The Brides of Chance Collection (27 page)

“Oh? And what brings you to Reliable?”

Alisa’s gaze faltered, and a pretty blush crept to her cheeks. “I…well…”

“I hired her to help Miriam.”

“What?”

“How thoughtful!”

Gideon and Miriam spoke as one, then looked at each other. Alisa glanced from one to the other, then to Titus. He nodded, hoping to reassure her, but from the crestfallen expression clouding her face, he knew he’d fallen abysmally short of accomplishing his goal.

“Miss Worthington, you must be dead on your feet,” Miriam said. “Have you eaten supper?”

Alisa nodded. “At the station in Reliable.”

“Well, how about coming with me? I’ll get you tucked into my bed. You can sleep with me tonight.”

Gideon choked on a sip of coffee. “What?”

Miriam smiled sweetly at her husband. “You and Titus have some talking to do, and Miss Worthington looks just about ready to fall asleep sitting up.”

Titus had to fight the urge to slap his brother on the back and laugh out loud. But Alisa’s concerned voice halted him.

“Please, don’t put your husband out for my sake. I can sleep anywhere. The floor is perfectly fine. I’ve done it plenty of times.”

Alarm seized Titus, and he wanted to pound Gideon for not being more gracious. Who was Alisa that, by her own admission, she’d slept on the floor plenty of times?

At Miriam’s loud clearing of the throat, Gideon’s face grew bright red. “Like Miriam said, my brothers and I have some talking to do tonight.”

“About me?”

Titus grinned and waited to see how his brother would respond.

“Yes, Miss Worthington.”

The smile she displayed was so sweet, Titus wanted to sweep her up in his arms and protect her from all the heartache she’d suffered. Wanted to kiss away the trembling of her lips, the worry in her eyes. “I understand, Mr. Chance,” she said to Gideon. She lifted her gaze to Titus. “I’ll not hold you to your offer. You’ve been more than generous, and I appreciate your kindness more than I can express.”

Anger burned in Titus. “You’re staying.” He glared at Gideon. “She’s staying. Vote or no vote. Even if I have to marry her. She’s not going anywhere.”

Silence thickened the air. Alisa pushed back her chair and stood. She faced Titus, her face white. “If your brothers vote against my employment here, I’ll leave without a fuss. But make no mistake. No man
has
to marry me.”

“That’s not what I—”

Miriam stepped forward. “How about if you two go on and call the boys to a meeting?” She rose to her tiptoes and kissed her husband soundly on the mouth. “Be sure to invite God’s opinion in this decision.”

Gideon nodded, cupping her cheek. The love flowing between them made Titus’s heart ache as it always did. He wanted that feeling. With Alisa, he was closer to it than he’d ever been before. And now like an idiot, he’d somehow insulted her and had most likely lost her before she was even his.

“Let’s go.” Gideon clapped him on the shoulder.

Shaking off his brother’s hand, Titus reached out to touch Alisa’s arm. “Wait a second, Alisa. Let me explain.”

“Explanations aren’t necessary,” she murmured.

Miriam looked at him with silent appeal. “I’ll cook you some flapjacks in the morning, Titus. We have fresh honey and strawberry preserves. But for now, why don’t you go?”

With a final glance at Alisa’s crumpled face, Titus nodded.

“Don’t worry,” Miriam said for his ears only. “I’ll take good care of her. You concentrate on swinging the vote in your favor. I have a feeling Alisa’s been through a rough time and needs us.”

“Great hoppy toads, this looks good, Miriam!”

Alisa’s eyes popped open at the sound of voices in the other room. Light streamed into the room, blinding her for a moment.

“You boys hush before you wake up Miss Worthington,” Miriam hissed.

Alisa smiled. After a refreshing sponge bath, she’d changed into a borrowed night gown and had been asleep practically before her head hit the pillow. Now she knew she must be frightfully late to breakfast, but her muscles ached so badly from the past two days’ activities that she couldn’t bring herself to hop right out of bed and face the day.

“When do you think the new gal’s gonna wake up?”

Alisa’s ears perked at the sound.

“Wish I could remember what she looks like. Titus says she’s just about the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.”

He did?
Alisa’s heart thrilled to the information.

“Well, I like that!” Miriam’s teasing voice filtered through the thin wall.

“Well, he didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Miriam. I think he’s smitten, that’s all.”

This conversation was getting better and better. She’d certainly awakened at just the right moment.

The only question on her heart and in her mind was whether or not she would be allowed to stay. Spurred on by the thought, she pushed back the quilt and swung her legs over the side of the bed. For certain she wouldn’t be hired if her potential employers thought she couldn’t even get out of bed at a decent time in the morning.

“So when do you reckon she’ll get up?”

“You asked that already, Logan.”

Her gown was gone. Panic swelled her throat. She had laid the dress across the chair last night. Now it was gone. Whatever was she to do? Shoulders slumped, she sat back on the bed and listened to the conversation coming from the other room.

“I don’t remember what she looks like.”

Something clattered, and the sound of boot steps clacked brusquely across the wooden floor. Miriam’s voice sounded sharp and firm. “You would if you hadn’t imbibed. I’m so ashamed.”

“We’re sorry, Miriam. But sometimes when his friends want to socialize, a man just can’t help it.”

“A man of character can always help it. God promised we would not be tempted beyond our ability to do the right thing. So spare me your excuses.”

Respect for the woman rose inside of Alisa. Suddenly she desperately wanted to be allowed to stay. Her stomach quivered at the thought of a vote against her. She slid to her knees and rested her elbows on the bed. Sometimes her heart felt so full, she couldn’t form the words beyond, “Oh, please.” And now she found her vocabulary once more limited to those words. “Please, dear Jesus. Oh, please, please let me stay.” Slowly the pounding of her longing heart slowed to normal, and she rested her cheek against the back of her hand.

In a stranger’s room, peace flooded her soul, and the words of entreaty became words of praise. “I thank Thee for giving me a name. For taking care of me so far.” The fact was, she didn’t have to stay at Chance Ranch for God to meet her needs. Whether He chose for her to leave or stay, her heart calmed to the fact that He was well able to take care of her. With a smile, she gathered a deep breath and opened her eyes.

Whatever happened, God was in control.

Chapter 6

R
obert Worthington surveyed the two-story frame home critically as his boots clicked on the cobblestone walk. Paint was cracked and peeling off just about every board. He gave two solid raps on the door. A moment later, a girl of perhaps ten years appeared.

“May I help you?”

“I’m looking for the woman who runs this place.”

“Would you like to come in?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The child stepped aside. “I’ll tell Mrs. Perryman you’re here.”

Robert looked around at the dingy furniture, chipped tables, and worn curtains and rugs. His daughter had grown up in this dump? He pushed aside the thought as soon as it came. No. She wasn’t his daughter. Alisa was the unfortunate result of a few nights of fun on his part. She never should have been found.

Anger burned within his breast as it did whenever Alisa’s heart-shaped face and innocent brown eyes came to his mind. Why should he lose everything to a daughter he’d never wanted in the first place?

The sound of footsteps captured his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. An attractive, middle-aged woman smiled as she entered, followed by the young girl. A girl who might have been Alisa a few years ago. He shook the thought from his mind and scowled. The woman cocked her head to the side, the twinkle in her green eyes replaced with caution.

“May I help you?”

“You run this place?”

“I’m Mrs. Perryman. Yes, I care for the children. Are you looking for a child to adopt?”

Robert recoiled at the thought. “No!”

“I see.” She turned to the girl. “Sarah, please let the children know to continue with their lessons.”

“You teach them here? Why do they not attend public school?”

“Children can be cruel. Most of these children find they prefer to be taught at home.”

Robert shrugged off the concern. Why should he care if a bunch of orphans received a proper education or not? He was here for one reason only. To find Alisa.

“I’m looking for my daughter. I believe you raised her here.”

The woman’s eyes lit up. “You’ve traced your child to us? This will be the second family reunion this year.”

Realizing she was talking about Alisa, Robert felt his ears burn. “To tell you the truth, Mrs. Perryman, Alisa is my daughter.”

Confusion clouded her face. “Perhaps you’d better come into the kitchen, and you can explain over a cup of tea.”

“Really, that won’t be…” Robert sighed as she turned and headed down the hallway. All he wanted was information, not a tea party, but he followed her swishing gray skirts, nostalgia filling him at the familiar sound. There were times when he missed his mother so badly his throat ached. Unpredictable moments such as this. He cleared his throat to ease the tightness.

“Is Alisa missing, Mr. Worthington?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Yes.”

She opened the door to the kitchen and entered, stepping aside as she waited for Robert to follow. He did.

“Please have a seat at the table while I prepare our tea.” She moved to the stove with a quiet grace and began preparing a kettle of water.

Robert sat in the chair she’d indicated. The wood felt wobbly beneath him, and he wondered if it would hold his weight. “It seems there are plenty of things around here in need of repair.”

She sighed, pumping water into the kettle. “I’m afraid you’re right. Since Mr. Perryman passed on four years ago, I haven’t been able to keep up with much. Some of the boys are handy with tools and can help with repairs, as long as the jobs don’t require funds we simply don’t have.”

Robert knew she wasn’t hinting. But he knew how to play a situation to his advantage all the same. “How many children do you care for here?” First rule of thumb when trying to weasel something out of a person—make them think you care.

She turned to him and smiled. “Right now we have seven boys ranging in age from four to sixteen. And ten girls approximately the same ages.” She took in a slow breath. “Unfortunately, Seth, my oldest boy, will have to be moving on soon.”

She sounded so sad, Robert was prompted to ask, “Why is that?”

“Once they reach the age where they are able to find work, we must make room for new children. It breaks my heart to see them go. I was little more than the oldest among them myself when we started the orphanage. But they understand, and most come back often to visit. Some even help out. Alisa always brought her pay over here. I tried to protest, but she left it with one of the children when I refused to take it.”

She poured the tea and set a chipped cup in front of him, along with a creamer. “I’m afraid I don’t have any sugar at the moment. Little Judith turned eight yesterday, and I used the last of it to bake a cake.”

“Plain is fine.” Robert detested the way his heart constricted at the thought of anyone being so poor as to make a choice between having sugar for tea or using the last to bake a cake. He gathered himself together. All the more reason for her to take him up on his forthcoming offer.

“Mrs. Perryman, I can see you care deeply for these…orphans.”

“You see correctly.” She stirred a drop of cream into her cup. “My husband and I were never blessed with children of our own. The children God brings to us…to me…become part of a family. Now what of Alisa? We missed her yesterday for Judith’s birthday.”

Armed with confidence, Robert flashed a smile. “I’m afraid she’s run away.”

A frown creased Mrs. Perryman’s already wrinkled brow. “That doesn’t sound like Alisa. Was she in danger?”

“Of course not. I’m afraid my mother passed on very recently, and my…daughter took it rather hard.”

“Oh, how sad.” Her green eyes drew him in, and he almost forgot his objective. Almost. Not quite.

“Yes. Alisa and I are all the other has in the world now.”

“How long has she been gone?”

“My mother passed away two nights ago. I haven’t seen Alisa since.” Robert sipped the weak tea. “The reason I bothered you is that I hoped you’d seen her. I take it you haven’t?”

“I’m afraid not. But if I do, I’ll be sure to tell her you’re looking for her.”

Robert inwardly cringed. That would be the worst thing she could do. Alisa would run and never return if she knew he had come here to look for her. “There’s more to it than that.”

Mrs. Perryman frowned. “I don’t understand.”