by Lori Wick
Rusty nodded. Her father did know her well. She didn’t think she’d go so far as to enter into a loveless marriage, but she was very vulnerable where Quintin McCandles was concerned.
“Have I upset you?”
“No, but you’ve certainly given me a lot to think about.” She paused and met her father’s gaze. “How would you and Mother feel if I did care for Mr. McCandles?”
“We both like him very much, Rusty, and we know he took very good care of you, but by your own admission there are some things missing. I would welcome your getting to know him better, and if at all possible, your mother’s and my spending more time with him.”
“We’re talking like it’s a done deal,” Rusty said, her chest feeling oddly tight. “As I said, I have no idea what I feel, and I have only yours and Dana’s opinion that he’s even interested.”
“Be that as it may, Rusty, this is the time to talk about these issues, not when emotions have taken over and your heart feels as though it’s over the moon.”
That was yet another good point, and for the moment it was the last one. Leslie wandered into the kitchen a few minutes later and started on his breakfast. Jackie came next and was eventually followed by Clare and Dana. They ate breakfast amid much fun, but another school day was about to begin and before long everyone was off at full speed.
22
Colorado Springs
Chase sank into his chair and looked at the stack of mail on his desk. He’d been gone only two business days, but it had certainly mounted up. After reaching for his business case and setting it on the desk, he flipped the latch, and the first thing he saw was the bear. He smiled at the sight of it and went immediately to find Mrs. Whitley. She was in the kitchen.
“Do you know where Quintin is?” he asked of the older woman.
“I believe he and Mrs. Harding are on a walk, sir.”
Chase nodded. “Please send him to me when he returns.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chase returned to his office and went to work on his correspondence. He had accomplished much when he heard the sound of Quintin’s voice and the patter of little feet. Preparing himself to have Quintin stop in the doorway, Chase was surprised when the little boy shot directly into his office, his eyes alight with surprise. Chase watched in confusion as the younger McCandles looked around the office and then at his father.
“Where is she?” Quintin asked, his formality with his father dropping away from him for the first time in his life.
“Where is who, Quintin?”
“Miss Taggart. Where is she?” His little head turned as he looked for her again, and he turned a smiling face to his father, as though waiting for the surprise to end.
“Miss Taggart isn’t here, Quintin,” Chase said kindly. “She’s at her home in Boulder.”
Quintin frowned a little. “I found a new nest,” the little boy explained. “She has to see my nest. When is she coming?”
“She’s not, Quintin,” Chase continued gently. “From Boulder she’s going back to the orphanage where she works.”
“She’s not coming?”
“No, Quintin, I’m sorry you thought she was.”
The little boy could have been made of stone, so frozen became his stance, but it didn’t last. Chase watched in amazement as tears filled his son’s eyes. Numb with shock, he stared when Quintin dropped his face into his hands and sobbed. He was speaking now as well, but Chase caught little of it. A moment later Mrs. Harding carefully put her head around the corner. She looked at her small charge, who was still crying into his hands, and then at Chase, who looked back at her helplessly.
“What is it, Quintin?” Mrs. Harding asked in a voice that was gentler than usual.
“She’s not here,” he managed. “She didn’t come back, and I can’t show her—”
Again Mrs. Harding looked to Chase. “Is he talking about Miss Taggart?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Harding nodded, her face exhibiting no surprise. “Shall I take him, Mr. McCandles?”
“Yes, I guess you’d better.” His voice still reflected his shock. He watched as Mrs. Harding led his son away and then sat completely still, his eyes on the spot where Quintin had been standing. He had certainly seen that Quintin had become attached to their guest, but never had he expected this.
After a few minutes Chase sat back in his chair. On doing so his eyes caught sight of the stuffed bear. He picked it up and looked into its grumpy face. His lids slid shut on the memory of Katherine, and he knew why Quintin cried. She was so fun, so special, and she made everyone with her feel special. Chase looked down at the toy again, but the bear blurred as Quintin’s face jumped starkly back into his mind. He had to do something for his little son, but at the moment he didn’t know what.
Boulder
As Rusty had hoped, the house was packed to the rafters on Monday night. Armed with snacks of every kind, more than 30 young people showed up for an evening of fellowship, laughter, and food, but no one minded the noise or lack of space. They were too busy enjoying themselves.
Pastor and Beryl Henley came with Wilna North, and Leslie blushed the whole evening. They sat near each other, but no one saw them speak to one another. Justin Sommerfeldt came, and although Dana showed no outward signs of interest, Rusty remembered what Leslie had said.
Rusty acted as hostess, and in doing so was able to catch up with lots of news. She had a great talk with Katie and Roz Buchanan, as well as a long visit with Pastor and Mrs. Henley. They were all very glad to see her and thrilled with how much she was enjoying her work.
The guests cleared out by ten o’clock, and both Jackie and Rusty voted to leave the cleanup for the morning.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” Rusty said to her parents before going to her own room.
“You’re welcome. Did you see everyone you hoped to see?”
“All but Grace Harrington, but we plan to go to lunch this week.”
“Now I wonder what the two of you will discuss, since nothing exciting ever happens in your lives,” Clayton said, his voice dry.
Rusty laughed. “Yes, I wonder too. Goodnight, Papa. Goodnight, Mother.”
“Goodnight, dear,” they bid her and moved down the hall. They were in bed just a short time later, both agreeing that the days until she went back to Manitou were going to pass swiftly. They would surely miss her, but after her departure it was certainly going to be quiet.
Clare thought she might be sick. She had never been so nervous in her life. When her father had first told her that she had an appointment to see Mrs. Wood, she’d been delirious with happiness, a happiness that only increased when Rusty said she would go with her, especially since she was leaving for Manitou in two days. Now they were walking toward the large mansion that sat on Pine Street, and Clare was literally shaking with nerves. She had to force herself not to reach for Rusty’s hand.
You’re a big girl now, Clare, you can do this. She’s not going to eat you.
“What if she’s not home?” Clare suddenly asked, her voice as breathless as she felt.
Rusty laughed. “Her leg is broken, Clare. She’s housebound. Besides, you have an appointment.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Rusty laughed again, but then her tone turned compassionate. “Oh, Clare. You have no color in your face. Let’s slow down so you can calm yourself a little.”
Clare was thankful for the suggestion. The girls slowed their walk to a near crawl, and the younger Taggart tried to breathe deeply. She had taken her sister’s advice and checked back with her father, thinking she needed to remind him how much she wanted to travel. She had been wrong. He had needed no such reminder and told her that he was working on the matter. Not two hours later he’d come to tell her she was to meet with Mrs. Wood that week, and that the lady had very close friends in India. Now it was happening. She was on her way to meet her summer employer. Just two weeks ago she would have been pleased to have Mrs. Wood find her unsuitable. Today
she wanted to make the very best impression.
“This is the place,” Rusty said, and Clare looked up in surprise. How had they arrived so swiftly? “Are you ready, Clare?”
“I think so. How do I look?”
“You look lovely,” Rusty said sincerely and stepped back a little. She wanted her sister to take the lead. Clare did not disappoint her. The younger girl took a deep breath before starting up the walk and knocking on the front door. This done, Clare had to force her hands to her side. It was a relief when the door was answered swiftly.
“Miss Taggart?” A smiling woman with gray hair cascading down her back opened the door for them.
“Yes. I’m Clare Taggart, and this is my sister Katherine.”
“Come in,” she welcomed them warmly. “I’m Thelma Hepplewhite. I keep the house running for Mrs. Wood. She’s very eager to meet you.”
“I’m eager to meet her too. I hope I’ll be able to help.”
“You’ll do just fine.” Thelma was walking now, leading the way. “Her demands are few. Before she got hurt, there were days when I accused her of paying me to keep her company.”
Clare smiled and glanced at Rusty, who was smiling as well. Thelma had taken them through the house, past elegantly furnished rooms to a closed-in glass sunroom at the rear of the house. Mrs. Wood was comfortably ensconced in a chair, a book in her lap and a letter in her hand.
“Miss Taggart is here, Helen.”
“Oh, good,” she exclaimed as she put the letter down. “I’m so glad to see you and terribly put out that I couldn’t come to the door myself. Come in and sit with me.”
The Taggart girls took chairs, and Clare made an introduction. “It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Wood. I’m Clare Taggart, and this is my sister Katherine.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you both. I hope you know that I prayed you here,” she told them seriously. “I can tell you right now that it wasn’t in my plans to break this leg, but that’s what happened and that’s why I need you, Clare Taggart. All winter Thelma has been planning to take two months off. I was going to be here on my own, but as you can see,” she gestured to the leg that was propped up on a tapestried ottoman, “that’s impossible.”
“So you prayed for someone to come,” Clare guessed with a smile.
“I certainly did, and here you are!” The old eyes surveyed her kindly. “You’re younger than Thelma. I may want you to stay and replace her.”
Thelma, who was headed back into the room with a tray of refreshments, had a good laugh.
“Do you mean I should have slammed the door in Miss Taggart’s face?” she asked as she settled the tray on a table. “I wish I’d known.”
Clare and Rusty laughed at the banter between the two, and that was just the beginning. They spent the next three hours talking, first in the sunroom and then over a delicious lunch. Clare would start the day after school let out and stay on for the following nine weeks. Several ladies came in weekly to clean and cook, so Clare’s duties would be mostly fetching and toting— menial tasks, but Mrs. Wood had a heart of gold, and Clare knew she wouldn’t mind a bit.
It was hard to leave, but at last it was time. Rusty didn’t think she was going to be able to keep her sister on the ground. By the time they arrived home, Clare was so excited she could hardly speak.
“Oh, Mother,” Clare began from the first minute they walked through the door. Disjointed and excited words poured out of her. “I wish you could have been—I mean, you should have … India! We talked and … her home is wonderful and she’s just like, that is, she’s wonderful too, and I—” Clare had to stop, and Jackie laughed at her daughter’s enthusiasm.
“I prayed for you the whole time, Clare,” Jackie said, her eyes and voice full of joy. “I just knew God would make it special. When do you start?”
“The day after school is out. I can hardly, that is, oh, Mother, it was wonderful.”
Clare had finally run out of energy. She dropped into a chair in the front room, laid her head back, and stared at the ceiling.
“I think she’s out of steam,” Rusty said.
“I’ll bet she is,” Jackie said compassionately. “It’s a good thing you and I are making dinner tonight, Rusty.”
Conversation quieted then, Rusty filling in details that Clare had missed. All was calm until Dana tore in the door from school. It had killed her that Clare had been allowed to miss school for the interview, but only because she knew she would have to wait to hear the outcome. Seeing her, Clare was off again. Jackie and Rusty voted to leave them on their own and escape to the quiet of the kitchen to get dinner underway.
23
Rusty settled back against the train seat and sighed. Hearing it, her companion turned questioning eyes to her.
“Don’t mind me, Papa,” she said, having correctly interpreted her father’s look. “I’m just tired.”
“But you do want to return to the orphanage?” Clayton asked, needing to be sure.
Rusty’s eyes shone. “Oh, yes. I miss the children so much, especially my cousins. But I didn’t sleep very well last night, and then Mother and I were both awake so early. It was wonderful to have that extra time with her, but now it’s catching up.”
“Why didn’t you sleep well?”
“I don’t know—just lots of things on my mind.”
She didn’t elaborate, so Clayton stayed quiet and prayed, making himself let go of his oldest child.
She’s Yours, Lord. She always has been. I forget and try to take her from You, but she’s never been mine. I ask that You keep her safe, but I do so in Your will. I thank You for whatever You have for Rusty. You love her more than I do. I thank You that she’s such a special person, and that You put her into our family. We are all blessed by her life.
Help her to keep her emotions in check as she returns to work now. Help her not to grow angry at the injustices she sees, but to see Your hand in all and trust You completely for those children.
Rusty interrupted her father’s prayer with a question about when they would arrive but then went back to her view out the window. Clayton had brought a newspaper that he now opened, but at one point he glanced over to see such a look of pain on Rusty’s face that he was startled. He folded the paper quietly and waited, his eyes still on her profile. The look passed, but Clayton was not about to ignore it.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly.
Rusty looked up at him. “I was thinking about Quintin.”
Clayton didn’t need to hear any more. There was little that pained his daughter more than a child in distress. Clayton was not much different.
“I have much for which to thank God, Papa, specifically for Quintin, I mean—but I still want more for him. I try to concentrate on the fact that he’s well taken care of and kept from harm—that’s certainly more than I can say for a lot of the orphans who come to us—but I still want him to have more.”
“I understand, Rusty, but I think you do him a great disservice by comparing him to an orphan. Mr. McCandles would be very offended.”
Rusty’s brow lowered. “He should be.”
Clayton couldn’t stop his smile. Without warning, he pictured his daughter married to Chase McCandles and knew nothing but peace.
“Am I being laughed at?” Rusty had caught his look.
“No, but I do find it amusing that with all due respect you call the man Mr. McCandles, but you don’t hesitate to tell him exactly what you think.”
Rusty’s lopsided smile was self-disparaging. She was outspoken where Quintin’s father was concerned, but she’d never come right out and told him what she thought of the whole situation. She hadn’t thought it was her place.
“I need to say one other thing, Rusty,” Clayton ventured. Rusty looked at him. “If you’ve witnessed sins in Chase’s life, such as neglect of his son, you can ask God to intervene. God wants more for Quintin than even you do. Ask God to help Chase see how much his son needs him. You may never know the answer, but you will stil
l have done your job by faithfully praying. That’s all God requires of you in this situation.”
Rusty nodded. “Thank you, Papa. I’d forgotten how good it was to travel with you.”
“I didn’t get much time with you. This will give us a good visit.”
Rusty smiled but then her eyes wandered to the distance. “I’ll probably never see him again,” she said thoughtfully.
“Quintin or Mr. McCandles?”
Rusty shrugged. “Both, I guess.”
Clayton didn’t reply, but he couldn’t have disagreed more. He wouldn’t go so far as to agree with Dana that Rusty was going to marry the man, but he felt quite certain that if Chase McCandles had anything to say about it, Rusty would see him again.
Manitou
Sammy O’Brien stopped short when her brother-in-law walked in the front door of the orphanage. She had been on her way to hug Rusty, who had preceded him, but was so surprised by Clayton’s presence that she hesitated before a huge smile covered her face.
“Clay!” she said warmly. “What a wonderful surprise.”
“Isn’t it though!” he agreed as he covered the distance between them. “I didn’t get enough time with Rusty so I thought I’d see her back.”
“I’m glad you did.”
They shared a hug before Sammy asked, “Jackie and the kids are all right?”
“Yes.”
“How long can you stay?”
“I need to leave in the morning.”
Sammy’s eyes moved to her niece. “Chase’s cable said you were ill; are you all right now?”
“Yes.”
“I forgot to hug you.” At times Sammy could be all business, but once Rusty was in her arms, she held on for some time and would not let go. Paddy came in on them during this time.
“Well, this is a surprise,” he laughed as he shook Clayton’s hand with delight.
