She tamped down her excitement and focused on today’s preparations.
They were hosting a Christmas gathering at their place on the morrow, and she still had so much to finish for it.
At least she had Aurora. Liora blessed the day that God had given Aurora the gumption to run from brothel owner John Hunt before he could press her into service.
And she had Ruby too, she reminded herself. Ruby may have come to them a little later in life, with a bit more reluctance, and after a good many mistakes, but the Lord had brought her out of the brothels and into their lives and Liora kept praying for ideas on how to reach her with a deeper Truth.
She bustled into the kitchen, snatched up her apron and looped it over her head. As she tied the strings behind her back, she studied the list she’d created to make sure she didn’t forget anything for the party.
The sweet-roll dough she’d left to rise in the cool of the windowsill all night was just about to spill over the lip of the bowl, just the way she liked it. She tossed some flour on the table, scooped the dough from the bowl and set to kneading. Joe had insisted that her sticky buns were a must for the party. She smiled at the thought.
The kitchen door squeaked open and Aurora stepped inside, closed it, and leaned against it. “Ah, Liora?”
Liora looked up from the dough. “Yes?”
Aurora, bundled up in her thick winter coat and scarf, had a basket of eggs clutched in her hands. “There is something you need to see.”
Liora blew at a stand of hair. She could almost feel the Christmas party breathing down her neck. And with so much on her list still to do, she really didn’t have time for interruptions. “Can it wait? I’m just about to put these cinnamon rolls in the oven.”
“No. I’m afraid it can’t. Ruby has run off in the night.”
“What?!” Liora stepped to the sink and set to pumping water so that she could rinse the dough from her hands. “I thought we were really starting to make progress with her.”
Aurora set the basket of eggs on the counter and shrugged out of her wraps. “That’s not the worst of it. And you’re not going to like it.”
“What could be worse than her running off?”
Aurora grimaced. “The fact that she stole a bunch of stuff, including the saddle you planned to give to Joe for Christmas.”
Liora gasped. “She didn’t!”
Aurora tilted her an apologetic wince. “Afraid she did.”
Liora dried her hands and then massaged at that rapidly blooming headache burgeoning behind her temples. “How long has she been gone?”
Aurora shrugged. “When I woke up she wasn’t in our room. I thought maybe she had gone out early to do her chores. But she’s not in the barn and she’s not chopping kindling either.”
Liora racked her thoughts trying to decide how to proceed. Normally she would call on Joe and have him track down the missing girl. Though they never forced any woman to stay with them, they did always try to have open communication with each lady they came in contact with through their ministry of helping prostitutes escape their lifestyles. So usually if a girl ran off, they did at least try and find her to see if they could talk her into staying. But in this instance, if she asked Joe to hunt down Ruby he would see the saddle. And she had worked so hard to keep the gift a secret. She didn’t want to ruin the surprise, if at all possible.
Though of course if Ruby got to a place where she could sell the saddle there would be no surprise at all.
Aurora stepped close and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Liora was ever so grateful for the friendship the Lord had given her in the person of Aurora. She set the woman back from her and tilted her head. What else did she take?
Aurora winced. And wrinkled her nose. “I’m not exactly certain. Though she did take all the coins I’ve been saving in that bowl in our room.”
Liora’s shoulders slumped. “Oh I’m so sorry she did that to you.”
Aurora shrugged. “I suppose if we are trying to reach the lost, we ought to expect a little bit of maltreatment now and then. Hurting people tend to hurt others.”
Liora sighed. “That’s the truth.” She herself had been in that position not many years ago.
Much as Liora was concerned about the missing saddle, she was even more concerned about Ruby. The woman was old for her profession, almost 50 from what she had told Liora. And though she had unhaltingly left her work when Liora had spoken to her about the love of Christ, breaking a long-held pattern was always a difficult prospect. Liora feared that Ruby was likely returning to work in a brothel at one of the camps.
If she could report the girl for stealing, Joe could go and arrest her and maybe Liora would be able to talk some sense into her before she returned to a way of life she had so desperately wanted to escape. But since she didn’t want to involve Joe this time, she’d just have to find a different way.
Liora pressed a hand to her forehead. “Okay, we can deal with this. But first I have to get these rolls in the oven. Rinse the eggs while I finish these, then we’ll scout around and see what else she might have absconded with. Maybe that will give us a hint as to where she’s going.”
Aurora’s lips pinched together. “I think we both know.”
Liora sighed. “Yes, I fear you are right. But we can’t know for sure until we find her.”
Aurora took the basket of eggs to the sink and put the pump handle to work. She tossed a glance at Liora over her shoulder. “She may have already sold the saddle. And it’s not like you ever force anyone to stay here. You really still want to try and go after her?”
Liora felt tears prick the back of her eyes as she sprinkled a generous amount of sugar and cinnamon over the dough. “Yes. If the saddle is gone, it’s gone. But I at least want a chance to speak to Ruby. Do you know of anything that might have happened to make her unhappy here?”
Aurora shook her head. “She seemed fine last night.”
Liora rolled the dough and set to slicing it. “I’d rather not get Joe involved just in case I can get the saddle back. I want to speak to her. But I have so many responsibilities here today that I really don’t have time to go traipsing after her. And I don’t want you going after her on your own, either.”
“I could ask Kin Davis if he has time to try and help me find her. He is always looking for odd jobs to do. Isn’t he coming by later today to get that wagon seat for the sleigh he’s making Dr. Griffin?”
Liora felt relief at just the mention. “Yes, yes. He should be here in a bit. He and Joe unbolted it last night and Kin said he would come with a wagon today to pick it up.”
“So should I ask for his help?”
As she laid the rolls on the baking sheet, Liora tried to think. Why today of all days? Of course Ruby would have known about her busy day. It was likely the reason she had chosen today to disappear. It really was her responsibility to find Ruby. Yet... She tossed a glance at her list on the table and sighed.
Aurora waited quietly.
After a few seconds, Liora waved a hand. “Fine, yes. Ask Kin. Hopefully he will be able to help us.”
Aurora nodded. “I’ll talk to him.”
The pain of what Ruby had done hit her then. Liora blinked back tears. “Why is it so hard for some people to have faith in God?”
Aurora shook her head. “I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that you loved Ruby to the best of your ability. We all did. And we each spoke truth into her life as best we could. This is not our fault.”
Liora supposed that was true enough. All she could do was hold out the truth to people, if they chose not to accept it, then what more could she do? Keep loving them, of course. But she also had to draw the line. Have boundaries that protected the rest of the people here. She loosed a breath. What she really wanted to do was talk to Joe about this. He always had such a Godly perspective. She pinched her lips together and made a decision. If they hadn’t found Ruby by this evening, she would speak to Joe, even if it ruined Christmas.
/>
Liora opened the oven and slid the rolls inside. “For now, what chores do I need to help you with that Ruby normally does?”
Aurora brushed her offer away I know you still have some baking you want to finish. And that you hoped to go to the Mercantile today to pick up your order. I’ll cover the chores. And get those evergreen wreaths hung up.”
Liora pulled the girl into an embrace. “I don’t know what I would do if the good Lord hadn’t sent you, dear Aurora. You are always such a blessing.”
Aurora blushed and batted away her praise.
A wagon trundled into the yard.
“Oh, I think that’s Kin now” Aurora hurried into her coat. “I’ll go talk to him and let you know what he says.”
Chapter 2
Kin Davis folded his arms and looked at Aurora in disbelief. What was it with people having trouble with their Christmas presents this year?
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Aurora. But as you know, I am helping Dixie build a sleigh for Flynn right now. I simply don’t have time to track Ruby.” He felt bad, but there were only so many hours in the day.
Aurora’s shoulders slumped and she rubbed at her temple with a little frown. “All right. I understand. I just wish there was a way for me to help Liora. I feel somewhat responsible for not realizing that Ruby planned to run off. She and I shared a room, you know.”
Kin folded his arms and leaned into his heels. “Seems like she has kinda been trouble for you all since she moved in.”
Aurora nodded. “A little bit. And there were some things that maybe I should have mentioned. That’s why I feel partially at fault for her running off.”
Kin’s awareness prickled down his spine. “Things like what?”
Aurora swept a hand through the air. “She never seem to content. She was always grumbling about Liora and Joe behind their backs. She often mentioned how rough it was to be poor and what a privilege it must be to live like Joe and Liora. Things like that.”
Kin frowned and rubbed the hand over his cheek. “She obviously didn’t look around.” He swept a gesture to encompass the property.
Aurora took in the place. Suddenly she saw the property with new eyes.
Where before she had only seen the cabin as a loving home, she could now see that the porch steps were canted at an odd angle and the front rail was loose and hanging down. The yard needed a trim, and the garden weeding had fallen behind. The barn had started out more as a lean-to. It had been built onto over the years and the original portion had lost all of its chinking. True, they mostly only used that part for tool storage now, but she knew that both Joe and Liora would want to have the place looking better if either of them had the time or money to make it happen.
Aurora returned her gaze to Kin’s. “Yes. I see what you mean.”
Kin nodded. “They sink all their extra money into helping women.”
He realized too late how insulting his words must have sounded to her when she folded her arms and dug her toe into a clump of snow.
“I didn’t mean you. You are more like family to them than a ministry. And I know you’ve been busy yourself, helping PC at the church with the music. Anyhow, my point was that if Joe and Liora were so well-off they could afford to hire the upkeep done.”
Aurora nodded. “Yes. I understand what you meant. Which is why it’s such a tragedy that Liora’s present for Joe—that she saved all year to buy—has been stolen.”
Kin thought for a moment. Then he stretched out a hand. “Tell you what. I don’t have time to go tracking her down, but you’re a smart girl—even passed yourself off as a man for a while.” He tossed her a wink.
Aurora felt her face heat. “Kin Davis, don’t you go bringing that up. What’s your point?”
He chuckled. “I can show you how to track. I think you’ll be a quick study. No time to give you all the finer points, but maybe just having the highlights will help you find her. She’s probably not trying to cover her trail too well. Moving as fast as she likely is with stolen goods.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Kin strode to a muddy patch of moist ground in front of the barn doors. “Here, come take a look.”
Aurora sank down next to Kin and admired the way the light played off of the rippling muscles in his forearm as he stretched a hand to point out a foot print to her. It amazed her that she had never felt the awkwardness of attraction around Kin. But truly, ever since she had posed as a lad and spent several weeks living with Parson Clay and Kin, she had only ever thought of him as a big brother.
If only she felt the same about Parson Clay. She felt the heat of the thought in her cheeks.
Kin looked over at her. His brows lifted. “Are you paying attention?”
“Yes, yes.” She grinned at him. “But tell me again.”
He chuckled and elbowed her. “Pay attention, little brother.”
He showed her the set of footprints he had found and how he could tell that they were Ruby’s. “You see here how the heels of her boots are shaped? And this notch right here? That’s because she has a crack in the sole of her right boot. That’s how you’ll know it’s her footprints you’re following. She also has that bit of a limp and you can tell that because this right footprint is a little bit deeper than the left.”
Aurora looked between the two tracks. She couldn’t see any difference, but figured she would take Kin’s word for it.
Kin stood and motioned down the path into the forest. “She went that way. And judging by how fresh these are, not more than a couple of hours ago.”
Aurora frowned at the tracks. “How do you tell how fresh they are?”
Kin pointed to the outer edges of one print. “The perimeter is crisp. On older tracks the wind or rain knocks bits of shale and dust around and decays the precision. It’s something you’ll take note of the more you read sign. Sort of like the difference between a freshly penciled letter and one that’s been floating around for awhile where the wording is a bit fuzzy.”
“All right.” Aurora pushed to her feet. “Thank you. I’ll see if I can find her.”
Kin reached out and gave her a gentle sock in the arm. “Don’t forget about your pistol and everything PC and I taught you about how to use it.”
Aurora rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not going to have to use a pistol on Ruby. She may complain a lot, but she’s never been violent.”
“Better safe than sorry. Speaking of which...” Kin gave her an assessing look. “You sure you should be going after her on your own?”
Aurora shrugged. “We don’t have much choice. Liora has that Christmas gathering tomorrow and—”
“No.” Liora spoke from just behind her. “He’s right. You can’t go off tracking her on your own. I’ve set aside the baking. It will just have to wait. Finding Ruby is more important right now.”
Aurora could not deny that she was relieved to have someone joining her on the hunt. If she were honest, Ruby had always given her a bit of an uneasy feeling.
Aurora reached out and gave Liora a one-armed squeeze. “I’ll help you with the baking as soon as we get home. I’m sure everything is going to work out just fine.”
Liora heaved a sigh. “I hope so.”
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Doc Griffin's Christmas Sleigh: A Wyldhaven Series Christmas Romance Novella Page 6
