Last Train Home

by Laura Stapleton

  The girl smiled. “You’re welcome. I had to check on the boys and figured it was easier to help you than disturb your talk with Mr. Dryden.”

  Alice bit her lip at the formality. She couldn’t blame her. After this afternoon, they might all be homebound on the next train. She struggled to keep tears from forming in her eyes again. The cook stove held embers, dying ones at that, and she followed the children outside. Jack stood at the wagon’s tailgate, helping each child up onto the back. She noticed how he’d piled extra blankets in the wagon bed and smiled at his thoughtfulness.

  He turned to her, his eyes bright as he grinned. “There’s our fancy Miss Wedgwood from town.” He reached out to her. “That reminds me. Let me help you up before I go get my hat.” Jack went to the side and held out his hand for Alice to take.

  She accepted his assistance, settling in on the seat. Alice waited until he came back with his hat on and holding a small bag. She wondered what he’d brought and almost asked until he gave Charlotte the item. The girl grinned at him before glancing at her with a guilty look. Alice added up both guilty looks. “You didn’t give them—” she began. “Jack, I specifically told them to leave everything of yours behind.”

  “Those aren’t my toys.” He glanced at her and put up his hands, adding, “All right. A few are mine, but I don’t know if you’ve noticed I’m not a boy. Conner and Carter could use the marbles and wooden animals far more than I could.”

  Alice crossed her arms with a frown at the doll Charlotte held. None of the children looked directly at her and she knew why. No one wanted to volunteer to behave and leave behind Jack’s gifts. She faced forward. If the adoption fell through, they’d either have to discard or bring the gifts to share with all the others. The children knew this, too. “Very well, but no arguing no matter how today turns out for us.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” all three said in unison.

  Jack clicked to Shep and the wagon began moving. They rode down the driveway and down the road a little ways. He asked, “How do you get them to behave so well?”

  She couldn’t help but chuckle at his naivety. Jack would know the answer if he’d had the responsibility of as many children as she had over the past few months. “There are times when they don’t. No one can be good every moment.”

  “True, but then, these three are the best.”

  She gave him a side glance to see if he were teasing her. His praise of the Hayses was a little too thick to be real. “I don’t know if getting soaked in the creek or accepting gifts after being told not to is behaving very well.”

  He stayed quiet for a few moments. “Very well. Besides those two things, they’ve been good.”

  “You’re right. They have.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “It will be difficult to go home without them.” Tears began to form in her eyes and Alice blinked them back. “But they, you, you’ll all be happy and that’s what counts the most.”

  Jack reached out for her and she placed her gloved hand in his. The warmth soaked through the layers of leather and thin cotton. The wagon continued and, not trusting her voice, Alice watched as the winter landscape passed by them. The barren trees allowed her to see deep into the woods.

  Not even a hint of green announced spring’s arrival. She knew her plans for the next five years as recently as three days ago. Alice snuck a peek at Jack. Now? All she wanted to do was make him turn around and take them home.

  ***

  Jack watched her from the corner of his eye. She fidgeted as restlessly as he felt. One word from her and he’d go back to the farm, drop them off, and drive to town to file anything and everything to keep all four of them with him. Alice might be far too old for him to adopt, but he’d need a governess of some sort, wouldn’t he?

  He glanced at her again. No, not an employee but a wife. A little chill went through him, unrelated to the arctic air around him. Ellie’s leaving should have taught him something about how long forever lasted. Alice sighed, and he couldn’t help but smile at the sound. Resisting her would do no good. He’d lost his heart to her already and didn’t want it back.

  As they rolled closer to Liberty, the cleared land showed more of the established homesteads prior to the Civil War. He nodded at one of the larger homes and said, “Every time I drive by, that place keeps me going, working harder on my place to make it as grand as theirs.” She turned to him with a surprised expression and he continued, “A foolish dream, I know, but I’d settle for being even half as successful.”

  “It is inspiring and a beautiful farm.” She continued looking at the farm while they drove past. “When did they settle here?”

  “A while back. This is the second home. The first was burned down by the Confederates.”

  “So, they rebuilt,” she mused. “Is this home an improvement?”

  Jack’s automatic answer was ‘yes’, because newer was always better. Still, he sensed her question held a deeper meaning. “Yes. The owners learned from the first and are better builders now.” She smiled at him and he stammered, “Were, I mean, since the construction is done and all.”

  “I see. Do you think they ever miss the old house? Even a little?”

  “They might sometimes, when remembering the good times they had there.”

  “That’s… understandable.” She clasped her hands, staring down at them. “The new building could never truly replace the old in their hearts, I suppose.”

  He looked behind them to check how preoccupied the children were before taking her hand and giving her a little squeeze before letting go. “I think I’d love the new home so much that I could never give the prior house a second thought.”

  She blushed, and he had a difficult time resisting the urge to draw her into his arms and kiss her cheeks redder. The traffic picked up, distracting him from embarrassing her with affection. Buggies, wagons, and a stagecoach kept him focused as they neared the town square. The carriages and wagons had increased and, over the noise, Jack asked the children, “See the courthouse? That’s where we’ll go to finish the adoptions.”

  The three peered around the adults. Conner tugged on Jack’s coat. “Can we go there first and be sure you’re our pa?”

  Jack looked at Alice, who shook her head, saying, “Sorry, but no. I need to speak to Mr. Donovan about Mr. Dryden’s suitability as a parent before anything else.” She arched an eyebrow at Jack. “We’re going there first.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said and tipped his hat. “You’re the boss.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.”

  He chuckled at her wry expression. Despite the chill, people on their personal missions kept the road crowded. He went straight past the courthouse to his lawyer’s office. With the side road quieter, he said, “Donovan is a decent guy and we’ve been friends for several years. He helped us—me—file the homesteader’s paperwork when we arrived in town.”

  “Hopefully his decision will be good.”

  “I’m sure it will be,” he responded, leading Shep to the hitching post. Both had been there often enough that the horse remembered what to do. “I’ll tie up and you all can go on in and get warm.”

  He helped Alice down from the seat. She helped Charlotte and the four of them went into the office. Jack hurried with securing his animal and the wagon before going inside as well. He walked in just as Donovan came up from the inner office. “Harry. Good to see you.”

  Donovan gripped his hand in a welcoming handshake. “Jack, you too.” He turned to the other four. “I assume these are your children, or soon to be.”

  “I expect so.”

  Donovan’s eyes narrowed, and Alice crossed her arms in response. He took a step forward, saying, “I’ve met Mrs. Dryden, so you must be Miss Wedgwood?”

  “Yes, sir, I am. Pleased to meet you.”

  He frowned and looked from Jack back to Alice. “Do you mind telling me where you’ve been, young lady?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alice lifted her chin. She wasn’t going to be
cowed by Mr. Donovan’s anger. “I was conducting a suitability visit at the Dryden farm, sir. Mr. Dryden met me at the train station alone, and I thought it best to do an inspection for myself.”

  “Why, pray tell, would you not take my and several other distinguished citizens’ word for Mr. Dryden’s reputation?”

  “Because circumstances changed…” she started to reply but paused, looking at Jack. Alice didn’t want to say the words for him.

  He took a step forward. “Because Ellie is gone. She left me before the children could arrive.”

  “Oh. I see.” Still scowling, Donovan went back to his desk chair and sat down. “We’re done here, then.” He picked up his pen and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper from a drawer. “Nice seeing you, Jack, nice meeting you, Miss, and good luck to the children.”

  A cold wave of horror swept through her. He’d decided their fates in an instant and without concern. She’d go back to New York. The Hayses might be scattered across the United States and territories. Alice didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or rage at the cavalier man’s inadvertent cruelty.

  “That’s all? They can come home with me?” Jack asked.

  Donovan barked a laugh. “What? No, of course not.” He sat up straighter and resumed his writing. “The four of them are going back home as soon as I can arrange it.”

  Gasps went out from the children and she shook her head at them to stay quiet. Charlotte’s chin quivered while the boys frowned. Alice couldn’t let his decision go without a fight. “Mr. Donovan, are you sure you—”

  He slid the paper over to Jack as if she hadn’t spoken. “This will allow them to stay at the hotel in the event that no train is leaving tonight.” He wrote instructions on another note. “And this will guarantee their passage back to the Home.”

  Alice watched as Jack picked up both papers. She stepped closer to his desk. “Sir, we need to discuss the adoption. The children and I stayed at the Dryden farm for two nights and I have input on the situation.”

  He sighed and put his pen down on the blotter. “Tell me, where was Mr. Dryden? In town at the hotel?”

  She vowed he wasn’t going to shame her. Jack had been a perfect gentleman and the children perfect chaperones. Even if her own behavior was less than stellar. She lifted her chin and said, “Mr. Dryden stayed with us at the farm.”

  “Do you care about your reputation at all, young lady?” Donovan asked. “Or is staying with a strange man in his home alone something you frequently do?”

  “Now look here, Harry.” Jack’s voice grew louder with each word. “You don’t get to talk about Miss Wedgwood like that. She’s as fine a woman as you’ll ever meet.” Alice tugged at his shirt and he glanced back at the children. “She does wonderful work for the orphanage, personally cares for every child, and I can vouch for her sterling reputation.”

  “I see. How does Ellie feel about her?” He leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Oh, that’s right. She’s not here and you can’t adopt as a single parent, now can you?”

  She glared at him. It was one thing for this toad of a man to attack her reputation. They’d never met before today. But to besmirch a fine person like Jack, who called this Donovan man a friend? Alice wasn’t having it in her presence. “Excuse me, but I beg to differ. You’re saying if Mrs. Dryden stayed, you’d let the couple adopt?” Donovan shrugged before nodding and she didn’t let him begin talking. “And if in a year’s time, had Mr. or Mrs. Dryden passed away, you’d then remove the children from their new home despite still having a loving parent?”

  “Of course not. By then they’d have settled in and viewed either Dryden as a real caregiver.”

  Alice narrowed her eyes and leaned in to drive her point home. “And you don’t think such a thing could have happened by now? That a person could have passed away before the children arrived?”

  “No. Ridiculous.” He shuffled papers around as if to appear busy. “I consider only healthy couples, not the sickly ones.” Donovan gave Jack a side glance. “Or the ones who continually bicker in my presence, either.”

  She crossed her arms. Clearly, this man had never lived with anyone else, ever. Even Sister Brigit argued with the bishop sometimes. “Bicker? Really? Are you married?”

  “Yes, but what does that have to do with this?”

  Ignoring the urge to wipe the smug grin from Donovan’s face, she asked, “How long did it take before you knew Mrs. Donovan was your future wife?”

  His expression softened at the memory. “From the first moment we met.”

  She had him trapped, even if he wasn’t aware of his position, and asked him, “So, you believe in love at first sight?”

  “I do,” he began, and his eyes narrowed. “But not in families at first sight.”

  His argument was weak and they both knew it. She glanced at Jack while asking, “Excellent term. Why not a family at first sight?” As she said the words his expression softened, and his eyes sparkled when she added, “If one can happen, why not the other?”

  He stared at the desktop for a couple of seconds. “Dryden, how long have you been divorced?”

  “Not long,” he began until Donovan glared up at him. “Fine. I have the document in my pocket and will file it as soon as we’re done here.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “You don’t make this easy. Miss Wedgwood and the children stayed out in the country with you, a single man, and you expect me to believe everything’s innocent and proper?”

  Jack had been innocent, mostly, and she certainly hadn’t been proper at times. Memories of kissing him flooded back and left her cheeks burning. She addressed the Hayses, “Children, please wait outside for a moment; it’s important for you to behave.” The trio chorused agreement and left the room. Alice turned to Donovan and said, “I do expect you to believe it because it’s the truth. Mr. Dryden is an honorable man and I’ve represented the Children’s Home as well as anyone could.”

  “So, you relied on the children as chaperones?”

  Jack frowned. “We didn’t need to rely on anyone. I’m a decent man and she’s a very respectable lady.” He leaned forward, putting his hands on his friend’s desktop. “Quite frankly, I’m getting real tired of you impugning her reputation.”

  Donovan stood. “And I’m getting very tired of you both arguing with me. If you think for one second that I’ll condone all this, you’re both insane.” Picking up the second paper, he said, “Take the voucher, go to the hotel, and stay until the next train back.” He gave the handwritten sheet to Alice. “This will ensure your trip home.” Donovan sat, saying, “Jack, I’m sorry, but we’re done here. We’re friends but I also have responsibilities. You’d do the same in my situation.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jack let Alice leave the room first and followed behind. He could tell the instant the children saw her face. Their expressions changed from hopeful to stricken. His nose stung with the threat of tears over their disappointment and his. He frowned to keep the sadness at bay for their sakes. “Come on now. None of us are giving up. You may be Hayses for now, but that’s all.” He knelt to the boys’ level. “We’re going to retreat and regroup. Then, we’ll give him no choice but to sign the adoption papers.”

  “Are you sure?” Charlotte asked before hiccupping a sob. “He didn’t like us at all.”

  As tears began rolling down the girl’s face, Alice hugged her. “Now, crying won’t solve anything. Mr. Dryden is right. We’ll go to the hotel and make up a plan so good no one can refuse us.”

  He straightened, the boys still clinging to him. “Let’s stop by the depot and see when the next train east is. I’m sure they don’t run every day.”

  Alice looked up at him and asked, “Do you think if we had more time to convince him, Donovan would change his mind?”

  The hope in her expression tore at his heart. Donovan wasn’t a man who waffled on anything. Jack could count on going home alone, again. Still, if he could eke out even one more hour with the children and Alice
, he’d do whatever it took. “Trying never hurt anything.”

  She nodded and let go of Charlotte. “We can visit the train station first.” She motioned to the boys. “Come on, pick up your belongings and let’s go.”

  The five of them left the courthouse before Jack remembered the paper burning a hole in his pocket. “Load up and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Before anyone could answer he turned on his heel and hurried back inside, headed toward the clerk’s office.

  A young man sat at the desk and looked up when Jack approached. “May I help you?”

  He took a deep breath, suddenly nervous. “Yes. I’d like to make my divorce official.”

  “Divorce?” He stood and reached for the document. “We don’t see those every day.”

  “I’m just lucky, I guess,” Jack retorted.

  “Hmm,” he glanced up from reading. “I know some would agree considering who they’re married to.” He reached the bottom of the paper and grimaced. “You’ve signed this already.”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head, still frowning. “You shouldn’t have. We’ll need witnesses to certify you truly want the action.” He began folding up the paper before placing it back in the envelope. “This is unacceptable and will need to be completely redone. A new document with her and her witness’s signatures before you can bring it in to us again.”

  About to point out to the clerk he was wrong, and Ellie hadn’t needed witnesses, Jack remembered. Her signature had two smaller names next to hers. She’d done everything correctly and he’d made a mistake in haste. She would be furious about the extra time and expense. Jack couldn’t blame her. He struggled to keep his voice calm. “Very well. I’ll see what I can do.”

  The clerk sat when Jack took the paper back. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s the law.”

  “I understand.” He tipped the brim of his hat and said, “Thank you” before turning on his heel and leaving.