The Widower's Wife (9 page)

We’re home! We’re home!” Lisa exclaimed. “Pa, hurry, help me out!” Just then, a scrawny little brown and white pup came bounding from around the corner, barking out his welcome.

Dalton set the brake on the wagon and climbed down. Lisa, in her anticipation, began jumping enthusiastically, consequently shaking the wagon and waking her little brother.

“Now hold you britches, Lisa.” Dalton lifted her out and set her on the ground. She sat down at once and gathered the puppy into her arms, letting him lick her face.

“Digger! I missed you so much. Did you miss me? I wish Pa would have let me take you to Auntie Bet’s. Jenny was no fun at all.” She held the pup up and turned him to face the wagon. “Look, Digger, that’s our new ma. She’s come all the way from Masse . . . Masse . . . from far away.”

Jillian sat watching in amusement. What a character Lisa was, but she wasn’t finished. Lisa held her lips to the dog’s ears and whispered as he wiggled and squirmed about.

“I can’t let you sleep on my bed tonight ’til I know if our new ma will let ya. So wait outside my window and if I’m not allowed, I’ll let you in when everybody else is asleep, okay?”

The pup licked her face again, and Lisa giggled in delight.

Jillian noticed that Jenny had climbed down from the wagon and stood watching Lisa too. It was apparent that she wanted to say something to her sister but was struggling to bite her tongue.

Jillian was the last one left in the wagon. Dalton had just claimed Brenn from her and set him down. He toddled over to where Lisa was and began to maul the pup with as much enthusiasm as his big sister.

Dalton returned and held his hand out to her. She couldn’t help purposely avoiding looking into eyes when he helped her down. She worried about what she’d see there and didn’t want to spoil the fun she was having watching his two youngest children. She remembered the tortured look he had given her back at Aunt Betty’s when he had returned with Jenny.

Dalton then finished unhitching the horses and started to lead them to the barn. Abruptly, he stopped and turned. “Jenny, help your ma carry dinner in and show her where things are.” His voice was firm. He looked at Jillian. “As soon as I’m done tending to the horses, I’ll be in to eat. Please, you don’t need to wait for me.” Dalton turned and led the horses to the barn. Jillian stared after him until the barn doors closed behind him.

Turning back to the children, Jillian gathered her courage and spoke. “Well, I suppose it would be best to do as your father asks.” Abruptly, Jenny ran past her into the house and disappeared through the door. A moment later, she felt a small hand find its way into hers. She looked down into to the face of her other new little daughter.

“I’ll show you,” Lisa said.

Jillian picked up Brenn, and while still holding Lisa’s hand, walked toward the house. As she neared the steps, she noticed for the first time the beautiful flower garden that framed the house. It started on each side of the porch steps and extended partially around the house on both sides. There was even a small white picket fence that acted as a border. The garden was sorely neglected and badly in need of some work, but it was filled with a large variety of flowers of different shapes and colors. Jillian knew the names of many of them, though some were unfamiliar. She felt another surge of hope rise within her, and her step felt a little lighter as she walked through the door of her new home.

Dalton was having trouble sleeping. His glance finally wandered over to Laurellyn’s cameo, which was placed on his bedside table. He examined it a moment and recalled the day he had first seen it displayed in the shop window.

Dalton had convinced Laurellyn to ride into Darlington with him that day. It was time to purchase supplies, and he dreaded making the trip alone. Auntie Betty was always offering to tend Jenny so the two of them could have some time alone. They hadn’t had a good long time to spend together in awhile. So, after much coaxing, Laurellyn finally agreed to come.

With Laurellyn by his side, the day seemed to fly by. They had just finished lunch at the café and were walking down the boardwalk, when Laurellyn stopped to look in the window of the small five-and-dime store. There was a wide selection of trinkets of all types and sizes on display, from small delicate pins and combs, to loud and obnoxious looking brooches and hats. Laurellyn admired a small, delicate cameo because it reminded her of the one her mother used to wear. Later that afternoon, before they started for home, Dalton slipped away from Laurellyn for a moment and purchased it for her birthday gift that year. She had worn the cameo every day from then on.

When Laurellyn died, Dalton considered burying the cameo with her, but in the end, he couldn’t part with it. Now, he carried it with him daily in his pocket and at night he would place it on the stand next to his bed.

“Well, Laurellyn,” he whispered, “your children have a new mother . . . .just like I promised.” He suppressed the twinge of guilt he felt about the other half of the promise he had made and rolled over on his side, closing his eyes. He couldn’t think about that right now. Morning would be here before he knew it. His last thought before closing his eyes was of Laurellyn, as always.

Jillian took another look about her room. It was smaller than her bedroom back home, but it was warm and comfortable. She smiled. Little Lisa had been so excited to show her every little detail, running from this thing to that. Apparently, Aunt Betty had come over a few days before and thoroughly cleaned it, putting a new quilt on the bed and adding other homey touches. At the time the girls hadn’t known why.

When Dalton had brought her trunk and other things in, Lisa had begged to help her unpack. Jillian had told Lisa that she was much too tired to do it tonight and promised her she could help when she got around to it in the next day or two.

Jenny hadn’t come out of her room since she had raced into the house earlier that evening. When Dalton had come in from tending the horses, Jillian had sent him in to her with a small plate. He had returned with it untouched. She could tell by the look on his face that they had not smoothed things over. Jillian was a little worried about Jenny not eating at first, but then she saw Lisa sneak a roll and wrap it up in her napkin. The child tucked it under the table and into her apron before she asked to be excused from the table. Lisa had a soft heart.

Jillian sighed and sank a little deeper into her pillow. It had been a long day. Her emotions had swung back and forth, over and over again, from one side of the pendulum to the other. But when she had laid little sleeping Brenn into his cradle for the night, she’d felt a feeling of peace settling within her again. She’d then stooped to pick up Lisa’s fallen blanket, tucking it in under her chin and bending down to kiss the little angel on her forehead. The child had stirred lightly and spoken.

“ ’Night, Ma.”

Hearing those simple words had caused Jillian’s heart to swell. After turning to take one more look at the sleeping children before closing the door, she knew how right it had been to come here. With these children to love and to nurture, and with poor Jenny who needed a mother so badly, her heart would not become cold and bitter, as it had tried to do over the last few months.

Jillian blew out the lantern beside her bed. Rolling over onto her side, she gazed out the window for a moment at the stars that brightened the night sky. She felt soothed and calmed as she watched the limbs of the old oak gently sway back and forth in the slight breeze. She knew she would sleep well. Nothing would disturb her slumber—not even the tortured face of one Mr. Dalton McCullough that flashed across her mind as she drifted off.

Good morning.” Jillian smiled tentatively at Dalton as he walked through the door after his morning chores were through. After two weeks, they had settled into a relatively comfortable routine. Jenny still avoided Jillian as much as possible, but the other children were a constant delight, filling her days with laughter and surprises.

Jillian set the platter of hotcakes on the table. After she had made them for breakfast the morning after her arrival, Lisa had begged for them every day since. She was going to have to find out from Aunt Betty what other things the children liked to eat so they could have a little variety. She pondered on Aunt Betty for a moment. The woman had been true to her word. She had come over for a visit a couple of days after Jillian arrived, bringing a blueberry pie and a loaf of freshly baked bread with her. Aunt Betty was a wonderful cook, Jillian had soon discovered. She enjoyed cooking herself and was fairly skillful at it, but she looked forward to learning some new things and perhaps sharing some recipes with Dalton’s aunt. They had talked about how the children were adjusting to the change. Jillian knew Aunt Betty was referring mostly to Jenny, and it pained her that she didn’t have much improvement to report, other than that it appeared the cut on her leg had healed nicely. But all in all, they had a good visit.

Jillian didn’t see too much of Dalton. He seemed to be working hard in the fields. In three months, he’d told her, it would be time for the harvest. Then, everyone would have more work than they knew how to manage.

Jillian was anxious to get started in the flower garden. It had been neglected so long that the weeds had taken over, and it was going to take quite a bit of work to get them under control. She had brought a few seeds with her from home, and she knew they would make a beautiful addition to the garden. Hopefully, she would be able to find some time to plant them soon or she would have to wait until next spring.

She was disappointed that it was too late to plant a vegetable garden this year. One afternoon, she had taken the younger children over on a walk to Aunt Betty’s and had found the dear woman working vigorously in her own vegetable garden. Jillian had been quite impressed. She had only ever planted flowers before and was looking forward to trying something new. Since growing their own vegetables was the only way to ensure that they had a healthy variety for the family’s needs, she was thankful when Aunt Betty had assured her that she had planted an extra large garden this year and would have more than enough to share with them.

Just then, Jenny came trudging into the kitchen and sat down at the far end of the table, interrupting Jillian’s thoughts. Dalton’s oldest daughter had been attending school for two weeks now. Jillian hoped the girl would be more excited to go back, but she seemed to dread going more and more with each passing school day.

It troubled Jillian to see Jenny so disheartened. Jillian had always loved school. Each day had brought the opportunity to learn something new and exciting she hadn’t known the day before. She wondered just how far behind Jenny was in her studies. Jillian was anxious to begin tutoring her, but as yet, their relationship was still too tense. On her next trip to town she would have to make a point of stopping by and speaking with the schoolmaster. For now, she would just have to pray that Jenny’s heart would quickly soften so she would accept Jillian’s help. Jillian sent a familiar prayer heavenward, along with a new one for patience. Thankfully, thoughts of her mother and her tender ways helped give her guidance as to how she should approach her challenges with Jenny.

Lisa wouldn’t be attending school for another year. The child was pure energy, and though Jillian enjoyed her immensely, she was difficult to keep up with sometimes.

After Jenny left for school, Jillian cleaned up the kitchen and continued through the house, getting things in order. Even after two weeks, there was plenty to do in order to thoroughly clean and straighten things up. Dalton had been doing what he could, but many of the household chores had fallen to Jenny, and a girl of eight could only accomplish so much. Lisa followed her around all morning, happily mimicking her work. Brenn toddled after Lisa, sometimes undoing what Jillian had just completed.

As soon as lunch was over, Jillian coaxed Brenn into taking a nap and then took Lisa by the hand and went to her room to begin the task of going through her trunk. She’d unpacked the essentials when she had arrived but hadn’t yet unpacked any of her precious reminders of home.

The moment she opened her trunk, Lisa eyes lit up with delight. Everything was fascinating to the child. She “oohed” and “ahhed” over each item Jillian removed from the trunk, especially the party dresses she’d brought, with all their frills and lace. Then Jillian showed Lisa the fabric that her mother had given her.

“Look,” Jillian told her. “Maybe this winter we’ll make you a new Sunday dress.” The mere idea caused Lisa to go into fits of anticipation.

“Will it be pretty like this one?” Lisa ran her hand over one of Jillian’s dresses. Jillian held a piece of blue floral cloth with small pink roses up in front of the enchanted girl. The color was perfect, matching her eyes exactly.

“I think it will be the most beautiful dress in the world, especially on you,” she predicted.

Lisa giggled with delight, stood up, and did a couple of twirls as she imagined wearing her new dress. Then she sat back down by the trunk next to Jillian, waiting for the next surprise.

Jillian slowly took out the books that she’d brought, showing them to Lisa one by one. She looked forward to working with her this winter to get her ready for school. She sincerely hoped that Jenny would be caught up by then.

Lisa gently handed the books back one at time. Jillian put them back into the trunk to be stored, except for a few children’s storybooks and fairy tales that she intended on reading to the children during the long winter months. Lisa was so enthralled as she turned each page, searching for the illustrations, that Jillian decided it wouldn’t hurt to begin reading a few of them at bedtime now. If she needed additional books later, she would write her mother and ask her to send more of the collection she had left behind.

When most of the things she needed to unpack had been put in their proper places, Jillian reached into the bottom of the trunk and pulled out a bundle of cloth. She untied the string from it, smiling to herself as Lisa watched her with burning curiosity. She hoped her treasures had not been broken during her trip.

When at last the final layer was unwound, she laid the cloth on the floor to examine its contents. Everything seemed to have survived the long journey intact. Lisa’s eyes got big as Jillian picked up a large seashell and held it to her ear. She closed her eyes to listen to the familiar and soothing sounds captured within. As she opened her eyes again, she laughed at the puzzled look on Lisa face.