White River Brides

by Frances Devine

  They nodded solemnly. Silent for a change.

  “And you haven’t heard from your mother in all this time?”

  “No, ma’am.” Addy’s face crumpled and she blinked rapidly. “I reckon she just don’t care about us no more.”

  “Yep. She just quit lovin’ us after that huckster doc come along.” Tuck’s bottom lip trembled.

  “Oh, you poor little things.” Lexie scooted over and enveloped both girls in her arms. “I’m so sorry I brought the subject up. You don’t have to talk about it anymore.”

  Tuck sniffled. “Thank you, Miss Lexie. Could we go play in the creek some more before we go back to your place?”

  “Of course you can. You go right along and play while I gather things up.”

  With sighs, the twins stood and headed for the creek. Within minutes Lexie heard them laughing again. She breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized how quickly children could get over a sad moment. But she was so glad they did.

  They arrived back at the farm just in time to wash up and help Aunt Kate prepare supper.

  After they’d cleaned up the kitchen, Lexie got her Bible and two writing tablets and pencils from her room, and she and the girls went outside and sat on the porch swing.

  The twins listened in rapt astonishment as she read the story of Daniel in the lions’ den.

  “Oh my.” Addy’s eyes were shining. “Do you mean those lions didn’t even try to tear Daniel to bits?”

  “That’s right. The Bible says God closed the lions’ mouths.”

  “How’d He close ’em? Did He tie their jaws together?” Tuck frowned. “And did the lions try to bite God?”

  “No, Tuck. Nothing can hurt God. And the Bible doesn’t say how He did it. Maybe He just wouldn’t let them open their mouths.” Leave it to Tuck to ask this sort of question.

  “But why would God do that?”

  “Because Daniel loved God and obeyed Him. He refused to bow to the king’s image, even though he knew he might be killed. So God saved him from the lions.”

  “God must really be strong then.” The words were only whispered from Addy’s lips.

  “Yes, God is very strong. And very powerful. There’s nothing He can’t do.”

  When neither girl spoke, Lexie smiled and stood up. “How about you girls each write what you thought about the story and what lesson you’ve learned. Tomorrow night, you can read them to me, and we’ll talk about it some more.”

  Lexie stood and walked to the door. When she looked back, the girls were looking from each other to the tablets in their hands, panic on their faces. Understanding flooded Lexie, and remorse stabbed at her heart. How could she have been so stupid? “You know what? I’ll just ask some questions. And how would you like to begin reading lessons?”

  Relief flooded both faces, and two big grins tugged at Lexie’s heart. She only hoped they’d have enough time for the lessons before their father came to get them.

  Chapter 5

  Jack leaned forward on the fence rail and squinted against the late afternoon sun. The roan, which should have been back at the livery a week ago, pranced around the corral while Will Rayton saddled the horse he called Jolly.

  After leading the horse out the gate, Will stopped and shoved his hat back, a grin on his friendly face. “You shore look a sight better than you did two weeks ago.”

  “Thanks to you. If you hadn’t rescued me and stayed and tended my wound, I’d have likely died.”

  “I’m sure you’d have done the same for me.”

  “And thanks for your family taking the twins.” He grinned. “I hope they haven’t been a lot of trouble for your aunt and sister.”

  “Naw. Aunt Kate loves kids. Otherwise she’d have likely thrown me in the river as ornery as I was. And the girls seemed pretty sweet to me.”

  “Yes.” Sure they were. “They can be.”

  The young man swung into the saddle and reached down to shake Jack’s hand. “I’ll tell Lexie to get the girls ready so you can come get them. Tonight I reckon?”

  Jack cleared his throat. He’d been thinking about this all day but felt a little nervous now that the time had come to broach the question.

  “Uh, I was wondering. Do you think your family could possibly see clear to keep the girls until I get back?” At the surprise on Will’s face, he hastened to add, “Of course I’ll pay for their care, and they’ll need clothes. I think all they have are two pairs of overalls each. I’d planned to try to look for a family in the area to take them in, but since I’ve been down so long and have to get back to my business, I don’t know what to do. If my crew has done their job, we’d best be heading back downriver tonight. I don’t want to put the poor things in an orphanage unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

  “Wh–what? An orphanage? What’s wrong with you, man? Can’t you take them with you?”

  Surprise shot through Jack as he stared at the look of shock on Will’s face. Did he really expect Jack to take two children he barely knew on the river with him?

  Oh, what was he thinking? “Look, it’s all right. Forgive me for asking. You’ve done enough, and I don’t blame you for not wanting to be bothered any longer. I’ll try to find someone in Forsyth to take them in. It might set me back a few days, but I’ll just have to try. I really don’t want to take them to an orphanage except as the last option.”

  “W–w–wait,” Will sputtered. “We’ll keep them. You don’t need to worry about paying anything. Enjoy your trip on the river.”

  Jack stared in wonder as Will kneed his horse and took off at a gallop. What in the world was stuck in the young fellow’s craw? He scratched his head and frowned.

  Well, at least the twins would be taken care of while he was gone. He’d find a home for them soon. Surely someone in Forsyth or maybe one of the homesteads along the river would be happy to make a home for two beautiful little girls.

  Still, he couldn’t help wondering at Will’s behavior. Maybe he should go say good-bye to the girls and make sure the Raytons were the good folk he’d thought they were and that they wouldn’t dump the girls off on someone unsuitable. But he couldn’t believe Will was like that. The man’d taken care of him for two weeks and wouldn’t take a thing in return. Besides, Jack had to hurry back to Forsyth and his men on the Julia Dawn before they decided to hire on with someone else.

  But he’d make a quick stop at the general store on the way and tell Hawkins about the girls and their needs. Maybe by the time he got back, the man would have found a home for them.

  Lexie couldn’t find words. Grief shot through her. How could a father be so callous? “Will, are you sure that’s what he said?”

  They stood by the barn. When Will had called her out, she’d thought he was going to tell her that Mr. Sullivan wanted them to take his daughters home. The thought had saddened her; she’d grown to love them so much in just two short weeks. But oh, if only that had been the case. She could have handled her own sadness. But the thought of theirs was too much to contemplate.

  Will nodded. “I couldn’t believe it either. But he said it all right. Just as calm as could be.”

  Through her grief, a spark of anger ignited in Lexie’s heart. Jack Sullivan was every bit the kind of man she’d thought him to be when she’d first set eyes on him. No, worse. He was a monster. He must be. Only a monster would think of placing his own daughters into an orphanage so that he could go about his own business. It wasn’t as though he had no other means of making a living. He had the farm. But no, he must have his adventures up and down the river without a thought for his adorable twin girls.

  Absently, she tapped her foot on the ground and lines furrowed her forehead. “Will, we can’t let them know what he’s planning. It would devastate them. And we need to make it seem as though he wanted very much to come tell them good-bye but was unable to do so.”

  “I hate to lie.” The sins of lying and the punishment thereof were some of the first things that had been impressed on both Lexie and
Will from the time they were small.

  “We won’t. We’ll just let them know we want them to stay longer. That part is true. And if they ask questions, we’ll simply have to be evasive. I won’t have them heartbroken, Will!”

  “Sure. You’re right, Lexie. They’ll be fine. After all, you did say they hardly seemed to miss their father at all.”

  “Well, that’s probably because he’s been gone most of the time. They’re used to not having him around.” She took a deep breath and blew back the strands of hair that had fallen over her forehead. “But if I could have one minute with that horrible man right now, I’d tell him just what I think of him.” And she didn’t care if his dark-brown eyes did send chills down her spine. She’d show him chills when she saw him again.

  She sent up a prayer to God for help and headed for the house to tell Tuck and Addy the news that they would be staying for a while longer. She found the girls drying the breakfast dishes under the scrutiny of Aunt Kate’s very particular eyes.

  “Lexie! See what I can do.” Tuck held a plate between two fingers and would have tried to spin it, but Aunt Kate grabbed it and placed it safely in the cupboard. “Aw, I wouldn’t have dropped it.”

  “Umm-hmm. Well, let’s not take a chance, young lady.” Aunt Kate’s quiet voice and calm face caused Lexie’s lips to turn up at the corners. No one would guess from her aunt’s composure those dishes had come over from England with Lexie’s great-grandmother.

  “When you girls are done, come in the parlor, please. I need to speak to you about something.”

  A look of dread passed between the two girls. Lexie had noticed that look every time she took them aside for a talk. What in the world were they worried about?

  “They can go with you now, Lexie. I’ll finish up.”

  “If you’re sure. Thank you, Aunt Kate.”

  Lexie took each girl by the hand and led them into the parlor. She sat on the settee and motioned the girls to sit beside her. She stared across the room at the organ in the corner, wishing she could forget her news and have fun with the girls instead.

  She took a deep breath and looked at the girls. “I have some very good news for you.” She hoped the lilt in her voice was enough to convince them.

  “What?” they chorused, matching expectant grins on their faces. At least the dread was gone.

  “Well, it’s good news for me anyway. And I hope you’ll feel the same.”

  “Well, land’s sake!” Tuck strummed her fingers against her knee. “What is it?”

  “Well, your father had to leave rather suddenly. He was very late because of being incapacitated for so long.”

  “Inca-what?”

  “I mean that he was ill and got behind.”

  “So he’s gone?” Tuck looked too happy for a girl who’d just been told her father had left without telling her good-bye.

  “What about us?” Addy’s blue eyes clouded with worry.

  “Why, you’re going to stay with me until he returns. Is that all right?”

  “All right?” Tuck jumped up and hooked her thumbs in her overalls straps. “That’s great!”

  Addy reached over and put her small hand over Lexie’s. “Thank you, Miss Lexie, for letting us stay.”

  Lexie’s chest tightened and she fought back tears. The girls seemed glad their father had gone away. And she intended to find out why.

  But first, she’d make some dresses for Addy and Tuck. The overalls were all right for play, but there was a tent-meeting preacher coming to the area right after harvest. Maybe she’d even purchase the plaid silk. Hmmm. Probably not suitable for little girls.

  A ripple went through her at the thought of the plaid silk against her skin. Then she shoved the thought away. Her blue muslin would do quite well.

  And her girls would be properly dressed.

  Jack could hear the sweet tones of Pap Sanders’ fiddle when he was still blocks away from the Julia Dawn. He left the horse at the livery and walked the two blocks to the boat. At least he knew Pap, his cook and old-time friend, hadn’t deserted him. Pap was the closest thing to a father he’d had all these years. He had taught him everything he knew about the river and life on a steamer. And he was sure of Bull Thompson. But if the others had gotten restless, they might very well have signed on with someone else without a backward glance.

  The dock was busy with activity. He reached the Julia Dawn, relieved to see crates swinging through the air toward the deck of his boat and noisy activity both on and off the boat. He headed up the gangplank and jumped on deck, grinning in satisfaction at the crates and barrels that covered almost every inch of the lower deck.

  “There you are. I knew you’d get here in time.” Relief was evident in Thompson’s voice, and he hurriedly ran his hand across his mouth to hide the smile. “We’ve got everything about ready. Just have a few more crates to load.”

  “I notice the upper deck is only half-filled.”

  “Got a few passengers headin’ to St. Louie for some meeting,” Thompson said. “Wasn’t sure what you’d want to do, but I figgered since their passage paid more than freight, you’d wanna take them on. They should be here any minute. Then we can batten down and shove off whenever you say the word.”

  “Consider the word said. I’ll go to my quarters and change out of these duds.” By the time Jack got back on deck, the dock was a half mile behind them. He rocked with the movement of the boat beneath his feet, a feeling that was as much a part of him as breathing air. The twins would probably love it here.

  He stopped stock-still. Now why would he think something like that? The twins were much better off with Lexie Rayton. She’d teach them how to look and act like ladies.

  “What are you simperin’ like that for?” Pap Sanders appeared at his side. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you wuz lovesick or somethin’.”

  Jack looked at Pap. “Huh? You know better than that. I’m just tired.”

  “You sure? You didn’t meet some silly woman, did you? They’ll ruin a man, you know.”

  Jack laughed. “Of course not.” But a vision of Lexie Rayton’s flashing eyes and full, rosy lips caused him to catch his breath.

  “Hey, Pap, I’ve missed your fiddling. Maybe after chow tonight you could give us a few tunes. The passengers might appreciate some entertainment.”

  “Sure thing, Cap’n.”

  Having averted Pap’s curiosity and his too-near-the-truth intuition, Jack headed for the wheel. It wouldn’t do for Pap to know how often his thoughts turned to the feisty beauty who had invaded his life, his thoughts, even his dreams. But if he had a say in it, she’d not get close enough to invade his heart.

  Chapter 6

  Jack awoke to the familiar squeal of escaping steam. A strong smell of wood smoke pouring forth from the smokestacks battled with the aroma of frying bacon. His stomach growled and he sat up and stretched.

  Bounding from his cot, he yanked on his pants and stepped over to the porthole. Barrels of nails and steel bolts, headed for Springfield, lined the deck. With all the supplies needed for construction as well as goods for Forsyth, he had a full cargo. No passengers this trip.

  A niggle of worry worked its way into his mind. He’d heard rumors in St. Louis that the railroad might be coming into Springfield. How much longer before trains would be running all the way to Little Rock? His business probably wouldn’t last long when that happened.

  A tap at the door drew his mind away from the troubling thoughts. “Come in.”

  The door opened and young Tod Jenkins stood, gnawing on his bottom lip. “We’re coming up on the shoals, Cap’n.”

  “Thanks. Tell Thompson I’ll be in the pilothouse shortly.”

  “Aye, aye, Cap’n.” The door slammed behind him.

  At one time, the Elbow Shoals struck fear in the hearts of boat captains and crews attempting to traverse the White River from Arkansas into Missouri. Boats had been torn apart, men lost. Nowadays, the shoals were navigable. Still, even after a number o
f years, it was traditional on some riverboats for the captains to take the wheels and pilot the vessels over the shoals. Jack had kept that tradition.

  Coming out of the pilothouse a little while later, after an uneventful passage over the shoals, Jack headed to the galley. If he did decide to bring the twins on board, he’d need to make sure it was stocked with healthy food. Something more than beans and bacon and hardtack.

  He stopped. Now why had that crazy thought popped into his mind? He wasn’t about to bring those two on board.

  Giving a short laugh, he headed down the stairs to the lower deck. Of course, he might not have a choice if he couldn’t work something out. He knew, after several weeks of rolling it around in his mind, there was no way he could leave those girls in an orphans’ home. He couldn’t impose on the Raytons any longer either.

  He frowned. They’d be docking at Forsyth in a couple of hours, and he’d need to scout the town for willing families. Kind, moral folks. He wouldn’t leave Addy and Tuck with just anybody.

  “There, I think that’s everything, Mr. Hubble.” Lexie smiled at the mercantile’s proprietor, who stood with his arms loaded high with dress goods and school supplies.

  “All right, Miss Rayton.” The white-haired man headed for the counter, and she followed.

  The front door flew open and a towheaded boy ran in, his sides heaving and hair dripping rivulets of water onto the floor.

  Oh dear, not rain. She’d be soaked by the time she got home.

  “The Julia Dawn’s a’dockin’ right now, Mr. Hubble.” The boy grinned, not seeming to notice he was wet.

  “Thank you, Little Bo.” He threw the boy a coin, which the child caught expertly before rushing back out the door.

  The Julia Dawn? That was Jack Sullivan’s boat. Perfect timing. Lexie knew she should count to ten. Aunt Kate would be scandalized at what she was thinking, but patience was a virtue she was still working on, and she’d waited long enough to tell that scoundrel what she thought of him. “Mr. Hubble? Would you please hold my things for a little while? I just remembered something I need to do before I leave for home.”