The Rancher Inherits a Family

by Cheryl St. John

  “My mama was her sister.”

  “You look pretty jess like her!” That was Harper’s higher-pitched voice.

  “We got beds ’n’ things upstairs.” Tate was talking again. He and Violet were the same age. “C’mon, we’ll show you our soldiers and books. Did you bring any toys?”

  “My dolls.”

  The sound of shoes clambered on the stairs and their voices grew muted.

  At a sound behind them, they turned to find Little John had come back to the table and climbed up on his stool. He looked back at them with wide eyes. “Pwease, a cookie?”

  Evelyn got him a cookie from the crock and handed it to him. “More milk I suppose, too?”

  “Tanks.”

  She kissed the top of his head. “You’re welcome.”

  After the dishes were dried and put away, Evelyn swept and Marigold went upstairs to change sheets and put away Violet’s things. She made up the bed and then sat on the edge. This bed was adequate for the two of them now, but Violet would need her own soon.

  Her heart swelled with joy. Such a small problem when everything else was boiled away. Violet was safe. She was here. Tomorrow Marigold would take that paper to Russ and make sure nothing was amiss. She had lost a lot, but she hadn’t lost everything. God had answered her fervent prayers for Violet’s safety and comfort. She slid to her knees on the wood floor and clasped her hands in thanks to the good Lord. “Lord, Your mercies are new every morning.”

  She felt Little John’s presence and opened her eyes to find him staring at her. “Come pray with me,” she said, motioning him closer.

  He got on his knees beside her and folded his hands.

  “Thank You, Jesus,” she said.

  “Tank You, Jesus,” he said, mimicking her.

  She ruffled his hair.

  There was a tap on the door frame.

  “Come in.”

  The other children filed in.

  “It’s time for nightshirts,” she told them.

  Tate took Little John’s hand and led him out.

  She took her time helping Violet into her nightdress and tying back her freshly washed and nearly dried hair with a ribbon. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you. I prayed for you every day and every night.” She set aside the brush. “Your father said you cried a lot.”

  “I hate him for taking me away.”

  “I know. We have to forgive him, though.”

  “Why?”

  “Because holding onto those feelings and not forgiving only hurts us, not the other person.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “I don’t want to, either. But we’re going to try. Together, all right?”

  “All right.” She stood on tiptoe to see her hair in the washstand mirror. “What about our house back home?”

  “I sold the house. It was worth quite a lot. I could buy us a house here if we wanted. I don’t know yet what we’re going to do.” She unfolded a shawl from her drawer and wrapped it around Violet’s shoulders. “But we’re going to be together. And we’re safe here. That’s all that matters right now. Not where we live.”

  “Why did you come to stay here?”

  She explained about how she’d taken the teaching position and how the job came with room and board at students’ homes. Then she explained about how she’d met the boys aboard the train, and how Seth rescued them when it derailed. “He rescued Peony, too, and he got hurt saving her. I promised to stay and help with chores and the boys until he was better.”

  “He doesn’t look hurt.”

  “He’s fine now. He’s trying to find me another place. Or he was. I don’t know what we’ll do now. But it will be fine. You trust me, don’t you?”

  Violet nodded solemnly.

  Marigold cupped her dainty chin. She was so beautiful. She reminded her of Daisy when she was a girl. She reminded her of everything important and meaningful.

  “Wherever we are together, you and I, it will be home. All right?”

  “All right.”

  She walked over to the door. “We read in the boys’ room before bed, so let’s skedaddle.”

  They went to the boys’ room and found Seth there already, holding up a book. He beckoned in Violet. “Do you know this story?”

  Violet nodded.

  “What happens at the end?” Tate asked.

  “Don’t answer that,” Seth said with a chuckle. He placed his fingertip on Tate’s nose. “You will have to wait and see.” He found where they’d left off and read.

  Peony surprised everyone by showing up and leaping onto Violet’s lap, where she sat beside Marigold at the end of the bed. Violet stroked her fur, and the cat purred loudly.

  “She missed you, too,” Marigold whispered against her hair.

  After the story and good-nights, she lay beside Violet, stroking her hair until she fell asleep. She could hardly believe she was right here. Close enough to hold and kiss.

  “Thank You, Lord,” she whispered. She would say it every day for as long as she lived, and the words could never express her gratitude.

  Once her niece was soundly asleep, she left her with Peony and tiptoed out of the room. Seth was at the kitchen table with his ledger and a cup of coffee.

  “I heated water for your tea.”

  “That was kind of you.” She poured the teapot half-full of boiling water and let the leaves steep. “I’m sorry I was snappish earlier.”

  “It’s all right.” He rolled his pencil between his fingers. “You and Violet are both welcome to stay here. You don’t have to find another place to stay if you don’t want to. If you do still want to go, I’ll help you.”

  She turned and studied him, his dark hair mussed, his skin darker from all day yesterday in the sun. “I still can’t believe it’s true.” She pulled out a chair and sat. “It’s the answer to my prayers.”

  “I know.”

  “I mean, I didn’t pray for Wade to get sick. I didn’t even wish it on him.”

  “I know,” he said again.

  “I prayed fervently for her safety and comfort. You know...?” She looked at him, her eyes wide and shining with more unshed tears. “I didn’t even pray for her to be with me, because I didn’t want it for me. I wanted her safe, and I thought for my own peace of mind I needed to let her go. I just prayed for her to not be afraid or hurt.”

  “And now she’s safe.”

  She remembered her prayers. “I trusted that God was working in my life.” She’d believed He loved her and cared about her. She knew with all her being He wanted what was best for her and for Violet. She’d asked Him to show her how to get past the loss and be a whole person. “I chose to be thankful for the good things I’d been given and my blessings.”

  “And you were blessed again.”

  That moment, sitting there in the quiet kitchen with Seth, knowing Violet was upstairs sleeping under the same roof, she almost felt as though she was dreaming. “Is this really happening?”

  “It is.”

  She sipped her tea and thought. “I could buy us a house of our own.”

  He looked at his ledger. “You could.”

  “I don’t know what I want. I promised Violet everything would all be all right now. After tomorrow I’ll be certain about the documents. Russ will help me.”

  He tapped the pencil against the tabletop. “Are you sure you want to give Wade more money?”

  “He’s her father. He’s sick. Dying apparently. I’ll only give him enough to perhaps buy him medical treatment and make his last days more comfortable. You saw him. He did the right thing. I have to believe he was even led by God to find me and bring Violet here. Why else would he do it?”

  “To get more money.”

  “Maybe. In any case, he brought her to me, and I’m thankful.” She finished her tea and carr
ied her cup to the basin. Before she headed back to her room she turned to Seth. “Thank you for everything, Seth. Thank you for your generous offer to let us stay.”

  “You’re as much help to us as we are to you,” he said, giving her his full attention. “It would be of mutual benefit, so I suggest you give my offer some thought.”

  * * *

  He was happy for her. He really was. In fact, Seth was happy for both her and Violet. Imagining what was happening with her niece had to have been torture for Marigold, and Violet had to have been miserable being taken away by a stranger, even if he was her father.

  He didn’t like his selfish thinking, but he felt left out. Why did she need him? She had her family now. He hadn’t realized she had modest funds to take care of herself if need be, but there it was. And she had a secure position with the school board. Of course, they still had riding and shooting lessons to continue. Violet would need to learn how to handle horses as well. He had things to teach Violet that Marigold could appreciate—things she might even find valuable enough to entice her to stay.

  He had plenty on his plate right now. He had three boys to concern himself with, so why was he adding more to the duty list?

  Because he cared about Marigold. More than cared. He’d fallen in love with her. In truth, he might have loved her since the moment he’d laid eyes on her.

  Maybe it was wishful thinking, but maybe he could get her to care about him, too.

  * * *

  “I’ll take you into town this morning,” Seth told Marigold the next day. “I’ll go with you to meet Russ. If he’s not in his office, we’ll go to his house.”

  She was grateful for his assistance. “All right. But what about the children?”

  “Ma, will you come with us and stay at the schoolhouse with them until it’s time for school to start?” Seth asked Evelyn.

  “Leah will arrive first,” Marigold told her. “If I’m not back before the students arrive, you can ask her to stay with you.”

  “Of course,” Evelyn said. “I’ll have to take Little John.”

  Marigold had one more stop this morning. “I’ll want to go to the bank as well.”

  Seth nodded.

  After the children had eaten and gathered their books and lunch pails, Seth led them out to the wagon. Marigold took one more look at Violet on what would be her first day in the new school. Her hair was braided and she wore a dress that was nearly too short.

  “I’ll need to have more clothing made for her,” she told Evelyn as her niece went outside.

  Evelyn agreed. “I’d love to see what Hannah would create for her—for you as well, with your lovely hair and eyes. That young woman does wonders with her designs. She’s done so well, she’s hired at least three people to work in her shop. She has two machines that sew by pedaling. They’re made like the machines that stitch leather, but are for cloth. I’ve seen them.”

  “I’ve read about those.”

  “They use the machines for seams and the like, but bodices and all the fancy work are done by hand. Hannah herself made all my Sunday dresses.”

  “Violet and I will visit her shop soon.”

  When they got into town, Russ was already at his Eden Street office. They stepped into the interior, which smelled like new wood and coffee. A young man in a suit and white shirt stood and came from behind a desk to greet them.

  “Simon.” Seth shook hands and introduced Marigold.

  “Your brother is having his second cup of coffee, and he’s alone,” Simon told them. “Go on in.”

  Russ looked up from a stack of papers. His waistcoat was draped over the back of his chair, and he had a pencil behind one ear. He got up and shrugged into his coat. “You two are out and about early.”

  “Marigold needs you to look over something,” Seth said.

  “Of course. Please have a seat.”

  Marigold handed him the envelope and perched on a glossy wooden chair with arms and a padded seat. She briefly explained what had happened and how Wade had shown up after church the previous day. “I must be certain this paper says my brother-in-law is relinquishing his legal rights to my niece.”

  Her heart raced as Russ read it over. He held the paper to the light streaming through the window behind him. “It looks to be in perfect order. What I can do is telegraph the persons who signed to verify.” He glanced at her concerned expression. “I’ll do it this morning.”

  “Thank you,” she said, relieved.

  “Often I hear back immediately, but of course, sometimes people can’t be reached right away for a reply. Will you be at school?”

  She nodded.

  “If I get a reply, I’ll send my assistant immediately.” Russ placed the document on his desk. “Will you want to adopt this child?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that. I can talk to her. She’s my niece, so that probably wouldn’t really be necessary.” She paused a moment. “Would it?”

  “Not for legal purposes. She will be permanently in your care in any case.”

  “Thanks for your time,” Seth said.

  Marigold glanced at Seth, then back to the lawyer. “Do I owe you anything?”

  Russ smiled and shook his head. “No. You’re almost family.”

  After expressing her thanks, she walked from the building ahead of Seth and out onto the boardwalk.

  The sound of iron on iron rang loud as they passed the livery. Reaching Third Street, Seth cocked his head. “Let’s take a quick detour right here.”

  Three horses were in the corral behind the saddle shop and livery. The large black one shook his head and walked to the fence. Seth stopped and reached to scratch behind his ear.

  “Isn’t that Russ’s horse?” Marigold asked.

  “Yes. He’s the one Russ and I bred some years back. His sibling from the same sire carried me all through the war. He’s good stock. Good lines and strong limbs. Can run distances and he’s good on rough terrain.”

  “Do you still have his sibling?”

  “Nope. Comanches took him down.”

  “Oh. One of the horses in Dewey’s story. I’m sorry.”

  Seth patted the horse’s neck. “Me, too. Did you want to head to the bank?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  The bank was two more blocks south, so they continued on. Marigold withdrew funds and had a bank check made out to Wade Berman. Then, on the way to the schoolhouse, as they passed in front of the bakery, the smells drew them to the window.

  A white-haired gentleman waved them in. “Good morning! Aren’t you the new schoolteacher?”

  “Yes, I’m Miss Brewster.”

  “I remember you won bread and rolls in the horseshoe competition, and I haven’t seen you to fill your orders yet. Would you like something this morning? I have plenty of everything. How about enough for your class?”

  “That’s quite generous. You select them for me, please. Whatever you know children will like.”

  He filled a paper-lined crate with dozens of pastries and deep-fried dough rings. Seth reached to carry them.

  “There’s enough for your gentleman friend as well.”

  “Much appreciated, sir,” Seth told him.

  She thanked the baker and they continued toward school. “This is going to be no ordinary day at school,” she said with a nod to the treats he carried. Then she sobered. “I wasn’t even there to introduce Violet on her first day.”

  “I’m sure Ma has taken good care of her.”

  She conceded with a tilt of her head. “I’m sure she has.”

  As they grew near the schoolhouse, they heard the cheerful laughter and squeals of the children. The students were in the side yard, playing a game of statues, and apparently August was “it” because the others were running from him until he touched them, at which time they froze in pl
ace.

  “Leave it to Ma to be creative. They’re having fun.”

  Evelyn and Beatrix stood outside the circle, watching and cheering. Violet stood between them, also watching. Little John ran around and between the others, not paying attention to who was “it,” but having a grand time.

  “It’s Miss Brewster!” one of the young people called.

  “Aunt Mari!” Violet ran to meet her.

  “Hello, darling. Didn’t you want to play with the others?”

  She shook her head. “I was waiting for you.”

  Marigold hugged her. “I had to take care of that paper your father gave me. You know that.”

  She nodded.

  “What do you have there, Mr. Halloway?” Evelyn winked at her son.

  “Form two neat lines and we’ll show you,” Marigold instructed the children.

  They obediently lined up before Seth and Marigold.

  “You may select one and eat it out here.” She whisked the cover from the crate and Seth lowered it.

  “Oh, my.” Twins Jane and Abigail, as well as Violet, had been nearest and were first. They each chose a pastry. In orderly fashion, the children selected their special treats until Michael stood last in line. He’d come last, letting the younger children go ahead of him. He stared at the remaining golden fried dough rings and his eyes widened.

  “Go ahead,” Seth urged him.

  “I ain’t never had one b’fore.”

  “These that are left are small,” Marigold observed. “You’d better take two.”

  Eagerly, he selected two and walked away smiling.

  There were enough for each of the adults as well.

  “Thank you for winning the horseshoe competition.” Beatrix licked her fingers.

  Seth took a bite and chewed. “I suspect the baker would have given these to us anyway. Or to Marigold, rather.”

  Marigold looked up at him. “Why do you say that?”

  He leaned toward his mother and Beatrix as though sharing a secret. “I think he was smitten by her smile. Or maybe he saw the sun shining on her hair.”

  The ladies chuckled and Beatrix nodded. “I can see how that could happen.”

  “Yes, indeed.” Evelyn looked completely serious. “Now, mind you, that won’t happen in every shop. For instance, Amos Godwin has his wife, Opal, in the store with him. He won’t be giving away any more boots than agreed upon.”