Ellery's Eden (Tales From Biders Clump Book 12)

by Danni Roan

  George reached out squeezing Polly’s hand his dark eyes full of affection. “Still am,” he grumbled with a grin.

  “Papa went ahead of us to make sure that everything was ready at the church and to see that everyone was at the church.” Polly cut her eyes at George. “I’m not sure if he was worried you’d changed your mind or hoped for it.”

  George chuckled. “Your Pa was protective of his girl.”

  “We didn’t expect a lot of folks at the ceremony what with the weather the way it was, but a good many of the town’s people turned out. When I walked into the church, it was picture perfect. Pine boughs, red ribbons, holly, and even mistletoe decorated the church turning it into a Christmas wonderland. Then I saw George.”

  Polly paused, her blue eyes shimmering with love. “George was wearing a gray suit and a bright red string tie. He was the most handsome thing I’d ever seen, with his dark hair and eyes,” she added, “and I’d seen a thing or two.”

  “I pulled out all the stops that day,” George said. “I even paid for a shave.”

  The group at the table laughed, no one noticing as Georgie snagged another cookie from the tray, popping it into his mouth whole.

  “Well, you’d think things would just go forward from there,” Polly smiled, “but our wedding wasn’t set to be a normal proceeding. No, things had to be interesting for me and George.”

  George’s soft chuckle had everyone leaning closer as they imagined the image of a young golden haired Polly walking down the aisle on her father’s arm.

  “First,” Polly said her voice smooth and resonate, “my one friend, only married a month herself wasn’t feeling well and as much as she tried to stand up for me she kept slipping out the side door to be sick. She didn’t even have a clue she was pregnant,” Polly laughed. “The preacher kept stopping the ceremony every time she got green around the gills, which was very unfortunate as her dress was a deep red and her pale coloring would have gone a treat with it if she hadn’t been as green as the pine trimmings in her hands.”

  “Poor Ginger felt terrible,” George said. “But it got worse.”

  “Surely not?” Sara started, thinking of her own public elopement. “How terrible.”

  George laughed again as Polly shook her head. “It wasn’t so bad,” they said together.

  “The preacher was helpful,” Polly grinned.

  “Between him and my friend Jay we didn’t need no more help,” George grinned.

  “Jay told the preacher he didn’t think any woman would ever have me, and the preacher kept winking at me the whole way through the ceremony. I thought he had something in his eye.”

  Polly laughed reaching over and taking George’s hand again. “When I made it to the front of the church, the preacher said he thought it was about time we tied the knot since he was tired of seeing George making eyes at me like a love sick pup during every performance.”

  Prissy laughed. “At least you didn’t have any one break up the wedding,” she grinned as Rupert shook his head remembering their own ceremony.

  “George was so nervous he couldn’t hardly say the words the preacher gave him,” Polly laughed. “He kept stuttering and mumbling.”

  “I figured you might change your mind and bolt,” George confessed. “A pretty woman like you with a homely fella like me.”

  “George Olson you are the finest looking man I ever laid eyes on,” Polly smiled. “I’d do it all over again too, even with the interruptions and your mother crying her eyes out at losing her little boy.”

  “It was a mighty fine day,” George said leaning in and kissing Polly gently on the lips.

  “Ew, Grandpa,” Georgie protested making everyone laugh.

  “I guess it don’t matter how folks fall in love, or get married,” George spoke his eyes still on Polly. “All that matters is that they’re willing to work together and give love a chance.”

  “That’s a nice story Grandma,” Alyssa said lifting her chin, “but when I’m grown up, I’m never getting married, that way I never have to worry about losing the person I love.”

  Chapter 15

  The adults at the table all turned to look at Alyssa who stared back at them defiantly.

  “You may change your mind when you’re older,” Ernie offered her eyes full of understanding.

  “No, I won’t,” the young girl replied. “If you never love someone, you won’t feel so lost when they are gone. I’m going to do my homework now,” she finished rising and gesturing for Mark and Georgie to follow her.

  Ellery watched his oldest child walk away from the table, leaving the adults sitting in silence.

  “Grown up is a long way off,” Sara Dixon said softly. “Rafe and I never thought that my mother and his father would ever stop feuding long enough to sue for peace let alone fall in love and marry.”

  “And look at Mr. Williams and Mrs. Farrow,” Prissy added. “She’s like a new woman since they wed. I think she needed someone who would love her for who she was and not for what she could bring to the marriage.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Rupert smiled draping an arm around Prissy. “Why Mrs. Farrow was the most difficult person I ever did see working in an eatery, but now look at her.”

  “It don’t hurt that Jasper Williams spoils her something terrible,” George chuckled.

  “I guess love comes in all forms,” Ernie suggested. “I’ve never been in love myself, but I think there is much more to romance, love, and marriage than attraction and feelings.”

  “Yes,” Quil grinned. “Sometimes shared goals are enough and the rest comes later,” she said thinking of her own unconventional marriage to Cameron Royal who was willing to marry her to prove his loyalty to her ranch and family.

  “Then there’s Lucinda and Willem. I think she was very fond of Willem before they married, but more than anything she married him for the sake of his niece and nephew.”

  Polly shook her head and grinned. “Love comes in all shapes and sizes just like people.”

  “Then there're the times that doing what’s best for others turns out to be what’s best for you as well,” George spoke, his eyes flicking toward the office where the children had gone.

  Ernie looked down the table at a pensive Ellery, wondering what he was thinking about the conversation. It was true that love, real love came in many forms other than romantic love, and she realized that her deep compassion and devotion to the Olson children could be called love.

  Sophia twisting on her lap to eye little Andrew on Polly’s lap, and Ernie tried to hold tight to the little girl as Sophie lunged forward grabbing Andrew by his shirt and pulled him close placing a sweet, smacking kiss on his lips.

  Around the table the adults gasped, then broke into laughter as the two women placed the children on the floor to play.

  “I think they’re takin’ after us Polly,” George said winking a dark eye. “They’re affectionate like.”

  “George Olson everyone knows you’re a hopeless romantic,” Polly laughed her blue eyes bright. “But I for one, am not complaining.”

  The younger couples turned looking at each other as they prayed that over the years their love could grow and mature as the Olson’s had.

  ***

  “I think I’ll check on the children,” Ellery said pushing himself to his feet with a polite nod to the group, before walking away. His head was spinning with the revelations of only moments ago making his heartache for his daughter who seemed so angry, bitter, and cold.

  He remembered a cheerful, loving Alyssa when her mother was alive, a girl full of life, dreams and spunk. He didn’t like this pragmatic girl, who seemed too old for her years.

  Walking down the hall he paused in the doorway of the familiar office and watched as Alyssa organized the boys making sure they had everything they needed to do their work.

  “She’ll be alright,” a soft voice at his back made Ellery spin to see Miss Haven standing behind him. “She’s protecting herself.”

&nb
sp; “But what if she never knows love?” Ellery asked even as his own pain twisted in his chest. “I hate this. I hate all of it, but,” he paused his eyes meeting those of the governess. “But at least I knew the joy of love. I don’t want Alyssa to go through life alone.”

  “Then you’ll have to show her that the end of one thing isn’t the end of everything. You need to work toward a healthy life. A life where there is at least a chance at love again.”

  Ellery shook his head. “I don’t think that is possible,” he insisted. “If I could just make her think it though. Give the illusion of the possibility.”

  “You’re looking for the illusion of normal,” Ernie spoke, her eyes sad. “Don’t you think you should give yourself the same chance that you want your daughter to have?”

  “No,” Ellery’s voice was a low whisper. “I had something too good to ever find again. I just want my children to grow up in a place where they believe love lives.”

  “They are,” Ernie insisted, “you know how George and Polly are. They’re every bit as devoted to each other as they ever were.” The soft smile around the woman’s voice gave evidence to her approval.

  “Yes, but what if one of them pass,” Ellery said swallowing the pain that the thought provoked. “Then what?”

  “If you feel that strongly about this,” Ernie said her hazel gaze intense, “you should remarry.”

  Ellery ran his hands over his face trying to pull his thoughts together. “No woman would want someone as broken as I, especially knowing I could never love them.”

  “You don’t know that,” Ernie returned keeping her voice hushed so the children wouldn’t hear. “There are those in this world with so much to give that it’s enough just to have the chance, the possibility of love to give them hope.”

  “Like who?” Ellery said. “No woman would want a man like me. I’m weak; I’ve left my children to flounder, burdening my parents with guiding them. Add to that the fact that my heart is dead and can never know love again and no one on this earth would take me.”

  “I would,” Ernie’s words were the barest breath but Ellery heard them and scowled.

  “You can’t be serious?”

  “Why not? If it gives your children, the stability they so badly need and brings hope back to Alyssa I’d be willing.”

  “But I can’t love you. It would be a marriage in name only.”

  Ernie shrugged. “At least I would know that I wouldn’t be looking for a new job and leaving behind a piece of my heart when I have to say good bye to your children. I was dismissed from my last job because I confronted the father for ignoring his youngest child. The boy was one of those overly active types and his father didn’t think he’d ever amount to anything. The day I walked out that door broke a piece of my heart off, and I don’t want to do that again. We could help each other.”

  Ellery turned looking at his children, watching as Alyssa peered over Georgie’s shoulder impatiently making him rewrite a word on his slate.

  “Isn’t it too soon?”

  “It depends on what you want,” Ernie said placing a hand on the small of her back to dispel some of the tension there. She knew this whole scheme was insane, but she didn’t think she could leave these children behind if she were asked. She already loved them and wanted to see them grow. “Do you intend to live here with your parents or do you want to have a place of your own? You could get a job, or work for your father. If you have your own place, it would be much easier for us to keep up appearances within the town.”

  Ellery ran his hands over his face and through his dark hair pushing it back over his head. “You think it would make a difference?” he asked. “That Alyssa would…” he gestured vaguely around not sure what he wanted to say.

  “I think it would,” Ernie agreed. “It would show her that life doesn’t end when we lose someone we love, and that there is always hope where there is life. I’ll admit that part of the plan is pure selfishness on my part, but only because I care for your children. I wouldn’t put any demands on you as a husband other than to provide for us and to attend church on occasion,” she finished. “Think on it,” she added pushing past him and into the office with a smile. “Now what do we have going tonight?” she asked the children her voice overly bright.

  Ellery watched the woman with his children. She was patient, helping Georgie with his letters with persistence but love, even as she answered Mark’s questions.

  Would she truly be willing to give up any chance of a love of her own to stay with his children? How could he deny her a chance at what he once had? He knew that the part of him that could ever love a woman again was cold and dead, but she wasn’t some young chit who didn’t know her own mind. They would have to talk about this more he determined, moving out the door and heading down the street toward the livery.

  Chapter 16

  Alyssa took a seat as Ernie walked into the office. With the governess there, she didn’t have to look after her brothers and could concentrate on her own work. She was determined to keep top marks in school and go on to become a teacher, a job she knew women could hold and not have to be married. She was almost sure they were encouraged not to wed. Her life would be her own to live, and she could do it if she just worked hard enough.

  “You’ve been given some very difficult problems,” Ernie looked over at Alyssa’s paper. “I see you’re a year ahead now in Mathematics.”

  “Yes, Mr. Gatlin feels I’m capable of more, and I so enjoy the work. If I can just stay focused and not let others distract me,” she looked up giving her brothers a hard glare.

  “As long as you remember that there is more to life than school, learning, and grades,” Ernie offered kindly. “Your brothers won’t always be here for you to appreciate. People grow up and move away.”

  Alyssa felt a ripple roll through her stomach as she met Ernie’s eyes. “Even you?” she said her voice quivering as fear seemed to clutch at her heart.

  “Not for a very long time,” Ernie assured. “I plan on being here just as long as you will all have me.”

  “Well that will be a very long time,” Alyssa said, relief filling her voice. “Just because Pa walked us home today doesn’t mean he’ll be around tomorrow. I’m glad we can count on you Ernie.”

  Ernie smoothed the girl’s golden hair and smiled. “I’ll do all I can for you Alyssa, you know that. I came to help your grandparents care for all of you, but I’ve grown to care for you as well.”

  Alyssa nodded. “I’m glad you’re here,” she admitted. “Now how do I do this last problem? It doesn’t make sense to me with all these letters and numbers mixed up.”

  Ernie smiled, leaning over to help the girl as a shadow passed by the window outside. She was sure that Ellery had run again. Would the man ever lose the restlessness that plagued him? He was either hiding in his room or gone. Perhaps her words would sink in, and he would consider what she had said. Setting up a home of his own, establishing a routine, and having someone he could count on to care for the children might be what he needs to ground himself on this earth once more.

  She understood his pain, his fear, but he had to go on. Ernie was sure his late wife wouldn’t have wanted the man to spend the rest of his years pining after her and being no use to anyone, especially his children. Besides, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the children behind. She knew it was a weakness in her that she loved so freely, but it had always been that way.

  Her mother had told her that her heart would lead her a-stray one day, but Ernie was pretty sure this wasn’t what she had in mind.

  If Ellery could settle his mind, find a way to reconnect with his children and start again, she was sure he wouldn’t need her anymore, but the thought of leaving even after so short a time made her heart ache. Closing her eyes for a moment Ernie lifted a silent prayer to God that she wouldn’t have to leave Alyssa, Mark, Georgie, or Sophia. She may never have children of her own, but she loved them and didn’t want to let them go.

  It
was the curse of a governess or nanny that one day they had to leave the children they had grown to care so much about, but could she actually go through with an arrangement like the one she had proposed to Mr. Olson?

  It seemed so sensible, and she would be set for life. She wouldn’t have to move, leave the children, or seek another position just to go through the heartache over and over again.

  Turning her attention back to Alyssa’s work, Ernie put the thoughts out of her mind and focused on the work. She couldn’t do any more than she already had. Only time, prayer, and hard work might bring things together. Perhaps God had brought her to Biders Clump not only to help the children, but also to help Ellery Olson find his way.

  “Ernie,” Georgie called as Alyssa found her stride. “Mr. Grady wants me to give a report on Biders Clump, but I don’t know what that is,” the boy looked up his bright eyes worried. “All the other kids say they know all about the town, but I don’t know nothin’.”

  “You don’t know anything,” Ernie corrected gently. “I’m sure we can find out easily enough though. How about we ask your grandpa at supper?”

  “It’s a funny name for a town isn’t it?” Georgie grinned as Ernie brushed his dark fringe of hair from his eyes. “I bet it’s a funny story or somethin’. Do you think the town is as old as grandma and grandpa?”

  Ernie chuckled. “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out. It will be like solving a mystery. We’ll get all the information and see what gave the town its name. That’s what history is. It’s the past reminding us of how to live our lives. If we don’t learn from it, we’ll make the same mistakes that people before us did. That’s why school is so important. It helps you learn to think, reason, and grow.”

  “Yeah, well recess helps ya be healthy, and make friends,” the boy said. “That’s my favorite subject.”

  Again Ernie laughed. “Find a paper and sharpen your pencil,” she said, “then when I’m done with Mark we’ll start by writing your title. You think of a name for the report and we’ll begin.”