Where the Wild Rose Blooms (27 page)

Kevin's chest heaved from the exertion, but the sense of triumph he always felt was well worth it. This was the fifth time he'd sat in a chair, and the tingling he felt in his feet made him want to shout with joy. However, this was a solemn occasion. His wife knew what he was going to say, but Clayton and Milly had no idea. He took a deep breath and began.

"Your mother and I have been in touch with your grandmother in Denver. We've all done a lot of praying and thinking, and I've decided to take a job that she has offered me in the office at the mill."

Clayton and Milly stared at him and then at their mother.

"You mean move to Denver?" Milly whispered after a painful moment of silence.

"Yes," her father said gently.

"Why, Dad?" Clayton managed. "Why leave Georgetown? You and Mom love it here."

"Yes, we do, Clay, but your mother and I want you to get to school, and we can't wait too long or the snows are going to be upon us. It's the ninth of October, and I can't believe we're not snowed in already."

"You can't do this, Dad!" Clayton burst out, all calmness deserting him. "You love it here in the mountains, and I won't let you give it all up for me."

Kevin waited for this outburst to die down and then said, "I talked to young Doc Edwardson just this morning. He told me I would never sit in the saddle again. If I thought there was a chance, I'd stick it out,

Clay, but I know in my heart he's right. I never thought I'd be happy behind a desk, but I'm so thrilled to be? sitting in a chair right now that I'll take what I can get to support my family. And that is what I'm talking about, Clay," he added almost sternly. "It's my job to take care of this family, and any way I can do that,
I
will."

The room fell very silent now. Milly could hear the pounding of blood in her ears. Leave Georgetown? Leave Danny and Paddy? What would she do? She had no desire to live in Denver.
Why, God, why did this happen to Dad? Why must he suffer this way?
She began to cry. She told herself not to, but she couldn't hold back the tears. Elaine went to her.

"It's all tight, Milly. I've cried too, and I know I'm going to cry again."

"So it's really all set?" she sobbed. "We're really going to go?"

"Yes, dear. We leave next week."

Milly cried against her mother's shoulder, feeling like her heart would break. Clayton didn't feel any better himself, but his father was saying something and he tried to attend.

"Clay, did you hear me?"

"No, I'm sorry, Dad, I didn't."

"You can go to school, son."

Clay nodded, but there was no joy in it.

"You don't understand," Kevin went on. "Your grandmother checked it out. You can start as soon as you arrive. Attendance was down this year, and they'll take anyone they can get. Or if you'd rather wait until the; term break, you can start in January."

Clayton blinked at his father. That was good news, but not at the expense of this family.

"You're schooling is a factor, Clay, but it's not the only reason. Can you see that?"

"I'm trying, Dad, but it's just not working. I think the main reason you're doing this is because I went back to work."

"Exactly!" Kevin said triumphantly.

Clayton could only shake his head. "But you just said—"

"I just said the schooling is not the reason, but your supporting this family is."

Clayton only looked at him.

"Clay," Kevin said patiendy. "If I had died, then I would expect you to stay here and take care of Milly and your mother, but I'm not dead. I'm not even an invalid. I can work. I cant do the work I've always done, but I can make a living, and that's what I'm going to do." He paused for a moment, a strange light coming into his eyes. "You know, Clay, I nearly forgot that your nineteenth birthday is three weeks away. You can do what you wish, but Milly, your mother, and I are moving to Denver. If you want to join us, you're more than welcome."

Clayton had to smile at this new tactic. He now understood. Kevin smiled in return.

"What day do we go?"

"Next Friday, the sixteenth."

"All right," Clay told him. He looked to Milly. She was still visibly shaken but holding on. Kevin asked everyone to pray with him, and they all bowed their heads.

"This is no mistake," he told his heavenly Father. "We're all going to hurt, Lord, but You are here with us, and we know this is all a part of Your plan. Thank You for Your sovereignty and loving hand. Help us to trust you when we are tempted to fret. Surround us, especially Clay and Milly, with your grace. Make our peace greater than our pain, so that our lives may glorify You as never before."

God touched Claytons and Milly's hearts in a special way during their fathers prayer. They knew that they would hurt, but the move was for the best. Milly was able to hug and kiss her parents good-night with a genuine smile on her face.

Clayton, equally serene, went off to bed with plans running through his mind. They would have to work hard to be able to move in a week, but the snow would not allow them any more time. The temperatures were

already dropping fast. Clayton was nearly asleep when he remembered Jackie. He would have to seek her out in the morning and tell her himself. Somehow he knew she would be hurt if she found out secondhand. He told himself he'd take care of it right after breakfast in the morning. She was heavy on his heart until he fell asleep.

Clayton was at the Fontaine home early the next day, but still he missed Jackie. Addy told him that she'd gone very early with her father to the store. He briefly explained why he needed to see her and was surprised when Addy ordered Danny to go with Clayton and take Jackie's place at the store.

"It won't take that long to tell her, Mrs. Fontaine," Clayton said when Danny went for her coat.

Addy stared at him. Why were men so stupid at times?

"Well," she said, "I think she might be sad, and Danny could help out until she feels like working."

Clayton shrugged and waited for Danny to come. He was completely unaware of the way Addy scribbled a quick note for Danny to put in her pocket and give to her father. She saw both Danny and Clayton out the front door and then bundled into her coat. The other girls would be leaving for the store in about an hour, and right now she had to talk to Elaine.

"Hello," Clayton greeted Jackie as soon as he found her upstairs in the kitchen. The cleaning of Uncle Mitch's apartments had been put off way too long, and now Morgan wanted it done. He'd taken Jackie with

him early to see to it.

"Well, now." Jackie smiled at the sight of him. His face was red from the cold, and he was so handsome in his heavy leather coat that her heart ached. "You're certainly out early today to pester people."

Clayton smiled in return and did some admiring of his own. Jackie's face was flushed and just a little dusty, and he thought she looked like an adorable street urchin.

"Yes, I am. I've come to tell you something."

"Good news?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"I'm going to Denver."

"Denver?" Her face held a puzzled expression for several seconds and then brightened. "Oh, Clayton, you're going to school! That's wonderful!" Jackie nearly hugged him but caught herself in time. She felt flustered by her own thoughts and shuffled the dust rag in her grasp from one hand to the other.

"Your dream, Clayton," she finally managed. "You get to realize your dream."

Clayton nodded. It was still not real to him, but he was very pleased at her genuine response.

"When do you go?" she asked suddenly

"Next week."

Some of Jackie's elation left her. Next week. But of course, she realized, it would have to be soon, or the snow would hold him up. She opened her mouth to ask something else, but Clayton continued.

"There's more, Jackie. My fathers been offered a job in Denver, so we're all going."

This time she took a moment to respond. "You're all going?" Jackie's voice was uncertain. Clayton liked to tease her, and she didn't want to be caught out.

"Yes. My grandmother still owns and operates a mill in Denver, and
Dad will
be taking an office job. It'll be hard to leave Georgetown—he loves it here—but we all feel a peace about this."

"Sure," Jackie said and wondered how normal her voice sounded. "I'm glad he's doing so much better. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come as often, but its hard with school."

"Oh, Jackie, don't apologize," Clayton swiftly told her, his voice sincere. "You've done more than enough,
and we'll always be grateful."

Jackie nodded. "Well, if there's anything else I can do, let me know."

"Thank you, Jackie. I'll let you get back to work now."

"Sure, Clay. I'll see you later."

He was gone in the next instant, taking the stairs in an easy stride. He probably hadn't needed to rush and tell her; after all, she took it very well. But he was glad he had. He suddenly shook his head. What had he expected? Screaming hysterics? It's not as if they were engaged to be married and the separation would upset their whole world.

Clayton was amused by his own worry and then realized he had to get home. There was plenty to do. He stopped for a moment to tell Morgan and Danny of their plans and then went swiftly on his way.

When he left, Danny turned to her father with tears in her eyes. Morgan looked at her with compassion. He'd asked his daughters many times to move from their friends, but never had Danny had a friend move from her. Addy was going to be equally upset about Elaine.

"Oh, no!" Danny suddenly exclaimed. "He's already told Jackie."

"Is that bad?"

"Oh, Father," Danny's voice was hurt. "She's in love with him."

Morgan's mouth opened in surprise, and then he asked himself why no one ever told him anything.

"You'd better go and check on her, Dan. Tell her that if she wants to go home, she can."

Danny went without another word and was surprised to find Jackie working. Her back was to the door as she knelt on the kitchen floor, scrubbing it with all her might.

"Jackie?" Danny called and came forward, but the arm motion didn't stop. Danny moved so she could see her sisters face. "Please stop, Jackie, and talk to me."

Jackie sat back on her heels and stared straight ahead. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well, Father said that if you'd rather go home, you could do that."

Jackie shook her head, her eyes on the counter she had just scrubbed. "1 think I'd rather work."

"Oh, Jackie." Danny started to say more, but the older girl shook her head.

"He doesn't have any idea, Danny. In fact, he's very excited about leaving. He gets to go to school now, and he's naturally pleased about that." Jackie finally looked at Danny. "I'm sorry that Millys leaving. I know you'll miss her. Mother will miss Mrs. Taggart too."

"But what about you, Jackie?" Danny persisted.

The older girl shrugged. "I didn't think I would survive when Eddie left, but I did. I'll survive again." She went back to the floor. Danny wanted to burst into tears. She had never seen her sister give up so quickly.

I
have to believe that she'll be all right,
Danny said to herself as she returned downstairs.
She believes that she will be, and I must believe it too.