His Protective Wings

by Sophie Dawson

  She nodded again.

  Hawk looked over the other children. “How about the rest of you? You all studying hard?” A chorus of affirmative answers rang out. Hawk pulled a paper bag from the pocket of his black duster coat. “Here Mae, pass these out. Since everyone is working so hard, everyone gets a peppermint stick.”

  Mae grinned as she took the bag and began handing out the treats. Hawk extricated himself from the pack and strode to the porch, putting his foot on the highest step, leaning his elbow on his knee.

  “Afternoon, Mrs. Basking, Miss Naylor. Mighty fine day. Thought I’d stop by and see after the four new additions to the House.”

  Ruth saw a tinge of pink on Blanche’s cheeks. “They seem to be adjusting well. There have been a few pitfalls but nothing truly major.”

  Tadpole ran up just then. “Did ja hear I saw Mrs. Fugard in her altogether? She’s real skinny under all those clothes.” Red from the peppermint stick he held in his hand was smeared across his cheeks.

  “Tadpole, you were instructed by several people, including the sheriff and Pastor Noah not to mention that incident. It’s very upsetting to Mrs. Fugard. Now go on with you and let us talk. You aren’t to interrupt,” Ruth scolded.

  Hawk leaned down and loudly whispered, “I heard. It’s not polite to talk about a lady like that.”

  “She ain’t no lady. She can screech like a hoot owl.”

  “Tadpole!” Ruth’s sharp voice made Tadpole run back to the children after flashing a quick grin at Hawk.

  Ruth just shook her head. That boy was definitely precocious.

  “How’s Mae doing? Has she spoken yet?” Since his question seemed to be addressed to Blanche, Ruth stayed silent.

  “Not yet, but we have hope. She’s becoming more relaxed and doesn’t startle at every little sound.” Blanche looked up.

  “Glad to hear it. How’re Boone and Nina doing? Tadpole seems to be acting like a regular boy his age, getting into trouble and talking all the time.”

  Ruth and Blanche chuckled. “That he is,” Ruth said. “He’s a dear child. Seems to remember everything and tells it all. Even things he shouldn’t.”

  “Boone and Mae hope to be ready to go to school come fall. Boone’s very protective of the others and is beginning to extend that to the House children. Soon we won’t be differentiating between them. They will just all be children of the House.”

  They chatted for a few more minutes, then Hawk tipped his hat again and went over to speak once more to the children, then mounted. He waved as he set the horse to a canter.

  “Blanche, I think he’s sweet on you,” Ruth said with a grin.

  Her friend blushed again. “No more so than Massot is sweet on you.”

  Ruth was dumbstruck. Massot was sweet on her? No, that couldn’t be. The tightening in Ruth’s stomach confused her. Was it caused by attraction or fear?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THE BACK DOOR slammed and Libby Trembly stomped from the wash room into the kitchen. Arleta ran to her, holding her arms out to be picked up. She’d been fussy ever since she woke from her nap and found that Libby was gone.

  “What’s got you all riled up?” Ruth was ironing sheets on the kitchen work table.

  Libby pulled out a chair and sat down, Arleta on her lap. “It’s that new lawyer, Forsyth Franklin Fredrick Farnsworth the fourth, pretentious twit. I went to see if he’d handle me adopting the twins. You know what he said, the greenhorn?”

  “What?”

  “He told me I couldn’t adopt them because I’m not married. Said he’d help me find a couple who would take them. He knows several back east. Arrogant mush-head.” Tears slid down Libby’s face.

  “Oh, honey, no. Surely not.” Ruth set the sad-iron back on the stove and came around giving Libby a hug.

  “That’s what he said. Said I couldn’t possibly raise them without a husband. What does he think all the ladies of Sanctuary House do? You all are raising your children just fine. Sure you want husbands. That’s why you all came out here. I understand that. I’m not ready to marry yet. I’m still mourning Tim and my sons. I don’t want to marry any old man just so I can adopt the twins. Lucy gave them to me before she passed. They are mine.” Libby was crying now.

  “Pastor Noah knows that. He heard Lucy when she gave them to you. I heard too, but I’m not sure if my word would sway Mr. Farnsworth.” Ruth patted Libby on the back.

  “Well, I can’t deal with it right now. I’ve got to go change this little one. She stinks.” Libby kissed Arleta on the top of her head and stood. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Where’s Jack?”

  “He and Nina are playing in the parlor with Boone and Mae watching them. With the rain of the past few days I didn’t want them outside getting all muddy. Boone wasn’t happy about it, but he did mind.”

  “Is Jack still following Tadpole around?”

  “Most of the time. I sent Tadpole upstairs before Jack woke from his nap. He needs to spend some more time on his letters. Hopefully, he’s doing so. I have been ironing the sheets and haven’t gone up to check.”

  Libby left with Arleta, leaving Ruth to her ironing. She glanced at the clock. School would let out soon. She needed to get snacks ready. It was a time of the day that Ruth enjoyed. All the children gathered around the tables and shared their day. She had the ones who went to school speak first, then the others. Everyone seemed to enjoy the time before going to play, do chores, or homework.

  The front door opened with boys and girls flooding in chattering amongst themselves and with the others who spent the day at the House. Ruth noticed a few extras. They weren’t really extras. They were children who used to live at the House but whose mothers had married local men and now lived elsewhere. Eddie and Mark Duffle would be moving across the alley into an apartment above the barber and bath shop when their mother Laura married Hank Johnson in June.

  Dunc and Lil Pen were there. Chloe had asked that they spend the afternoon at the house. Both ladies were hoping Dunc would be a good influence on Boone. They were near the same age, and Dunc had known the boy before Chloe and he were abandoned. Lil Pen wasn’t in school yet as she was only five. There was no way she was going to be left behind if her big brother was going to come to the House.

  Ruth was busy pouring milk and limiting the cookies each child consumed. Once that was done she sat at the end of the table surveying and listening. Tadpole had come downstairs and was stuffing his mouth full of snickerdoodles.

  Until he and the others were rescued they’d never had cookies before. Desserts of any kind weren’t something they were familiar with. It broke Ruth’s heart to know the deprivation the four young souls had gone through their entire lives. She was doing all she could to give them love, acceptance, and allowing them an extra dessert if they ate their lunches well. That was the only meal she had final say over. She figured a little spoiling wouldn’t hurt.

  Ruth noticed that Kathryn wasn’t her normal happy self. She was sitting quietly eating her snack. Her posture was perfect and her shoulders seemed to be stiff. Something was bothering her. Ruth would question her later when they were alone.

  ~~~~~

  It wasn’t until much later that Ruth was able to find out what was concerning Kathryn. Once the snacks were consumed and the tales of the day told, the children had scattered. Some went to do their chores, some played. Others had homework. Kathryn claimed to have homework but didn’t have any books with her. Now it was bedtime, the perfect time to find out as Ruth brushed her daughter’s hair.

  “Kathryn, honey, is something bothering you? I noticed you haven’t been your normal happy, friendly self tonight. You didn’t want to read to Nina. She was very disappointed.

  “I know. I’m sorry. I just don’t feel like it.” Kathryn didn’t make eye contact with Ruth in the mirror as she sat before her. Silence met her. That was not like her daughter. She normally shared everything with Ruth, except for birthday or Christmas gifts. She placed her hands on Kathryn’s should
ers and turned her on the low stool.

  “What is it, honey?” Ruth studied her daughter’s solemn face.

  “You know how you tell me to be aware and notice things. To trust my feelings.” She swallowed. “I have a feeling like I’m being watched.”

  The bottom of Ruth’s stomach fell out. No, Lord, please. What was she going to do? How could she let Kathryn out of her sight? She couldn’t keep her home from school. Couldn’t restrict her to her room. Couldn’t wrap her in cotton wool. But she couldn’t let what happened to her happen to Kathryn.

  Ruth stroked Kathryn’s face. “Thank you for telling me. Believe your feeling. You know what I went through. That’s why I’ve warned you to be watchful and listen to your instincts. We’ll work out a plan.”

  “I want to go to school. I want to play and visit with my friends. I don’t want to be afraid and hide.” Kathryn’s eyes were wide with worry.

  “Rest easy. The best you can do is stay alert. Stay with other children, especially those from the House. Be sure to tell me where you are going and with who.

  “I’m going to talk with the other Ladies. We’ll make sure we all watch too. If there is someone, and I believe you are right, with all of us watching we’ll figure out who. He’ll make a mistake. Then we’ll know and we can stop him.”

  Ruth hugged Kathryn to her. As they clung to each other, drawing what comfort and security they could, Ruth began to pray.

  “Father in heaven, You know our thoughts and our fears. You know all that goes on. You know our worry. We thank You for Your protection, that You have gathered us under Your wings as the hen gathers her chicks. We ask that You give us peace in the knowledge that You are there. That we have nothing to fear because fear is not of You. We choose to believe Your promises. We choose to have faith in Your Word. Thank you, Lord, that because we have Your Son, in whose name we pray, we can come to Your throne confident that we will receive grace and mercy. Help us now to make the right choices and decisions. Amen.”

  Kathryn’s amen was softer but her body relaxed against Ruth’s. A huge yawn made Ruth smile. Peace was descending on both of them. They would sleep without worry because they were tucked close to the One in control, protected under His wings.

  ~~~~~

  Ruth pressed her hand to her stomach as she descended the stairs. The Ladies were in the parlor for some adult time after the children were down for the night. As much as she wanted to ignore Kathryn’s feelings, there was no way she was going to. The Ladies needed to know so they could watch too.

  She sat down in a chair and looked around the room. Blanche Basking, the oldest of them, was the unofficial leader. Laura Duffle would be marrying sometime in June to Hank Johnson. Libby Trembly had come with Gema Volkovichna in January.

  Libby had lost her husband, three-year-old son and six-month-old son when the riverboat they’d been on exploded. Ending up at Sanctuary Place in deep depression, the matron thought leaving the river where she’d lost so much would help Libby. Coming had brought more loss but also gain in that the death of Lucy Tanner had brought her the twins to raise.

  Of the eight ladies who had come to Stones Creek last summer, only three were left. The others were married and most still lived in town.

  “I’ve got a problem I want to discuss with you,” Ruth began. The chatter stopped and everyone looked at her. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Kathryn feels like she’s being watched. She told me so tonight.”

  Expressions of concern filled the next moments. The Ladies knew Ruth’s past. They knew she was leery of men in general. They all were vigilant in concern for their children and themselves. They’d stepped up their attentiveness after Gema’s kidnapping by the King Gang. It was the same gang who abandoned the children.

  “I’m so scared. If anything happened to Kathryn I don’t know what I’d do.”

  Blanche leaned over and patted Ruth’s knee. “We’ll keep watch and make sure nothing happens to her. Also, we need to let Sheriff Riverby know. That way he can be on the lookout too.”

  “Do you think it’s the King Gang? They took Chloe when she was younger than Kathryn. Look what they did to Mae.” Ruth tried to stem the shaking of her hands. The paling of the other ladies’ faces showed they were concerned about that same thing.

  ~~~~~

  Massot watched Ruth as she and the children worked in the garden. Tadpole was talking, as usual, weeding the row next to hers. Mae and Boone knelt around the tomato plants they’d recently put in. Nina, Jack, and Arleta played in the dirt, faces covered with brown smudges.

  Something wasn’t quite right. Ruth’s stance and movements seemed stiff and anxious. Often she looked up from her hoeing and around as if searching for something. Or someone. He scanned the street and what he could see from his window.

  If there was someone spying on the House occupants, Massot was going to know it. He left the shop and went around the building to the garden. Nina looked up at him and grinned. The twins turned to look and smiled. Their white teeth weren’t white anymore.

  Ruth looked up from her hoeing and spied the dirty little ones. “Oh, don’t eat the dirt. If you want to be with us you have to be good.” She hurried over and pulled a rag from the pocket of her apron. Massot was impressed that all three children allowed her to wipe dirt from cheeks and mouths.

  “It must be a challenge to get the weeding done as well as mind the children.”

  “It can be a chore. I want to make sure we have a handle on the weeds and the older ones know what’s a weed and what’s a vegetable so I can set them loose here by themselves. It’s a good responsibility for them. When school’s out, the others will help too.” Ruth wiped her hands on her rag, not getting all the soil off.

  Massot took her by the elbow and led her to the wall of his shop. “Is everything all right?”

  Startled eyes met his. “Wh… Why do you ask?”

  “I was watching from the window and noticed you were looking around as if searching for someone.”

  Ruth rubbed her face with her hands. Dirt smeared across her cheeks. Massot placed his hand on hers. “Stop, you’ll get dirt in your eyes.” Her face was soft, even with the smudges. He wanted to stroke her skin, drinking in the smoothness. He pulled his hand away.

  Ruth gazed off into the forest. He could tell she wasn’t seeing the trees. There was something in her eyes that spoke of pain buried deep.

  She let out a long sigh and turned back to him. “I’m worried. Kathryn told me she feels like she’s being watched. Not the way you watched us out the window. The feelings she has is of evil intent. It makes her nervous and scared. I’m afraid someone will do something to her. Some man.” The last words were nearly whispered.

  “When did she tell you this?” Massots hands clenched into fists. His voice more gravelly than usual. He wanted to punch something, or someone. Kathryn should never be afraid.

  “A couple of days ago. I told the other Ladies and the older boys. They can help watch out for her while they are at school. These,” she waved to those in the garden, “don’t know. We don’t want to scare them.”

  “Do you have any idea who it might be?”

  She looked away again, then back at him. “Not for sure. There are just so many men here in the West.” A shaky hand tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “So you suspect someone? Who?” Massot clenched his fist. No one was going to hurt Kathryn if he could do anything to prevent it.

  “I don’t want to say anything since I don’t have any real proof.”

  “I can understand that, but if I’m going to watch out for her, it would help to know.”

  “You want to help watch?”

  Her surprise at the firmness of his words dismayed him. Why wouldn’t he want to help? Massot took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Of course I want to help. She’s a wonderful girl. You’ve done so well raising her. I don’t want anything to happen to any of the people of the House, especially Kathryn. I suppose it’s because I kno
w you and her so much better than the others.” He trailed off.

  Tadpole bounced up then. “You coming to the birthday party? It’s next Sunday after church. All the Ladies are coming, even those what got married and all their children. It should be a grand time.”

  Massot leaned down. “Oh? Whose birthday is it? Yours?”

  “Nah, I ain’t got a birthday.” Tadpole screwed his mouth to the side. “How’d I get born if I ain’t got a birthday?”

  Ruth stroked his hair. “You have a birthday. It’s just that we don’t know when it is. I suppose you can pick a day to be your birthday.”

  Tadpole screwed his mouth to the other side. “That’s a powerful important thing, choosing a birthday. Not many people get to do that. I suppose Mae and Nina and Boone ain’t got birthdays either. I’m gonna have to do some powerful thinking to choose my day.” He turned and ran back to the others, no doubt to tell them they had to choose a birthday.

  Massot looked at Ruth. They both laughed. “It’s a powerful important decision. I’m pretty sure it will take some days to choose.”

  Ruth looked up at him. “Would you like to come to the party?”

  “I might. Whose is it?” He knew, of course, but didn’t want to give Kathryn’s secret away.

  Ruth cleared her throat. “Mine.”

  “I’d be delighted, ma’am. Thank you for the invite.”

  Ruth blushed and told him of the time, then turned and crossed the garden. Jack had muddy lips. Massot watched her gently wipe the grime from his mouth.

  He wanted her. Wanted her as a husband wants his wife. Wanted Kathryn as his daughter. Wanted to see Ruth round with his child. He went back into his shop wondering if he was enough for her. She didn’t seem to want a lot. Maybe it was time to see what he had to offer.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  MASSOT STEPPED INTO the bank and waited near the door while CJ Ritter finished helping another person. He’d been brought to Stones Creek as president of the bank Nugget Nate Ryder had started two years ago. He was married and Massot had heard the man’s wife was expecting.