The Little Sparrows (24 page)

“Of course not. It—it’s just so hard, knowing I’ll probably never see her again.”

“Well, Josie, that’s how life is. This kind of thing happens in people’s lives somewhere in the world every day. But you keep your chin up. I’m sure you will be chosen by some good family before the train reaches the end of the line.”

At that moment, Wanda turned from her new foster parents while they were signing papers and moved to Josie.

Rachel said, “Honey, I’ll let you and Wanda have this moment alone.”

Josie nodded, her eyes already filmed with tears, then turned to face Wanda.

Wanda wrapped her arms around Josie, and as they embraced, Wanda said, “I love you.”

Josie choked on a sob. “I love you too, Wanda.”

“I hope you will be chosen before the train reaches the end of the line.”

They released each other, and Josie wiped tears from her cheeks. “Thank you, Wanda, for being my friend.”

The woman called, “Wanda, dear, we must go now.”

The man had the official papers in his hand.

Wanda kissed her friend’s cheek. “Good-bye, Josie.”

As Wanda walked away between the man and his wife, Josie
struggled to keep from breaking down. Suddenly she felt an arm slip around her waist, and turned to see Rachel Wolford looking at her with eyes of compassion.

Tabitha Conlan observed with a smile as Rachel and Josie embraced. Tabitha walked toward her husband, who was standing close by, holding his clipboard. Derek said, “Apparently those two girls had become quite close in this short time.”

Tabitha looked back at Josie. “That they did, darling. That they did.”

While holding Josie close, Rachel said, “Honey, I know you’ll miss Wanda, but I’ll try to take her place.”

Josie eased back and looked her in the eye. “Oh, thank you, Miss Wolford. I’d love to be close friends with you.”

At that instant, Gifford Stanfield rushed up and said, “Rachel, we’ve got a boy over here with a nosebleed.”

Rachel nodded and looked at Josie. “We’ll spend time together on the train.” With that, she hurried away on Gifford’s heels.

Barry Chandler was in the line close to where Josie was standing and had observed the scene when she and Wanda parted. Since the last couple moving along the line had already passed him, Barry moved to where Josie stood. “Hi. We haven’t met, but my name is Barry Chandler. I saw how it affected you when that couple took Wanda. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Josie managed a smile. “Thank you, Barry, but there is really nothing you can do. Wanda and I have become friends on the trip, and I’m just having a hard time letting her go. Oh. My name is—”

“Josie Holden,” cut in Barry, a wide smile spreading over his face. “I asked Miss Wolford what your name was way back in New York, and she told me.”

A bit off balance, Josie kept her smile and nodded. “Oh.”

There was obvious admiration in Barry’s eyes. “Josie is such a pretty name. Is it a nickname?”

“Mm-hmm. My real name is Josephine.”

“Well, that’s a pretty name too.”

Barry ran his gaze around them. “It looks like there are no more people coming along to talk to us.”

“Looks like it,” Josie said sadly. “If no one adopts me by the time we get to San Francisco, I’ll have to go back to New York and start over again.”

“Well, Miss Josie, we’ve got a lot of stops before we get to San Francisco. I’m sure both of us will be chosen by then.”

“I sure hope so.”

“Where did you live in New York?”

“Manhattan. Where did you live?”

“Queens.”

“Are you actually an orphan, Miss Josie, or were you put on the streets because your parents couldn’t afford to keep you?”

“I’m an orphan. My parents are both dead.”

“I’m sorry. Would you mind telling me about it?”

Pleased that the handsome boy was interested, Josie told him her story in brief. When she finished, Barry said, “I’m sorry you’ve had so much heartache, Miss Josie.”

She thanked him for his concern, then asked about him, and he quickly told her his story.

Josie looked up at him with her soft, tender eyes. “I’m sorry you’ve had so much heartache too, Barry.”

“We both know what that’s all about. You needn’t worry about finding a home. As sweet and pretty as you are, I’m sure some fine family will take you home with them.”

A tiny smile appeared at the corners of Josie’s mouth. Barry’s heart did a flip-flop in his chest, and he said suddenly, “Miss
Josie, if I was older and looking for a girl to adopt, I would take you in an instant.” Suddenly, he clamped a palm over his mouth. “Oh! I let my tongue get ahead of my brain. Please forgive me for speaking so boldly.”

Josie patted his arm. “You don’t need to apologize. That was a very nice thing to say.”

Suddenly Gifford Stanfield’s voice cut the air. “All right, boys and girls, it’s time to reboard the train! Five boys and three girls were taken by foster parents. That leaves fifty-three to move on down the line. Don’t any of you be discouraged. This was only the first stop. We’ve got plenty more. All aboard!”

Lance Adams moved up quickly to Jimmy Kirkland. “Hey, little pal, don’t be discouraged. Everything is going to be all right.”

Jimmy’s big blue eyes fastened on him. “You p-promithe, M-Mr. Adamth?”

Lance forced a wide smile. “Sure, Jimmy. I promise.” In his heart, he said,
Lord, that promise is based on my faith. Is anything too hard for You?

Jimmy nodded. “Okay, M-Mr. Adamth. Thee you l-later.”

“See you later.”

Lance watched until Jimmy had boarded the boys’ coach, then headed for his own.

Barry Chandler boarded the boys’ coach, feeling a strange sensation in his heart. Without a doubt, he had an attraction for pretty Josie Holden.

When Josie Holden sat down on her regular seat in the girls’ coach, her heart lurched at the absence of Wanda Stevens. At the same time, she felt warm feelings as Barry Chandler came to mind. She told herself he was the nicest and most handsome boy she had ever met.

O
utside the railroad station, Will and Leah Banton led their new foster children into the parking lot and drew up to the family buggy, which was parked between two buckboards.

Johnny sized up the husky draft horse that was hitched to the buggy.

“Wow! What a big horse, Mr. Banton! I’ve never seen one as big as him. It
is
a him, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Johnny, it’s a him … otherwise known as a gelding.”

Johnny frowned. “I thought a he horse was a st—stal—uh …”

“A stallion?”

“Yeah. That’s it. A stallion.”

“Well, a male horse is a stallion unless he’s fixed so he can’t be a daddy.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll explain it to you when you get a little older, okay?”

Johnny shrugged. “Okay.”

“Johnny, would you like to ride on the driver’s seat with Papa Will?” Leah said.

Johnny’s eyes lit up. “I sure would!”

Will extended his arms toward the boy. “Here, I’ll help you.”

“I can do it, Mr. Banton,” said Johnny, and quickly climbed up onto the seat.

“Well, I guess you can!”

Leah snickered. “It’s the male ego at work.”

Lizzie’s ears perked up. “A eagle? I love birds, but I never seen a eagle. Where’s the eagle?”

Mary looked at Leah and shook her head, grinning. “Lizzie, Mrs. Banton didn’t say
eagle
. She said ego. It has to do with what you think of yourself. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Childress, saying in class that boys and men have a problem with their ego.”

Lizzie’s face twisted. “Huh?”

“Forget it, honey. Mr. and Mrs. Banton want to get going.”

Will helped Leah and the girls into the rear seat of the buggy. Lizzie was positioned between her sister and Leah.

While Will was releasing the reins from the hitching post, Leah said, “Children, we will now go to the general store to buy groceries. We waited on this to see if we would find the child or children we wanted, then we would buy groceries and supplies as needed for the new addition or additions to our family.”

Will climbed into the driver’s seat and put the buggy in motion. As the big horse pulled the vehicle down the street toward Kearney’s business district, Leah said, “And tomorrow, we will bring you back into town and buy all three of you new clothes and shoes.”

Johnny twisted around in the seat. “Wow! Really?”

Leah smiled at him. “Really. We’re going to see that our foster children have everything they need to make them happy and comfortable. And come fall, we’ll outfit you for winter with coats, mittens, stocking caps, and overshoes.”

Lizzie’s eyes were sparkling. “Will I get a new dress, Mrs. Banton?”

“You’ll get more than one, honey.”

“Oh, boy! Will Mary get new dresses too?”

“She sure will. And like you and Johnny, she’ll get new shoes.”

Sitting next to Will, Johnny let his eyes drift to the clapboard buildings on both sides of the dusty street. Some had small balconies on the second level. Others were single stories with flat roofs. Signs above the doors revealed what type of business was inside. People milled about the town on foot, while others were in horse-drawn wagons, buggies, and carriages.

Soon they pulled up in front of Hanson’s General Store and the children were led inside. Their eyes widened instantly. They had never been in a store like this one. The long rows of shelves were loaded with everything imaginable, and what items wouldn’t fit on the shelves were piled in neat stacks on the floor.

Leah said, “Now, children, if you see something on the shelves that you would like to have for meals, just point them out. I’ll cook anything you like.”

The children stared in amazement as they followed Will and Leah through the store. Lizzie moved close to Mary and grasped her hand tightly. Her eyes took in everything.

The Bantons came upon people they knew and introduced Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie as their new foster children whom they had just chosen from the orphan train at the railroad station. Every man and woman showed warmth toward them.

Soon everyone in the Banton family except Lizzie was carrying grocery items, and as they headed toward the counter, Johnny said, “I sure like it, here! I really do. I like it here!”

Will chuckled as they drew up to the counter. “Well, I’m sure glad, Johnny. We want you to be happy here.”

“I like it here too, Johnny,” said Mary.

The Bantons both smiled at Mary.

Will greeted Clyde and Geraldine Hanson, who stood behind the counter. As he placed his armful of goods on the counter, he
told the Hansons that he and Leah had chosen the three children off the orphan train, and introduced Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie to them. Again, the children found a friendly welcome.

While the items were being tabulated and the adults were talking, Lizzie’s eyes went to the two big jars of candy that sat on the end of the counter. She tugged at Mary’s arm and pointed at the jars. “Look, Mary!”

Leah turned to see what Lizzie was pointing at. “Aha! Candy, eh?”

“Mm-hmm. Could I have some please, Mrs. Banton?”

“Of course, sweetheart. We’ll buy a good supply, but you must understand that you can only have a couple of pieces in a day. We don’t want your teeth to decay.”

Lizzie nodded. “Okay.”

Moments later, when they were walking out the door with everyone carrying grocery sacks except the little one with a piece of hard candy in her mouth, Lizzie spoke around it. “Yeah, Johnny! I really do like it here too!”

At that moment, they all heard the shrill sound of a train whistle.

Their attention was drawn to the orphan train as it was pulling out of town.

A pang of sadness penetrated Mary’s tender heart. “Johnny, Lizzie, the Lord has been so good to us. Most of those boys and girls are still on the train, I’m sure. They didn’t get chosen today. I just hope all of them are chosen by the time the train gets to California.”

Johnny grinned at his big sister. “You’re right, Mary. We sure have been blessed. I know we’re gonna be happy with Mr. and Mrs. Banton.”

Mary lifted her eyes skyward. “Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Mr. and Mrs. Banton to be our foster parents.”

Will looked down at her and smiled. “Mary, you can call us Mama and Papa now.”

Mary giggled and looked heavenward again. “Excuse me, Lord Jesus. Thank You for giving us Mama and Papa Banton to be our foster parents.”

Will laughed. “Now that’s more like it, honey!”

“Yes,” said Leah.

The groceries were piled in the rear of the buggy, and they all climbed in and headed north on Main Street. They were almost out of town when Will pointed to a white frame building. “Hey, kids, see that church?”

All three set their eyes on it.

“Yeah,” said Johnny.

“That’s where we’ll take you to Sunday school and church services.”

“Have you gone there before?” asked Mary.

“Yes. A couple of times.”

Soon they were out of town, moving along a dusty country road. There were several farms that came into view, with cattle and horses dotting the pastures.

Lizzie jumped up from her place between Leah and Mary. “Look! Cows and horses! Lots of ’em!”

“Sure enough,” said Mary. “We’ve never seen anything like this before, have we?”

“Huh-uh. It’s neat!”

Johnny was studying the livestock in the pastures on both sides of the road. “Mr. Ban—I mean, Papa, what kind of horses and cattle are those?”

Will smiled at him. “Well, let’s take the horses first. You see that some of them are big and thick-bodied like our horse?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, those are draft horses. They pull plows, hay mowing,
raking, and stacking equipment, and hay wagons, as well as regular wagons and buggies like this one.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And then you see the horses that are much slimmer.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Those are saddle horses. They couldn’t pull the kind of weight the draft horses do, but they are much faster.”

Johnny nodded.

“Let me direct your attention to the cattle. You see those cattle with dark red hides and white faces?”

“Yes, sir.”