“Yes, I did. I had so much fun shopping,” Cate answered sweetly.
Isaac walked up and boldly locked his arms around Cate’s waist and gave her a long kiss, ignoring the screaming kids bouncing up and down around them. “I missed you,” Isaac said before letting her go.
“Good,” she grinned. “That was one of the missions of my trip.”
“Did you bring us any treats, Grandma?”
“Where’d you go?”
“Can I open the trunk?”
Cate got down on her knees, hugging each child as they asked their many questions. And she didn’t bat an eye when one of the puppies jumped up trying to lick her face.“If I recall, you only left with your reticule and a carpet bag, Momma,” Sarah teased.
“I couldn’t fit all the toys and clothes I bought in it, so I had to buy a trunk to get everything home,” Cate laughed as she opened the trunk lid. Maggie, Molly, Marty, and Moses fought to get the best position next to their grandma, and Maisie wiggled in Sarah’s arms wanting to be let down to join in the fray, too.
“Now, please let Grandma hand these things out, so nothing gets broken, children,” Cate’s words lasted three seconds before the children were hanging on the edges of the trunk again.
“I have books for Marty and Moses,” Cate handed them to the boys who promptly sat down on the floor to open the covers. “And for my favorite girls…” Cate carefully handed them each their own doll.
The gasps and ahs of the girls were exciting to hear. Had any of these orphans ever received such a lovely present before in their young lives?
“Faye,” Cate called to her and handed her a large bundle of folded fabric, “here’s material and notions to make clothing for you and Violet. Besides the cotton prints, there are lightweight cotton and muslin for drawers and petticoats in the fabric bundle, too.”
Faye fingered the top material in the bundle, the royal blue and maroon plaid silk taffeta. She’d never felt fabric as pretty and shiny as this before, let alone have it in a dress she’d wear. What a nice surprise.
“Thank you so much, Cate. I think I’m as excited as the girls are with their dolls.”
“Did you buy something for yourself, Momma?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, I did.” Cate stood up, unfolded a plum silk gown wrapped in tissue paper, and held it up against her body. She turned toward Isaac to gauge his reaction. The dress was gorgeous, and Faye could see sparks of love in Isaac’s eyes.
“What’s the special occasion for such a pretty dress?” Isaac asked.
“I could wear it to church, a dance, a wedding…” Cate smiled as she waltzed around Isaac still holding the dress in front of her.
“Maybe wear it to all three in the near future?” Isaac hinted with a broad smile.
Faye had no doubt the problems between Cate and Isaac would be worked out, and the couple would wed sooner than later.
“There’s still more stuff in the trunk, Grandma. Who’s they for?”
“They are for the grownups, Marty. I’ll take care of them.” Cate grabbed the two envelopes and package before Marty could jump into the trunk and step on them.
“Marty, please climb out of the trunk. Now, the trunk is empty, and the lid is to stay closed. Do not open it again. Understood?” Cate swept a glance to catch each child’s eye.
“Isaac, Sarah, and Faye? Could you please step into the library for a moment?” The rooms were situated so that the adults could still see the children from this room.
“At first I had planned to stay with Adam and Millie overnight. Then I decided to go to Hays for a few days to rest and shop, but first I stopped to talk to Pastor Reagan. I had talked to him before…for counseling, and he told me news which sent me to Topeka instead.”
“Topeka? You went all the way to Topeka without telling any of us?” Isaac asked in shock.
“Pastor Reagan knew where I was going, so I was fine,” Cate brushed off Isaac’s worry.
“I went there because Pastor remembered meeting another pastor at a gathering about a year ago. His name was Felix Longoria,” Cate looked at Isaac first, then met Faye and Sarah’s wide stares.
“Longoria is a preacher?! How? He was in jail! Wait…You went to Topeka to talk to him?! Why!” Isaac’s voice rose with each word.
“My Papa’s alive?” Faye’s whisper brought everyone’s attention to her.
She had just come to grips that her father had committed crimes and was dead, but that wasn’t true?
“Yes, Faye. He’s a preacher at a church in Topeka and was thankful he finally knew where you were. He had no idea what had happened to you, as his mother gave him a different story, I’m sad to say.
“I suggested your father travel back with me to see you, Faye, but…he couldn’t at this time, so he sent you a letter instead.”
“Did you tell him about me, Momma?” Sarah’s pale face showed shock that her mother had faced the man who had hurt her.
“Yes. That’s the main reason I went. I needed to face the man who hurt me, but also to tell him he has a beautiful daughter because of it. Here’s his letter to you.” Sarah’s hand shook so badly she almost dropped it when Cate held out the envelope.
“Sounds like there is something in here besides a letter,” Sarah guessed.
“Yes,” Cate replied while looking at Sarah, then to Faye. “Your grandmother died recently, and your…father said he included some of her jewelry in the envelopes for each of you.”
Faye sat down on the settee, settling Violet’s back against her front, anxious to read her letter. Sarah slowly sunk down beside her, in shock at the turn of events.
“And Felix sent this package for you, Isaac, saying something along the lines that he had stolen this from your parents’ house and wanted to return it to you. He added a letter for you also.” Cate pensively held it out to Isaac, but he couldn’t touch it. “Felix was remorseful of his terrible past and wants to make amends.”
“Cate, I won’t read his sorry apology. He hurt this whole family!” Isaac bluntly said.
“Nevertheless, you need to read it to get over your own anger. Although I can’t forgive Felix for his violence, it helped me face my own nightmares by meeting him.”
“Why did you do this alone, Cate? He could have hurt you again!”
“I talked to him twice, but both times outside in public places with people around us. I didn’t even shake his hand. You needn’t have worried. I would have used the pistol in my reticule if I felt in any danger.”
Would Faye have been as courageous as Cate if she’d been in a situation like that? Faye gently wiped a finger against the top of Violet’s head. Faye had someone to protect now, so she needed to be as strong as Cate to protect her child against the dangers and disappointments of life.
“I believe I have some grandchildren to spoil while you read your letters,” Cate said while backing out of the room and closing the sliding doors of the library, leaving them to read the letters in private.
“I’m in shock, Sarah. Why didn’t my papa find me and get me out of that…hole?” Faye whispered, cringing at the thought of what kind of situation she’d had to live in because her father had abandoned her.
“I don’t know, Faye. It’s good he turned his life around, but he hurt us both before that.”
Faye opened the envelope, looked inside, and pulled out a gold chain. It was a necklace with three pearls set in a delicate scrolled ivy design dangling on the end.
“Do you remember that necklace?” Sarah asked Faye.
“Yes. Grandmother wore it to church every Sunday. She said it looked the best against the black silk dress she wore. Even though she was married to Isaac’s father for only two weeks, she pretended to mourn her husband on Sundays.”
“Pretended?” Sarah asked.
“My grandmother was her own top priority. Not her deceased husband, and never her granddaughter,” Faye said as tears threatened to fall. She was torn on whether to throw the necklace against the wall to break
it, sell the jewelry for the money it could give her, or hang it around her neck to wear forever to remind herself never to be selfish.
“Pull out the letter, Faye. Let him explain, or excuse himself, for keeping away from you,” Sarah urged her. Faye noted Sarah had laid her own letter aside, rather than face what her biological father had written.
Faye slid the folded two-page letter from the envelope and opened the papers to read them. Her vision blurred as soon as she saw her father’s handwriting.
“Could you read it to me, Sarah? I’m…not good at reading, and I don’t want to take the time to stumble through the words.”
Sarah sighed. “All right.” Sarah took the letter and quickly scanned it before taking a deep breath and starting to read.
“Dear Faye,
“I can not begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am for the pain that I, and my mother, put you through. You were a child, and we had the responsibility to raise you in a kind and proper way.
“I was a spoiled, angry young man, addicted to liquor when I met your mother, and I didn’t take the responsibility I should have to either of you. It wasn’t until the law threw me in jail did I come to my senses, but then I was too ashamed to make amends with you and your mother.
“Now I have a wife and two young children, and I’m determined to give them a good home and family life. And because of my reluctance—and cowardice—to taint my wife’s view of me, I have not confessed my past experience, or daughters to her.
“After I do so, I hope to see you again, and meet your daughter, Violet. I thank God that divine intervention led to your safe arrival at Isaac’s ranch.
“With humble apologies,
“Your Father”
Faye sat in silence as her father’s simple words soaked in. He was sorry, but he wasn’t going to make amends in person, just because of the secrets he’d kept from his wife.
“I’ve a mind to write a letter to Mrs. Felix Longoria and introduce myself to her, considering she’s my step-mother,” Faye said bitterly, although tears were threatening to slide down her cheeks. Faye had been replaced by two new children, and her father didn’t want to upset the apple cart?
“Think of your half-siblings, though, Faye. Do you want them to go through their childhood like you did? It could happen if you break up their family,” Sarah quietly said as she handed the letter back to Faye.
As usual, Sarah was thinking of how it would affect the young children. Sarah was right. Faye was an adult now, had a child of her own who she’d protect just as much as her father would with his new family.
But it just…hurt. Pain squeezed her heart after finally hearing from her father, but not seeing him in person. Faye wanted her father to show up on the ranch, giving her hugs and kisses, and telling her he was sorry for all the hurt and pain he’d caused over the years.
“I’m glad you heard from your father, Faye. That’s the first step,” Sarah said as she took her letter, stood from the settee, and walked over to the library window. Faye watched her sister gaze out the window though instead of opening her letter. Sarah would have a lot of questions for Cate tonight.
Isaac sat at his desk, reading his letter while absentmindedly rubbing his forehead with one hand. A large jewelry box sat open on his desk. Displayed inside were a three-strand pearl necklace and matching pearl ear drops. Faye wondered why her father had them and why he’d sent them on to Isaac. It wasn’t jewelry that Faye had seen her grandmother wear when she lived with her.
Anger billowed in Faye’s chest, and she needed to get out of the house. Rather than opening the front library door to announce her departure to Isaac and Sarah, and Cate and the children on the other side of the door, Faye slipped out the side door which opened onto the wrap-around porch.
“Why now? Why stir everything up after we were just settling into living here?” Faye muttered to herself as she briskly paced back and forth on the porch. She glanced through the glass door and realized Isaac was watching her. Faye padded down the porch steps and barreled to her new-found sanctuary. Violet fussed to show her agitation as Faye plopped down into the rocker on Rusty’s porch and started rocking at a pace that was apparently not calming either herself or Violet, but at the moment Faye needed to let off steam.
Faye had her head turned away from the ranch yard but whipped it around to face Rusty as he stomped up to his porch steps.
“I…just talked to Adam before he left for town. He told me that Cate met with your father?” Rusty asked as he kept one foot on the step below the porch floor as if he was afraid to stand in front of her.
“Yes, and rather than travel with Cate to see us, the coward sent letters of ‘explanation’ to Isaac, Sarah, and me about how sorry he was that he’d hurt us. But because he had a new wife—and children—he didn’t want to upset them by telling them of his other daughters.”
Rusty finished walking up the steps and laid a hand on Faye’s shoulder. “I’m sorry his letter upset you, but at least you know he’s alive. Maybe in the future, you can see him again,” Rusty tried to comfort Faye.
“I’ve had drunks in my room show more remorse for what they did to me after they dropped their drawers than what my own father wrote,” Faye continued to fume.
“Faye—” Rusty tried to appease her, but it only made her madder.
“I had to endure pain, humiliation, for years…because he abandoned me. This stupid letter does not make up for it!” Faye tore the letter in half and threw it up in the air.
“Hey, don’t upset Violet. Let me hold her while you finish ranting,” Rusty cautioned Faye as he gently lifted Violet from Faye’s lap to his shoulder. The baby gave an audible sigh of relief.
“Oh no! I’m upsetting my baby! I’m as bad as my papa!” Faye cried before covering her face with her hands and sobbing from the letdown caused by her father.
Why did this hurt her heart as much as when Faye’s mother left the brothel without her? Because her father was rejecting her, instead of coming to reunite with her.
“Faye, calm down. Now you know your father is alive and living in the state. You need to talk to Cate about their meeting instead of guessing and assuming the worst scenario.
“According to his letter, he hasn’t told his wife about me, as if I don’t exist,” Faye whispered after swiping at the tears running down her cheeks.
“It’s a shocking situation to your father too, but surely he’ll confess his past to his wife and be in touch with you again,” Rusty said as he rocked side by side to calm Violet. It hurt Faye to realize the baby always settled down when Rusty held her.
Faye rubbed her face and pulled in a deep breath to calm herself.
“You’re right, Rusty. My father’s alive, and…I’m thankful for that.”
Faye stood up and reached for Violet, who reluctantly let go of her tiny fistfuls of Rusty’s shirt. Rusty seemed just as hesitant to give the baby to her, but Faye needed to feel her baby’s delicate skin against her cheek. She was going to be a better parent than either of her parents, starting right now.
“Thank you for your advice. I’ll talk to Cate,” Faye thanked Rusty as she settled Violet on her hip. Faye needed to stop running over to Rusty’s home whenever she felt threatened or sad. The man didn’t deserve to hear her problems.
Faye had walked to the bottom step when Rusty bounded down beside her.
“You’re welcome to come over and talk any time, Faye. I…like seeing you on my porch,” Rusty confessed with a nod of his hat before walking back toward the barn.
Faye stood stock still watching the man walk away. Of all the men she’d known over the years, this was the first one, other than Isaac, who was polite, sincere, and honest. And he liked seeing her on his porch? Rusty’s confession made Faye feel a tad better.
Faye mulled over the afternoon’s events as she walked back to the house. Instead of jumping to conclusions, she’d listen to Cate’s version of the meeting with her father.
Tears wouldn’t bring her
father back or dissolve years of hardship. But Faye had a baby who would grow up into a young woman, and Faye swore Violet would not be let down by her parent as she had been.
Chapter 10
“Now that we found Cate’s ring, we can proceed with my plan,” Isaac said as the relieved man took a deep breath.
“Your plan, and for what?” Rusty couldn’t help asking.
“Surprise Cate with a proposal and an immediate wedding,” Isaac grinned now, apparently thinking of what he wanted to do.
Rusty, Marcus, and Isaac were riding their horses out to check on the herd, and a good quarter of a mile from the ranch homestead.
“Think we’re far away from the ranch so the women won’t hear you?” Marcus teased Isaac. Rusty admired the comradery which Marcus and his uncle shared. They both respected and worked well with each other. Marcus came to Isaac’s ranch to recuperate from injuries he received in an attack on a wagon train his army group had been escorting. But instead of returning to his military life, he stayed here to marry Sarah and raise eight orphans. Isaac gave Marcus the ranch house for the instant family’s home.
Isaac was easing out of the day-to-day operations of the ranch, leaving Marcus and Rusty to divide the duties. Isaac planned to build a smaller house nearby for him and Cate to live in, and to have the time to travel when they wanted to.
“Yes, we’re away from Cate and the grandkids so we can talk in private. Hopefully, Sarah or Faye won’t blow it by telling Cate about us searching the pasture for her ring. I was so relieved when that diamond flashed against the lantern light,” Isaac sighed and shook his head.
While Cate was in Topeka, they’d taken lanterns out into the pasture during the night and searched through the grass for hours for that ring. Luck was with them the night before Cate came home and the ring was back in Isaac’s care.
“You swore them to secrecy, and they want Cate and you to be happy together. Rest assured everything will turn out okay,” Marcus added.
Rusty wasn’t so sure about that. Sarah and Faye learned how to work together while Cate was gone, but they still acted like squabbling sisters now and then. One of them was sure to blurt out the fact just to spite the other.
Faye Favors a Foreman: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 11) Page 6
