The Final Vow (Hearts of Hays Series #2)

by Barbara Goss

  “As long as you know they need a family as well as a home, Mr. Schaeffer. “It’s important for them,” Laura instructed.

  “We will!” Mrs. Schaeffer said.

  On the way home, Laura excitedly squeezed Jesse’s arm, “I already have homes for two children!”

  Jesse smiled down at her. They’d been married several weeks now, and she still thrilled him with her smile and exuberance. He bent down and kissed her. “I love you, Laura.”

  “I love you, as well. And I’m very happy,” she said, cuddling against his arm as he drove the wagon. “I couldn’t be happier.”

  “By the way,” Jesse said, “Mr. Miller will run the ad, but it won’t appear until next week, but you can save any interested family information for the next batch of orphans to arrive.”

  “I’ll visit each home first, and interview the prospective parents. I’m fulfilling my dream,” Jesse, “my purpose. I can feel it.”

  As Laura anxiously awaited the Orphan Train that Wednesday, she reviewed the list in her head: an infant for the Nellis family, a young lad for the Schaeffers, and a girl who’s old enough to mind twelve children for the Monroe’s. She felt proud of her first efforts.

  The train pulled in with a whistle, and puffs of loud, blinding steam. Laura couldn’t wait to see the children. After several minutes, two women led ragged and dirty children from the train. Laura stared, mouth agape. She hadn’t expected to see them in this condition. They were also scrawny and unhealthy looking. One of the women approached her.

  “Where do you want them?”

  “I only want three. An infant, a young lad, and a young girl.” Laura said.

  “Take your pick,” she said, coldly.

  Laura examined the line of children. Her heart went out to them. Every one of them smiled brightly, hoping to be selected. How could she pick just three? Then, she heard an infant crying. “What’s that?” she asked.

  “Oh, dear,” one of the chaperones said. “We forgot the infant.”

  Laura frowned and ran toward the train and the crying baby. Inside the train, she gasped. The conditions on the train were deplorable. The floors were filled with feces and urine, there were clothes and papers scattered all over, and there were no seats. The children had been packed in like cattle. Laura grabbed the infant lying on the floor underneath a newspaper. He or she was wrapped in a soiled blanket, and Laura knew the nappies were full by the odor. She peeked into his diaper and saw a bloody rash mixed with urine and feces. She became angrier than she ever had in her life.

  Laura brought the baby out and handed it to the newly arrived Reverend McCarty. “This is disgusting,” she whispered. “Please hold this little fellow while I deal with these so-called chaperones.”

  “Well,” one of the women said, “pick your children. We have to move on to the next city.”

  “We will take them all,” Laura announced.

  Reverend McCarty’s mouth fell open in shock. “Laura, there are fifteen of them, sixteen counting this baby.”

  “I will not put them back on that train,” she said sternly.

  The chaperone’s shrugged and boarded the train, and it soon chugged away.

  Reverend McCarty approached Laura. “What will we do with them all?”

  With tearing eyes, she replied, “I don’t know.”

  Jesse appeared just then and greeted her. Seeing her tears, he put his arm around her. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  She sniffled, “I just accepted responsibility for sixteen children.”

  He turned her to face him and asked, “You did what?”

  “Jesse, the conditions on that train were deplorable,” she said with tears streaming down her face. “I couldn’t send them back, there were feces, and…”

  “It’s all right,” he broke in, patting her back. “I don’t blame you. We'll think of something.” He kissed her forehead, dried her tears with his handkerchief, and addressed the reverend, “What about the church? Can we use it temporarily?”

  “Of course,” he answered. “But how will we feed and clothe them?”

  Laura looked up at Jesse, “The money. We’ll use the money.”

  Jesse gave his wife an affectionate squeeze, “I can’t think of a better way to use it.”

  New clothes were purchased for all the children. Washed and clothed properly, the children no longer looked pathetic. Mrs. Dutton agreed to drop off her unsold baked goods each day, and Meg donated a steer. Henry Abbott, the butcher, agreed to process the meat for the children. Everything ran smoothly until Reverend McCarty announced the children had to vacate by Sunday, as they needed the building for church services.

  Laura and Jesse delivered the three promised children to their new families. Now, they had thirteen children left who needed homes.

  Laura discussed the conditions on the train with Jesse. “How can we improve it?”

  Jesse pondered a moment, and then suggested, “Let’s donate money to whoever provides the train for the orphans. We want a new train with seats and proper facilities. We also want responsible chaperones.”

  “Do we have enough money for all that and money to send our own children to college?” Laura asked.

  “Honey, we’ll only run short of money if we have twenty-five children to put through college.”

  “Really? Are you sure?”

  “You have five hundred thousand dollars!” he exclaimed.

  Laura smiled. “Let’s do it!”

  “I love you, Laura, but this is your project. I’ll help where I can, but you’ll get the most satisfaction if you do it yourself.”

  “Where do I start?"

  “I think with Charles Miller at the newspaper office. He might be able to help you find the person responsible for the train, as well.”

  Laura worked on her project with Charles Miller while Jesse worked on the new fence for his own cattle, and worked on getting their house ready to move into. Jesse hoped that in a month their home would be ready to move into and everything seemed to be coming together like a solved jigsaw puzzle. What could possibly go wrong?

  Laura came home Saturday evening with thirteen children in tow. “Ma,” she said. “We have a few guests.”

  Meg’s mouth dropped open. Then, she smiled. “Bring them in, we’ll figure something out.”

  “I’m so sorry, Ma,” Laura said sincerely. “I didn’t know what else to do with them?”

  Meg said, “Well, we have Bert’s room now you’ve moved into Jesse’s room. Cassie can bunk with me. We’ll let the girls have Cassie’s room, and the boys, Bert’s room. We’ll spread sheets on the floors and provide blankets… it’s the best I can do.”

  “Oh, Ma!” cried Laura. “That’s wonderful!” She hugged her mother-in-law.

  “It’s the least I can do. Everyone has pitched in to help, now it’s my turn.”

  “Thank you.” Laura invited the children into the kitchen.

  “My, they washed up pretty good,” Meg said. “Who do we have here?”

  Laura introduced the children to Ma Collins. There were six girls and seven boys all between the ages of five and twelve.

  The next morning the Collins family, along with thirteen scrubbed and dressed-to-conquer children, walked into the church for Sunday services. Laura beamed with pride, as no one would ever guess they were orphans by their appearance. Laura marched them all down to the first row where they’d be visible to everyone.

  Before the closing prayer, Reverend McCarty, had the children stand. He introduced each child and asked for homes for them. “Pray and search your hearts. These children need a families.”

  As the congregation filed out of church, three families took a child each. Now they had ten children, five girls and five boys.

  Meg sighed, “I’ll take Ben. He can have Bert’s room when the others have been placed.”

  Laura hugged her. “Nine to go.”

  Margo Dutton caught up with Laura before she got into the wagon. “I’ll take the oldest girl, Do
ra; I think her name is.”

  “Thank you, Margo!” Laura said, gently pushing Dora forward.

  Margo greeted Dora and told Laura. “She’ll be part of our family as well as helping me bake.”

  Laura smiled at Jesse, “Eight to go.”

  Jesse reminded her, “The newspaper ad will appear tomorrow. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  “Jesse!” Laura scolded. “There is no luck! I’m praying. God is helping. I can feel it.”

  14

  Geoffrey Grandville’s home in Victoria, Kansas, appeared modest. He came to America from England when he bought land in Victoria from George Grant. Grant intended for Victoria to be a ranching community and was responsible for bringing the first Aberdeen Angus cattle to the United States. However, most of the English colonists he brought over to start the colony, were more interested in sports and dancing than in raising livestock. Having failed at ranching, most returned to England, leaving the Russians and Germans to later settle in Victoria. Geoffrey, however, took to this life and made a go of it. He built a two-story home and raised cattle and had a small farm with his American wife, Lydia. In England, only the oldest son inherits the title and the estate. Geoffrey received a stipend from the estate that kept him afloat while starting his ranch.

  Geoffrey, Lydia, and Newell, Earl of Greeley, sat at the wooden dining room table eating strawberry shortcake. However, here in America, his title was useless. So everyone called him Newell.

  “This is delicious,” Newell said. “Did you pick these strawberries yourself, Lydia?”

  “I did,” she answered. “We have a large strawberry patch, and we’re working on trying to grow some fruit trees.”

  “How long do you plan on staying, Newell?” asked Geoffrey.

  “Actually, I may not go back,” he said, pushing his empty dish away.

  “Really?” Geoffrey was shocked, but he had another agenda on his mind that he had to clear up first. “I suppose my letter didn’t reach you before you left for America, but I wrote to ask what happened to my yearly allowance.”

  “Ah, yes that.” Newell stood. “Can we talk over some port or brandy?”

  “Sorry, we don’t have alcohol in the house,” Geoffrey said.

  “You are joking; of course.” Newell laughed.

  “No. Lydia has been a positive influence on me. I go to church every Sunday and abide by the Bible and none of my friends drink alcohol either. So I don’t keep any.”

  “Good Lord!” Newell exclaimed.

  “Oh, please! We don’t take the name of the Lord in vain, either.”

  Newell sighed, “Now, I know why you and Lydia have no children! You don’t do anything enjoyable.”

  “We have a healthy married life, as God intended,” Geoffrey declared.

  Lydia picked up the plates and headed for the kitchen; but before she left the room, she turned and announced, “Oh, by the way, Newell, we are expecting a baby in six months.”

  “Congrats and all that,” he said, coldly.

  “Now,” Geoffrey said, “can we get back to the stipend?”

  “All right. No alcohol, how about coffee? Are you allowed coffee?” he said loudly enough for Lydia to hear.

  “Coming right up!” she yelled from the kitchen.

  “Do stop stalling, Newell.”

  “I’m out of dosh.”

  “What? What about the family estate and Father’s inheritance?”

  “Gone,” Newell said, taking a cup of steaming coffee from Lydia.

  “Just like that?” asked Geoffrey.

  Newell stirred his coffee for so long Geoffrey was tempted to shake him. Finally, Newell said, “I had a bit of a gambling problem.”

  Geoffrey rolled his eyes. God made the wrong brother the oldest, he thought. He just sat and shook his head. “So that’s why you’re not going back to England?”

  Newell nodded. “I’ve nowhere to go.”

  “Our home is small, and we have a baby coming…” Geoffrey began.

  Newell put up his hand, “I’ll find a place to live, don’t worry. As soon as I find a job.”

  “A job?” Geoffrey couldn’t believe this. “There are no gambling jobs or jobs for failing estate managers in Hays. What else can you do?”

  “I don’t know. Can I stay here until I find something?” Newell asked.

  “I don’t know where you’ll get a job here!”

  “I’ll ask around. I’m seeing a woman tonight, maybe she’ll know of an open position in town.”

  “A woman!” Now, Geoffrey had heard everything.

  “Can I borrow some dosh?”

  “No!” Geoffrey stood. “I’m going out to bale hay. Find a job!” Geoffrey let the door slam on his way out.

  Lydia came running. “Was that Geoffrey? He never slams the door.”

  “He’s become somewhat of a hothead.” Newell finished his coffee and replaced the cup to the saucer and rose. “I have to get ready for an outing with my new woman friend.”

  “Woman?” asked Lydia. “Who?”

  “Elizabeth Healy.”

  After the newspaper advertisement looking for foster parents appeared, Laura had several inquiries at the newspaper office. The ad referred interested people to contact Mr. Miller, who in turn, relayed the information to Laura. She placed five more children a mere two days after the ad appeared. With just four to go, she became excited. Each day, she reported to Mr. Miller to see whether there were any more inquiries. By the end of the week, she had just one child left, an adorable five-year-old girl named Nellie.

  That evening as Laura and Jesse sat under the Elder tree, Laura asked, “Do you think we could keep Nellie? She is such a sweet little girl.”

  Jesse sighed. “Sweetheart, we don’t even have a house to put her in yet, and we’ll soon be having babies of our own.”

  “I suppose you’re right, but…”

  He kissed her forehead. “Of course I’m right. I can’t wait to start a family.”

  When Laura met with Charles Miller at the end of the week, he said he had one more inquiry.

  Charles handed Laura a piece of paper. “This is a married couple, the Greeleys, who will take a child. They would like to meet with you at this address today at four o’clock. They must be new in town because I don’t recognize the name.”

  Laura excitedly took the paper. “We did it!” she cried. “Thank you so much, Charles.”

  Laura had mixed feelings as she trotted on her horse to meet with the couple at their address on Locust Street. She always met with the respective families before placing a child. She was excited that she had reached her goal, but she hated to part with Nellie. Nellie, a beautiful, helpful child with big expressive brown eyes, had melted her heart and she’d prayed that she and Jesse could keep Nellie.

  Disappointment flooded Laura when she drew up to the address on her paper, for it appeared to be a vacant shanty. She jumped down from her horse and walked around the house but it didn’t look as if anyone lived there. She checked the address again. As she bent over the paper with the address, someone grabbed her with one hand on her mouth and the other around her waist.

  15

  Jesse washed in the kitchen sink. The smell of the roast beef dinner Meg had on the stove made his stomach growl. He turned and dried his hands. “Where’s Laura?” he asked casually.

  Meg seasoned her gravy. “She had a meeting with a prospective family at four in town. We’ll hold dinner for her. It’s nearly six, she should be on her way back home.”

  Jesse went to the window and gazed out to the pathway. “Where’s Cassie?”

  “Having dinner with Silas. He took her to the Lucy’s again.” Meg pulled the gravy from the stove and put it near the oven vent to stay warm. “Any sign of Laura yet?”

  “No. I’m worried, Ma.”

  “She’ll be fine,” she scolded. “You worry about her too much. She’s doing a fine job.”

  “She’s never taken two hours to visit a family.”

  “S
top worrying.”

  “She hasn’t been riding long, maybe something happened with the horse,” he said.

  “Silas and Cassie rode to town with her, as far as the restaurant, of course.”

  “I’m taking a ride to town,” Jesse said. “Maybe I’ll meet her along the way.”

  As the sun began to sink below the horizon and Jesse still had not spotted Laura on the trail to town, he began to panic. He stopped at the diner in hopes that she’d stopped to see Cassie, but Laura’s horse wasn’t tethered out front. He went into the café anyway and approached Cassie and Silas.

  “Have you seen Laura?” he asked, trying to keep the panic he felt from his voice.

  “We rode in with her,” Cassie said. “Then, she went on to meet with a family.”

  “She’s not home yet, and I’m worried.” Jesse paced in front of the table. Silas offered him a seat, but he refused. “Do either of you know where the meeting took place?”

  Cassie answered, “I don’t think she mentioned the address. She said Miller gave her the information.”

  Jesse ran out of the café and down the street to the newspaper office where Charles stood locking his office door, preparing to leave for the day. Jesse met him as he turned to leave.

  “Charles!” he said breathlessly. “Where is Laura meeting with a family today?”

  “Locust Street, I remember the address as 42 because it’s also my age. Couldn’t forget that number,” he laughed. But Jesse had already sped away, leaving Charles in his dust.

  Jesse felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the house at 42 Locust Street. An abandoned old home with shutters flapping in the wind stood at that address.

  He walked around the place and saw some footprints in the dust indicating a possible struggle. He felt sick.

  Jesse checked inside the house. It was empty and full of dirt and cobwebs. He then rode to the sheriff’s office and found Higgins at his desk. “Someone has taken Laura!” he yelled.