Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma (19 page)

“Did you now?” A slow smile tipped up the corners of her lips. “What did you imagine, based on my letter?”

Gene took a moment to think about his answer. “I don’t suppose I saw you as a socialite. I rather envisioned a woman more…” He hesitated. “Tough?”

“I’m tough.”

He tried not to laugh. “Maybe, but…”

“And I was no socialite. That’s not to say I didn’t taste of that world, but my heart was never in it. I was only there because…” Her gaze shifted downward. “Well, because there was nowhere else for a single young woman to live. I found myself in a rather awkward predicament after my parents died, but I was too young to do anything about it.”

“I’m sorry.” He took her hand, realizing too late that the soap bubbles might be less than desirable. “I’m not trying to make this uncomfortable for you. I’m just saying you’re a bit different from what I pictured. But then again, who can tell much from a letter?”

“True.” She nodded. “It’s only meeting face-to-face that one can ascertain certain things about a person.”

“Indeed.” He held tightly to her hand, and unspoken words seemed to travel between them.

From outside, one of the children hollered and Gene let go of Rena’s hand at once. “Guess I’d better get out there and referee.”

“And just when we were having such a good time.” She gave him a little wink, one that sent his heart fluttering. Good gravy. Since when had a woman affected him this way? Even Jenny, as beautiful as she was, hadn’t stirred his heart in such a manner.

“Gene, you’re needed out here.” His mother’s voice sounded from the doorway. “Better hurry.”

He sighed then turned in the direction of her voice.

Rena couldn’t help but grin as she looked out the window at Gene and the children. He’d been summoned to scold Oliver but ended up dunking the boy into a pile of red-and-gold leaves. Then again, he always seemed to go easier on his own boys than the rest of the children. No doubt he felt sorry for them, losing their mother and all. The sheriff’s disciplinary skills were unusual at best, but there was something rather lovely about the way he spoke to the boys and girls. It did her heart good.

In fact, there were a great many things about the man that did her heart good. After all, he could bake a heavenly pecan pie and wash dishes.

She watched him for a moment longer, her heart aflutter with joy, then returned her attention to the dishes.

T
IPS FOR
D
EALING WITH
U
NRULY
Y
OUNG
’
UNS
—
Women have a deep God-given desire to nurture others. I felt that desire almost from childhood as I played with my dolls. My husband, Reuben, and I have parented one daughter, Sadie. But we also helped to raise Reuben’s younger sister, Rena, who came to us at the vulnerable age of fourteen. If I’ve learned one thing about children, it is this: they respond to love. When all else fails…love.

—Virginia Jewel, Gulfport, Mississippi

Gene spent the next couple of hours lounging on the broken-down sofa and gabbing with the ladies and Jonathan. At four o’clock his mother fixed a plate of food for Charlie and sent him packing. Though he hated to admit it, Gene didn’t want to leave. He’d enjoyed his time with Jenny, sure, but he’d also shared more enjoyable conversation with Rena. Her embarrassed smiles and sideways glances had not escaped his notice. And he still couldn’t get over the fact that she’d left a calm, quiet existence back in Gulfport to come here and tend to seventeen children. What a difference!

As he made his way back to the jailhouse, he thought about his boys and their behavior at the dinner table. He’d seen enough of their shenanigans at home, naturally, but these battles they raged against each other had to stop, at least in public. How would he bring that about? A few moments of contemplation followed. Just as he reached the jail, a strange thought flitted through his mind:
“Love them.”

He swallowed hard and turned off the car.

“Love them.”

At once he began to argue with himself. He did love them. He fed them, clothed them, gave them swats when they needed it.…

“Love them.”

Ugh. There it was again, that…that nudging. Had he missed something, perhaps? Could it be that loving little boys involved more than an occasional hug or prayers at bedtime? Could he really love them with the kind of intensity necessary to turn their lives around?

Gene had no idea, but he was certainly willing to give the idea time to develop.

Later that night, the children finally settled down for Rena. The boys tumbled into their beds, exhausted from the antics of the day. Next came the girls. Callie and Josephine wriggled under their quilts right away, but Lilly took a little longer.

Rena paused to brush her beautiful curls and lifted a loose hair from the child’s brow. “I always wanted curly hair,” she said.

Lilly’s nose wrinkled. “Not me. I want pretty, straight hair like yours.” She fingered Rena’s hair then leaned against her and whispered, “This was the best Thanksgiving ever.” Her words were followed by a contented sigh.

Rena gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Really? Do you think so?”

“Oh, yes.” Lilly giggled. “The very, very, very best!” She sat up in the bed, threw her arms around Rena’s neck, and gave her a tight hug. “Thank you! Thank you!”

“You are so welcome, Lilly-Bear.”

“Lilly-Bear?” The child giggled. “I like it.”

Rena gave her a little kiss on the forehead and tucked her in. Then she turned her attention to the others, kissing Callie and Josephine on their foreheads.

“Miss Rena?” Josephine whispered from under the covers. “I…I love you.”

Rena knelt next to the youngster’s bed, her eyes now brimming with tears. “Oh, you sweet girl. I love you too.” She gave her another kiss on the forehead, this one filled with far more emotion than the one before.

Minutes later, her heart quite full, Rena walked down the stairs to say good night to Jenny and Carolina, who were both resting in the parlor—Carolina on the lumpy sofa and Jenny in the broken wingback chair.

“Quite a day, wouldn’t you say?” Jenny kicked off her shoes.

“Oh, it had its moments.” Carolina smiled. “Right now, I feel about as broken-down as this old sofa. My joints are as twisted as these springs.”

“I’m already working on that,” Rena said. “I’ve sent a letter to my brother for the missions society. New furniture should be arriving over the next few weeks. Donated, of course, but I feel sure it will be a lot nicer than what’s here now.”

Carolina sat up suddenly and looked Rena’s way. “Oh, that reminds me of what I was going to tell you earlier today. You’re quite skilled at fixing things up.”

“I do? What makes you say that?”

“Those centerpieces the children put together. And I, for one, am thrilled that this place is going to get a new look. It’s such an eyesore in its current state—and dangerous, to boot. Renovations are much-needed and long overdue.”

“I agree,” Rena said. “I’ve sent a letter to my niece, Sadie. We’ve written several times over the past month about her upcoming trip to Daisy.”

“She’s coming here?” Jenny asked.

“She is. And I can’t wait for you to meet her. Why, she’s the prettiest thing you ever saw, and she has a knack—really, I can’t think of a better word to call it—a knack for decorating. She’s simply marvelous at it. I felt sure folks in Gulfport would hire her in a minute to fix up their homes, but she opted to go to college instead. I believe the timing of her trip to Daisy is perfect. She’ll be such a help to me.”

Carolina snapped her fingers. “Back to what I meant to tell you earlier. There’s one other place in town in need of a woman’s touch, and you’re just the one to tackle it.”

“Oh?” Rena settled onto the sofa, the springs stabbing her bottom.

“Yes.” Carolina’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “The jailhouse.”

“The jailhouse?” Rena sat up straighter. “You think we need to decorate the jailhouse?”

“Well, not decorate it, exactly,” Carolina said. “Just clean it up…give it a bit of color and life. It’s so dank and dreary.”

“Isn’t that what a jail is supposed to be?” Jenny asked.

“In theory, I suppose, though I daresay a criminal would stand a better chance of reforming if you offered him a bit of color instead of those drab gray walls.” Carolina gave Rena a closer look. “Which reminds me—you look radiant in that blue skirt. Don’t know if I mentioned it.”

Rena smiled, overcome by such kindness. “Thank you so much.”

“I feel sure one fella noticed,” Carolina said, winking.

Rena couldn’t be sure if she meant Jonathan or Gene but decided that a change of subject was in order. Before long, they were talking about the rest of the day, laughing over the wooden mouse and bragging on the taste of the pumpkin pie.

“I never really learned to cook,” Rena admitted. “Just one more thing I missed out on, losing my mama at such a young age. Anyway, I’m awfully grateful you’ve been teaching me.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your parents?” Carolina asked.

Rena shifted her gaze to the fireplace and tugged at her collar. While she wanted to answer Carolina’s question, the words refused to come.

“I’m sorry, dear. I’ve overstepped my bounds. Forgive me?”

“No, it’s not that. Not at all.” Rena felt the sting of tears. “I so rarely discuss my parents.… Reuben didn’t like to talk about them, so I kept my words inside. Well, inside and on the page. I’ve often written down my feelings about what happened to them.”

“Must be very cathartic,” Jenny said.

“Yes. Though it doesn’t take the place of real conversation.” Rena paused for a moment. “And to be honest, I would enjoy talking about what happened to my parents. I don’t often get the opportunity to share aloud.”

“Then tell us anything you like.” Carolina gave her a sympathetic smile.

“I was fourteen when it happened,” Rena explained. “It was a day like any other. I’d gone to school in the morning. I distinctly remember wearing a blue dress and a matching ribbon in my hair. Midmorning, I heard the wail of a siren as the fire truck went by. As children are wont to do, it piqued my curiosity. I never dreamed….” She drew in a deep breath, suddenly feeling the pain of the moment afresh.

“Oh, honey…” Carolina shook her head. “I can imagine what you’re about to say.”

“All was lost.” Rena brushed away tears. “Our home burned to the ground, and my parents…” She began to cry in earnest now.

“You poor girl.”

Rena finally managed to get the rest of the story out. “My brother and sister-in-law had just married. They were living in a new home in Gulfport, not terribly far from Jacksonville, where I’d grown up. They came for me….” She paused, remembering the day they had arrived. “Thank God, they came. And they took me in. I’ve felt the security of their love and care from the beginning. I never felt like an outsider. Only…”

“Only what?”

“Only, after twenty-four years of living with them, I found myself feeling trapped. I’d so enjoyed the comfort of their home that I’d never thought of venturing out into the real world.” She gestured to her surroundings. “This is the real world.”