Last Train Home

by Laura Stapleton

  Alice smiled. “I agree I will. Fresh air, blue skies, and people only when you want to see them.” She breathed in deep. “Every time I return to the city, the air seems more intolerable. A person grows more accustomed to wildflowers far more than they ever do to sewage.”

  Jack chuckled. “I’d reckon so, ma’am. Ellie and I read about the horrible conditions for children back east. It’s why I wanted to adopt.”

  She looked at him, eyebrows raised at first. “Thank you for your generosity. I wish more people felt as you do. It’s been easier to find good homes for older children if they’re well behaved and not ill.” Alice indicated Conner with a nod of her head. “Healthy children are the easiest to place.”

  He glanced at Carter first and then Charlotte. The girl stared down while smoothing her dress from dust. Had one of them been ill, or was sick now and hiding it from him? They all seemed strong. Turning the family away just because one of them wasn’t well seemed cruel and he smiled at Alice in reassurance. “I’m sure. A sickly child is a sad thing and something most people don’t make time for healing. Scratching out a living on the frontier tends to cull the weak.”

  “Hmm. In my experience, the city leaves abandoned children little choice but to seek healthier climates.” Alice stared ahead, jaw clenched. “The Hayses were all ill when the authorities brought them in to us.” She put an arm around Charlotte. “All three are doing so well now and have nothing to worry about in finding a new home.”

  He gave both ladies a smile to reassure Charlotte and reached back to ruffle Conner’s hair. “I agree. They seem in fine shape. The sisters have treated them very well.”

  One boy said, “I’m cold.”

  “Me too,” the second added.

  “Come on, then,” Alice said, and the two boys returned to their places under the blanket.

  “Now your behind is bony and cold,” Charlotte said as Carter nestled into her warmth.

  When they crested a hill, Jack could see the buildings of his farm. The low light barely hid them, and he decided to wait until pointing out their new home. He clicked to Shep, wanting to pick up the pace. “I didn’t know the police brought them to the orphanage, though.”

  Charlotte said, “They did after I went to the station house. I was scared at first to tell anyone about Pa, but he wouldn’t wake up.”

  Seeing the world through her eyes left a lump in Jack’s throat. He never knew his father. Jack Sr. had died in the War Between the States when Jack was a baby. “You did the right thing in letting an adult know.”

  “Pa had always told us to keep to ourselves, don’t steal, and always say we had a home even if we had to lie.” She held on to her brother when the buggy hit a bump. “The boys sold newspapers and I took care of our pa while he was sick. When he passed, the three of us didn’t know what to do.”

  Alice put an arm around the girl. “Mr. Dryden is correct. You did the best thing possible and now have the chance for new parents and a new life.”

  She sniffed. “I know and thank you, Miss Alice.” Charlotte gave Jack a slight smile. “Healthy parents are as important as healthy children.”

  He glanced at Charlotte and the boys. All three had the same profile. Jack had never awoken one morning and found one of his family members dead. He’d never been left alone in the world with a couple of siblings who might be taken from him by well-meaning adults. These children needed a solid home, a guardian they could count on, and Jack felt as if his only choice was to be their parent. “I agree with you and can promise I’m not going anywhere.”

  He turned onto the long driveway, the barren trees forming a lacy canopy over them in the last of the twilight. “Welcome home…” he began and, noticing Alice’s silent warning frown, he added, “To my homestead, I mean.”

  “Can we race to the front door?” Carter asked.

  Seeing Conner nod in agreement, Jack grinned and pulled Shep to a stop. “Go ahead.” The two were on the ground before the buggy’s wheels stopped rolling. “I’m glad there’s just enough light to keep them out of trouble.”

  “Oh, they can run into a mess even at high noon, Mr. Dryden.” Charlotte smiled at him. “If I weren’t such a lady now, I’d beat the both of them to the house.”

  Alice chuckled. “If I weren’t either, I’d be leading the way.”

  He grinned at the thought of the two city women racing to his front door. Jack glanced at Alice and corrected himself. Charlotte was a charming girl, not a woman, and not like her lovely guardian. “I’ll ride up to the barn, unhitch Shep, and show you around while there’s a bit of light left.”

  “I’d like that, thank you,” Alice replied.

  He nodded and looked out over his homestead. The place seemed smaller now that Jack looked through a stranger’s point of view. He pulled the horse to a stop in front of the barn. This building was larger than his home, but then he’d had the neighbor’s help in building the barn, too.

  Jack hopped down, extending a hand to help the women. When Alice accepted his offer, her firm grip on his hand hinted at the strength under her ladylike exterior. He’d managed to block out their touching during the wagon ride home, but now? This contact hit him like a mule’s kick.

  “Thank you,” Alice murmured, the second word a little breathless with her landing.

  The buggy squeaked as Charlotte sidled over, distracting him from watching Alice walk away. He refocused on the young girl as she held her hand out to him. Jack helped her to the ground, too. She was such a lovely young lady. “Careful, it’s a ways down.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Dryden.”

  His wife should have stayed. Ellie was a fool to run away from a daughter like Charlotte, even if she didn’t know it. He returned her grin. “You’re welcome.”

  Both boys ran up to him and Conner panted, “I won.”

  “This time,” Carter hollered and tapped Jack before sprinting back to the house.

  “Boys, stop,” he hollered. When both halted and turned to him, Jack nodded towards the house. “There’s a trail down to the creek. Race down the path and halfway you’ll find the chicken coop and smoke house.”

  “Not race,” Alice said. “Be careful.”

  “We’ll have eggs for breakfast,” Charlotte said.

  “Good idea.” He reached in for his guests’ luggage. “Miss Wedgwood, if you’ll take these while I care for Shep?”

  “Certainly,” she said and added, “thank you” while taking the bags from him. Alice looked from him to the house and back. “Will we have a bedroom?”

  “Sure, we do,” he said without thinking and she blushed. His face burned, too, at the sudden way his imagination leaped to them sharing a bed. Jack grinned, giving a mental shake to resume being mannerly. “I mean, you and Charlotte will share one while the boys and I will share the other.”

  “Thank you.” She turned to the young girl. “Let’s find you a bucket for the eggs and I’ll unpack for you three.”

  The two walked away and Jack watched them for a couple of seconds before turning to Shep. “Come on, boy. Let’s get you settled in for the night.”

  He led the horse and buggy to the barn. The day had been the exact opposite from what he’d expected when hitching up the horse for town. He undid the fastenings and led Shep to his stall. Instead of riding in, declining the adoption, and signing—

  Jack halted and Shep bumped into him. He’d forgotten the divorce papers entirely. Meeting the Hayses and Alice not only distracted him but they’d thrown his entire day, if not life, off course. Ellie had been the love of his life. They’d meant to move west, start an empire of their own, complete with a large family. One by one, those dreams ended for them both. The only thing he had left was his small farm. Jack hovered between hope and despair, depending on what Alice and Donovan decided.

  He eased the bit and halter from Shep’s head, scratching behind the horse’s ears with his free hand. “Alice,” he said for only him and the animal to hear. She’d upset his plans even now. H
er home was in a city he’d most likely never visit, and all he wanted was to learn everything about her. Jack never even considered finding another wife, but when Alice smiled at him with a twinkle in her eyes? He was smitten.

  After shaking himself out of the daydream, he refreshed Shep’s hay. With a parting pat to the horse’s neck, he headed over to his three ladies. Each cow was heavy with calf and needed names from the Hays children. He grinned while adding hay to their trough. Jack looked forward to hearing what they’d come up with to call each animal. Satisfied the livestock had enough to eat and drink, he went back into the chilly evening. The wind picked up, chilling him into a brisk walk.

  Once inside, the women’s voices and doors creaking open and closed in the other rooms pleased him. The place had felt less like a home and more like a vacant house in the past week or so. He closed the door behind him, shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it up along with his hat. A row of coats was on the hooks to the right of his and Jack almost chuckled at his plan working. He’d put them in right after receiving word about the children due to arrive.

  “Hello,” Alice said as she walked into the room. “The boys are still outside. Charlotte left to visit the henhouse just now, and I’d wanted to start a fire.”

  “No need to mess up your nice dress.” As he spoke, Jack went over to the small woodpile. “I’ll get something burning soon.”

  “I did check for an apron, thinking Mrs. Dryden might have left one behind.”

  He put kindling on the stacked wood inside the stove. “She didn’t leave behind anything of hers. Even took one of the horses.”

  “That’s a shame. Shep will get lonely without a companion.”

  He paused, the match he was about to strike hovering in mid-air. “Oh?” He continued with the motion, igniting the thin branches. “She was probably thinking of the journey home more than how the rest of us would feel.” Jack paused at the slip before clearing his throat. Best to just ignore the slight confession and hope Alice didn’t catch the resentment he felt toward Ellie.

  “I expect so.” She watched as he stood, his muscles a little stiff from the cold. “Your wife has been gone a month?”

  “Yes, about that long.” Now, since she’d asked, Jack wasn’t sure of the exact length of time. He walked over to his coat and pulled the divorce and adoption envelopes from his pocket. He gave the decree another read-through. The document looked harmless enough. The first time he’d read it, the first few words had broken his heart and almost his spirit, too. But now while reviewing them? The pain didn’t seem real right now. “It’s been a month and a day.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Her sympathy broke through his musings. Jack glanced up at her and tried to give her a reassuring smile. “Thank you. So am I. I loved her and expected our vows to last far longer than they did.”

  “Do you think she’ll return someday?”

  He folded the papers before laying them on the table. “That’s a very good question.” Jack picked up the adoption information’s envelope, tapping the edge against his hand. He wanted to be honest and say Ellie was never coming back. The paper hitting his palm tapped out in the silence, broken only by the firewood popping. If he told the truth, would Alice allow him to adopt the children? Probably not. He had to keep her from refusing him outright. “I think—”

  Chapter Five

  The back door busting open interrupted him. “We found the chicken coop!” Carter shouted.

  Conner jostled his brother as the two ran up to the adults. “You should have seen them. The big one tried to kill me.”

  The twins spoke over each other about their poultry encounter until Jack held up a hand. “What about your sister?”

  “She’s saved us from the big chicken,” Carter said. “She waved him back, so we could escape.”

  “Saved our lives,” Conner added. “We would have died.”

  Jack glanced at Alice and shared a look. They both were on the same page, especially with her biting her lip so as to not laugh outright. “I’d better go make sure she’s unharmed. I’ll send her to the house but might be a while myself since I have animals to feed, eggs to gather, and water to carry.” He went for his coat, still drying on its peg.

  “Wait a moment.” Alice took his arm. “Could the boys help you do chores and see what farm work is like?”

  He put a hand over hers. They remained in contact for a few moments until she slipped away from his touch. Her action broke him from their trance and he grinned. “I figured they’d learn soon enough, but you’re right. Why not? No time like the present.” Jack turned to the boys. “Are you two ready?”

  “Yeah,” they both hollered, and Carter added, “Teach me how to wrangle that chicken.”

  “You bet.” He went to get the water bucket and a pail for the eggs. “Maybe we can talk your sister into helping us.”

  The door opened, and Charlotte walked in while holding eggs close to her. “Look what I found. It was just like Sister Brigit said. Reach under while cooing at them and look.”

  Both boys reached for the eggs, their sister letting them take a few. Carter held one up to the lamplight. “This one is still warm.”

  “So is this one,” Conner replied. “Feel.”

  The three of them swapped eggs back and forth, marveling over each one. Jack glanced over at Alice as she watched. She was a pretty woman in any light, but from the lamp? Her fair hair gleamed. He couldn’t help but chuckle when curiosity won and she reached out for a warm egg of her own to hold. “It’s getting too dark out for all of us to be wandering around out there. I’ll go and get water. There’s bacon in the pantry cupboard. I cut extra at dinner last night for today.”

  Alice paused in examining the egg. “It is very pretty, Carter.” She addressed Jack. “Are there morning chores we can help with tomorrow?”

  “There are, if you all don’t sleep late enough to miss them.”

  “We won’t,” Charlotte said while putting the remaining eggs on the table. “I want to see more of the farm in the daylight.”

  “Good,” Jack replied on his way to the back door. Nothing would be finished tonight if he kept hanging around in here, trying to keep from staring at Alice. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

  He hurried outside. The air seemed to freeze in his throat and he didn’t want to take his time. The pump handle stuck to his skin. He muttered a muffled oath while retrieving a glove and resuming the actions. The bucket full, he paused for a moment. A less distracted man would have checked the coop, smokehouse, and barn for the night.

  Jack grinned, not minding the full bucket while making his rounds. The children in his home and his finding Miss Wedgwood attractive gave him hope for the future. He could be charming and persuasive when he wanted to be. All he had to do was give Donovan the facts, convince Alice the Hayses would thrive, and everything would be settled.

  He stepped onto the back porch, stomping his feet free of extra snow at the same time. Stepping inside, Jack lifted his chin a little bit, realizing dinner smelled better than it had in a while. “I can tell you found the bacon.”

  The girl gave him a smile before turning back to her work. “I did. You’d mentioned the food cabinet and I figured I had to check the containers around here.”

  Alice pressed her fingertips against her temples and said, “Tell me you didn’t snoop.”

  The girl’s smile fell as she wrung her hands. “Sorry, but I only looked for food and nothing else.”

  The fearful and worried expression on the young girl’s face broke his heart. He had to reassure her. “It’s all right. I want her and the boys to make themselves at home.” He set the pail down by the stove and began removing his outerwear.

  “Thank you, Mr. Dryden,” Charlotte said before the bacon’s pop distracted her. “I found some preserves, too.” She strained to reach a higher shelf above the pantry.

  “Here, let me help.” He gave her the jam and retrieved the plates stacked just below it. Handing Charlo
tte a serving platter, too, he gave Alice the same smile he used on his mom to keep him out of trouble. “Once they have a chance to settle in, you’ll see this is the perfect place for them.”

  She pursed her lips while taking the plates from him and setting the table. “I’ll try to keep an open mind, but you know we’re only staying tonight. Silverware?”

  He frowned. “Yes, right here.” Jack grabbed a jar full of cutlery and set it in the middle of the table. One night wasn’t long enough. With the girl having learned how to cook and as full of energy as the boys were, they’d be just fine as a family. As long as he moved almost everything to within Charlotte’s reach. He pulled out a kitchen chair for Alice. “You’re welcome to spend the week here.”

  She sat, fussing with her skirts as she did so. “I can’t without causing a delay at the main office.”

  Jack joined her at the table. Her use of ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ seemed encouraging. “I don’t mind taking you to town, so you can send a telegraph to Sister Teresa.” A grateful light flashed in her eyes. “Tomorrow, maybe the day after. Whenever you decide.”

  “I shouldn’t put off returning home.” She chewed on a part of her bottom lip for a few seconds before narrowing her eyes. “We could spend the day in town tomorrow while I talk to the various committee members about you caring for the children by yourself. Afterward, I can send a telegraph saying I’ll be leaving here in three days.”

  Charlotte set the food down in front of the adults and went to the back door. “Boys? Dinner is ready.”

  Jack wanted to ask Alice to stay longer. He stood and brought up the extra chairs he’d made for them. Glancing at her soft brown hair gleaming in the firelight, a guilty twinge settled in his gut. He hadn’t even signed the divorce papers, never mind filing them at the courthouse. They’d all be better off if Alice went home and Ellie came back to be the mother they’d both planned on her being.