Kitabı oxu: «Orphan Train Sweetheart»

Chapter One

September 1860 Spring Hill, Nebraska Territory

“They aren’t here yet?” Cecilia Holbrook turned from scanning the horizon at the sound of her sister’s voice. She moved over so Cat could join her under the shelter of the hotel roof, both of them shivering when several errant drops of rain hit their heads. Cat dabbed her damp face with a handkerchief. “Those poor children will get soaked if they don’t make it soon.”

Cecilia’s eyes swept the rolling hills past the edge of town again. “I expect them to arrive any minute.”

Cat bounced on her toes as if it would bring their visitors faster. “Is everything ready? With all you had to do these last few weeks, I can’t imagine any item could remain undone.”

Stifling the urge to roll her eyes, Cecilia brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “Yes, everything is ready. The hotel rooms are paid for and waiting. The donated clothes are all clean and placed on their beds. The food Aunt Lily sent over for supper is in their rooms.” Cecilia could have listed what felt like a hundred other details, all things the town expected her to handle. As the schoolteacher, they expected her to be in charge of everything that happened in town regarding children. Even if they were capable of doing it themselves.

Cecilia took a calming breath of cool, damp air. She had to remember that all this work hadn’t been for the benefit of the old biddies in the Ladies’ Aid Society. It was for the children who were set to arrive from the orphan train. Finding good families for each of them was worth being treated as a workhorse for a bit.

Smoothing her already perfect hair, Cat let out a sigh. “The excitement in town these last few days has been so invigorating. I’ll be sad to see it end.”

Raising her eyebrows at her sister, Cecilia waited for Cat to realize what she’d said. The woman never bothered to think before speaking. Sure enough, Cat gasped a second later. “Oh, that didn’t sound right. Of course, I want all the children to find good homes. But it’s thrilling that we would get children from the orphan train coming to Spring Hill, with no railroads in the territory. It feels like a surprise party for the whole town.”

Glancing down the street again, Cecilia nodded. “I know what you mean. People have been quite excited about our little guests. It’s hard to believe they made all those stops and there are still children who haven’t found homes.”

Shifting from one foot to the other, Cat arched one eyebrow. “Well, I hope that doesn’t mean even more work for you. You’ve been running around preparing for their arrival for days.”

Cecilia was saved the trouble of coming up with a kind answer when the rumble of wagon wheels and thump of hooves on packed dirt drew the sisters’ attention back to the street. There it was. Cecilia’s first glimpse of the wagon showed two placing agents on the seat and a cluster of small heads peeking up in the back. Cecilia’s heart pounded as she prepared herself to face the load of strangers. New situations always made her a little clumsy and she hoped that, this time, she wouldn’t make a fool of herself.

A few more drops of rain splattered on the boardwalk as the vehicle drew to a stop in front of them and Cecilia’s mind formed a quick prayer that the rain would hold. Next to her, Cat craned her neck as the male placing agent jumped down from the seat and went around the wagon to help the female agent climb out. His face remained obstructed by the brim of his hat, but the woman turned to look right at them. And her pinched expression didn’t look pleasant at all.

Once the woman was steady on the ground, the male agent turned to greet them. Cecilia started to step forward when a gust of wind whipped around them and caught the brim of the man’s hat, sending it hurtling toward her. She jumped in shock as the solid material hit her square in the face. Heat flooded her cheeks as she fumbled to grab the hat. Just as she’d feared, this was not an auspicious start.

Holding the hat out for the man to take, Cecilia found herself looking almost straight into the palest of blue eyes. They would have been beautiful if his expression had been less icy. He reached out one hand and yanked the hat from her grip. “Are you hurt?”

She almost missed his words while trying to determine if his dark hair was brown or black. “What? Oh, no, I’m fine. It was only a hat.”

His face hardened and she couldn’t believe she’d already managed to get on his bad side. Standing in front of her with a serious expression as he settled the hat back on his head, he didn’t look like a man who smiled often, but she thought he might look even more handsome if he did.

Turning to the female placing agent, Cecilia offered a smile that went unreturned. The woman was older than Cecilia had expected, for someone who spent her time trekking across the prairie with groups of children. Her cold eyes swept the main street of Spring Hill with obvious disapproval. Her graying hair was pulled back into a bun so tight it made Cecilia’s head ache just looking at it. Those poor orphans must have had a joyless trip with these two in charge.

Stepping forward, Cecilia extended her hand to the man. “I’m Cecilia Holbrook, Spring Hill’s schoolteacher. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”

He took her hand in his large, rough one. “Simon McKay. Nice to meet you, Miss Holbrook.”

“Please, call me Cecilia. Some things tend to be rather informal out here on the frontier.”

Turning to the woman and trying to smile again, Cecilia wasn’t at all surprised by the look of disdain on the agent’s face as they shook hands. “And I’m Effie Wright. Miss Wright, if you please.”

All too aware of Cat’s muttered grumbles behind her about Miss Wright’s aloofness, Cecilia pulled her sister forward. “This is my sister, Cat. We’re very glad you made it before the rain started.”

Simon greeted Cat in much the same way he had her, but Cecilia couldn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on her sister. She had come to expect that response. Cat was stunning and vivacious. Men were always drawn straight to her, as Cecilia had learned the hard way. Fighting to unclench her jaw, Cecilia gestured toward the door. “Let’s get you all inside before we get soaked.”

Miss Wright sniffed in displeasure, as if Cecilia was somehow responsible for the weather, then started herding children out of the wagon.

The four adults made quick work of getting them all inside the building. The Thomas House was a quiet, clean establishment and Cecilia had made certain to get their special guests the best rooms available. Just as the ladies of the town had instructed.

Inside the lobby, Cecilia retrieved keys from the young man at the desk. She handed two to Simon, who then took the four boys in the group and led them to their reserved rooms. Cecilia took the other two keys and led Miss Wright and the six girls to their rooms.

It only took a few minutes before Miss Wright dismissed Cecilia with a haughty sniff. Heading back to the first floor, Cecilia paused halfway down when Simon called her name. He loped down the stairs to join her, his position one step above her putting him quite close. “Thank you for helping us get settled. Is everything ready for placing out the children tomorrow?”

Cecilia gripped the handrail. The pleasant, masculine scent that surrounded him caught her off guard. “Yes, I believe we’ll have a fine turnout. The timing couldn’t be better. This area took a hard hit with the financial crisis a few years ago. My own sister and brother-in-law adopted twins last year when no one else could take them. But we’re recovering now and people are ready to reach out to the less fortunate. The town has responded with a great deal of excitement.”

Simon held her gaze with those pale eyes. “That’s good to hear. Part of the duties of a placing agent is to ensure that the children go to good homes where they will be well cared for. Were you informed that Miss Wright and I will be staying in town for several weeks to visit the families after their placements?”

Shaking her head, Cecilia bit her lower lip. “No, I wasn’t aware of that. I’m sure your rooms can be reserved for that amount of time. And the Ladies’ Aid Society will take care of any other needs you may have.” Which meant more work for her. But it was for the children. It would be worthwhile.

“Thank you for that. We very much appreciate it. And...” He hesitated, a slight grimace coming over his face. “I’m sorry for Miss Wright’s curt behavior. She’s a little difficult to get to know, but she has boundless energy. That’s vital with so many children to look after.”

Cecilia felt some of the tension drain out of her shoulders. He could have apologized for his own demeanor, as well. But maybe his admission meant at least one of the placing agents would be easy to work with. Looking up from her spot one step below Simon, she thought she caught him sneaking an appraising glance at her. She mustered a teasing tone, hoping a little banter would lighten his mood even more. “We all have our burdens to bear, I suppose. I happen to have a sister I always have to apologize for. But please let me know if you need anything else.”

Her heart fell when his lips turned down in another frown. She had offended him again. He started to turn away even as he spoke. “Yes, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She watched his retreating back for a moment before she rushed down the stairs, chest burning. As always, she had made a fool of herself in front of a handsome man. She chided herself for letting her imagination run away with her. What had made her think she could be lighthearted and playful with him? And she was a fool for imagining there could have been a spark of interest in his eyes. Simon was only in Spring Hill to do his job. And he didn’t seem very happy about it.

* * *

Simon rose early the next day, feeling like he hadn’t rested at all. He always slept poorly the night before placing out children. He couldn’t help worrying about the orphans, about the people who would come to look them over and about his own feelings getting in the way. He wanted nothing more than for each child to find a happy, loving home, but that didn’t always happen. And those instances haunted him.

Stepping into the hotel lobby, he was startled to see Miss Wright standing next to her travel bag, bonnet in hand. She met his gaze with a stubborn expression. “Mr. McKay, I’m sorry to inform you that I’m leaving. This trip is more than I can handle. I’ve made arrangements to leave on the stagecoach this morning.”

It took several seconds before Simon could respond. “What do you mean you’re leaving? We’re placing out the children today. I need your help.”

The woman’s eyes shifted away. At least maybe she felt a hint of remorse for threatening to leave him shorthanded. “I simply can’t stay. These frontier towns—with the dust and the rough people—are getting to be too much. I’m going back to Chicago to stay with my daughter.”

Pressure built in Simon’s chest, making his head throb. “Miss Wright, please. You know we’re supposed to check in on the families in pairs. What am I supposed to do if you leave?”

Her face softened a minuscule amount but her voice was still firm. “You can find someone trustworthy here, I’m sure. Perhaps that young schoolmarm. She seems competent. I don’t know, but it’s no longer my concern.”

It was clear that she wasn’t going to change her mind and Simon refused to beg her to stay. The last thing he wanted to do was to ask the lovely teacher to spend hours riding out to rural homes by his side. But that was starting to look like his only option. “Fine, Miss Wright. I wish you the best and will pray you have safe travels.”

He whipped around and went straight to the hotel desk. It took several minutes, but he managed to convince the young man there to keep an eye on the children during their breakfast. Then he left the hotel and walked to the small school, where they would gather the orphans and prospective parents later. If he waited a bit, maybe he could intercept Cecilia before anyone else arrived and he could ask for her help in private. But, to his surprise, the door was cracked open. He peeked in and saw that Cecilia was already there. Tension tightened his shoulders.

Their first meeting yesterday had not been his best moment. Her stormy blue eyes and tall, slender frame had caught his attention and that was something he couldn’t have. Distraction led to mistakes. And he had too many young lives in his care to let mistakes happen. No, he had realized that his life traveling the rails would never mix well with women and marriage. So he had to keep his mind off them.

But it hadn’t taken any time at all to see that Cecilia cared about the orphans and getting them placed in good homes. Now that he found himself in a situation where he needed help, she might be his best prospect in this town. He had to pull himself together and keep her on his side.

Pushing away from the door frame, Simon cleared his throat to make his presence known. Cecilia turned, eyes wide with surprise. “Oh, I didn’t know you were here. I wanted to get an early start on clearing space so everything will be ready when the children arrive.”

Simon joined her near the front of the room and took hold of the other end of the desk she was getting ready to move. “Let me help you. I appreciate the work you and the town are putting into this. There aren’t many places that try this hard to make us feel welcome.”

Cecilia’s pretty smile distracted him for a moment and he almost smashed his toe on the leg of the desk. He tensed again. Another mistake due to distraction.

“We’re pleased to have you all here and want to make sure we show it. The residents of Spring Hill are quite proud to be able to help a few of those unfortunate street children.”

Swallowing a surge of irritation at her description of the children, Simon forced himself to remember that she meant well. Many people did, they just didn’t understand the experiences these children had already been through in their short years. But Simon understood all too well and he hated the pity in the voices of those who claimed they cared.

With some effort, he let the comment pass and helped her to carry the desk across the room. Cecilia had already shoved several up against the wall. He helped her move the rest of the desks and, in no time, the room was clear and ready for a crowd. Cecilia wiped her forehead with the back of one hand and stretched her shoulders. “Well, it looks like the hard part is done.”

Walking to the front of the room, Simon wished it could be that easy. The hardest part for him was still to come. “We’ll have the children line up here, where prospective parents can see them. Your approval committee will be present?”

She turned to point at the table they’d arranged in the back of the room. “Yes, and they’ve already selected a good number of families. We shouldn’t have any trouble placing out all of the children.”

Nervousness tightened Simon’s chest. Although many towns were able to approve parents by a committee beforehand, there was always a chance that one of the children would be placed in a home where they wouldn’t be treated well. He swallowed hard around the dry lump in his throat. He couldn’t bear to see any of the children abused. Like Michael.

Shaking off the unpleasant memories, Simon turned back to Cecilia. “I guess everything is in place, then. I’ll head back to get the children assembled and bring them over. But there’s something I need to ask you first.”

Her open expression and encouraging nod unnerved him. He wasn’t used to people being so trusting. “I was hoping you might agree to help me with visiting the orphans with their new families after they’re placed out. The Children’s Aid Society tries to assure that there are two adults evaluating each home. Unfortunately, Miss Wright has decided to leave immediately and travel to Chicago, so I’m left without the second opinion I need to make complete reports.”

She dropped her gaze and pursed her lips. “And all you need is for me to visit the children with you?”

Was helping him—and the children—so distasteful that she had to use that tone? Maybe she wasn’t as caring and agreeable as he’d thought. He fought to keep his tone friendly. He needed her help, after all.

“Yes, that’s it. I usually wait several weeks so they have time to adjust to each other. Then we would make a brief stop at each home to interview the children and the parents. You would need to record your impressions about the suitability of each placement. Nothing more.”

She tapped slim fingers on her chin as she considered his request. Finally she met his eyes, lips turning up in a hint of a smile. “Certainly, I’d love to help the children in any way I can.”

Simon nodded, his throat turning dry. One thing he hadn’t considered until that moment was that he would have to be careful, spending so much time alone with Cecilia. The last thing he needed was a woman thinking he would put down roots and settle in a frontier town like this just for her. But he had Cecilia’s agreement to help him complete his task. He would have to pray she would look out for the children’s best interests and not hinder his work.

Cecilia offered to help him get the children, so together they left the building and walked back to the hotel.

The town was the epitome of frontier life with its uneven planked boardwalk, wide dirt streets and rough buildings covered with flimsy façades. Here and there, he caught a glimpse of buildings that were nicer, put together with more thought and effort, but a large part of the town seemed to have been thrown together in a hurry.

At least the hotel was a respectable place. The Thomas House, run by a kind older couple of the same name, had been a good choice for their stay. As he and Cecilia approached the front door, an older man came out and held it open for them.

Simon was surprised to see the children already lined up inside. Each one had on the new clothes the residents of Spring Hill had provided and carried a small bag with their meager belongings inside. The oldest girl, Ada, held baby Clara in one arm. They stood just the way Miss Wright had insisted on, with their chins held high like little soldiers.

Simon gestured for them all to come outside and line up in front of the building. Once they were in place, he walked in front of the row, examining each child. All ten faces—four boys and six girls—were scrubbed clean and their clothing was neat. But almost every set of eyes showed at least a hint of fear.

He stopped his pacing and tried to smile at each of them. “Well, children, it’s time to go and meet your new families. I expect each of you to behave well. Address adults as ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am.’ Say please and thank you. Speak when spoken to.”

Simon swallowed the lump of emotion rising in his throat. Oh, Lord, let them each find a good home. Licking dry lips, he finished his talk before the waves of feelings got the best of him. “I know you’ll make me proud today. Let’s go.”

He nodded to Ada, who spun on her heel and led the line of orphans down the street, chin still pointed in the air. Simon and Cecilia followed at the rear, behind Charles, one of the oldest boys. As they got closer to the school, Charles’s steps slowed, almost imperceptibly, until Simon was walking next to him.

The boy looked nervous, fidgeting with the bottom button on his slightly too large donated jacket. “Mr. McKay, sir, what if they don’t want one of us? You said this is the last stop. What if someone isn’t picked?”

Charles’s dark head hung low, nearly breaking Simon’s heart. He rested a hand on the child’s shoulder as they walked. “I assure you, Charles, no one will be overlooked today. There are more than enough families in Spring Hill who are excited to have a child join their home. Each of you is sure to find a good match today.”

The boy nodded and sped up to keep pace with the others.

Feeling Cecilia’s eyes on him, Simon turned to see the look of pity on her face. “The poor dear. I can’t imagine the fear the children must feel. I do hope the day goes as well as we expect. For their sakes.”

Simon couldn’t bring himself to respond beyond a noncommittal nod. No, she couldn’t imagine what the children were feeling at that moment. His own life experience had taught him how pivotal this day would be for the orphans. It could mean the difference between life and death.

He tried to brush aside the memories of childhood horror that started to rise but the surge of heartache must have showed on his face, anyway.

Pausing, Cecilia stopped him with one hand on his arm. “It looks like there’s more on your mind than the children. I know we’ve only just met, but if you need to talk, I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”

He couldn’t help the pang of longing that hit him with her earnest words. As much as he would need help in this town for the weeks ahead, there was no way he was going to divulge his past or his feelings to her. No matter how pretty she looked, with that encouraging smile lifting her pink lips. Simon couldn’t imagine that such a lovely young woman would commit to traveling the country with the orphan train rather than having a family of her own. And there was no way he was walking away from the one thing God had called him to do for a selfish reason like his own emotions.

“I’m anxious to get all the children placed out to good homes and return to New York. Nothing more.” He winced at his gruff tone. So much for his determination to be nicer to her.

Drawing herself up straight, she trained her eyes on the children as they entered the school. “You aren’t fond of the frontier?”

Trying to sound more pleasant, he shook his head. “It’s not that. There are always more children on the streets in New York. These trips take so long, it feels like I’m missing the chance to help someone. And I can’t stand that.”

* * *

Cecilia turned to see Simon’s eyes scan the prairie behind the school. Her heart beat a little faster at the view of his strong profile and she chided herself. This was about the children, not about spending time with the handsome placing agent. He had just stated that he would return to New York as soon as he could. Was she going to be so silly as to put her heart in a position that would only lead to being hurt again? No, she couldn’t let that happen.

Squaring her shoulders, she followed Simon up the stairs as he held the door to the school open. Entering the familiar room, she was pleased to see that all the children were standing in one very straight line in front of the large blackboard. The only sounds were the ticking of the clock on the wall and a slight shuffling of feet now and then. It appeared the children knew what was expected of them for the event. If they continued to behave this well, they would make an excellent impression on the potential parents.

Running her eyes down the line, Cecilia looked closer at the children, wishing she had time to get to know each one. She hoped their new families would send them to school for the fall term so she could continue to keep up with how they were doing. Grabbing paper and a pencil, she went to the end of the line, starting with the boys, who were lined up youngest to oldest.