Florence

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  Florence stared at Jay. “We have to get her down. She could fall out of the house.”

  Jay nodded. He was about to start up the stairs when he saw Curt and Fred come with the deer. “Fred shot you a deer. Maybe you can make dinner while I’m retrieving this little tyke.”

  Florence grinned. “Sure thing. Oh,” She turned to James. “You and your wife are welcome to stay for dinner.”

  James looked at Li, and his wife smiled. “We’d be glad to.”

  Jay shook the stairs and didn’t like the way they wavered. “Let me try and get up there, and I’ll hand her down to you, James.”

  “Sure.” James positioned himself by the stairs. “I’ll hold the stairs and try to keep them steady.”

  Paul went to stand by Jay. “I’m lighter. I should go. She’s my sister.”

  “No, you get back. You’re under my roof, sort of, and it’s my responsibility. Thanks for the offer, though. You’re a good man, Paul.” The boy beamed with pride, but then his worried look returned.

  Jay stepped up to the third step, and it seemed pretty steady. Testing each step as he went, he finally made it to the top of the stairs and stepped on the second story floor. How good it was, he questioned, but it seemed sturdy.

  Looking up, he saw that there were plenty of holes to fix. He picked up Mary Margaret, who smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. Rubbing her back, Jay went to the room above his bedroom and was happy that it was the most secure on the second story.

  They should stay dry if it decided to rain. In fact, the area over the kitchen was sound, too. Looking around, Jay was happy to see all the room they would have once the house was finished.

  Thinking of the list in his pocket, Jay couldn’t begin to wonder when that would be. “All right, Mary Margaret, let’s get you back on the ground.”

  She grinned her baby smile and wrapped a hand around his neck. “I’m staying with you.”

  “Yes, you are, but Paul wants to make sure you’re all right. And Florence is making a good dinner.”

  “Oooh. I hungry.”

  “James, you there?”

  “Right below you.”

  “I’m going to stand on the top two stairs and lower her to you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Jay eased down a couple of steps and then lowered Mary Margaret to James’s waiting arms. Once he had her, Jay took another step and then cautiously another.

  A creak and then a loud snap was all the warning Jay received. He yelled for them to get back, and the stairs collapsed.

  Chapter 12

  Florence had just cut some of the meat off the deer to put in the boiling pot for stew when she heard the crash.

  She whirled in time to see the stairs come down in a heap and Jay with it. She wiped her hands on her apron and ran for the main room. “Jay!”

  Fear pounced on her. She should have known things were going too well. Battling the panic, she prayed that the Lord would watch over Jay. And then she was by him.

  James had pulled him from the wood and was examining him.

  Li had the children to the side of the house away from the wreckage.

  Jay shook his head. “I didn’t need this. I think my leg is broke.”

  James nodded. “But it’s not a bad break. I’ll set it, and in a few weeks, you’ll be just fine.”

  “I don’t have a few weeks.”

  Mary Margaret cried. “Are you gonna die, too.”

  Jay looked at her, “No, baby. I’ll be fine.”

  The little one slid from Li’s grasp and ran to Jay. “I wuv you.”

  Jay’s heart melted as he took her in his arms. “How about you sit with me while the doctor takes care of my leg.”

  She nodded.

  Florence saw Jay’s face, and she knew they were more than likely going to be a family of six as soon as they straightened things out with the mine boss. The children weren’t going anywhere, and that was fine with her.

  “Children lets go in the parlor. We can entertain our guests.” Florence pointed for them to sit where the window would be. “Li, how do you like America?”

  Curt and Fred proceeded to pick up the lumber and take it outside.

  Florence watched the two men work without being told and figured that having two more in the family wouldn’t hurt. So, they were up to eight in their little family. Yet, it filled her with joy as she truly did enjoy taking care of people.

  With help from James, Jay hobbled over to the parlor and sat with his back against the bedroom wall. After falling from the steps, he didn’t want to take a chance on the outer boards falling down.

  Mary Margaret wouldn’t leave his side.

  James sat beside his wife.

  After settling the children down, Li smiled at her. “I love America. The hope that I feel makes my heart beat with the fullness of life. I know that we will have opposition because we are different. I love James, and he loves me. Hope, that hope that fills this nation, lets me know that we will not be torn apart but grow stronger together.”

  Florence had stopped cutting potatoes. “That’s beautiful. I want you to consider us as your friends.”

  Li took James's hand and nodded. “Yes. Friends.” She stood. “And friends let friends help. I can make biscuits.”

  Curt took the pitcher and went out to milk the cow.

  Jay grimaced because of his leg but smiled at Mary Margaret as she slept against his chest.

  Florence surveyed her unfinished house, and the friends and family scattered in the someday parlor. She was at home, loved them all, and thought she could never be happier.

  ***

  Jay rubbed his knee. His leg pained him, but it wasn’t unbearable. Just a slight break, James had said. The night had gone well despite the accident. Curt and Fred were sleeping with Scout. The kids were on the floor in the bedroom with the puppies. And Jay had Florence beside him.

  She’d handled herself well, taking care of the crowd for dinner. Everyone ate all they wanted, and there was a little left over. Florence hadn’t been rattled at all and showed good sense in not trying to go up the stairs herself.

  Jay shuddered to think of her falling and getting hurt. Going upstairs, he realized how much work it was going to take. There was no way that he could do it alone. He could ask Fred and Curt, but they were going to be too busy once the mill got going. Already, orders were backing up.

  Then there was the drying shed and the kiln he needed to order. The horse to pay for. The barn to build and the chicken coop.

  Jay tried to find sleep, but the list of things paraded in his mind making it impossible. James had said he needed to stay off his leg for at least a week and then only as needed. There was a risk the break could become more severe if he pushed it.

  But what choice did he have? He didn’t want to lose everything. The only good thing he supposed was that he wasn’t thinking about going back to the outlaw life. There weren’t many robbers hobbling around on one leg. He drew in a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but try as he might, he could see no way out.

  Florence stirred. “Are you all right? Is the leg hurting?”

  “Not much. Go back to sleep.” Jay didn’t want her to worry. Maybe they should send the children to the orphanage. Or perhaps, the kids did have family that would come and get them. Regardless, what he didn’t need was four more mouths to feed and little bodies to clothe and buy shoes for.

  He grinned as he remembered Mary Margaret grabbing hold of him and telling him she loved him. Those words had gone right to his heart and hooked him. Who was he fooling? There was no way he’d let those kids go to some unknown strangers.

  Florence ran her fingers through his hair. “Don’t worry. It will all work out.” She was quiet for a few minutes, and he’d thought she’d fallen back asleep. “Jay, if the children have nowhere to go, I’d like to adopt them. We can talk to Judge Taggart.”

  He put an arm around her and rubbed her arm. “I was thinking the same. I’ll see what Levi found out,
and then we can talk to the judge.”

  She raised up and kissed him. “Thank you, I love you.”

  Jay smiled. He knew she did. Her love had started slowly, but over the days, his feelings for her were growing. He kissed her. “I love you, Florence. Everything will be all right.”

  “Yes, it will. I’d like to go to church this Sunday.”

  He shook his head and chuckled. “Big Red is a good horse, but I doubt if even he can carry all six of us on his back.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t think of that. I’ll pray. The Lord will help us.”

  Jay glanced at her. When had she started asking the Lord to help? Well, maybe she was right. Because right now, he didn’t have any idea how he was going to get everything done.

  “I finished the garden and planted the seeds. The children helped. I checked the meadow for bitterweed and didn’t see any. So far, the chickens are holding their own and staying away from varmints. I think Scout protects them. We’re doing fine.”

  He hugged her. How could he tell her they were on the verge of losing everything? Yes, he owned the land and the house. An unfinished house that would not be livable in the winter. But he owed taxes in a month.

  In a month, they could lose the house and the horse if he didn’t get the mill making money. Maybe he’d taken on too much all at once. He shouldn’t have bought the house. Probably shouldn’t have married Florence. And he certainly shouldn’t have promised to keep four children that didn’t belong to them.

  He’d get up and leave the house to go think outside if he could, but he couldn’t even do that now. Everything was closing in on him, just like it had in prison. Just like it had back home when they were starving.

  How long would it be before he was hungry and forced to look at his wife and those children and wonder how he could feed them? He was beginning to understand why his father fell into such a deep hole. How long would it be before he followed his father’s footsteps?

  Jay shook his head. He’d do whatever it took to stay the man that Florence needed. He’d promised her that.

  Chapter 13

  Florence had breakfast for them all before anyone else had awakened. She worried about Jay. He’d lost that fun spark that she’d grown to love about him. She banged her spatula against the stove.

  “Everyone up. Curt, could you milk the cow for me, and take Billy with you. He needs to learn how.”

  Curt nodded and waited for Billy to come out of the bedroom.

  Florence didn’t see anyone coming from the room, so she went in and awakened the children.

  Paul was the first awake. “Sorry, we should have been up before the sun.” He scurried to get his clothes on.

  “How’s your head?”

  The boy grinned and knocked on the top of his head. “I feel fine.”

  “I still want you to rest. Go ahead and take the younger ones into the parlor. Billy, you go with Curt to milk Gretchen, and take the puppies outside with you.”

  Billy rubbed his eyes and yawned but quickly dressed and ran outside with a puppy under each arm.

  Florence looked at Jay. By all his tossing, turning, and groaning, he’d not slept at all. She went to the bed and pondered if she should wake him or let him sleep. He really needed to rest his leg. She decided to let him sleep as long as he needed to.

  Besides, she had ideas on how to help. Back in the kitchen, she put on some more bacon, checked the biscuits, and jumped when Jay came up behind her and grabbed her by the waist.

  “You thought I was sleeping.”

  “You were sleeping. I want you to rest your leg.”

  He stretched his arms and shoulders. “I am a little sore, but I have a week’s worth of work to do today.”

  “No, you don’t. Sit down with the children and entertain them. At least for today, stay off your leg.”

  He limped, grabbed the crutch Fred had made for him, and limped to the parlor. Soon she heard him talking to the children.

  After breakfast, she gathered the few leftovers and fed the dogs. Scout was such a gentle giant. He waited until the puppies ate and then wolfed his food down. She suspected he hunted during the day as she had found several rabbit carcasses near the house where the big dog watched over them.

  She led Gretchen to the meadow, and then Florence made her way back into the house with fresh water from the creek, so Jay didn’t get the idea that he could walk that far. Crutch or not.

  Jay reached for her hand and pulled her down beside him. “So, Mrs. Selmer, what do you have planned to do today? You’ve finished the garden, fed an army, and taken care of all of us. How can I take care of you today?”

  She laughed. “I would like to ride Big Red into town.”

  “You said you don’t know how to ride.”

  “No, I said I hadn’t ridden since a child when we’d ride the big plow horses. You said Big Red was gentle. We need more flour. You do want more biscuits, don’t you?” She knew the way to his approval was in tempting him with buttered biscuits.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Well, the children need more clothes. I thought I’d use my dowry to buy them another set of clothes. If that’s all right with you.”

  He pondered her request.

  She could see he didn’t want her to, but since it was for the children, maybe.

  After a few minutes, he nodded. “All right. But be sure and buy something for yourself. That’s your money.”

  She kissed him and hoped he would still love her when she returned. Florence ran back into the bedroom and took her reticule. She hoped she had enough money for everything she wanted to buy.

  Before she could leave, Sheriff Levi stopped in to see about the children. He smiled and asked about Jay’s leg. Then he gave a look to Florence and nodded to the kids.

  She understood. “Paul, will you take the children outside to look for the eggs, and to check the garden and see if any plants are coming up.” She knew there wouldn’t be and thought the chickens were still to busy getting used to their new home to lay, but it would keep the children busy and out of earshot.

  After the small herd of kids ran outside, she sat beside Jay and hoped that no one was taking the children.

  Levi cleared his throat. “The children have no relatives. No one in the camp wants them. There was a couple who cared, but they were struggling to feed their own family. I thought I’d go to the judge and see if we need to send them to the orphanage, but—”

  Florence held Jay’s hand and blurted out, “We want them. Please.”

  Levi smiled. “That would take a load of burdens off my mind. Are you both sure? I know you just got married.”

  Jay squeezed her hand. “We want them. What do we need to do?”

  “Go see Judge Taggart. He can make a petition for adoption. That’s about all I know, but the sooner you do it, the better.”

  Florence nodded. “I was on my way to town. I’ll stop by the judge’s office today.”

  Levi sent Jay a warning glance.

  “It’s all right, Sheriff. I’m supposed to stay off my leg, and she got it in her mind to go into town for more flour and clothes for the children.”

  “I’ll wait and ride in with you. It’s really not safe for women to ride on their own.”

  Florence raised her head. “I bet Bridgette does.”

  Levi laughed. “Yes, she does.” He grinned at Jay. “I’ll be praying for you. Bridgette is my half-sister, and if your Florence is like her, hang on. It’s not easy to hold a tornado.”

  Jay laughed. “I’ll take those prayers.” He grinned at her. “But, I think my love and trust will hold her just fine.”

  Her conscience pricked her, but she was committed. Besides, everything she did would be for the children. “I’ll just be a minute to saddle Red.”

  Levi shook his head. “No need for a woman to saddle a horse as long as I’m here. Let’s go.” He took the saddle and went to Big Red.

  Florence kissed Jay and told him she’d back ho
me before night. Although, she was tempted to come home under cover of darkness. Still, things had to be done for this household.

  Soon, Florence was riding with the sheriff and had to admit having him with her gave her comfort. Big Red was well-mannered and gave her no problems. She was happy about that.

  Levi turned to her. “Where are you going first?”

  “I think I’ll talk to Judge Taggart about the children.” She smiled. “I already love them.”

  “I think Jay does, too.” Levi turned onto the main street in town. “If you need some help, you come to me, and Ronan or I will help you get back home.”

  Florence eyed the sheriff. “I don’t think you have time to take every woman home. I brought the rifle in the saddle. I can handle myself.”

  He laughed. “I don’t doubt that.” He tipped his hat to her and rode to the jail.

  Florence stopped at the courthouse. She prayed she was doing the right thing and opened the door.

  Sterling happened to be standing near and welcomed her in. “Mrs. Selmer, what a pleasure.”

  “I’d like to talk to Judge Taggart.”

  The mayor frowned. “He’s right back there.”

  Florence walked into the office and sat in the chair offered to her. “Judge Taggart, I’m not sure if you know yet, but four children came into our home the other day. Their parents died of the cholera outbreak at the mining camp. The sheriff told us the mines had no record of relatives, and the children confirmed that they had no other family. Jay and I would like to adopt them.”

  The judge nodded but did frown. “I see. That’s quite an undertaking for a newlywed couple.”

  “Jay would be here, but he broke his leg. Even though it’s only been a few days, we love them. We will do what we have to.”

  “I’ll get right on it. And don’t worry about a charge. If you’re kind enough to take them in, I’ll cover the court costs. I’ll have to put ads in the papers in case they do have relations that may be interested. After some time, I’ll prepare the adoption papers to make it legal.”

  “Thank you, Judge.” She started to rise when he cleared his throat.