by Linda Ford
* * *
Wade lingered on the hilltop for another ten minutes with Missy in his arms. She’d given him much to think about. Had Tomasina needed more than he could give her? More than was humanly possible to give? If he chose to believe that now, could he find the courage to keep the children and somehow make a home for them? He liked to think of it being a possibility, but there remained the risk of failure. Even with God’s help he could fail completely and utterly, and the children would pay the price. Was he willing to take the risk? Was he being selfish in thinking he could?
“If only God would send a sign,” he murmured.
“Perhaps He will.”
“That would be nice.” The day had fully dawned and the children would no doubt be looking for breakfast. “They might worry where we’ve disappeared to.” Wade meant those in the house, as well as Joey and Annie.
Missy stepped from his arms and pulled on her mitten. “Goodness, I didn’t think about that. We need to hurry. Louise will think the worst.”
At the reminder of potential danger, Wade jammed his palm to his forehead. “I forgot all about Vic. It just goes to prove—”
Missy grabbed his hand. “It proves nothing except confidence the Mounties have lived up to their reputation and gotten their man. Besides...” She ducked her head and her voice fell to a whisper. “I was perfectly safe with you. Vic would not bother me if he thought he’d have to confront someone equal in size.”
Thrilled at her trust in him, Wade hugged her. Then they hurried down the hill, stopped to collect the children and continued to the big house. They burst in the door, only to be met by Nate, who was dressed to go outdoors.
“Louise wanted me to go looking for you. She worried Vic had come. I told her Missy was safe with you.”
Missy rushed to her friend. “I’m sorry for causing you worry. We simply went for a walk. It’s a very lovely morning.”
Louise hugged her. “No harm done, it seems. But I won’t be able to relax until we get news that Vic has been captured.”
Wade nodded. “My sentiments exactly. Believe me, I won’t be letting Missy venture out alone until we know that man is behind bars.”
They joined the others for a leisurely breakfast. Wade noted the many times the children turned to him for assurance and guidance, how they both pressed to his side after the meal. If only he could believe he could keep them forever and care for them in the way they deserved.
He left them in Missy’s care and went with Eddie and Nate to handle the chores.
“Just the essentials today,” Eddie said, and neither of the others raised a protest.
Wade, for his part, wanted to be with the children today and think about their future. Thoughts of them were his constant companions throughout the day.
After dinner, Louise and Nate and baby Chloe, Eddie and Linette and little Jonathan, retired to their rooms for a rest. Grady, Joey and Annie stayed behind, with Wade and Missy to supervise.
He’d hoped they’d play quietly, allowing him time to talk to Missy. He wanted to hear her say again that he didn’t need to blame himself for Tomasina’s death.
He sat in one of the wingback chairs that gave a view of the ranch. Missy sat in the other. He couldn’t help but think how right this felt. It was a thought he’d previously had only in his dreams.
He relaxed, ready to enjoy a quiet spell, but Annie stood before them.
“I counted. This is the eighth day of Christmas.”
He tried to think what the child meant.
Missy laughed. “So it is.” She turned to Wade and gave him a special smile. “I thought they might forget about the twelve days of Christmas.”
Annie shook her head. “We didn’t forget.”
Two little boys hovered nearby.
“Hmm.” Missy looked thoughtful. “I wonder what we can do. The babies are sleeping so we’ll have to do something quiet. Would you like to help me make up a story?”
Annie nodded, but Wade thought the boys looked doubtful.
“It will be fun,” Missy assured them. “Wait while I get paper and pencil.” She bustled away and returned with the supplies, then sat down and started writing. Over her shoulder Wade saw she was leaving blanks in the story.
“Okay, I’m ready.” She asked the children questions such as who was their best friend, their favorite animal, what they liked to eat, and then used the answers to fill in the blanks of the story. Finally she read it aloud and the children rolled on the floor at the silliness of a tale that began, “Once upon a time, a red apple found a piece of candy...”
Wade grinned. She was so good with the children, so creative and full of fun.
A scene flashed through his mind. Sharing many days like this with her...the children nearby, a feeling of peace in the room and a sense of unity and rightness filling his heart.
Was such a future possible? Even with God’s help? If only he could be sure.
A noise drew his attention to the window. He turned to look out and saw a covered wagon approaching. Odd, he thought, as it was cold to be traveling about like that. As it came closer, he could make out a man and a woman atop the bench.
A shiver crossed Wade’s shoulders though he didn’t know why.
Chapter Fourteen
Even though they didn’t touch, Missy felt Wade’s sudden stiffening, and lifted her head from reading the story. She followed his gaze out the window to an approaching wagon. A man and woman passing through, traveling in the dead of winter. They must be lost or looking for a place to settle. Maybe Linette would prevail upon them to spend the rest of the winter on the ranch. But why Wade should furrow his brow over their arrival baffled Missy.
Eddie must have heard them approach, as well, for he came down the stairs and waited for the wagon to pull up to the house and the pair to descend. Then he opened the door.
“Happy New Year to you. Come on in. This is the Eden Valley Ranch. I’m the owner, Eddie Gardiner.” He continued to speak as the pair stepped inside and shivered.
The man held out a hand. “I’m Fred Bauer. This is my wife, Mabel.”
The bottom dropped out of Missy’s heart. This was the couple with whom Wade had corresponded about adopting the children. She reached for Joey and Annie and drew them close.
As Eddie hung their coats, Linette descended. “You must be cold. Come in and have tea with us.”
They led the couple into the room. “May we introduce Missy Porter and Wade Snyder. And the children are—”
Wade was on his feet before she could finish. He caught Joey and Annie by the shoulders. “Go upstairs and stay there until I call you,” he told them.
Joey grabbed Annie’s hand as if sensing his uncle’s seriousness, and the pair passed the Bauers, whose eyes followed their every move.
“Grady, you go with them,” Linette said. She waited until the children were gone, then turned to the adults. “Let’s go to the kitchen and then someone can tell me what’s going on.”
Missy waited until the Bauers were seated, before she settled across the table and tugged Wade’s hand to get him to sit beside her. He was so stiff his bottom barely touched the chair.
Linette made tea and set out cookies. Eddie made polite conversation about the weather, but responses to his questions were short. The tension around the table was thick enough to cut with a knife and spread on fresh bread.
Linette poured the tea, then sat down. She turned to the Bauers. “You are more than welcome, but we need to know your intentions.”
“I’ll answer that,” Wade said. “These are the people who want to adopt Joey and Annie.”
Mr. Bauer leaned forward, earnest and eager. “We couldn’t wait until the stagecoach ran again, or until spring, when travel would be easier. So we left shortly after Christmas. We’re that anxious to
meet the children and take them home with us.” He held up a hand as if fearing protests. “We have the wagon outfitted to keep us warm, and will stop at a way station should a storm blow in.”
“Storms don’t always send out advance notice,” Wade said, his voice deep, as if he’d pulled it from the depths of a dark well.
“We won’t be taking any risks. Might even stay in Edendale if there’s a place available.” Mr. Bauer seemed willing to make whatever concessions he deemed necessary.
“Can we meet the children?” Mrs. Bauer spoke for the first time. Her voice was surprisingly guttural.
All eyes turned toward Wade.
Missy wanted to grab his hand and hold on, whether to encourage him or comfort herself, or perhaps to do both, she didn’t know.
Wade jerked to his feet, sending the chair skidding away. “I’ll get them.” He strode from the room without once looking at Missy.
A vise squeezed her chest, so tight she couldn’t draw in a satisfying breath. Her heart struggled to pump out blood. She wanted to rush after him and demand he send the Bauers away, but her papa’s saying once again rang in her head and stopped her. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Nothing she said would change Wade’s mind. He must be persuaded in his own heart what was best for the children.
At least the Bauers seemed like decent people, she thought, even if Mrs. Bauer had a rather unpleasant voice. That was no reason to judge her harshly.
Wade’s boots sounded on the steps as he descended, as did the patter of smaller feet.
“We gonna have cookies?” Annie’s childish voice rang with pleasure. She might not have been quite so excited if she knew what lay before her.
Wondering what the Bauers thought, Missy shifted enough to see them without appearing to watch them. Mrs. Bauer pursed her lips.
Was she disapproving of something, Missy wondered, or only trying to control her emotions?
The three children rushed into the room.
Linette called Grady to her side and Wade clamped his hands on the shoulders of the other two. “Mr. and Mrs. Bauer, these are my niece and nephew, Annabelle and Joseph. We call them Annie and Joey.”
The children politely said how do you do.
Annie squirmed under Mrs. Bauer’s scrutiny, until Linette had the three children join them at the table. She gave them each two cookies, which they ate hurriedly. Joey darted glances at the Bauers, wondering, no doubt, why he was the subject of their blatant interest.
“You may be excused,” Linette said, when the children finished.
“I’ll take them upstairs.” Missy led them to Nate and Louise’s room so they wouldn’t overhear anything said in the kitchen. Nate was rocking Chloe while Louise folded baby clothes, so Missy pulled her friend aside and explained the situation.
Louise nodded. “I’ll keep them amused here.”
Missy hurried back to the kitchen, not wanting to miss anything that was said.
“We’d like to spend some time alone with them,” Mr. Bauer was saying as she entered.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” Wade looked to Linette. “Perhaps they could use the office.”
“By all means.” Linette managed to look as if this was a normal course of events, but Missy wondered if that’s how she felt.
For her part, Missy wanted to grab Wade by the shoulders and shake him until he came to his senses.
“We’d like to conduct this business as quickly as possible,” Mr. Bauer added.
“The children need time to get used to you.” Missy didn’t care that it was not her responsibly. When it came to seeing Joey and Annie were given proper consideration, she made it her business.
Mrs. Bauer pursed her lips, yet somehow managed to speak. “And who are you?”
Wade answered before Missy could get a word out. “I hired Miss Porter to take care of the children until you came.”
Hired! Until she could be replaced! The thought burned through Missy’s brain. Was that all she was? Paid for and replaceable? Why had she let herself think otherwise?
But then an image of Annie and Joey flashed through her mind and her anger fled as quickly as it came. This wasn’t about her. It was about the children and what they needed.
For some reason, she did not like the Bauers. Yes, she admitted it might be only because they wanted to adopt the children, and Missy loved them too much to see them go.
But it was more than that, though she was at a loss to say what bothered her about them.
* * *
Wade fought to remind himself that this was what was best for the children—both a mother and a father. A permanent home. But didn’t like the Bauers. Plain and simple, for no other reason than they’d shown up on New Year’s Day just when he was thinking he might be ready to reconsider his future.
But he’d asked for a sign from God and this was it.
It wasn’t fair to Mrs. Bauer to compare her to Missy, and yet he did. She had a husky voice and looked to be near thirty. From the darkness of her skin, she must work outdoors with her husband.
The idea nudged something inside him, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Perhaps just the thought of a woman working like a man. He knew of some women who actually were forced to pull a plow. Which, to his way of thinking, was no way for man to treat his wife.
He appreciated Missy’s concern that the children be given time to get to know the Bauers. “I won’t be agreeing to them leaving with you until they’re ready.”
Mr. Bauer’s expression hardened. “They’ll get used to us on the road.” His voice softened measurably. “But of course I understand your concern.”
Almost satisfied they had an understanding, Wade agreed to bring the children to the office and let the Bauers have a little time with them.
Missy followed him from the room. “What are you going to tell them?”
“Tell who?” He could barely get a coherent thought from his brain, so didn’t know what she meant.
“The children. Aren’t they going to wonder why they are to spend time alone with perfect strangers? Though I’m not sure they’re perfect by any means.”
Wade stopped so suddenly she bumped into him.
“I haven’t thought what I’d say to them.” He scrubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “I guess I’ll tell them the truth. The Bauers are going to adopt them.”
Missy grabbed his elbow and shook it. “You’ve made up your mind a few minutes after meeting them?”
His head hurt. He couldn’t think. Hadn’t he already reasoned this all out when he’d let it be known the children were available for adoption? Hadn’t he thought the Bauers sounded ideal when they’d contacted him? “I made up my mind before I met them.” The pounding inside his head grew louder. He felt as if there were little people in his skull attacking it with sledgehammers.
“I’m sorry, but you simply can’t make this kind of decision without proper consideration.” Missy crossed her arms and faced him in silent challenge.
He made to edge around her, but she wouldn’t budge. “Fine. I’ll reserve my decision until I get to know them better.”
“So what do you plan to tell Joey and Annie?”
The way Missy stuck out her chin, he understood she wasn’t letting him pass without an answer that satisfied her.
He tossed his hands up in frustration. “What do you suggest I tell them?”
“Do you really care what I suggest?” Her nostrils flared.
“Of course I do.” He caught her hand and stopped it fluttering. “Tell me.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I think you should tell the Bauers to leave, and then figure out how you can keep the children.” Missy must have seen the protest in his eyes. “See, you’re not going to do that, are you? But if you insist on
giving them to the Bauers—” Tears filled her eyes and she couldn’t go on.
He wiped the droplets from her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. He didn’t like being the cause of her unhappiness, but what could he do? He’d already made arrangements with the Bauers and his reasons hadn’t changed.
A tiny thought forced its way through his confusion. Maybe he had changed.
Before he could contemplate that idea further, Missy drew his attention.
“Why not tell Joey and Annie the Bauers want to know what it would be like to have two children just like them?”
Wade accepted her suggestion and they continued up the stairs. She stood at his side as he squatted to eye level to talk to the children.
Annie eagerly agreed. “They’d like having two children, wouldn’t they?”
Joey wasn’t as easily convinced. “Where would they get two children?” The fierce, defiant look he gave Wade informed him that Joey suspected this might be what Wade had in mind for them. Oh, please, Joey, don’t do something crazy.
Nevertheless his nephew obediently accompanied Wade and Annie down the stairs, with Missy at their heels.
The Bauers waited in the office and Wade ushered the children in. He paused to see what would happen.
Mr. Bauer asked the children to step forward, and looked Joey up and down as if measuring him. “Let’s see you make a muscle.”
Joey did.
Mr. Bauer smiled. “You’re a strong lad, aren’t you?”
Mrs. Bauer ran her gaze up and down Annie. “You say you’re five?”
She nodded.
Mrs. Bauer appeared troubled. “I thought you’d be bigger.”
Annie drew herself up tall. “I am bigger.”
Mr. Bauer saw Wade hovering in the doorway. “We’ll be fine. You can leave.”
They might be, but Wade would never be fine again.
Missy watched from the kitchen doorway and seemed to sense his condition. She took his hand, led him to the table and pushed him into a chair. She poured coffee and set it before him.
