Orphan Train Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 4 Read online

  There was an even bigger skip to her step as Katie walked away from the house. The woman had given her a deposit on two new frocks and a gown. Katie wasn’t sure what use the woman had for it, but if she wanted a fancy gown, they would make it for her. It would actually be a pleasure to make it with Melanie.

  The increase in their income made her feel that much more secure in her desire to take custody of Annie. If Mr. Brace and Mrs. Parker allow it, she reminded herself for maybe the twentieth time that day. It was so hard to restrain her excitement. But so little had gone her way in her adult life, she really ought to keep a firm grip on reality. It wouldn’t do to hope too much or she would slip into a decline when they finally told her no.

  Katie burst through her front door. “Mrs. Smith placed a larger order than I expected, and the mercantile is getting us a larger variety of fabrics so we don’t have to worry about our clients running around town in identical clothing,” she called out to Melanie as she shut the door.

  “That’s wonderful, Katie. Thank you for looking after both of those things. Are you very sure you don’t mind being the one who always deals with the clients?” Melanie’s tone revealed her anxieties, despite her effort to repress them.

  “I’m more than certain. Your stitches are finer than mine. We’re both playing to our strengths.” She breezed through the small room, opening the window above the sink to allow more of the spring air into their tidy home. “Have you been outside yet? It’s a gorgeous day.”

  Melanie admitted that she had not but then she chuckled. “You sure seem to be in a fine frame of mind. Whatever has happened to you?”

  Katie grinned. “Mrs. Parker is going to ask Mr. Brace if I can adopt Annie.”

  Melanie’s eyebrows rose, but so did the corners of her mouth. “And so you are thrilled,” she stated with a laugh before sobering. “But how likely is he to say yes, do you suppose?”

  Katie shrugged in an effort to demonstrate a lack of concern but couldn’t help feeling uncertain and chewing her lip. “Even a widow is better than no one,” she explained. “They wouldn’t want to take her back to New York after dragging her out here, so Mrs. Parker said if they do not find a family for her soon, there is a good chance he will approve it. It helps that he knows me, of course.” She paused, looking out the window for a moment, trying to regain control over her hopes, but then she whirled toward Melanie and exclaimed, “Oh, Mel, I know I oughtn’t to hope too strongly, but I just want it to be true. I want to be a mother again. Surely they must say yes.”

  Melanie made a tsking sound and pulled Katie in for a quick hug. “Let us try to keep you too preoccupied to dwell on it until you can know for sure. I know you want the best for Annie, and I trust that Mrs. Parker does as well. If they can find a family to take her in, then that might be for the best, but if not, I know you will be a wonderful mother.” She then briskly strode across the room. “Now let us get to work on Mrs. Smith’s order. It will help you keep your mind away from your wishes and dreams.”

  Katie laughed. “I hope you’re right, but sometimes sewing leaves little for the mind to do other than think.”

  Melanie grinned. “True, but not this time. You will be the one to figure out the pattern. That should keep your mind fully occupied.”

  Katie pulled a face but gamely set to work.

  Several days passed with Katie nearly wearing herself to the bone trying hard not to dwell too much on the possibilities. They finished Mrs. Smith’s order and she delivered it. “That was much quicker than I expected,” the delighted client exclaimed. Katie had had to smother her smile over that. It probably wouldn’t happen again.

  She visited with Annie every other day. She didn’t want the child to grow unreasonably attached to her if she was going to be living with a new family, but Katie couldn’t bear to leave the poor child completely. It had to be difficult for the little girl, being the last one without a new family.

  Finally, on Friday, when Katie arrived to see Annie, Mrs. Parker called her aside while the child was absorbed in a book Katie had brought for her.

  In a low voice, the older woman asked, “Were you completely serious when you expressed an interest in adopting Annie?”

  Katie had to fight not to yell. “Of course,” she exclaimed in a loud whisper.

  “Very well, then. Mr. Brace has agreed to allow it.”

  Tears welled in Katie’s eyes. Mrs. Parker must have mistaken the cause. “Katie, dear, you know our hesitation was not any personal judgement against you, don’t you?”

  “Of course, I completely understood. I am just so thrilled that I am going to have her as my daughter. I have been trying not to hope too strongly, but it has been a challenge. Are you completely sure that I can have her?” she couldn’t help but ask.

  Mrs. Parker smiled at her, warm understanding spreading across her face. “I am certain. If you’d like, you can tell her the good news now.”

  Chapter Four

  K atie made every effort not to skip as she walked beside Annie, leading her back to the little house she was sharing with Mel. She was a mom, she reminded herself. She needed to be responsible. But oh how she wanted to twirl in circles and jump for joy!

  Thankfully, Cassie had already moved out, so space wouldn’t be such an issue. And the little girl had only the one bag of belongings, so she wouldn’t be cluttering up the place either. Katie glanced down and intercepted the apprehensive glance of the small girl.

  “Are you nervous, Annie?” Katie was surprised at the possibility.

  She got a slight nod in answer causing Katie to stop in her tracks and crouch down in front of her.

  “Why are you nervous? We know each other quite well. Do you not want to come and live with me?” Katie hoped her disappointment didn’t come through in her voice. She wanted the child to know she had a say in her future. “Would you rather stay with Mrs. Parker and keep waiting for someone else?”

  Tears welled up in Annie’s eyes, which made a lump form in Katie’s, and she had to blink several times to keep the tears out of her own vision.

  “What is it, honey? You can tell me. I promise not to get upset with whatever you have to say.”

  “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” Annie whispered.

  Katie was shocked into silence by the little girl’s concerns. “Oh, Annie, my dear, I promise you, I am in perfect health. Nothing is going to happen to me. Certainly not as a result of you coming to live with me.”

  Standing up, but keeping Annie’s hand firmly in her grasp, Katie continued. “I had been thinking that I need to be dignified about this, but I realize now that I was mistaken. Today is a day we should be celebrating. We each have family now. We have each other. And that is something to rejoice about, don’t you think?”

  Annie just looked at her with wide, serious eyes. Katie felt her stomach drop with disappointment once more, but she didn’t allow that to stop her. She put Annie’s small bag of possessions carefully down on the ground and grabbed Annie’s free hand with her own. Keeping her gaze focused on Annie’s face, Katie forced herself to grin at the child, despite her insecure wish to curl up and cry. She was the adult here and she had to act like it.

  “This is going to be just great, and I am so happy that we are going to stay together. Don’t you think it’s great?” Her gaiety, however forced, was beginning to get through to the youngster and the corners of her mouth were starting to lift. After another searching glance, the little girl finally nodded.

  Katie wrinkled her nose at her and then grinned. “That wasn’t very convincing.”

  Finally, Annie couldn’t help it, a giggle escaped.

  “There it is!” Katie declared, joy filling her heart. “I knew you would see reason. We are going to be the happiest pair in this town, just you wait and see.” She eyed the girl with mock seriousness. “It is both our responsibility to make sure we are happy, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Annie again looked uncertain for a moment, and Katie regretted her
words, but then the little girl giggled again and nodded. “I will do my very best, Mrs. Katie, I promise.”

  “As will I,” Katie vowed in return. “Now, I do believe we ought to celebrate this pact by skipping all the way home.”

  Finally, Katie’s heart nearly overflowed as full-throated laughter erupted from the youngster and she almost fell over with how vigorous her nodding was. Katie’s laughter, while not quite as carefree, swelled forth to join Annie’s. Tightening her grasp on one small hand, Katie picked up Annie’s small bundle of possessions, and the two skipped along the road, their differing strides giving them more reason to laugh.

  They were lost in their own enjoyment of the moment and didn’t notice the horse and rider coming up behind them. They both jumped and spun around when the man spoke to them. Annie didn’t even try to suppress her shriek, which caused the large horse to shy away. The rider quickly gained control of the animal then slid off his back.

  Lifting his hat, he bowed politely. “I apologize for startling you. I should have realized the soft ground was muffling my steed’s hoof beats when I saw how oblivious you seemed to my approach. I do hope you will forgive the intrusion.”

  Katie wanted to sweep by him and ignore him like she had the first time she and Annie had encountered the doctor, but she knew she ought not inflict her own issues upon her new charge. Annie had enough of her own emotional baggage toward doctors; Katie didn’t want her distrust of men to rub off on the child. She forced a polite smile to her lips.

  “We were having too much fun to pay attention to what was going on around us, sir, which wasn’t all that wise, considering we are on a well-traveled road. It is surely not your fault that our inattention lead to our discomfort.” She paused, seeing that he seemed to expect something more from her. “But thank you for so graciously offering an apology.” She cringed when she heard the questioning tone at the end of her own sentence. Katie offered another smile in an effort to cover up her discomfort.

  He lifted his hat and made another little bow while a deep chuckle came out of him and seemed to curl around Katie’s stomach. “It does the heart good to see two such lovely ladies having a good time. No harm was done. But do try to be more careful in the future. I would hate for either of you to need my services.”

  Katie felt a momentary urge to relax and spend more time with the man. The thought made her stiffen and withdraw mentally. That would never do. She needed to end this meeting.

  “Well, sir, thank you again for stopping and being so gracious about our occupation of the road. We ought to let you get on with your important work. We wouldn’t want to prevent you from seeing to your patients.” She congratulated herself on her handling of their exit. She hadn’t even had to lie. No doubt, being the only doctor in town, he was a busy man. And it was true that she wouldn’t want to keep him from visiting the sick.

  The doctor looked reluctant but nodded his head before gathering up his reins and regaining his seat on the large horse. He tipped his hat to them once more. “Until we meet again,” he said before riding away without another glance.

  Katie felt a tremble down her spine. His words struck her as ominous. She didn’t want to see the doctor ever again. Any doctor, really, but especially not a young, handsome one. Handsome men were trouble she had no interest in.

  She forced aside her feelings and turned to Annie, whose large eyes were widened towards her with worry dulling their shine. Katie pinned a smile to her face.

  “Wasn’t that something? We were having so much fun we didn’t even hear a horse coming. I suppose we ought to be a little more careful. Why don’t we skip along through the grass here on the side?”

  “Won’t that be harder?”

  Katie shrugged. “I think it will just make it more interesting. Come along now. We need to be getting home and making some dinner for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I think my tummy is going to be grumbling quite soon.”

  This finally brought the smile back to Annie’s face, and the two hurried to Katie’s house, returning to skipping as they had before. Katie’s laughter was a little forced, but she was glad the child didn’t appear to notice the difference.

  Chapter Five

  W yatt rode away from the two females, castigating himself for once again not getting the woman’s name. Which was beyond foolish since she was no doubt married, so her name was of little consequence. Except for it being neighborly, of course. He ought to know the names of everyone in the vicinity, since they could, at some point, be patients. His lips twisted with the irony. He truly hoped she would never be his patient. He doubted he would have the clinical detachment needed. And he fervently hoped she was never in a position to need a doctor anyway.

  But she really was the loveliest woman he had ever seen. Oh, he’d seen more beautiful women, in cities, or when he was away for school. Women who were beautiful on the surface with fashionable clothes and their hair styled precisely. But those women rarely had anything going on behind their eyes. Their beauty was only surface deep. Whereas the woman, he still didn’t even know her name, was very pretty on the surface, but also seemed to be thriving with life underneath. The rose color of her cheeks spoke of a rich vitality. He thought of Patricia, and the corners of his mouth turned down. She certainly hadn’t been full of vitality. He quickly shoved the thought away.

  And the little child, he thought again, changing the subject in his mind slightly. Annie. What a darling, timid, little thing she was. He wanted to scoop her up and hold her tight and reassure her that her future was sure to be bright. But she wasn’t his to concern himself with.

  Perhaps he could approach that fellow, Mr. MacDonald, who was arranging homes for the orphans who had arrived on the train. It would be wonderful to have a child in his life. Not that they would entrust a young, single man with a child, he surmised, even if he was the town’s doctor. He really ought to look around the town and find himself a wife. He realized he didn’t know of any available single women in the town, but surely some of the town folk must have sisters or cousins that could come and visit and give him the opportunity to meet a possible wife. Wyatt made a mental note to pay more attention when any patients spoke of their family. Surely they would be willing to set him up if he asked.

  Making his way home, Wyatt tried not to feel lonely as he rode up the path. Perhaps he should get a pet. A dog or a cat might be nice. Surely a pet would be happy to see him when he returned. Of course, being called out at all hours of the day or night might make him a little less welcomed by a pet. But dogs don’t hold grudges, he thought wistfully. Cats might, though, he reminded himself with a grin while wondering if his solitude was making him lose his mind.

  At least he didn’t have to worry that a pet was going hungry while he was gone for the day. His faithful horse had grazed throughout the day whenever he stopped to visit his patients. The horse had earned his hay and oats tonight, for all the work he had put in throughout the day.

  Wyatt swung his leg over and climbed down. Fatigue seeped from his pores. He wondered what he could quickly cook up to eat before he climbed into bed. It would have to be another night of fried eggs on bread. Thank heaven for the chickens!

  “You did a good job today, Boss.” Despite his fatigue, Wyatt grinned when the large horse’s ears swivelled, as though he were listening. He had to chuckle when the horse huffed and nodded his head, as though in agreement.

  “Is it a tough job carrying me around all day?” When the horse shoved his head into Wyatt’s chest, his laughter grew. “Seems to me that you’re looking for a reward.” He pushed the large head away but pulled a sweet lump out of his pocket. “It is your job to carry me around, but you probably deserve a treat anyway.”

  Wyatt pulled the saddle off and tried not to dump it with a thump. He was more tired than he ought to be, and he didn’t have the usual strength in his arms. Despite his weariness, he needed to look after his horse. Picking up the brush, he set to work on the smooth coat, smiling as the horse twitc
hed and stamped, demonstrating his enjoyment.

  “Yeah, it’s probably quite a relief to be done for the day, isn’t it, big guy?” When the horse whickered, Wyatt shook his head. “Maybe I’m losing my mind if I’m starting to think that the best conversation I’ve had all day is this one.”

  The horse seemed to be lulled nearly to sleep by Wyatt’s rhythmic strokes and he allowed his mind to drift back over the day. His thought jumped from the day to the past, never a good thing for his state of mind.

  “Patricia would have loved to see how big you’ve gotten,” he commented to the large horse. “She was determined that we ought to keep you instead of selling you when your mama surprised us by being pregnant. What did I know about training horses? I tried to reason with her. I’m a doctor, not a cowboy, I told her. But she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She could be like that sometimes. You probably would have liked her. And it turns out, she wasn’t completely wrong. Not that I think I had much to do with it. I think your mama must have taught you right because you turned out fairly well, and I certainly didn’t know what I was doing.”

  The only reaction Boss had to offer to indicate he was still listening was the periodic shifting of his ears. Wyatt grinned again. “Yeah, I should probably get a dog. Then I wouldn’t have to bore you with all this talk.”

  After one last stroke of the brush, Wyatt patted the horse’s rump as he tossed the brush onto its shelf. He tossed an armload of hay in front of Boss and then put a scoop of feed in his trough after checking that there was enough water available to the horse.