Orphan Train Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 4 Page 11

  “How long do you expect to stick around, Cassie? I thought you would have caught the train back to New York that went through this morning.”

  Cassie shook her head. “I know my family will no doubt be furious. I didn’t even get a letter ready to send on the train to them. Do you know if there is a telegraph office? I hadn’t thought to check yet. I have just been so occupied with worry over the boys.”

  Soft-hearted Katie grasped her friend’s hand. “What are you going to do, Cassie? You have become far too attached to these children. There is very little you can do for them.”

  Cassie appreciated her friend’s concern but she refused to accept her words. “Perhaps little, but not nothing.” She softened her hard words with a smile. “The good news is, so far, the children that I have visited in their new homes are happy with their new arrangements. For the most part, the families who have taken them in are kind and delighted to expand their families. From what I can see, it’s a tough, lonely life out on these large spreads, and the couples who have taken in some of the boys are happy to have more people at their table.”

  “Have you seen Walter and his brothers?” Kate asked with a hesitant tone.

  Cassie nodded. “While I found Mr. Ainsworth to be a grumpy, even cold, man, the boys have quite taken to him. I worry that he won’t understand their struggles as they deal with all that they’ve lost in their young lives, but he certainly seems to have the ability to provide for them well in a material way. His house is quite large and he has many animals and extensive gardens. The boys were commenting how much food there has been at each meal.” Cassie’s laugh was a little strained as she and Kate shared a glance.

  “It will be better for them here, you know that,” Kate reminded her.

  “I do know that, as long as they are with kind people. That’s all I ask. I could not bear it if any of the children were placed with someone who will mistreat them, Katie.” She paused for a moment and Kate merely waited for her to continue. “I saw Mr. McDonald this morning. He kept calling them orphans. I know that’s what the children are, since they have lost both parents, but the way he said it was as though that made them lesser creatures. It was all I could do to remain civil with the man, but I had to because I fear he will be even more incompetent if I upset him in some way.”

  They both sighed before Katie spoke up. “It is a cruel and unjust world. Mr. Brace’s idea is a sound one, but in reality, it’s only as good as those implementing it. But as you observed, most people are good and decent and will provide a satisfactory home for the children, which is far better than they had living on the streets of New York.”

  Cassie’s smile was fraying, but she tried to hold onto her composure as she met her friend’s eyes. “I know. In reality, I never should have volunteered at the orphanage in the first place. I don’t think it will do the children any good to see me going to pieces over saying goodbye to them. But I cannot leave town until I am convinced that they will all be well. I know I don’t have much power, but I have a little, and I will use it in whatever way I can to ensure that they will be well after I leave.”

  “You have a good heart, my friend,” Katie said.

  “No, I don’t,” Cassie countered, amused when she saw how surprised Kate was over her words. “My motives have never been completely pure in connection with the orphanage. And now, I am not fully convinced that my concern for the boys is purely for their sake or for my own. I don’t want to have to live with a guilty conscience over them.”

  Katie let out a peel of laughter. “Well, even if your motivation is merely to keep your conscience clear, the fact that it would bother your conscience says something good about you.”

  Cassie joined her in chuckling before she got to the point of her visit. “Either way, I find that I cannot yet leave this town, but the hotel is unacceptable.” She glanced around the small space. “I know it would be an imposition, but do you think I could possibly stay...”

  Kate did not allow her to finish asking. “Of course you must stay here! I am so sorry that I didn’t think of it myself. I thought you might be more comfortable at the hotel and that you would only be a night or two anyway.”

  “It is certainly not your fault, my dear Kate. But no, the hotel is not a fit place for me to stay, and since I can’t leave for at least a couple more days, I need to make other arrangements.”

  “Well, just bring your things over here. We don’t have much, but you are welcome to it anyhow.”

  “Thank you so much. It’s kind of you to say. I know I’ll be imposing and I will try not to stay too long.”

  Kate interrupted again. “It’s never an imposition to make room for a friend. You are welcome to stay as long as you need.” She gestured around. “This might not be much space compared to what you’re used to, but for me and Melanie it’s grand, so we won’t mind sharing and you can have a room to yourself. You’ll have to excuse the simplicity. The place came furnished, thankfully, but it has been empty for a while and in need of a little attention.”

  “That’s generous of you, Katie. After living on the train for almost two weeks, I too am thinking that any space bigger than a train car is grand, so I don’t mind sharing either. But since you have said yes, I will gratefully take whatever you offer.” With a grin she got to her feet. “Now, I will hurry back to the hotel and get my things. I have promised Walter, Ross, and Tony that I would go riding with them this afternoon and am due there at two, so I ought to hurry.”

  “Would you like me to come with you to lend a hand?”

  “You are too kind, Katie, but no, I will hire a boy to carry my trunk, which is really all I have.”

  “Of course,” was all Katie said in answer, making Cassie wonder if she should have accepted her offer of help. She bit her lip but decided not to take back her words. There was really no way to undo what had already been said, and if she accepted Katie’s help, she would have to carry the other side of the heavy trunk, and it would take them twice as long. With a silent sigh, Cassie swallowed her regret that she could never quite fit in and hurried back to the hotel.

  After enduring another uncomfortable encounter at the saloon and then arranging for her trunk to be taken to Katie’s house, Cassie stopped in at the general store, grateful to see that it was surprisingly well stocked. She picked up a few food items that she thought Katie and Melanie might appreciate. Cassie wasn’t sure, on second thought, if she should offer them any money for staying with them, but she was sure they would be glad to have her contribute some food. Cassie knew neither of the other women would have a great deal of savings, and especially until Melanie found work, they would need to stretch their money as far as possible. It was the least she could do, since they were saving her from the indignity of the saloon.

  ~~~

  “I am so grateful for you taking me in like this, Katie! A man who had been frequenting the saloon tried to follow me up to my room when I returned for my things. Thankfully the bartender noticed and stopped him, but it made me nervous and uncomfortable. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep a wink if I was staying there tonight.”

  Katie made soothing noises as she bustled around getting things settled for Cassie. “You poor thing! We should have thought to ask you to stay with us from the beginning. I apologize, Cassie.”

  “Don’t be silly. How were you to know?” Cassie was embarrassed to have made her friend uncomfortable. She briskly changed the subject. “Now, what can I do to help you be more settled? You mentioned earlier that there were still things to be done.”

  “Oh no, Cassie, we couldn’t ask you to help with that,” Katie protested. “All that is left is washing some walls. It can keep until later.”

  Cassie laughed. “You mean until after I’ve ceased imposing upon you? You absolutely must allow me to wash some walls. I made arrangements to have this afternoon to do whatever I could to help you and Melanie here, and I mean to do it to my best ability. I became quite a good wall washer on the train ride here, so you
saved the perfect assignment for me.”

  Katie tried to protest a little more, but Cassie could tell it was half-hearted. She was glad there was something specific she could help the other women with. It didn’t sit comfortably with her to accept their kindness without trying to return some of it.

  “What do you mean you made arrangements?” Katie thought to ask.

  “Ainsworth has said I may accompany them as he rides out through his property to show it to the boys. I asked that it be tomorrow, as I was hoping you would allow me to come stay here with you.”

  “Were the boys disappointed to hear you wouldn’t be coming today?”

  “Of course,” Cassie replied on a laugh. “But it’s better for them, I think, to have one more day of practicing their riding before we go out for a longer trek. According to the smithy, Mr. Ainsworth owns a great deal of property, so I’m anticipating that it will be quite a lengthy ride.”

  By this time, the efficient Katie had stowed Cassie’s things in one of the bedrooms and had procured a bucket full of warm water and several cloths. She wrinkled her nose at Cassie. “Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? I promise you, I will not hold any ill feelings toward you if you decided you aren’t up to it.”

  Cassie laughed then sighed. “I fear you have a similar opinion of me as does Mr. Ainsworth. I swear to you, I may have been a debutante back in New York City, but I have learned to be quite proficient with a damp cloth.”

  Katie trilled with laughter. “Very well. Let us have at it.” She handed Cassie a cloth, and the two of them began scrubbing the walls in the main room. “But don’t think you can get away without explaining yourself. What do you mean that you are proficient with a cloth? And it seems to me that you’re protesting Mr. Ainsworth’s opinion a little too much. He is a terribly handsome man…” She trailed off with a giggle, and Cassie could feel heat climbing in her cheeks.

  Cassie tried to brazen through the other woman’s words by focusing on her first question. “Didn’t you find it horrifically filthy on the train with all the smoke everywhere? I couldn’t bear to think of the boys breathing in all that soot through the night, so I took to washing the walls most days. I thought everyone was doing it.” She could feel the heat in her cheeks intensifying at Katie’s incredulous stare.

  Katie laughed a little as she replied. “Unfortunately, most of us have gotten too used to grime. In many parts of the city back home, there was similar smoke at times. Maybe not as bad as on the train, but more than I suppose you would have been used to. So no, I can assure you, most of us did not wash the train walls daily.”

  Cassie couldn’t help but laugh at Katie’s words. “Well, I guess my sheltered life did a little bit of good for the children, then. And it was a good lesson for me.” After their laughter died down, a comfortable silence settled between them, and they made rapid progress around the small room.

  “You weren’t joking when you said you were proficient with a damp cloth,” Katie commented at one point, making Cassie beam with pride.

  There were a few more moments of quiet before Katie giggled and stated,” You never did tell me about Mr. Ainsworth. I’m getting more and more curious, you must realize.”

  Cassie sighed and protested, “There’s nothing to be curious about. I can assure you! The man always seems to be cross about something and thinks little of my presence. He has yelled at me, glared at me, and usually only offers me silence. I do not think he approves of the boys’ affection for me.” This flabbergasted Cassie, but Katie didn’t comment so Cassie continued. “Perhaps he is just jealous of how close I am with the boys and is being defensive without even realizing it. But I don’t really think it’s that. It seems to me as though he took one look at me on the very first day we were in Bucklin and found me wanting. He can probably tell from looking at me that I am nothing more than a socialite and has deemed me beneath his notice. But he hasn’t even given me a chance to prove there is more to me than that. He merely judged me from what he can see on the surface.”

  She barely registered how furiously she was scrubbing the walls as she continued her complaints about the man. “I think he has been too good looking all his life and is used to everyone thinking him superior for it. It’s hardly an attractive quality, in my opinion. I try to keep my eyes averted when I’m there,” she confided with a small giggle. “Looking at him is far too distracting and can make one forget how grumpy he seems to be.”

  “Is he grumpy toward the boys?” Katie worried.

  “Not usually. He seems to save it for me. Except for the time I arrived on a half wild horse and the boys ran toward me. He let all of us have the rough side of his tongue over that, let me tell you.” She paused as she thought. “But it might have been prompted by fear that the children were going to get hurt.”

  “If he’s saving his grumpy side for you, it could be because is trying to cover up warmer feelings he might have toward you.”

  “Katie Carter! What are you getting on about? You have declared that you have no interest in marriage. Why are you suddenly playing matchmaker?”

  Katie didn’t seem to take offense at Cassie’s scolding. She shrugged. “Just because I don’t want a husband doesn’t mean I don’t think anyone else should have one. I have never heard you make any declarations about wishing to remain a spinster.”

  Cassie could feel herself begin to splutter. “Well, no, of course not. I have no intention of remaining a spinster. It is just that I cannot marry a man who would consider I have nothing to offer him.”

  Katie frowned over her choice of words.

  “In New York, if I marry someone from my own circles, I will bring value with me. My name, my father’s connections, my social experience will all be of value to a prospective husband.”

  “Oh Cassie, surely you realize you are of far more value than your father’s name.”

  Now it was Cassie’s turn to shrug. “Not really. I don’t have much in the way of useful skills. Being out here shows me that all the more clearly. I can’t make clothes like you and Melanie can. I don’t know how to cook very many things. I know nothing about animals.”

  Katie interrupted Cassie’s stream of self deprecation. “But you know how to make people smile. You can usually read people very well. And the children love you. Every single one of them. You are a bright young woman. Everything can be learned if you know how to use your mind. And I’ve seen you use your mind to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Remember that time you came with me to the market for the orphanage? I couldn’t believe how nice the produce was that we managed to buy. And the butcher gave us a far superior cut of beef than he would have given me, just because you asked the right questions and batted your eyelashes at the right time.”

  Cassie laughed. “That was such fun.”

  “See what I mean? You didn’t even mind doing it. You are far braver than I am. Mr. Ainsworth would be lucky to have you.”

  Cassie laughed again. “While he would be lovely to look at, I am not convinced we would be the best match.”

  Katie merely hummed and cast her a knowing glance. There was nothing Cassie could do but laugh again. She didn’t want to add fuel to Katie’s exclamation that she was protesting too much. Cassie wondered if there was a chance Katie was right. She thought of the taciturn cowboy with a smile but quickly shook her head and returned to her task.

  Within a couple hours they had washed every wall in the small house and returned it to a tidy state. Cassie felt as though her arms had turned to the consistency of oatmeal, but she also felt a deep sense of satisfaction from their labors.

  “Cassie, thank you ever so much. I would not have had the motivation to get all this done at once without your help and company. It is such a relief to have it done. And it feels so clean and fresh in here. Our home will be a true pleasure to return to.” Katie’s gratitude warmed Cassie’s heart but embarrassed her a little bit, too.

  “No thanks necessary, I assure you. I am just relieved that I coul
d be of real help since you have been so kind as to take me in. I feel a little like the orphans we have brought out here.”

  “Not at all,” Melanie, who had since returned home, insisted. “You are our friend. We’re glad to have you with us. But all the more so since you were so generous as to help with this onerous job. The treats you brought us from the mercantile would have been enough.” When Cassie shook her head, Melanie continued. “Don’t shake your head at us. Allow us to appreciate what you have done. I know you aren’t used to doing this type of thing. So you probably also aren’t used to genuine gratitude. Accept it.”

  With a shared laugh, the three young women sat down to rest from their day. Cassie couldn’t keep the grin off her face. She was certain it was the most sore she had ever felt in her entire life, but she was also certain that it was the most content she had ever felt as well. She rather thought she would like to extend her time here in Missouri to enjoy these friendships a little longer.

  The next morning, Cassie bustled around helping Katie a little bit before making her way to the smithy once more after promising to be back before dark. Katie had laughed with her when Cassie had assured her that Ainsworth’s grumpy behavior would surely have her returning before too long.

  “You ought to just buy yourself a horse, Miss. It don’t make no sense for you to be renting every day,” the smithy pointed out.

  “I’m not going to be staying in town much longer. Besides, I haven’t anywhere to keep a horse.”

  “You could board him here during your stay and sell him before you leave.”

  Cassie thought over his words as she rode toward the Ainsworth property. She knew he was only being reasonable from his own standpoint, but since she didn’t know how long she would be staying, she didn’t want to commit herself to owning a horse. Then she thought of another thing. She should have checked at the train station for the eastbound schedule over the next week or two so that she would have an idea of when she should be planning to head home. And she really needed to send a message to her family. They would be ready to skin her alive by the time she got home, she thought uneasily before she allowed the worries to get blown away as she urged her horse into a gallop.