Kathleen's Dream (Mail-Order Brides Of Prairie Meadow 1)

by Maggie McCloud

  “You mean all this time they were right there inside the barn?”

  “Yes. They said they tried to go after you when they heard your voice calling from far off, but you were too quick for them, so they went back to the house. I found them sitting on the steps when I drove up. I’ve told them they are not to play tricks like that on you ever again.”

  Emily looked up sternly at the two children and said, “Do you two have something to say to Kathleen?”

  Melissa and Michael looked suitably sorry. Together they said, “We’re sorry Kathleen.” Melissa added, “We didn’t mean to make you worry.”

  Kathleen was so relieved that she couldn’t be angry. Sensing that this was an important moment, she said, “Well you sure pulled a good one on this city slicker.”

  Michael asked in a small voice, “Are you m..mad at us? Are you gonna t..t..tell pa about this?”

  “No I’m not mad Michael, just relieved that you two are safe. I do need to tell your pa what happened though. But I will tell him that you were only playing a joke on me, so maybe he won’t be too upset.”

  Back at the farm, after a late lunch the children went outside to play. Emily and Kathleen sat on the porch to keep an eye on them.

  “I hope Daniel won’t be too hard on those little scamps. I think they were more scared that something would happen to you when they couldn’t catch up to you,” chuckled Emily.

  “I guess I have a lot to learn when it comes to looking after little ones,” Kathleen sighed. She told Emily about the nightmare that Melissa had had the night before.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Those poor children have gone through a lot. They lost their grandparents last winter and then this year their mother. On top of that, Josephine ended up moving back east. They are so afraid of another person disappearing from their lives that they don’t trust easy,” Emily said patting Kathleen’s hand. “Give it some time. They’ll come around.”

  “I sure hope so. But what happened to their mother?” asked Kathleen. “Daniel hasn’t told me a thing.”

  “Well, I think that’s for him to tell when he sees fit,” said Emily gently. “I guess I better get on back home now. Henry is due back today and he’ll be looking forward to a hot meal after being on the trail for a week. I’ll drop in tomorrow to see how you’re doing.”

  Kathleen walked Emily to her wagon. “I don’t know how to thank you for today. I shudder to think what might have happened if you hadn’t come over.”

  “Aw it was nothing much. You get Daniel to show you how to bridle up the horse and drive the wagon so you can come get me if you need anything.”

  By the time Daniel came home, Kathleen had supper ready. When the children saw him ride up, they ran outside to meet him.

  At supper, both Michael and Melissa glanced nervously over at Kathleen waiting for her to tell their pa what had happened that day. But Kathleen wasn’t about to say anything in front of them. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more steamed up she got, but at Daniel not the children.

  While she cleaned up after supper, Daniel tucked them into bed.

  When he came back into the kitchen, Kathleen was waiting. She poured him a cup of coffee and gave him a slice of the last of the cake that Emily had given them.

  Daniel knew something was up. She just had that look that women get when they aren’t happy. He didn’t have to wait long to find out what was on her mind.

  “We had an interesting day today Daniel.”

  “Uh huh, what happened?” he asked.

  She proceeded to tell him all about it, from the moment she realized the kids had gone missing to their arrival back home with Emily.

  “Those little monkeys. I’ll tan their hides for that,” said Daniel.

  “You will do no such thing, Daniel. This is your fault.”

  “My fault? How do you figure that?” said Daniel incredulously.

  “You left me here on my own without giving me a lick of information about either Melissa and Michael, or about where you were going to be! Why you didn’t even show me how to hook up the harness to the horse and wagon in case I needed to get somewhere!” she said standing up and putting her hands on her hips.

  “I woulda thought you’d have better sense than to leave them on their own. Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on them?”

  Then he added, “And how was I supposed to know that you didn’t know anything about harnessing up a horse to a wagon!”

  Their argument was interrupted when Michael called out, “Pa, I’m th..thirsty. I need a dr..dr..drink of water right n..now. Pa!”

  While Daniel got up to bring Michael some water, Kathleen stomped off to the bedroom. She was in bed with the covers pulled up to her ears when Daniel came in and landed heavily on his pallet. It was a sleepless night for both, but at least Melissa didn’t wake with a nightmare.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning the little family was quiet. All of them were on their best behavior and very polite to each other.

  Before he left for the day, Daniel sat the children down and told them that he had heard about what had happened the day before and that he was very disappointed.

  Melissa and Michael both looked downcast at the words.

  Melissa asked, “Are you gonna punish us pa?”

  Daniel looked sternly at the two of them, “I should take a switch to both of you, but Kathleen doesn’t want me to do that.”

  They looked up, “She doesn’t?”

  “No, she doesn’t. If it was up to me I would, but it’s her decision and she thinks you two should have another chance. But let me tell you; if I hear that you cause trouble like that again, I will take a switch to you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Pa,” they replied.

  “Alright, now you go and tell Kathleen you’re sorry and that you’re gonna be good for her.”

  “Yes Pa.”

  On his way out, Daniel asked Kathleen to walk him to his horse.

  “Look, I’m sorry I talked that way to you last night. You’re right. I haven’t helped you with things one little bit,” said Daniel.

  “I guess I kind of jumped all over you too. I was just so worried that I blamed you. But you were right. I should have been keeping a better eye on them. That’s my fault.”

  “Well no harm done,” said Daniel as he hoisted himself into the saddle. “Anyway, I better get a move on. I’ll try to get back earlier if I can. And once the planting is done and I’m not so rushed, I’ll answer all your questions.”

  That day, Kathleen didn’t let the children out of her sight. They were good as gold remembering their pa’s words.

  When Emily visited later that day, things were going smoothly. They had a nice chat and then Emily asked if Kathleen wanted to learn how to harness up the horse and attach the wagon.

  “Maybe I should wait for Daniel to show me.”

  “Aw, he’s so busy this time of year he’ll be happy if you can figure it out on your own,” said Emily. “So, what do you say?”

  Kathleen smiled, “Well, it would be nice to be able to come and visit you with the kids.”

  Within a short time, Kathleen had the hang of it and told Emily she was going to come and see her sometime soon.

  That evening, Kathleen told Daniel about her lesson. He was pleased, but hoped she’d practice around their place awhile before venturing off.

  “I’m not trying to say that you don’t know how to do it. It would just make me feel better seeing it with my own two eyes. You can’t be too careful when the youngsters are involve.”

  “Oh, I completely agree Daniel. I’m glad to show you.”

  Then he watched while Kathleen hitched the horse up to the buggy, just to be sure she was doing it right.

  After that, things fell into an easy pattern. Sometimes Daniel worked close to the house, and on those days he was able to pop in and out throughout the day, and even have lunch with Kathleen and the youngsters.

  He thanked God that Melissa and Mich
ael seemed to have taken a shine to Kathleen. And in turn, it was obvious that Kathleen had developed a real affection for them.

  Seeing how well she was getting along with his children started to awaken feelings he thought were long gone. Daniel found himself watching Kathleen as she moved around the house, straightening this, tidying that and guiding little hands as they helped her make cookies.

  He was grateful for how much Kathleen put into everything. He wondered if just maybe he had found a wife and a mother to replace the one who had been so cruelly taken away.

  With things going along so smoothly, Daniel thought he could chance a trip to Aurora, a small town half a day north of the farm. With planting season in full swing, Daniel was in need of some supplies that were not readily available in Prairie Meadow. He would need the space in the whole wagon to bring back the things he was going to buy, so he was going to have to leave Kathleen and the youngsters at home.

  The day he left, Daniel got up well before dawn to make an early enough start to get back that evening. He had talked to Melissa and Michael the night before about what he was doing, so they wouldn’t worry if they didn’t see him that day.

  “But why can’t we all go with you, Pa?” asked Melissa worriedly. “What if something happens while you’re gone?”

  He pulled her up onto his knee and said, “Now, nothing is going to happen. And besides, Kathleen knows a lot more than she did before,” Daniel said with a smile. “She’s been taking good care of you, hasn’t she?”

  “Yes, Pa. It’s just that I’ll miss you,” Melissa said throwing her arms around Daniel’s neck.

  “I’ll miss you too, but I bet I can find some of those peppermint sticks you and Michael like so much. Want me to bring some back for you?”

  Melissa nodded vigorously.

  “All right. Now remember I’ll be gone when you get up in the morning, but you can wait up for me tomorrow night, okay?”

  Melissa nodded again.

  “Skedaddle off to bed now.”

  Kathleen had a sack of sandwiches and a big jug of water ready for Daniel to take with him.

  “Thanks. I should be back late tonight. Have a good day with the kids.”

  “You be careful on the road now. We’ll be waiting for you to get back,” she said waving Daniel off.

  Since she was already up, she decided to get a head start on the chores. The hens were not happy to be moved off their nests this early, but at least they were too sleepy to peck at her hands like they usually did. Next she put hay, oats and fresh water in the horses’ stalls.

  She went back inside and got batter ready for pancakes. She thought it would be a nice treat for Michael and Melissa when they got up. Then she started some bread dough. By then it was just beginning to get light outside. She stepped out on the porch to look at the sunrise. The sky was breathtaking. The old verse that she had learned at the orphanage came to mind.

  “Pink sky at night,

  Sailor’s delight.

  Pink sky in the morning,

  Sailors take warning.”

  She hoped that verse didn’t apply to weather on the prairies because the morning sky was definitely pink.

  She put the warning out of her mind when she heard a thump and the sound of feet running. That would be Michael jumping out of bed and racing into the kitchen. Melissa wouldn’t be far behind. Time to go and make those pancakes.

  “Good morning! Who wants pancakes for breakfast?”

  “I do, I do,” said Michael with a big grin.

  “Me too,” added Melissa. Looking around, she asked, “Did Pa already leave?”

  “Yes, he did. He was up and gone before it even got light out. He wants to make sure he can get back tonight,” Kathleen said with a smile, as she poured some batter onto the hot griddle.

  “Ok, you two, sit down at the table. The first batch is almost ready.”

  After breakfast, Kathleen announced that she felt like making some cookies to surprise their pa. “Does anyone want to help me?”

  Both children cheered. “What kind of cookies are we gonna make?” asked Melissa.

  “How about some of those sugar cookies you both like so much?” Kathleen asked. “We have just enough sugar to make them. Your pa is picking up more sugar for us today so you’ll have some for your oatmeal tomorrow morning.”

  The three of them spent the morning working together in the kitchen, making cookies. While Michael and Melissa played with a bit of leftover dough, Kathleen finished off the bread. By noon, the house smelled like a bakery with the aroma of freshly baked bread and warm sugar cookies.

  After lunch they went to sit out on the porch for a few minutes. Kathleen was going to read them a story before heading out to the garden to pick some vegetables for supper. The sun had disappeared behind a thickening bank of clouds and the breeze had started to pick up. When a gust of wind raised a cloud of dust, the children took notice.

  Kathleen spoke comfortingly, “It’s just a bit of wind. Look, there’s not even any rain.”

  Nevertheless, as they heard the distant rumble of thunder, the two scooted closer to Kathleen and worriedly looked around.

  “Can we please g…go inside, Kathleen?” asked Michael in a small voice.

  “Well, sure we can, Michael,” she replied. “It’ll be a lot cozier inside anyway.”

  She held the door open and both children hurried inside.

  She hoped that a story would keep their minds off what was looking more and more like an approaching storm. She was a little nervous herself, having heard that the weather in Kansas could get severe, although she had yet to experience a Kansas storm. Michael and Melissa sat one on each side of Kathleen, while she read.

  A light rain had started but the sound was gentle and easy. The two youngsters were starting to nod off when all of a sudden the storm kicked up. Thunder boomed loudly and lightning lit up the sky. Rain and wind rattled the windows.

  Even though the storm was startling in its intensity, she was in no way prepared for the reaction of the children. Melissa burst into tears and started shaking. She burrowed closer to Kathleen who tried to calm her by putting an arm around her and saying, “Shhh, it’s alright. I’m right here. I’ve got you.”

  But it was Michael’s reaction that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. He threw himself on the floor by Kathleen’s feet and shouted “Mama, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry Mama! Please wake up!”

  Holding onto Melissa with one arm, Kathleen slid down onto the floor beside Michael. He had rolled himself into a tight ball and could not be moved. He just kept calling out for his mama and sobbing hysterically. Kathleen put a hand on his back and rubbed it soothingly, all the while murmuring words of comfort to both children.

  Soon the worst of the thunder and lightning passed, until finally there was only an occasional far-off boom. The room, which had grown dark with the storm, lightened and the rain finally stopped. Only then did the children begin to calm down. But when Kathleen tried to get up, they tightened their hold on her. So she stayed where she was until, exhausted they fell asleep. Carefully she got up and went to get a blanket to cover them so they wouldn’t have to be disturbed.

  The storm had been loud and severe, but the reaction of the two children was far worse than it should have been. And Michael’s words disturbed her; not only what he had said, but the fact that he had not stuttered while saying them.

  She quietly prepared supper. They would have to make do without vegetables from the garden. She wanted to let the children sleep for a while after their ordeal, and there was no way she was going to leave them alone for even a minute, after what she’d witnessed.

  They slept for about an hour. When they woke up, she gave them a snack of milk and some of the cookies they had made in the morning. Then Kathleen kept them busy setting the table, sweeping up crumbs from the morning’s baking and folding up clothes that she had brought in from outside before the rain had started. After they finished the chores
, she brought out a couple of pieces of the paper she saved for letter writing and suggested they make a card for their pa as a surprise. Anything to keep their minds off what had happened during that storm.

  The three ate supper together.

  “When’s Pa g…g…gonna b..be home?” asked Michael.

  “Not until late, but how about if I make up a bed for you two out here? That way if he gets back after you fall asleep, you’ll hear him when he comes in.”

  And that’s exactly what Kathleen did. She knew that after the emotional day they’d had, staying awake would be hard for them. She herself had dropped off to sleep sitting up in a chair while waiting for Daniel. She awoke when she heard him remove his boots and drop them to the floor.

  “Oh, you’re home.”

  He was startled to see her sitting there. He hadn’t expected her to wait up.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought you’d have gone to bed long ago. It’s later than I planned. The storm held me up.”

  Kathleen smiled, “I’m not the only one who waited up for you,” she said pointing to the two small children asleep under their comfy quilts.”

  Daniel chuckled, “I guess I better carry them on in to their beds.”

  Gently he stooped and picked up Melissa first. She stirred and looked sleepily at her father. “Hi Pa. I’m glad you’re home,” she said and then fell right back to sleep as he tucked her into her bed. Kathleen followed with the quilt.

  Michael was next. Without waking up fully, he mumbled “Hi Pa,” and put his arms around Daniel’s neck. He deposited Michael in his bed, covered him with his quilt and kissed his forehead.

  He tiptoed out of their room and looked for Kathleen. She had gone back to the kitchen.

  “How was your day?” he asked.

  Kathleen proceeded to tell Daniel everything, and especially how concerned she was with their reaction to the storm.