The Little Sparrows (29 page)

Emma laid a hand on her arm. “Josie, is something wrong?”

Josie bent her head down a little. “Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne, I … I wouldn’t try to take your daughter’s place. I know I couldn’t do that. But since Jody and I seem to look and sound so much alike, and we’re the same age, could you just think of me as her sister?”

Tears were filling Emma’s eyes. She wrapped her arms around Josie and held her close. “That’s it! We’ll think of you as Jody’s sister! Will you come and live with us?”

“Oh yes! I want to with all my heart!”

“Good!” said Sam. “And Josie?”

“Yes, sir?”

“You asked if Jody would feel all right about you living in our home. Honey, if God should decide to perform a miracle and let her live, I can tell you for sure that Jody would love to have you for her sister.”

Josie smiled. “I hope the Lord will perform that miracle, Mr. Claiborne.”

“Josie,” said Sam, “which of these officials should we talk to? Let’s make this official.”

Josie ran her gaze to Tabitha Conlan, who happened to be free at the moment and was in conversation with Rachel Wolford.

“That lady there with the clipboard, Mr. Claiborne. Her name is Tabitha Conlan. And the lady with Mrs. Conlan in the nurse’s uniform is Miss Rachel Wolford, the one who led me to the Lord last night.”

Sam glanced at Emma. “I’ll be right back.”

As Sam headed for the spot where Tabitha and Rachel were standing, the couple who had returned to talk to Josie looked at each other with disappointment obvious on their faces, turned, and walked away.

Both Emma and Josie had their attention on Sam. Emma put an arm around the girl. “Oh, Josie, this makes me so happy. We’ll do everything possible to make you glad you decided to become our foster daughter.”

“I’m sure you will,” replied Josie, “and I’ll do everything possible to make you and Mr. Claiborne glad that you took me in.”

Sam drew up to Tabitha and Rachel. “My name is Sam Claiborne, ladies. My wife and I own the
Circle C
ranch a few miles north of Cheyenne. We have been talking to Josie Holden, and we want to become her foster parents.”

Tabitha looked at a sheet of paper on her clipboard. “I don’t have your names here, Mr. Claiborne, as prospective foster parents. Did you talk to one of the other sponsors?”

“Uh … no, ma’am. I didn’t realize we had to do that first. We … well, we actually came to the station to meet my brother and sister-in-law who came on the train from Omaha. It wasn’t until we happened to see Josie that we decided to take her home with us.”

Tabitha smiled. “Well, it’ll only take a moment for me to ask some questions and see if you and Mrs. Claiborne qualify to take one of our orphans. Could you have Mrs. Claiborne come over here?”

“Of course.” Sam motioned for Emma, and she headed that way.

While they were waiting for Emma, Sam looked at the nurse. “Miss Wolford, Josie told us that you led her to Jesus last night.”

Rachel’s eyes lit up. “I sure did! Are you folks Christians?”

“We sure are, ma’am! Born again and washed in the blood of the Lamb!”

“Wonderful! I’ve been praying that the Lord would put Josie in a Christian home.”

“This is marvelous,” said Tabitha.

Emma drew up, and Sam introduced her to both Tabitha and Rachel. Emma expressed her appreciation to Rachel that she had led Josie to the Lord, then Tabitha asked the questions that were needed to qualify the Claibornes as foster parents. They passed with flying colors, and Tabitha led Sam and Emma to Josie with Rachel following.

Tabitha told Josie that the Claibornes were now approved as foster parents, and asked if she was in agreement to go home with them. Josie assured her enthusiastically that she was in total agreement.

While Tabitha was completing the official papers and getting signatures from Sam and Emma, Josie turned to Rachel. “Oh, Miss Wolford, I don’t know how to thank you for all that you have done for me. Especially for caring about my soul, and for leading me to Jesus.”

Josie hugged Rachel and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you one day in heaven.”

Rachel kissed Josie’s cheek. “I’ll be looking forward to spending eternity with you, sweetie. Have a wonderful life.”

“Oh, I will! I will!”

When the official papers were in Sam’s hand, and Rachel and Tabitha were walking away, he motioned to Ed and Sarah, who were standing close by. When they stepped up, he introduced Josie to them.

Josie smiled and curtsied. “I’m so happy to meet Mr. Claiborne’s brother and sister-in-law.”

“You see, Josie,” said Sam, “the reason we were here at the depot when the train came in was to meet Ed and Sarah. Their home is in Omaha, Nebraska. They came here to be with us when Jody—when Jody goes to heaven.”

Josie smiled at Ed and Sarah again. “That is very kind and thoughtful of you.”

“So you see, honey,” said Emma, “we didn’t even know this was an orphan train. We had no idea that we would see you and the Lord would give you to us to take home as our foster daughter. But how we praise Him for being so good to us.”

Josie’s eyes misted. “He has been very, very good to me, too, Mrs. Claiborne. I’m so happy that I can live in your home.”

Sam took a deep breath. “Well, time to go! Ed, let’s you and I go get your luggage while the ladies take Josie to the buggy.”

Josie ran her gaze down the line of orphans. “Ah … Mr. Claiborne, would you let me tell a special boy good-bye?”

“Of course, honey. One of the orphan boys?”

“Yes. His name is Barry Chandler, and he has been so good to me on this trip.”

Emma smiled. “Is it that handsome boy you were talking to earlier, honey?”

Josie giggled. “That’s him. I’ll be right back.”

The foursome watched as Josie hurried down the line and drew up to Barry Chandler. She was talking to him while bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

B
arry Chandler was feeling mixed emotions at Josie Holden’s announcement that a couple had just chosen her, but showed only elation. “Really? Josie, that’s wonderful!”

“And Barry, they are Christians! I’m going to live in a Christian home!”

“Oh, that’s double wonderful!”

She stopped bouncing. “They are ranchers. Their names are Sam and Emma Claiborne. They own the
Circle C
ranch a few miles north of Cheyenne. They have a daughter my age named Jody.”

Barry’s eyebrows arched. “
Jody!
That’s pretty close to your name.”

She nodded. “But it’s a sad situation. Jody fell off her horse and hit her head on a rock. She’s been in a coma for a month. They have her at a clinic here in Cheyenne, and she isn’t expected to live.”

“Oh, that
is
sad.”

“I would like for them to meet you. Would you come with me?”

“Sure.”

All four Claibornes were watching as Josie led Barry to them.
Josie said, “Barry, these are my new foster parents, Sam and Emma Claiborne. And these nice people are Ed and Sarah Claiborne, my foster father’s brother and sister-in-law. And everybody … this is Barry Chandler.”

Each of the Claibornes greeted Barry, and Sam and Ed shook hands with him.

Barry said, “Josie just told me about your daughter, Jody. I’m so sorry.”

They both nodded silently.

Josie touched the boy’s arm and said to the adults, “Barry has been very good to me on the trip. He’s been a real friend. And he’s a Christian! He was saved at the Children’s Aid Society shortly before we left.”

“That’s great, Barry,” said Sam. “We’re happy to know that you’re saved.”

“We certainly are,” put in Emma. “And thank you for your kindness to Josie.”

Barry smiled. “She’s a sweet girl, ma’am. I’m going to miss her.”

Josie set her eyes on him. “Barry, has anyone shown interest in you?”

“Well, one couple seemed interested, but they chose Jason Laird instead. He’s twelve. I guess they wanted a younger boy.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. There are five more stops, yet. Certainly someone will take me.”

“I’ll be praying that will happen, Barry. Well, I mustn’t keep Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne waiting.”

Barry nodded. “Sure. Ah … Josie …”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Could—could I hug you before you go?”

Tears misted Josie’s eyes. “Of course.”

When he folded her in his arms, she hugged him back.

Sam said, “I want to thank you too, Barry, for being a friend to Josie.”

Barry released Josie. “My pleasure, sir.”

Josie laid a hand on Barry’s arm. “I know you have no idea where you will be living, Barry, but if you ever get back this way, will you look me up? It’s the
Circle C
ranch a few miles north of here.”

“I sure will.”

“And if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, would you write to me when you’re chosen, and let me know where you are?”

“Be glad to.”

Sam stepped closer. “Just write her in care of Sam Claiborne,
Circle C
ranch, Cheyenne, Wyoming. C-L-A-I-B-O-R-N-E. We pick up the mail at the post office here in town two or three times a week.”

“Thank you, Mr. Claiborne. I’ll do that.” Then to Josie he said, “Bye for now.” A hot lump formed quickly in his throat. Swallowing hard, he turned and walked slowly back toward the line.

“Nice boy,” said Sam. “Well, let’s go.”

Josie walked between her new foster parents as they headed for the terminal with Ed and Sarah beside them. Just before they passed through the terminal doors, Josie looked back to see the orphans climbing aboard their coaches. Barry was just about to board the boys’ coach. He paused and looked back.

Josie waved and Barry waved in return.

Ed and Sarah’s luggage was waiting in a rack outside the terminal. Sam went to the parking lot and drove the buggy up to the rack. He and Ed loaded the luggage in the back of the buggy, then helped the women climb aboard. The women sat on the rear seat with Josie between them.

As Ed and Sam were settling on the front seat, Ed asked, “Are we going to go see Jody now?”

“We’ll go on out to the ranch first so we can get Josie settled in her room and you and Sarah settled in the guest room. We’ll have lunch, then we’ll come back to town this afternoon so you can see Jody.”

Sam snapped the reins, putting the horse into motion, and drove onto the street, heading north.

Emma turned to Josie. “Do you want to go in and see Jody when we look in on her at the clinic?”

Josie met her gaze. “Why, ah … yes. I would like to see her.”

“All right. Even though she’s very thin now, you will see how much you two look alike.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Josie …”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Will you mind occupying Jody’s room at home and calling it your own?”

“I won’t mind at all.”

“It has two beds because Jody often had her best friend, Betty Houston, stay all night with her.”

Josie thought on it for a few seconds. “It would probably be easiest on everybody if I use the bed Betty slept in.”

Emma smiled. “I hadn’t thought of that, honey. I appreciate your sweet attitude, and I understand how you feel.”

When the train pulled out of Cheyenne, in both orphan coaches the sponsors announced that nine of the orphans had been chosen by foster parents, leaving forty-four to travel on. The sponsors spoke encouraging words as they pointed out that there were plenty of stops ahead where prospective foster parents would be choosing the rest of them.

In the boys’ coach, Jimmy Kirkland listened to these words
come from the lips of Gifford Stanfield as he stood in the aisle at the front of the coach. He turned to Barry Chandler, who had chosen to sit beside him. “N-nobody’th gonna choothe m-me ’c-cauthe I talk f-funny.”

Barry slipped an arm around him. “Don’t you worry about it, little pal. There are some nice people up ahead who won’t care how you talk. They’ll just love you and take you into their home.”

Jimmy bent his head down and mumbled, “I w-with it w-would b-be Mr. Adamth.”

Barry leaned closer to him. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you clearly.”

Jimmy looked up at him. “I’m g-gonna t-take a n-nap. I’m th-thleepy.”

“Oh. Well, here. Stretch out and put your head on my lap.”

Soon Jimmy was asleep. Barry put his head back and closed his eyes. He whispered, “Lord, I’m glad You gave Josie a Christian home. Please do that for me, too, will You? And Lord, please let me see her again. She’s—well, she’s really special.”

In the girls’ coach, Rachel Wolford sat alone on the seat that she and Josie had occupied together. Lord, thank You that Josie was chosen by a Christian couple. And please let that sweet girl have a full and happy life.

In his coach, Lance Adams gazed out the window at the vast Wyoming prairie as the train rolled westward. A small herd of antelope were running away from the sound of the engine, splashing across a wide stream. He thought of Jimmy Kirkland and the sad look he had on his face when the choosing of orphans was over in Cheyenne.

He sighed and whispered, “Heavenly Father, I’m looking to You for this miracle. You gave Abraham and Sarah a son when it seemed impossible. Is anything too hard for You? No. It is not. Help me to trust You as You work it out.”

While the Claiborne buggy moved along the road on the undulating prairie, Josie’s head swiveled back and forth on her neck as she happily absorbed all she could of her new surroundings.

Emma patted her hand. “Not quite like New York City, is it, dear?”

“No, ma’am. Not at all. Out here you can just about see forever.”

“Just about. Given time, these wide open spaces will grow on you, and you’ll love Wyoming just like we do.”

“I have no doubt of that,” Josie responded, her voice full of wonder. “I’m so used to living in a crowded apartment building on a noisy street, where all you can see when you look out the window is another apartment building just like the one you live in. I’ve never lived in a house, but I’m sure looking forward to it.”

Soon the buggy topped a rise and Emma pointed ahead, off to the right side of the road. “There’s the
Circle C
gate.”

Josie’s eyes were wide. “Oh my! That’s really something!”