by Stella Clark
Expecting her to stay was foolish and unkind. So Adam continued to preach of love. Love was good, after all. Even if it sometimes brought danger. The more he thought about it, the more he worked to guard his heart from Molly. If she left, she could end up taking his heart with her. A lump formed in his throat and he said a silent prayer.
Chapter Eleven
By the time the sun rose, Molly was wide awake. She’d spent the night attempting to rest, managing to grow groggy, but it was difficult to decipher whether or not any sleep had come her way. With a sigh, she slipped out from under the blankets and dressed before leaving. Spring finally felt like it had arrived, and she didn’t need a shawl as she stepped out of the house to search for their chickens’ eggs for breakfast.
She couldn’t help but move slower, though, tired as she was. Reliving the night before, Molly wondered why she needed to be the way that she was. After one month, she still couldn’t let go of Boston. Rose had asked her at supper about the city, and Molly had instantly shared everything. She’d even called it home.
“Why anyone ever tolerates me,” she mused as she inspected an egg, “I shall never know.” After she stifled yet another yawn, Molly took her basket around the rest of the chicken coop.
Once in the kitchen, Molly sorted through her papers and carefully started to obey the scribbled instructions on preparing scrambled eggs. Mrs. O’Henry had assured her it was a simple dish, but she’d managed to ruin most things without clear instructions. As she started on breakfast, Molly said another silent prayer to God, thanking him for women like Mrs. O’Henry and her sister, Mrs. Lyle.
In the last couple of weeks, both women had come to her rescue. For three days a week, they or another friend would show up to teach her not only how to prepare a new dish, but how to properly organize and clean the house. It was a lot to know, but Molly was loving every minute. The two sisters and their friends were patient and she was slowly learning to see that everything was its own adventure.
“Carefully crack the eggshell, dropping only the yolk in the pan,” Molly mumbled to herself as she concentrated. She had vowed to fix her mistakes and become a good wife and decent mother. Now that she had the help, she was determined to improve. It was this, she had convinced herself, that would help her show how much she loved her family.
Breakfast went well, but it was only after Adam left to take the children to the schoolhouse that she recalled she had not prepared their midday meals. Molly hurriedly prepared sandwiches and grabbing Vera, headed out. There had been enough mishaps, and she didn’t want to become the focal point of the town gossip. On top of the burned meals, she’d let them play in a pond with leeches and took them around town running errands when she forgot about school.
“I can’t believe I forgot this as well,” Molly mumbled as they headed down the street. She squinted, wondering if they were still near. The schoolhouse was on the other side of town and they had only just left. “I hope this teaches me my lesson, then. Come along, Vera. Let’s make an adventure of this.”
It would be best if she could catch the children before their class started, but the distance only seemed to grow. But the children, she reminded herself, and urged Vera forward. The little girl hummed and skipped, pointing out flowers and people as they passed.
“And Missus Lyle,” she chimed, using her free hand to wave. “Hi! Hi!”
The name caught Molly’s attention and she glanced up to find the woman passing along the street in an even bigger hurry. Her eyes widened as she offered a strained smile. “Good morning, ma’am. How is—”
“Oh! Molly, what a lovely sight.” Mrs. Lyle changed paths and shifted her basket. There was another package hanging over her shoulder. Her hair was windswept and her eyes were large. “My dear, I could certainly use your help. I’m in the middle of helping Mrs. Ulch. Do you know Susan? Her child is on its way, but it’s rough going with the five children around. They were too young to walk to school alone, and then I just—You listen well. Do you have time to spare?”
Molly’s mouth dropped open. The midwife was asking for her help? Just the thought of it made her stomach churn. “Are you certain? Don’t you have someone—Rachel?—who helps?”
“She’s gone east to visit her family.” Mrs. Lyle shook her head impatiently, eyes already wandering. “Please, if you can manage it, I could use you. You’re good with children, and they are bouncing everywhere. It’s the blue-shuttered house down here on the right. Just for an afternoon, that’s all.” She gestured to the bags she carried. “I might be there for days at this rate.”
Clapping her mouth shut, Molly nodded. “Then yes, of course. After everything you’ve done—I’ll send off Vera and come straight your way. Hurry now, and I’ll see you soon.” She let the woman leave on her way. The woman looked frazzled, and now that nervous energy enveloped her as well.
Vera had let go of her hand to follow a cat in the street. Molly hitched up her skirts and hurried over, grasping the child’s hand. “We have to hurry now,” she informed the child. “Do you think you could run?”
“A race!” The child laughed and nodded before heading off. She grasped her doll as she went, her little feet careful on the path. Molly marveled at the child for only a moment before hurrying after her. She could feel her heart hammering inside as she caught up with Vera and they hurried to the schoolhouse.
“Thad! Thad, dear,” Molly caught him and handed over the lunches. “Take this one to Rose, would you? Be a good lad, thank you. Now, this is very important,” she added before he could turn back. Pulling a curl away from her face, she gave him a stern look. “I need you to go to the neighbor’s house after school. Joy will look after you.”
He furrowed his brow. “Joy? Why?”
She kissed his forehead. “There will be time for answers later. Please, just make sure you and Rose go. I’m taking Vera now. Vera, wave farewell to your brother.” The plan had come to mind on their race. It meant a lot of walking and still hoping that Joy would be available to care for the children, but Molly prayed hard and trusted the Lord to help them.
The McKinnons were a lovely family with two children, Devon and Joy. Joy was the youngest at fifteen, now taking up seamstress projects with her mother. There had been plenty of occasions in the past where she had watched the children, from what Adam had told her. The O’Henry house was too far, but surely Joy would be available.
Thankfully, the girl was there and welcomed Vera with wide arms. “Thank you,” Molly gave the girl a kiss on the cheek. “I do appreciate it. And I’ve already spoken to Thad, who will come here with Rose. I … yes. Thank you mightily.” She offered a short nod and hurried down the next lane to find the house with the blue shutters.
Chapter Twelve
Adam returned to an empty house. It was a rather strange sensation. There had been moments where the children were out of the house and he had a moment to himself. But then Molly had joined him, and there was always movement and sound. He thought it would be a calming sensation, but he found that to be false.
Rather, his gut clenched and he couldn’t help himself from searching for clues to where his family might be. Had Molly said she was taking them anywhere? Surely the children were out of school at this point. It was suppertime.
When Adam stepped out back to check on the animals, he heard familiar laughter. It took him another minute to locate them, finding Rose and Vera spinning together in the neighbor’s yard. Relief ebbed through him as he made his way over. Vera was the first to notice and dropped everything to come hug his leg.
“Hullo,” she sang sweetly, a patch of dirt on her cheek.
He rubbed it off. “Hullo, my sweet. Rose,” he glanced at the older girl and smiled. “Whatever are you two up to over here?”
The door opened to reveal Joy. She passed through the doorway with Thad trailing behind. “Good evening, sir, how do you do?”
Adam nodded at the young girl. “And a good evening to you, Joy McKinnon. Everything is well. I�
�m sorry, but my children seem to have tackled your grass.” He glanced at the grass stains on the ends of their dresses. “Is Molly inside?” He supposed he might get answers from her.
Besides, he wanted them to talk. They’d danced around enough words and feelings lately that he thought they both deserved clarity. He had spent all day preparing himself for the conversation, so he felt ready. The words bubbled at the brim of his thoughts and he wanted to free them. All he needed was Molly and a few minutes.
“Oh.” Joy glanced at the children. “I’m afraid I don’t know. She left in a hurry after—you see, she asked me to watch the children. She dropped Vera off, but she didn’t tell me where she was going.”
He blinked. She’d left? Where? The fears trickled down his spine from their hidden ledge, reminding him not to have any expectations. Maybe she was done. Maybe she was ready to go back to Boston. She had certainly spoken of it enough. He swallowed and glanced at the children, who turned to him. It had taken him months for them to trust him. Then they’d been so ready to accept Molly because he …
“She … Thad?” Adam cleared his throat. “Thad, did she tell you?”
Thad glanced at Rose and shrugged. “She brought our lunches to school and said to come see Joy after. She had Vera, but then she left. Why? Where’s Molly? I mean, Mama? Isn’t she with you?”
“Well, I’m sure she’s … around somewhere. But we’ll worry later,” Adam assured them. “Let’s return to the house now. We’ve used up enough of Joy’s time. Joy, thank you again. We’ll see you later.”
“Bye!” She waved cheerfully.
Adam guided the children back into the house. “Thad, feed the horse, will you?” He rubbed his neck. If Molly hadn’t been home all day, what needed to be done? And he didn’t want the children to worry or see him worrying. “Rose, collect some cabbage, will you? Enough for us and Joy. Take Vera with you.”
Once the children were made busy, he went to his room—their room—realizing he hadn’t searched there. If she had left, wouldn’t she take her things? A spark of hope emerged as he opened the wardrobe and found it full. If he counted right, there was only one gown missing and that was the one she would be wearing. Not that there was much here she might take to Boston, however. The fancy dresses from Boston were too fancy for South Dakota, and most of them had been ruined in one mishap or another. He’d purchased some to make her life easier, but Adam knew she was used to lovelier things. Perhaps, then, she had not wanted to take anything with her.
Swallowing hard, Adam sat down and rubbed his face. He had to think.
The feelings inside his chest stormed about, telling him to give up and to chase her at the same time. It was hard to follow any of his thoughts, worried they were too emotional or too practical. He had the children to think of. But what was he to tell them? If she was gone, then the children … They were learning what it was like to have a mother again.
“Where’s Mama?” Rose struck up as they sat down to supper. He glanced up in surprise, wondering how it came to be that the quietest and most stubborn child wanted Molly. Then all three children turned to him expectantly, waiting for an answer.
If only he had one. Smiling tightly, he glanced at the sparse meal and then back at the children. “Let us include her in our prayer. Who shall say it this evening?”
Thad volunteered. “Lord our God, we thank you at this table for your blessings and your school and your church and your food. Thank you for giving it to us. Thank you for Papa and Mama. Bless Papa for his sermon and bless Mama to come home safely. And bless my sisters that they are nice. Amen.”
“Amen.”
The four of them ate quietly. When he glanced outside, he found the sun had set and it was dark. If Molly was still in town, surely she would have returned by now. Adam tried to smile for the children and prepare for the worst.
He had done what he could in providing a safe and comfortable home. It wasn’t much compared to a city life. As Adam crept into his bed, now too empty to sleep peacefully, he let out a deep sigh. With it went the last of his hope. Before he drifted off to sleep, he just prayed she was safe and well.
Chapter Thirteen
Molly blinked several times, rubbing her eyes. Had she dozed off? She rubbed her face and realized she was at an unfamiliar kitchen table with five children watching her. That was two more than she was used to.
“You started to snore,” the boy next to her whispered. “Marie poked you.”
“Oh?” she mused and glanced out the window. The sun was up. She yawned and shook her head. Yes, it was coming back to her. Grogginess swept over her shoulders, but she managed to pull the memories up. She was at the Ulch house. Down the hall, Susan was with Mrs. Lyle trying to birth her sixth child.
Yesterday had been easy enough, amusing the children and preparing supper. But then she’d stayed up the night with the other two women to offer support, and now she was meant to get through another day. Molly was simply glad she was sitting down.
“I’m afraid I’m rather silly,” she mumbled after another yawn and managed a grin to the children watching her. “My sincerest apologies! Now don’t allow me to distract you. Eat up, eat up. We’re getting you to school, remember?”
Marie groaned. “But it’s Saturday!”
“Is it?” Molly asked in surprise. “Are you absolutely certain?”
As the eldest, Marie was the most talkative. And yet she was hardly Thad’s age. Marie nodded furiously. “Cross my heart, ma’am.”
She tsked. “Well, then I suppose we must spend the day playing games. Do I hear any naysayers?” Everyone shook their heads as she looked at them seriously, wishing the sleep away from her eyes. “Excellent. Eat up, and once we’ve tidied the kitchen, we shall have our first adventure!”
Quickly, the children obeyed. Too quickly, Molly feared, for she needed to find something to amuse them. She took two more spoonfuls of her oatmeal and then stepped away to check on the women.
Mrs. Lyle had Susan in a new position since the child was a breech. They didn’t want to start pushing until it was ready. Molly’s stomach tightened nervously for them. She knew, as a woman and a wife, she should have children. And she did want children, she’d recently realized. Adam was a wonderful man and a good husband. Molly wasn’t sure how she’d talk to him about that, but she realized she could worry about that later.
“Good morning,” she whispered. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
The midwife waved an arm. “No, thank you. Well, actually, could you bring us some breakfast? Susan’s going to need more energy. We’ve nearly got the child sorted and she should be able to push soon.” Susan only groaned, but Molly thought it sounded like she was in agreement.
She brought food and returned to the children, finding new games to play with them and distract them from the mother’s occasional shouts. Molly knew there was only so much she could do to help in this type of situation, so she kept the children amused until the child was born. Susan had a little boy, big, with healthy lungs of his own.
“You did wonderfully,” Mrs. Lyle assured her afterwards. “Your help was very appreciated. But we’ve kept you long enough, and I know you didn’t expect to be here forever. You’re asleep on your feet, Molly, so you’d best get home. Your husband will be expecting you.”
Her husband. It was still strange to hear; stranger to think. But lately it made her stomach flutter and brought a smile to her face. Molly wanted to ask if she was certain, but the woman gave her a nod to the door. So she kissed the older woman’s cheek and hurried off.
Just the thought of seeing her children and husband brought a spark of joy that spread through her body. It made her feel warm and excited to hug them again. Though it had only been a day, she felt like she’d been gone forever. Oh, she was most certainly blessed. Only in spending time away had she realized how fortunate she was.
Molly had wanted an adventure. She’d thought she’d find it in the exciting world of the west. She’d expect
ed large thrills and wild excitement. She had not expected to be where she was now. Yet Molly couldn’t be happier, she realized. Every day was a new adventure. Learning to cook, playing with the children—every moment was new and exciting for her. It felt silly that this little town and the little family had been what she really wanted all along. But if that was the case, she didn’t mind being silly.
With a skip in her step, Molly made it home. She sighed happily and pulled open the door, wondering what everyone might be up to this Saturday afternoon. Perhaps she could take them on a picnic, she mused, or a walk along the river. Or perhaps a nap in the sun, she decided. A moment’s rest sounded blissful.
The house was quiet. Tall ceilings towered over, a constant reminder of how small she was. Their home’s architecture was truly humbling, especially in the silence. Through the rooms she went, wondering where everyone went. When she opened the door to her bedroom, she found it tidier than she had left it. She nearly collapsed there on the bed. Just the sight of it reminded her limbs of their weariness.
“In a moment,” she yawned. Molly stretched and shrugged her shoulders, trying to roll the exhaustion away. Just one look at the children, and then she’d settle down. That’s all. She trailed a hand against the wall as she reached the back door, opening it wide as the sun shined in her face. “Oh gracious.”
It took a minute to adjust to the brightness, blinking several times before she found her family. The wind carried their voices and Molly leaned against the door for support. She was certain she looked a mess in her wrinkled clothes and unbundled curls. But just seeing the children playing with their hoops brought a smile to her face. And watching from the orange tree, she found Adam.
The man looked tired, his shoulders slumped. Something must be wrong. Before she could call to him, however, Adam must have felt her gaze. He jerked his head up, looked around and did a double take when he saw her.
