His Protective Wings

by Sophie Dawson

  “Is Mae still upstairs changing?” Blanche asked Kathryn when she brought the baskets from the kitchen.

  “Not that I know of. I haven’t seen her since church. We sat together, but she hurried out as soon as service was over. I don’t think she even waited until Pastor Preston got to the door to greet people.”

  Blanche wrung her hands together. “Where can she be?” She hurried out of the room and up the stairs. In a short time she was back again. “I’ve looked in every room. I don’t know where she is. Ozzie, please go and look under the beds and in the closets and don’t forget the storerooms. See if Mae is scared of the storm and hiding.”

  Ozzie, his brother Will, as well as Boone and Tadpole headed up to search. The Ladies kept the other children from following. The younger ones would simply get in the way. The four Ladies stood side by side waiting for them to return, hopefully with Mae.

  Ruth pressed her hands to her stomach. Mae was only about ten-years-old. She’d been molested by the men of the King Gang and was still working through her trauma. They didn’t know the sound of her voice since she hadn’t said a word since she came to live at the House.

  Footsteps thundered down the stairs. The boys who’d gone to search for Mae came back without her. Ruth looked at Blanche. She was white as a sheet.

  “Where could she be?” Blanche speared Ruth with haunted eyes. “You don’t suppose the King Gang came back for her? Stole her right out of the church yard?” She lowered her voice. “Or whoever is watching Kathryn? I don’t know what I’d do if something terrible happened to her. She was making such progress becoming more secure here. You don’t suppose she ran off, do you?”

  Ruth glanced at Laura and gave a small nod toward the children now seated at the tables. Laura nodded back and asked her son Eddie to say grace. Ruth led Blanche into the parlor and closed the doors.

  “We don’t know what has happened, but we mustn’t scare the other children. I’ll go see if I can find her outside and if I can’t, I’ll go to the jail so a search party can be arranged. You need to stay calm for the others. We don’t want them scared and imagining all sorts of awful things.”

  “You’re right. I need to contain my worry so it doesn’t spread.”

  “I’m going to change and get an oilcloth cape. Tell Kathryn I’ll be back soon. Tadpole too. He’ll ask a million questions. Just say I’m looking for Mae.”

  She moved to the door but Blanche laid a hand on her arm. “Thank you. She’s such a fragile little thing. So much smaller than Kathryn even though they are close in age.”

  Ruth nodded and went to change.

  The rain was coming down harder as she hurried to the church. Maybe Mae had gone back into the building when everyone left so quickly and now was afraid to come home in the storm. Lightning was flashing, followed by deafening thunder.

  Pushing the church door open, Ruth went in praying Mae would be on one of the pews or benches. No one was there. She looked under the pews, behind the communion table, the pulpit. The girl wasn’t behind the piano either.

  Going outside, Ruth got down on her knees to look under the building. Built on foundation blocks, there was room underneath for a man to crawl. Ruth called and looked but Mae wasn’t there.

  Next she searched more fully around the House. Under the porch, in the alley behind. Even in the wood box. No Mae.

  Becoming more worried by the moment, Ruth decided to report Mae’s absence to whoever was working at the jail. They needed more than just Ruth searching for her.

  She slogged through the mud, up the street, across, down in front of Doc Eli’s clinic, past the blacksmith’s, and entered the jail building. Deputy Dak Levine was on duty. He jumped up from his seat behind the desk and came around as Ruth caught her breath.

  “What’s wrong, Miss Naylor?”

  “We can’t find Mae. She was with us at church but Kathryn said she ran out just as service ended. We haven’t seen her since.” Ruth went on telling of the search of the House and her going back to the church. Tears started streaking down Ruth’s cheeks. “We’re worried the King Gang or someone else may have stolen her.”

  “Don’t go thinking the worst. Are there any children who don’t live at the House she might have gone home with?”

  “I doubt it. She’s not going to school yet. I’m teaching her and the boys. We hope they can get caught up at least partially and can go next fall. She hasn’t made friends with the town children yet.”

  Lightning flashed followed instantly by crashing thunder. Ruth jerked as it startled her. Levine did too.

  “You stay here, Miss Naylor. I’ll go get the sheriff and see what he wants to do.” Deputy Levine pulled on an oilcloth coat and put his Stetson firmly on his head. “Have some coffee to warm yourself. I’ll be back shortly.” He left just as another bolt of lightning struck.

  Ruth ignored his suggestion of coffee and paced the small office. She looked down the hall that was lined with two cells on each side. No one was incarcerated for which she was thankful. Being alone with criminals, even ones locked in jail cells wasn’t something she wanted. It reminded her that the King Gang had abandoned the children and were still evading the law.

  Though it wasn’t long before Sheriff Riverby and Deputy Levine arrived, it felt like an eternity.

  “Dak told me that Mae is missing. He explained but I’d like to hear it from you, if you don’t mind.”

  Ruth repeated what she’d told Dak.

  Riverby listened carefully, asking her for more details about where she’d searched. “We’ll get a search party together now, but we can’t go out in this storm. It’s too dangerous with all the lightning. Once it breaks we’ll begin searching.” He pulled out his pocket watch. “It’s about one-thirty. It’ll take some time to get the word out and get the men back here. Hopefully, the storm will ease up soon. Then we’ll head out. How about you head back to the House? I or Deputy Levine will come by and let you know when we start our search.”

  Ruth wanted to yell that they needed to start the search right now. That Mae had to be terrified even if she hadn’t been kidnapped. She held her tongue though. What Sheriff Riverby planned was wise. She didn’t want anyone hurt because they were out in the storm.

  Instead, Ruth nodded and went back to the House. As she went she prayed for the storm to stop and for Mae to be safe and that Blanche and the rest of the Ladies trusted that God would bring Mae back to them.

  ~~~~~

  The rain didn’t seem inclined to let up. Massot sat in his parlor staring out the windows. There weren’t any draperies up yet. Ruth never gave him an answer about whether she would make them for him. Maybe she didn’t have a sewing machine.

  He knew Leah Steele did. She’d brought it to Stones Creek with her when she moved from Kansas, setting up her dress shop. He should probably ask her. He didn’t want to burden Ruth if she had to sew them all by hand. His house had many large windows. Massot had hoped to pique Ruth’s interest in the house by having her help decorate it. If she accepted his suit, he’d purchase her a sewing machine. And one of those newfangled wringer washing machines that he’d seen in a catalog.

  His Bible sat on his lap. He’d been reading. Now he was contemplating what the Word said.

  A movement caught his eye. Someone was walking along the creek. What were they doing out in the rain? He realized it wasn’t an adult but a child. Massot leaned forward. The child turned, heading to the house. It was Tadpole.

  Massot stood and ran down the steps to the first floor and outside, standing under the protection of the second floor. “Tadpole,” he hollered. “What are you doing out in the rain like this? Get in here.” He waved in a come motion and watched as the boy ran to him.

  “Mr. Massot!”

  He could hear the desperation in his voice. Tadpole flung himself at Massot who grabbed him up in his arms. “What’s wrong?” He carried the boy inside and began stripping the soaking wet clothes from the shivering body. They stuck to his damp cast making
them difficult to remove. He needed to get Tadpole warm and dry so he didn’t take sick.

  “It’s Mae. We can’t find her. She never came home after church. Stop that.” Tadpole began struggling to keep his clothes on. “I gotta go and hunt for Mae. She’s my sister, the only family I got.”

  “You’re soaked to the skin. You getting lung fever isn’t going to help Mae. Come with me. I’ll get some towels and blankets to help you warm up.”

  Tadpole was shivering so hard he couldn’t fight Massot off. Soon he was stripped bare and being wiped dry and wrapped in a quilt. A flour sack towel was folded and tied as a sling for Tadpole’s broken arm.

  Massot threw more logs into the parlor stove and set Tadpole on the floor near it. “It’s hot. Don’t touch it.” Taking a chair nearby, Massot leaned forward. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”

  “We all went to church. I saw you there but didn’t get any chance to say hi. When we got home we all go up and change out of our Sunday clothes into ones we can get messy in. We was gathering in the dining room for dinner and Mrs. Blanche asked where Mae was. Nobody knew where she was. We were sent upstairs to look for her but nobody found her. Mrs. Blanche was real upset. Miss Ruth went to look for her but didn’t find her neither. Then she went to the jail. That’s when I went out to look for her. I ain’t found her. I gotta go. I gotta hunt for her. What if the gang got her again? They hurt her real bad. That’s why she won’t talk anymore.” He started to unwrap himself from the quilt. “Where’s my clothes? I gotta go.”

  “You stay right there. Answer this for me. Does anyone at the House know you left?”

  Tadpole sat and looked at him wide-eyed. “No, I just got my coat and left.”

  “They’re all worried about Mae being missing and you left without saying anything. By now, I’ll bet the Ladies and other children are worried about you. You’re missing too.”

  “No, I ain’t. I’m right here.”

  Massot chuckled. “You know where you are, but they don’t. Now they have two missing children to worry about.”

  Tadpole’s mouth dropped open. “I never thought of that. I just wanted to find Mae.” Tears slid down his face.

  “I know, and your intentions were good. Next time be sure to tell someone, an adult, before you head off.” Massot stood and ruffled Tadpole’s hair. It was damp but not dripping anymore. “I’m going to get one of my shirts and you can wear it back to town. It’ll be like a dress but will keep you warm. We’ll ride Chester and take your clothes with us. They’re too wet for you to wear.”

  Tadpole struggled to his feet. “You ain’t got no clothes my size? At the House we got all sizes from tiny baby clothes clear up to full size. I never seen so many clothes as they’ve got.”

  Massot rubbed his fingers across his lips to keep from laughing at Tadpole’s statement. The boy had gone from living in an outlaw camp with barely enough to keep warm in to the House that was well supplied with garments for all ages of boys and girls. Most were hand me downs but it still must seem like a treasure trove to him. He might think everyone who lived in town had all those clothes to choose from.

  “Nope, I only have clothes my size.” Massot went into his bedroom and took a flannel shirt from a drawer. “Like I said. It’ll be big, but it’ll keep you warm. I’ve got an extra oilcloth coat I can wrap you in.”

  It took both of them to get Tadpole into the shirt with all the buttons done right and the sleeves rolled up. Massot got a pair of heavy socks out, put them on his small feet, pulling the cuffs nearly up to Tadpole’s knees.

  “We’re going to ride Chester. That’ll get us back to town quicker, you back to the House to let everyone know you are okay and me to the jail to see if a search party is getting together.”

  They trudged down the stairs. Massot detoured into the kitchen and cut two thick slices of bread, spreading them heavily with creamy butter. He handed one to Tadpole. “Let’s eat these before we go. Don’t want to head out without putting something in our stomachs.”

  Tadpole took a big bite. “Nope, that’s not a good idea at all,” he said with his mouth full.

  ~~~~~

  Ruth hung her oilcloth cape on a hook in the wash room to allow it to drip without trailing it through the House. Blanche came hurrying in.

  “Did you find her?”

  Ruth wished she could say yes. Blanche was so very worried. It showed in her eyes and the stress lines on her forehead. “No, Blanche, I didn’t. Sheriff Riverby is getting a search party together. Once the storm breaks, they’ll start searching.”

  “I’m so scared, Ruth. She was finally not reacting to every little sound. Not hiding behind me when we spoke with people on the street or at church. I was hoping she would begin speaking soon. If she’s been taken it will traumatize her all over again.” Blanche’s hands shook as she pressed them to her mouth to keep from sobbing.

  “I understand your fears, but we mustn’t let them overtake us. Come, let’s have a cup of coffee.”

  They were silent as they sat at the kitchen table with steaming cups in front of them.

  “Mama.” Kathryn came into the kitchen. “Have you seen Tadpole? We are starting a game and wondered if he wanted to play.”

  “Isn’t he upstairs with you all?”

  “Not that I can find and I looked on both floors.”

  Ruth and Blanche exchanged glances then stood. They abandoned the coffee and headed to the stairs. Searching each floor and calling his name brought no reply. They asked all the children if they’d seen him leave. No one had.

  “He’s not in the house. Where is he? Where did he go?” Laura stood with the other Ladies in the hallway on the second floor.

  “Maybe he went looking for Mae,” Libby said.

  Ruth couldn’t speak. It seemed her throat was closed by a huge lump. All she could think was that Tadpole and Mae had both been snatched right from under their watchful gazes. Would Kathryn be next? One of the twins? Little Nina?

  She looked at Blanche. They hugged each other hoping for comfort.

  Someone knocked on the front door. “That must be the sheriff or deputy,” Ruth said. “They said someone would come by when they started to search.” She hurried down the stairs.

  When she pulled open the door, a very wet Massot carrying an equally wet Tadpole stood there.

  “I believe this belongs here.” There was a slight lift to one side of Massot’s mouth. “I found him wandering in my neck of the woods. Said he was looking for Mae. Has she been found?”

  Ruth grabbed Tadpole from his arms and hugged him so tightly he squawked. Ruth pulled back. “I can’t believe you left without telling anyone. We were so worried. You knew how worried we are about Mae. Why would you go out in the storm to look for her?”

  All the Ladies and children crowded around.

  “You went to look for her. I wanted to help. She’s all I got as family. She’s my sister.”

  Ruth looked at Massot and set the boy on his feet. “Thank you for bringing him home. No, Mae hasn’t been found.” She went on to explain about the search party.

  “Now that this young’un is home, I’ll go join the official search. Try not to worry overmuch, Ladies.” His eyes flickered over all those in the foyer then returned to Ruth. “Tadpole’s cold and wet.” He handed a bundle to her. “These are his wet things. He’s got one of my shirts on under the coat and socks. I’ll get them another day.” Massot knelt down, looking Tadpole in the eye. “You stay here. Don’t go looking for Mae on your own. You’ll worry the Ladies and other children. Your intentions were good. I know you want to find Mae, but causing more worry isn’t the best way to go about it.”

  Tadpole looked at all the faces around him. They all showed worry. “I’m sorry I worried you all. I just want Mae to be found.”

  ~~~~~

  The rain didn’t let up. Ruth thought it rained harder, though the lightning and thunder stopped. Deputy Levine came about an hour later saying the men were going to search the tow
n and areas nearby. Stones Creek was rising and would likely escape its banks soon. They wouldn’t be able to cross it until it went down.

  Blanche told him that when they found Mae or ended the search for the day for the searchers to come for stew and cobbler. Levine tapped the brim of his hat and left.

  Myra, Chloe, and Cora came to the House to lend support. Their husbands were searching. Supper came and went. As evening fell the men returned. Without Mae. Ruth and Blanche held each other and cried. Tadpole clung to Ruth. She picked him up letting him cry on her shoulder. All the children were quiet as they prepared for bed. Nina asked to sleep with Kathryn. Soon they were snuggled in bed together.

  Ruth stood in the hallway and watched Tadpole toss and turn. Mae was his sister. Ozzie couldn’t seem to settle either. Both seemed as worried as the Ladies were for Mae’s safety.

  The Ladies gathered in the kitchen with cups of tea. None thought they would sleep that night. They sat at the table and prayed that the rain would end, and that Mae was safe and dry and would be returned tomorrow.

  ~~~~~

  Morning was a long time coming. The Ladies had finally gone to bed. Blanche needed to be at the café early. The twins would wake Libby up early. They were too young to understand what was going on. The other children needed to go to school leaving Nina, Tadpole, and Boone waiting in the House. Ruth didn’t feel like having lessons and let the children simply do what they wanted for the morning. They sat in the parlor on the settee looking out the window.

  Thankfully, the day was sunny and warm. Sheriff Riverby came by saying that the creek was still flooding. It was rushing too fast for anyone to cross. They were going to search further on this side of the creek out from town. Once the water receded they’d cross over and begin searching there.

  Laura went to do her laundry across the alley in the back of the barber shop. Libby went to the general store. With Ben participating in the search, it left the entire store in Libby’s hands. Ruth kept the twins with her and the others in the parlor. Nina left her vigil and began playing with the twins.