Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for ChristmasThe Secret PrincessTaming the Texas RancherAn Unlikely Union

by Winnie Griggs

  Bonnie stood on her tiptoes. “The race?”

  What else could she be talking about? Hannah wondered as she nodded.

  Daniel’s mother shook her head. “He doesn’t care about winning the race.”

  “He doesn’t?” She tried to see over the crowd that had gathered in front of her, but with her small stature, Hannah couldn’t see anything.

  Bonnie laughed. “No, he just wants to whip Levi.”

  More competitiveness between the brothers. Bonnie’s voice sounded as if she was proud that her boys were competing again. What was it with the woman?

  From the shouts, Hannah could tell that someone called Little Roy was winning. She shaded her eyes and looked up at Bonnie. Since no one was paying attention to them or their conversation, Hannah asked, “Doesn’t it bother you that those two are always at odds with each other?”

  Bonnie turned around and looked at her. “You must think I’m an awful mother.” She flung her braid over her shoulder.

  “I didn’t say that,” Hannah answered in a calm voice. She felt as if a storm was about to burst and she was going to be in the eye of it.

  As fast as the anger had built in Bonnie’s eyes, it evaporated. “Hannah, you have to understand. Those boys have been competing all their lives. It’s not done in malice—to them it’s fun. Didn’t you have siblings who you played games like this with?”

  Hannah had not thought of her younger brother and sister since the day she’d told Daniel why she’d left her home forever. “No. I have a brother and sister, but they are younger than me.”

  “Well, surely with your teaching experience you’ve seen siblings compete with each other in their studies and the games they played.” Bonnie turned back around and peered over the crowd. “Here they come, and Levi is in the lead!”

  Hannah wanted to get excited about the race, but didn’t feel any anticipation about knowing who was going to win. It no longer seemed important.

  She’d missed so much of her brother’s and sister’s lives. What were they doing now? Simon would be twenty-four years old and Sarah twenty-two. Did Sarah look like their father or their mother? Everyone had said Hannah was the spittin’ image of her father. Sadness enveloped her. Did Simon look like Pa, too?

  “Well, I’ll be dogged. James McDougal passed Levi up. Can you believe he won by a nose?” Bonnie turned to look at her. “Hannah? Are you all right? You are as white as a ghost.”

  “I’m fine. I think I’ll go get a cool drink.” Hannah hurried from the racing grounds. She pushed across the meadow, wishing for a quiet moment alone.

  “Hannah? Have you seen Daisy or Mary?” Opal twisted her apron in her hands.

  She shook her head. “Not since this morning. They were playing with a group of older kids.”

  “Thanks.” Opal continued on toward where everyone was congratulating the riders. She called over her shoulder, “If you see them, please hang on to them and find me.”

  Hannah called back, “I will.” She continued walking toward a booth where a young girl was selling lemonade.

  Hannah recognized her as Betty Parker. Betty’s family lived on the Westland Ranch, also. She had two brothers whom she walked to and from school with each day.

  “Hello, Miss Young,” Betty said, standing a little taller. “Would you like a glass of lemonade?”

  “Yes, please.” Hannah leaned against the table. She could hear shouts coming from the horse race, but her thoughts were on Daisy and Mary. Where could the little girls have wandered off to?

  Betty handed Hannah her drink. “Is something bothering you, Miss Young?” she asked, taking the money Hannah passed her and putting it away.

  Hannah nodded. “Opal, Opal Dean, just asked me if I’d seen her granddaughters. I noticed them playing earlier today with some older children, and I can’t get them out of my thoughts.”

  “You don’t think something’s happened to them, do you?” Concern laced Betty’s voice.

  Hannah immediately wanted to reassure her. “Probably not. They might be down at the races. I’m sure Opal will find them.” She took a sip of the sour drink.

  “Mark! Luke!”

  The sudden yell coming from Betty startled Hannah. She looked at the young girl in surprise as the two boys slid around the corner.

  “What, Betty?” they asked in unison.

  Hannah placed a trembling hand over her pounding heart. The boys, aged five and six, looked almost like twins. Their brown hair stood on end and their light blue eyes stared up at their sister.

  Betty knelt down in front of them. “Have you two seen Daisy Brown or her sister, Mary?”

  “Eellier,” Luke, the five-year-old, answered.

  Little Luke had several words he couldn’t say very plainly. Hannah added earlier to her mental list of words to work with him on.

  “Earlier?” Betty repeated. “When? Where?”

  The boys looked down at their feet. Guilt seemed to weigh heavily on their young shoulders. Hannah wondered if she should step in or allow Betty to confront her brothers.

  “Boys?” Betty’s voice was firm.

  “Daisy said she wanted to go look at Steven’s puppy,” Mark answered.

  Betty’s voice softened. “That doesn’t sound so bad. Why didn’t you want to tell me?” She laid her hand on the little boy’s shoulder.

  “’Cause that’s not all they are doing.” Mark rubbed his bare toe in the dirt.

  She nodded. “Go on, you can tell me. You aren’t in trouble, Mark.”

  Hannah admired Betty’s patience with her brothers. Personally, she wanted to shake them and demand where the girls were, but knew Betty’s wisdom in dealing with the boys calmly would get better results.

  “They were going to the river with the big kids. I told Daisy her grandma wasn’t going to like that,” Mark answered.

  Hannah turned to look off in that direction. Trees blocked her vision of the water and she could only think the worst. “How long have they been gone, boys?”

  Mark shrugged. “I don’t know. The big kids came back right before the races started.”

  “But you didn’t see Daisy or Mary?” Betty asked.

  Both boys shook their heads.

  Hannah wanted to ask why they hadn’t mentioned this sooner, but said, “I’ll go tell Opal.” She turned to the little boys; they stood with their heads bowed. “Thank you, boys, for telling us.”

  She hurried back the way she’d come. No longer was she worried about Daniel and Levi’s relationship. Now all she cared about was finding those two little girls.

  * * *

  Disappointment filled Daniel when he realized Hannah was no longer at the races. Had she been disillusioned with him for losing to James? That seemed unlikely. He’d enjoyed the day with her. She’d teased him and played games all the while, never acting as if winning was her goal. So he doubted Hannah would be upset with him for losing.

  Where was she? He searched the crowd for the top of her head. Hannah was short; he might not be able to find her in the melee.

  Daniel decided to go to higher ground and look down upon the crowd. Maybe he could spot her then. He climbed up on the judge’s stand and searched.

  He saw Opal rushing around like a chicken with her head cut off. Concern filled Daniel as he hurried down and headed in her direction, dodging many men and women who laughed and shouted as a new group of riders lined up to race.

  The smells of fair foods, bodies and horses filled his nostrils as he jogged in her direction. “Opal!” he called when he saw her several feet away.

  She turned toward him and the fear in her eyes sent a chill down his spine. Had something happened to Hannah? He knew his mother was with Levi because they’d said something about going to get a bite to eat before heading home.

  “Oh, Daniel, have you seen Daisy or Mary? I can’t find them anywhere and I’m starting to get scared.” Opal wrung her hands.

  Relief filled him momentarily. Then concern took its place. “No. When was
the last time you saw them?”

  A flush scored her cheeks. “Lunch. I was manning the pie-eating contest after that and the girls were playing quietly. I told them not to leave without me. Normally, they do just what I tell them to.” Tears filled her eyes. “But when I came back to get them, they were gone, and I can’t find them anywhere.”

  “We’ll find them,” Daniel promised. “I’ll round up some of our men from the ranch and start looking. They can’t have gone far.” He turned to go get Tornado and find Cole, Tucker and Sam. He’d seen all three of them within the past half hour and knew they’d be watching the races.

  “Opal!” Hannah’s sweet voice stopped him.

  Daniel spun back around and saw her running toward them. Her face appeared flushed and worry lined her eyes. Had she found the girls?

  “I think Daisy and Mary are at the river.” She held her side and panted for air.

  Opal let out a little squeal of fear. “Why do you think that?”

  Hannah stood there, trying to catch her breath. “The Parker boys said that they went down there after lunch.”

  Daniel looked deeply into her eyes and knew his reflected the same worries. What if they drowned? What if they got lost? So many what-if questions raced through his mind that he couldn’t keep up with his thoughts.

  His gaze moved to the sky. The sun would be setting in a few hours; they needed to find the children. “I’ll go get the men and start a search party.” He took a moment to lay his hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Opal. We’ll find them.” Daniel prayed it wasn’t an empty promise.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The sun was beginning to sink in the west. Daniel ran his hand through his hair and down the back of his neck. He’d failed again. Daisy and Mary were nowhere to be found.

  The sound of his men calling their names as they searched the river and riverbank drifted to him. He could tell some of the men had traveled a long way downstream, for their shouts were faint and distant.

  God, where are they? Why aren’t they answering our calls? Why would You let this happen? Daniel knew it wasn’t his place to question the Lord, but he couldn’t stop his thoughts.

  Cole rode up beside him. In a low voice he said, “If they fell in the river, boss, there’s no sign of them now.”

  The water’s happy gurgling seemed to mock him. What was he going to tell Opal? He nodded to Cole and replaced his hat. “Have the men search one more time, then we’ll head back to town.” He looked to the woods that separated him from the grandmother who was waiting for him to keep his word.

  He prayed that maybe the girls had headed home or were in town playing, although he knew both scenarios were unlikely.

  Shortly after rounding up enough men to search the river, he’d sent another set to search the town. Granite wasn’t that big of a community, and already that search party had returned empty-handed. If the missing children were in town playing, they were well hidden.

  In the distance he could hear women calling the little girls’ names. Unlike his men’s voices, theirs were loud and strong, almost as if they were standing a few feet away. And yet he knew they were calling from the fairgrounds.

  Cole returned and shook his head. “No sign of them, boss.”

  Daniel sighed. He’d have to tell Opal that her granddaughters were still lost. With a heavy heart, he ordered, “Let’s head back.”

  He felt the eyes of the other men on his back as he led the way. Did they see him as a failure? Or were they feeling like failures, also? Why did God allow men to feel this helpless? Was it a form of punishment for not being stronger for their families?

  They entered the meadow and saw the women lined up and facing them. Daniel stopped Tornado and stared. Had the whole town come out to search for the little girls?

  Hannah stood off to one side. She cupped her hands around her mouth, then nodded. In sync, the women cupped their hands around their own mouths and called, “Daisy! Mary!”

  Then he noticed men lined up behind the women Once more Hannah cupped her hands around her mouth, nodded and yelled, “Daisy! Mary!” This time the area thundered as men’s voices blended with the women’s.

  He didn’t know what to think. Hannah waved to him and then pointed, indicating that she wanted him and his men to join the crowd of people yelling for the little girls. Chills ran down his arms at the magnitude of support the town was willing to provide to find two lost children.

  Daniel dismounted and watched as his men followed his example. He located his mother and Opal standing on the side. Opal’s shoulders shook and tears fell from her eyes. She looked older, more tired than when he’d left her.

  Once more voices echoed, “Daisy! Mary!”

  How long did Hannah plan on keeping this up? Wouldn’t the little girls have answered by now if they heard them? Daniel moved to stand on the other side of Opal. He draped an arm around her shoulders and then looked to Hannah.

  She raised her hands again, looked to the woods then instead of nodding, she broke into a run. His gaze swung to where she was heading.

  From the woods came Daisy, holding Mary’s free hand. Mary dragged a rag doll on the ground, as if she didn’t have the strength to hold it in her small arms. Daisy clutched pages of paper in the hand that wasn’t clinging tightly to her little sister’s. Their hair was sticking up all over, with twigs in it. They seemed to be walking slowly, and from this distance he wasn’t sure, but it looked as if they’d been crying.

  Daniel heard Opal gasp and felt her tug away from him. He watched as she ran after Hannah. The crowd gave a shout of joy and men’s hats filled the air. Then everyone was running toward the children and their grandmother.

  Daniel continued to stand there, unsure what his feelings were. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was thrilled that the girls were safe and back in their grandmother’s arms. But he also felt disappointed at himself, proud of Hannah and her quick thinking and angry with a God who could make him feel so helpless.

  * * *

  Hannah moved away from the girls and let their grandmother envelop them in her arms. Opal cried tears of happiness. Hannah backed even farther away as the whole town of Granite celebrated the children’s safe return. Her eyes searched out Daniel.

  He stood where they’d been calling out for the girls. She couldn’t read his expression, but sensed his emotions were running high. When had she become so attuned to his feelings? Hannah ignored the question and walked to him.

  When he didn’t say anything, she noted, “They seem to be fine.”

  Daniel nodded.

  “I’m sure the doctor will want to examine them, but then we can go home.” Hannah didn’t know why she’d said that. She simply felt that one of them needed to be talking.

  Fear like none she’d ever felt before had entered her heart at all the possibilities of what could have happened to the girls. She’d suppressed those feelings, but now felt them rising up like an underwater spring breaking forth with the first spring thaw.

  Daniel stepped forward and enfolded her in his arms. She felt him shaking and knew what he was going through. For the first time, Hannah didn’t care what others might think. She held on to him and started sobbing with relief.

  “Don’t cry. You’re right, they are fine.” He echoed her earlier words against the top of her head.

  She pulled away and smiled up at him. “Daniel, these are tears of joy, not sorrow. God brought them back to us.”

  He released her and stepped away. “You really believe that?”

  Hannah stared at him. “You don’t?”

  Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know what to think or believe anymore.” He turned to leave.

  She couldn’t let him go. Not like this, not with him doubting God. Hannah grabbed his arm and walked with him. Where he was going didn’t matter. She laid her head against his arm and held on tight as they walked to Tornado. The well-trained stallion stood where Daniel had left him.

  Daniel gr
abbed the reins and led the horse as they continued walking. “Why would God allow them to get lost like that in the first place?” he demanded.

  Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know, Daniel. God is God. I can only speculate that maybe He wanted to bring the town together, or maybe to teach the girls to obey their elders. Or maybe He wanted me to make myself visible enough to help two little girls and not care what other people thought of how I walk. Only God knows why He does what He does.”

  Silence hung between them. Daniel continued to walk to where they’d left the wagon. He gently removed her arm from his and then tied Tornado to the side.

  Hannah sat down on the wagon bed. “Are you angry with God over Daisy and Mary, or over something or someone else, Daniel?” She held her breath, not sure that he’d answer her.

  Daniel sat beside her. “I’ve been struggling with Gracie Joy’s death for years. My sister was ten years old when she died. Today I realized there are only four years’ difference between her and Daisy’s ages. Hannah, that is too young to die!”

  She nodded. “Yes, Gracie Joy was young when she died, but I have to believe that God knows what He’s doing when He takes children from our lives.”

  Daniel turned sorrow-filled eyes upon her. “What was He doing when He took Gracie Joy?”

  Daniel’s pain begged to be soothed. Hannah wasn’t sure she was the one with the answers. She’d never lost a sibling to death. Unable to look upon his sadness, she turned her attention to the other horses that stood beside wagons, waiting for their masters. She silently prayed. Lord, please give me the words Daniel needs to hear.

  They sat in silence. The crickets began singing, horses stomped their feet to ward off flies and sounds of rejoicing and happiness rang out from the fairgrounds. Daniel stared off into space, as if some inner war raged inside him. Hannah listened for God’s answer.

  When it was obvious that God wasn’t going to speak audibly to her, she took a deep breath and asked, “Daniel, didn’t you tell me Gracie Joy had a limp like mine?”