Promise me tomorrow (7 page)

"Are you certain you're all right?"

"I think so," Rusty answered and tried not to be embarrassed. "Maybe I'm just a little tired."

"I can finish these," he told her. "Go and sit on the front porch. Rest awhile."

"We're almost finished," she said and went back to drying, but Chase would not be put off.

"Have I said something?" he asked.

"No," Rusty told him, and this time the earnest widening of her eyes convinced him. "I assure you, no."

"Maybe I shouldn't have suggested that we leave here Monday. We'll stay if you think the children need more time. I didn't mean to pressure you."

"Mr. McCandles," she said sincerely. "That was a wonderful suggestion. I'm very comfortable leaving here Monday, even if the children return with us. Thank you for being concerned, but I am fine."

Chase continued to look at her, clearly hesitant to let the matter drop, but Rusty took a bowl from the wooden drying rack, rubbed it with her cloth, and went on as if all was well. She wasn't trying to deceive Chase, but neither was she ready to talk about what she'd been feeling.

A moment later, Chase knew he would have to let it go as well. Her expression told him he would get nothing more. He began a conversation on general topics, and it was then that Rusty knew what was bothering her.

He always called her Miss Taggart. Rusty suddenly knew that she wanted to get to know this man better, but it seemed he preferred they remain on a more professional level. Rusty attended to the things Chase was saying to her but with only half of her heart. The other half was dealing with the fact that he didn't appear to want their relationship to grow personal and why, when she'd only known the man for two days, that bothered her so much.

***

"She's looking right at us," Lizzy exclaimed, her hand taking hold of Jessie's without forethought. "I think she likes us."

"I think so too," Jessie agreed with her, not feeling a need to point out to the little girl that the she was a he.

"I wish I could touch one," Thomas admitted.

"Maybe you can," Doug told him, and, pulling a handful of grass, coaxed the young bull to the fence. However, it did not come too close, and the moment Thomas started to move toward the bull calf, it bawled like a baby and darted away. The little boy's look of disappointment was keen. Doug swung him up into his arms.

"It's all right," he said, looking into Thomas's dark eyes. "There'll be another time." lo morrow:

"Possibly."

"Is Aunt Rusty going to be here tomorrow?" Lizzy asked.

"Why don't you ask her when we go back to the house?" Jessie suggested and began to pray.

Lizzy seemed content with that, so they didn't hurry back. In fact, they'd been gone more than an hour when they finally gained the porch and found Chase and Rusty sitting in the same chairs as the night before.

At first there was no talk of anyone going anywhere—the children were too excited about the cows to talk about anything else—but soon after, Jessie informed them it was bedtime. The children came forward to kiss Rusty, and Lizzy tentatively posed her question.

"Will you be here tomorrow, Aunt Rusty?"

"Yes, Lizzy. I'll be here until Monday."

"What day is this?"

"This is Friday. So I'll be here all day tomorrow and all day Sunday, and then I'll leave first thing Monday morning."

The little girl thought a moment and then said, "Will we go with you?"

"If you want to, Lizzy." Her voice was gentle as her hand stroked the small, dark head. "You may come back to the orphanage with me if you want to."

Lizzy needed to think about this, so she said nothing. Thomas, on the other hand, wanted his Aunt Rusty to know how he felt.

"I want to stay."

"I'm glad you told me, Thomas. We'll keep talking about it and do what's best for everyone."

"I want Lizzy to stay too."

"Of course you do," Rusty answered, making herself ignore the anxious couple waiting by the door. "You'll either both stay or both go back with me, and I don't want you to worry about it.

Everything will be fine." Rusty turned back to Lizzy.

"I'll tell you what, Lizzy, in the morning you and I will find someplace where we can talk. You can tell me how you're feeling about things. How would that be?"

Lizzy nodded.

"I don't want you to worry about this tonight. I want you to go up, climb into that new nightgown, and sleep very well the whole night. Can you do that?"

"I don't think I can stay." Lizzy's voice quavered, but Rusty's was calm.

"That's fine. I'm glad you told me, but it's been a big day, and we will wait for morning before we talk about it."

Lizzy nodded, her face already losing its anxiety. Both children kissed her goodnight and went on their way. Rusty seemed completely normal on the outside, but Chase knew better; she had not told the children to bid him goodnight.

"You're upset," he said after a few minutes of quiet.

"I am a little." Her voice was soft, and her eyes were on the horizon. "I've been prepared to do whatever Lizzy needed, but I thought she would give it more time."

"So you think we should still leave Monday?"

"Yes, I do, and I still appreciate your suggesting it. There are only so many decisions that an eight-year-old should be expected to make, but Lizzy's case is different. I can't leave her here if she'll be terrified and miserable."

"So you think she might be?"

Rusty turned her head and looked at him for the first time. "No, I don't," she admitted. "I think she'll miss me and others at home. I think there will be some tears, but I know in my heart that this is the home for those children; they'll be happier than they've ever been in their lives. However, my aunt told her she didn't have to stay unless she wanted to, and I must abide by that."

"You're doing the right thing," Chase told her, not because he wanted to ease her mind, but because it was true. Sammy O'Brien had wisely laid down the guidelines, and Rusty had only to carry them out.

Rusty continued to look at him. It was nice to know that someone thought she was on the right track. She heard movement inside just then and steeled herself for the Davidsons' return. She was certain that Jessie would be upset. She was wrong.

"We want you to know," Doug began as soon as they'd taken seats on the porch, "that we understand your position completely, Rusty. We know you have to take the children if Lizzy wants to go, but we also want you to know that we're praying she changes her mind. We're asking God to work a miracle in her little heart and to help her to see that this is where she belongs."

"Then we're praying for the same thing," Rusty told them, thinking how good God was to them all. "I won't say that her announcement didn't upset me, but I've been praying for that very miracle since you left."

"Thank you," Jessie said to her, now looking close to tears.

"How did it go upstairs?"

"Very well," Doug told them, giving his wife a moment to compose herself. "They were as pleased as last night about their new nightclothing, and I even got a hug from Lizzy.

She thanked me for taking her to school."

"I didn't get a hug," Jessie added, "but both gave me shy smiles when I kissed them and said I love you."

Rusty's chest rose with a sigh. "That's wonderful. I'll talk to Lizzy in the morning. Something tells me she'll have changed her mind."

"That might happen more than once in the next two days," Chase inserted.

"I think you're probably right," Doug agreed. "But we're still going to pray, and like you said, Rusty, just because they leave doesn't mean it's over."

It was so good to see the Davidsons treating this with a practical view. Rusty's decision would not have changed had they been unreasonable, but it would have made things all the more uncomfortable.

The sun finally dropped until it was too dark to remain on the porch. Jessie asked everyone in for coffee, and they ended up around the table in the kitchen playing cards. Although the children were still on everyone's mind, the subject of their staying was dropped for the evening, giving a tranquil end to an already wonderful day.

8

"I want to stay," Lizzy told Rusty, and surprisingly enough, it was the first time she had said it. Saturday and most of Sunday had flown by, and in those days Chase and Rusty had watched a miracle transpire. Lizzy Parks had fallen in love with the Davidsons. She spoke as soon as someone talked to her—no more lowered head or eyes—and she went willingly into Doug and Jessie's arms the many times they reached for her.

It was now Sunday night, and Rusty was conducting her final interview. She had already spoken to Thomas, who had not changed his mind about staying. As planned, Rusty had spoken with Lizzy on Saturday morning, and the little girl had still been headed back to Manitou. Telling her she would not try to talk her out of her decision, Rusty now asked Lizzy what her final word was. Eyes shining with peace, Lizzy told her she would stay on the ranch.

"I'll miss you, Lizzy." Rusty felt she could be honest. "But I know how much you're going to love it here."

"They like us," she told Rusty. "And Jessie said that we can visit you sometime."

"Of course you can. How fun that will be. And think of the school, Lizzy. Miss Kay was so nice.

"She was. I'll have my own desk."

Rusty drew her into her arms and held her close. With another 53 children waiting for her in Manitou, it didn't make sense that she would miss this one little girl, but it was true. She moved back and looked her in the eye.

"Shall we go tell the others?"

Lizzy nodded, and they ventured onto the front porch. Betsy, the tiny black kitten, padded toward them, and Lizzy lifted her into her arms. Her face rather set against the emotions she felt inside, Rusty slipped into a chair and pulled Lizzy and the kitten near to her.

"Lizzy has something she wants to tell you," Rusty said gently. It was a blessing that Lizzy wasted no time. The little girl looked at Doug and then at Jessie.

"I want to stay."

There was no stopping the tears. Jessies hand came to her face, and Doug shut his eyes against the onslaught of emotions. Lizzy's eyes flew to Rusty s.

"Do you remember," Rusty began gently, "that day when Aunt Sammy handed you your slate and said you were going to school?"

"I cried."

"That's right, you did. It's like that for Doug and Jessie. They're so happy you're staying that they can't do anything but cry. "

Lizzy nodded and turned back to look at Jessie. Jessie gave her a watery smile, and Lizzy returned it.

"Come here, Lizzy," she said softly, and a moment later she was in Jessie's arms.

"I'm staying too," Thomas exclaimed, having sat very quietly through this exchange.

"Of course you are!" Doug told him boisterously and scooped him into his arms. "Of course you are. I'm going to need help with the calves, and the kittens would miss you so much if you left.
And,
before you know it, you'll be in school too. "

"Will I have a slate?"

"Yes, you will. Your very own."

Thomas looked over at his sister. Lizzy was looking right back. The adults looked on as the two exchanged a smile of pure delight. Doug felt his throat clog all over again. He turned his face and laid his cheek against Thomas' hair. It was all too wonderful to be real.

As much as he wanted to hold this child for hours on end, it was a relief when Jessie announced just a short time later that it was bedtime. Doug carried both children on his back amid much laughter, and after they left, Rusty felt too emotional to speak. Her eyes slid shut against a rush of tears.

You did it, Father, You worked a miracle in her
heart. Thank You, Lord; thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Watching her from his seat, Chase remained quiet. His own prayers were much along the same vein.

***

"I think the children and I should go with you to the train."

"Are you certain, Jessie?" Rusty questioned, concern lowering her brow. She and Doug had returned from seeing the children to bed, and she had wasted no time in telling Rusty what was on her mind.

"Yes. I've thought a lot about it, and Doug agrees." She paused for just a moment. "I have this horrible image of Doug taking the two of you off tomorrow and the children and me here on the porch watching you go. I'm so afraid that one of them will turn to me and say they want to go too. And here I'll be watching the dust of the wagon with nothing I can do about it.

"The train is more final. Doug and I will be together as we watch you leave. The children, Lizzy specifically, may have second thoughts, but the four of us can stay in town and make a day of it. We can take the children to the bank and set up savings accounts in their names, like we've always dreamed of doing. Then we'll stop at the schoolhouse on the way home and talk with Miss Kay about the best time for Lizzy to start. I don't want to bribe the children, but I honestly think it's better this way. "

Rusty found herself looking at Chase. "How can I argue with that?"

"I don't think you can," he told Rusty, complimenting Jessie at the same time. "It's an excellent idea."

"I never got that train schedule from you, Mr. McCandles," Rusty suddenly recalled. "What time do we need to leave?"

"The morning train pulls out at 8:25."

"All right. I think we should be on it. Will that work for you?" Rusty asked, turning to her hosts.

"Certainly," Doug assured her. "Whenever you need to leave."

Conversation turned to the final preparations. Rusty had documents on the children's births that she brought down from her room, as well as some papers from the orphanage for Doug and Jessie to sign. It was not late when Doug asked her if all was settled, but as soon as Rusty rechecked everything, she took herself off to bed, her heart still overflowing with thanks. Tired as she was, she did not fall right to sleep, but that was all right. The job was complete, and she knew nothing but peace. She took the next minutes to pray for each and every child still at the orphanage in Manitou. She got through the girls but fell asleep somewhere between Bradley Coffers and Jimmy Kettlesen.