what she saw. Nestled firmly into the dirty rags were two wailing infants!

  Theresa couldn’t believe her eyes. Instinctively, she touched her hand to each baby’s forehead, making sure they weren’t overheated in the hot sun. Each baby seemed cool to the touch. Whoever had dropped off the basket likely hadn’t gone far. But who would leave two helpless babies on the steps of the schoolhouse?

  One of the babies began crying even louder than before. Theresa realized the poor child must be hungry. She couldn’t tell whether the babies were girls, boys, or one of each. There would be time for that later. First, she had to figure out how to get them food.

  Theresa knew from her experience with her sisters’ children that these babies were no more than a few days old. They needed milk, but she had no idea where to find the babies’ mother. Suddenly, Theresa realized there was a scrap of paper on the steps, poking out from beneath the basket. She pulled it out and read it quickly.

  Dear Schoolteacher,

  I am devastated to leave my babies on your doorstep. I love them so much, and it is because I love them that I must leave them with you. You will feed them, clothe them, bathe them, and educate them. You will provide for them in ways I never could. I am a young girl who made poor decisions, and now the children’s father has run off, leaving me unwed and penniless, unable to care for my babies. I trust that God will watch over my babies and ensure their safety and happiness.

  I am eternally grateful to you,

  A Loving Mother

  Theresa read and re-read the note to make sure she understood it. She could not imagine how difficult it must be to leave your newborn children wrapped up for a stranger to take inside. Although she couldn’t fathom herself in that situation, she felt sorrow for the young mother who would never know her children.

  The baby began crying louder, and Theresa knew she had to leave. She pulled a pen out of her bag, turned the letter over, and wrote her own note on the back.

  Miss Carroll—

  There is an urgent matter I must attend to. I will be back before lunch.

  -Theresa Sanders

  Theresa looked at the babies, unsure of what to do next. She knew she needed to go into town to find some food for the babies. She knew that at this age, all they would take was their mother’s milk, but she would have to figure out something else until the mother was located. Surely someone from the church would take pity on a young, unwed mother and her twin infants.

  In that moment, Theresa decided she would do whatever it took to find the mother of the infants and return the babies. She would work with Edna Petunia and Cletus to find a way to make a donation to the mother so the babies wouldn’t want for anything. But in the meantime, she had to find a way to feed them.

  Theresa picked up the basket and took a few awkward steps away from the schoolhouse. Although each infant couldn’t have weighed more than four or five pounds, carrying both of them in the basket made Theresa feel ungainly, like she was going to fall at any moment. She set the basket down in the dirt and thought about it.

  Very carefully, Theresa threaded the strap of the basket through one of the loops on her bag. She scooped one infant up with her left hand, cradling the child to her left bosom. With he
r right, she brought the other child up on the other side. She tried to put the bag and basket combination onto her back, but she realized she had run out of hands. Theresa let out a frustrated sigh.

  She realized that she didn’t really need her bag of school supplies. She could leave it on the porch while she made the trip into town. Theresa set the babies back down into the basket, detached the bag from the basket, and set the bag on the steps along with her note for Miss Carroll. Next, Theresa lifted each baby again and cradled them both to her chest. Using her left arm to grasp the babies, she swung her right arm through the basket’s handle.

  Finally, Theresa stood upright, adjusting so there was one baby in each hand. She took a few slow, faltering steps, then found an easier rhythm. She was walking much slower than usual, but at this rate, she would at least make it to downtown Nowhere in a reasonable amount of time.

  As Theresa walked, she rocked the babies, hoping they’d quiet. When the buildings of Main Street appeared in the distance, she heard a familiar lullaby and wondered where it was coming from. A few seconds later, she realized that she had started to hum a familiar childhood song to soothe the babies without even being aware of what she was doing.

  Theresa decided her first stop would be the town mercantile. Not only were the owners her sister and brother-in-law, Ruby and Lewis Darcy, but they were also the proud parents to a set of twins. Ruby was also a twin herself. Theresa knew they would be able to help her.

  The mercantile wasn’t open until eight, but Theresa knew that Ruby and Lewis often came to the shop early to clean and prepare for the day. She wanted to knock on the door so someone would come let her in, but once again, she didn’t have a spare hand. She set the basket down gently and nestled each baby into it on the ground, then knocked on the door.

  Ruby came to the entrance, peering at Theresa through the glass door. She opened the door with a quizzical expression. “Hi, Theresa! It’s good to see you—but what are you doing here today?”

  Theresa had helped out at the mercantile a few days per week before getting her job at the schoolhouse, but that had ended months ago. She hadn’t visited the mercantile during the day in a long time.

  Just then, one of the babies began to cry again, and Ruby looked down at the basket. “Oh, my goodness!” Ruby cried. “Whose babies are these?”

  Theresa shrugged. “That's what I’m trying to figure out.”

  Hearing the commotion, Lewis came to the door. “What’s going on out here?”

  “Come on in!” Ruby said hurriedly. “Oh, these sweet little babes!”

  Theresa picked up the basket and lugged it inside. With Lewis’s help, she heaved the basket onto the counter of the mercantile. “These babies were left on the steps of the schoolhouse with a note saying the mother couldn’t afford to take care of them. They seem very young—I don’t know the last time they ate. Do you know how we can feed them?”

  Ruby thought for a long moment. “I have an idea. But I have no idea of whether it will work or not.”

  Lewis looked at the babies warily. “You’re not going to feed them here, are you? I don’t know if that would be good for business.”

  One of the babies began crying again, and Theresa picked the child up. Just then, there was a loud rapping noise at the door.

  Ruby rushed up the stairs to the section of the mercantile, where the Darcy family lived. “I’ll be right back.”

  Now both babies were crying. Lewis tried to quiet the baby that was still in the basket. “Do you mind answering the door?” Lewis asked since Theresa was closer.

  Theresa walked to the front of the store and saw a handsome young man in a straw hat standing outside. He flashed a blinding grin when he saw her.

  Theresa opened the door cautiously.

  “Good day, ma’am,” the man said in a hushed voice, not wanting to disturb the baby. “I’m Cody Witherspoon, and I’d like to talk to your husband about his insurance policy.” He nodded toward Lewis, who was making faces at the other baby in the back.

  Theresa blushed. “Oh, he’s not my husband. He’s my brother-in-law.”

  Cody looked back and forth between Theresa, Lewis, and the babies, seeming puzzled, but recovered quickly. “I can see you’ve got your hands full, so I won’t trouble you any further. But I’d like to leave my card with you. I’ll come again at a better time.” Cody reached into the leather briefcase he carried and pulled out a small card with an ornate imprint on it.

  Theresa reached her hand out to accept it. As her hand touched his, she felt a jolt that coursed through her entire body, robbing her of breath for a moment. She sucked air in through her nose, trying to calm herself. She had never had such an experience before. “I’m Theresa,” she managed to squeak through her nerves.

  Cody seemed to feel it, too. He stared at her with a lascivious grin on his face, as if seeing her for the first time.

  “Thank you, Mr. Witherspoon.” Theresa slammed the door in his face, wanting to forget about this odd encounter with a stranger and get back to the matter at hand—feeding the babies.

  She walked back to the counter, still rocking the baby she held, who was quieter now.

  “What was that about?” Lewis asked, rubbing the foot of the baby in front of him, who seemed like he or she was nodding off to sleep.

  “He wanted to talk to you about insurance,” Theresa explained. She handed Lewis the card. “He said he’d be back.”

  Lewis sighed. “I’m sure he will. Some of these traveling salesmen are so persistent.”

  Ruby came back in with two baby bottles in her hands. Each bottle had a narrow opening at the top. “Let’s see if this will work.” She held one bottle out to Theresa and kept the other one for herself. “I mixed up some infant food. I hope they’ll drink it.”

  Theresa lifted the bottle and held it near the baby’s mouth. She tilted it so the baby could latch onto the opening to the bottle. The baby barely seemed to notice.

  Ruby’s baby began drinking happily from her bottle. Theresa looked on in frustration. “Just be patient, Theresa,” Ruby assured.

  Theresa tried positioning the bottle a little differently. It was hard to hold a baby and a bottle at the same time. Finally, the baby quieted and began drinking, too.

  Once Ruby’s baby had finished, the child began wailing again. Ruby looked surprised. “Hm. I would have thought you’d be happy that you got some food!” She held the baby up and patted the bottom of the baby’s tattered dressing gown. “Oh!” A look of realization flickered across her face. Ruby laughed. “I’ll be right back.” She held the baby slightly away from her body and went back into the living quarters.

  Lewis was confused. “What just happened?”

  “I don’t know. But this baby doesn’t seem very happy either.” Theresa noticed that after the baby had stopped drinking from the bottle, the child had begun to cry again.

  Ruby reappeared after a few minutes. “Poor thing,” she cooed. “I’ll help you, too.” She handed Lewis the baby she’d been holding and picked up the other one. “I’ve solved one mystery. That one’s a boy!” Ruby pointed to the child in Lewis’s arms. “Follow me, Theresa.”

  Theresa was confused, but she followed Ruby.

  Ruby led her upstairs into the living quarters and set the baby down on the floor. “You remember how to change a diaper, right?”

  Theresa flushed and nodded. She’d helped to care for many of her sisters’ babies, so she had changed more diapers than she could count. But somehow, this felt different.

  Ruby helped Theresa change the baby’s diaper. Theresa smiled when the task was complete. “And this one’s a girl!” Theresa bit her lip and thought for a moment. “I know we’ll need to return them eventually, but do you think we should give them names?”

  Ruby’s smile faltered for a moment, but she recovered quickly. “That’s not a bad idea. I don’t want you to be disappointed or hurt when you have to give the babies back.”

  “I’m sure I won’t,” Th
eresa assured her. The women walked downstairs with the baby girl. Theresa stared at the babies for a long time. “I’m going to name you Faith, and your brother’s going to be Gabriel.”

  Lewis looked up in surprise. “You’re naming the babies? Make sure you don’t get too attached.”

  Theresa smiled. “I won’t. But I will take good care of them until we can find their mother.”

  Two

  Dinner at the Sanders’ house was filled with wailing, rocking the babies back and forth, and bottles of milk. Edna Petunia put a hand to her temple and winced. “I have a splitting headache.” She unscrewed the lid of her flask, where she kept her cough syrup.

  Theresa suspected there was something stronger than cough syrup inside but would never dream of challenging the older woman on it. Edna Petunia had been through enough in her lifetime—heartbreak when her betrothed died just before their wedding, years of solitude and hard work, and taking in fifteen orphans. Theresa and her sisters weren’t about to give her a hard time if she had an unconventional coping mechanism.

  “I don’t understand,” Cletus repeated. “Where did these infernal creatures come from?”

  Theresa felt a rush of emotion as she defended the babies. “I know they’re crying, but they’re probably scared, Cletus! They’re not infernal creatures, they’re Faith and Gabriel.”

  “But where did they come from?” Cletus raised his voice so he could be heard above the babies’ cries.

  Katie giggled as she cuddled Faith closer. “Who cares where they came from? They’re adorable! Can we keep them?”

  Edna Petunia clapped a hand over Cletus’s mouth before he could shout his response. His face got redder and redder. “Please, Cletus, don’t be unkind. They’re little bastards, that’s all. Just like our girls.”