The Little Sparrows (30 page)

A moment later, Sam slowed the buggy, and as they drew up to the gate, Josie saw the sign on the crosspiece overhead denoting that it was indeed the
Circle C
ranch. She ran her gaze down the tree-lined lane that led toward the buildings, and focused on the two-story ranch house, the barn, the corral, and other outbuildings.

“Oh!” she said. “What a beautiful place!”

Sam looked over his shoulder as he guided the buggy down the lane. “You really think so?”

“I sure do! I know I’m going to be very happy here.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you, honey. We want you to be happy in your new home.”

Josie took hold of Emma’s hand. “Mrs. Claiborne, I’m so sorry about what happened to Jody.”

Tears filmed Emma’s eyes. She squeezed Josie’s hand. “Thank you, sweetie.” After swallowing with difficulty, she added, “Jody has always called us Daddy and Mommy. You can call us by those names.”

Josie thought about it. She didn’t want to infringe too much on the relationship Jody had with her parents. “May I suggest something?”

“Of course, dear.”

“Maybe it would be easier on both of you if I called you Mama and Papa, instead. That’s what I called my parents, but they’re gone now. If I used the same names Jody has used for you all these years, it might be very difficult for you.”

Sam turned in the seat and looked at Josie over his shoulder again. “Josie, you are such a sweet girl. Thank you for considering us like this. We’d be happy to have you call us Mama and Papa.”

Emma leaned over and kissed Josie’s cheek. “We sure would. We’re honored to be your foster parents.”

As Sam was straightening himself on the seat, Ed pointed straight ahead. “Sam, there’s a rider just pulling away from the front of your house.”

Sam focused on the rider. “I can’t tell who it is.”

All eyes were now fixed on the rider, who had spotted the buggy and was putting his horse to a gallop.

Emma raised up between Sam and Ed, squinting as she peered at the man on the galloping horse. “Can you tell who he is yet, honey?”

“No, I can’t tell for sure, but I think it’s—”

“Who?”

Sam waited a few seconds. His whole body jerked. “It’s … it’s T-Tommy Wentworth.”

“Oh no!” cried Emma, throwing her hands to her mouth.

Ed frowned and looked at Sam. “Who’s Tommy Wentworth?”

“He’s a neighbor to Jody’s doctor in town—Dr. John Traynor. Tommy’s sixteen. He often runs errands for Dr. Traynor. I’m afraid he—he is trying to find us to tell us—”

Sarah put an arm around Emma.

Josie tensed up.
Dear God, help me. I want to be a strength to my new foster parents in the grief that is about to come on them
.

Sam pulled the buggy to a halt with his heart in his throat as Tommy brought his horse to a stop. His eyes were shining and there was a wide smile on his face. “Dr. Traynor sent me to tell you that Jody is awake! He says she is going to be all right!”

Everyone in the buggy sat in stunned silence.

Tommy ran his gaze from one face to the other, waiting for some reaction. He raised his voice a notch. “Did you hear what I said?”

Emma sat in Sarah’s grasp, unable to move or speak.

In the driver’s seat, Sam blinked his eyes and shook his head as though coming out of a coma himself. His voice was weak as he said, “D-did I hear you right, Tommy? Jody … has come out of the coma?”

“Yes, sir! She’s awake and has been talking to Dr. Traynor and one of the nurses. Dr. Traynor sent me out here to tell you the good news! You must’ve been in town but didn’t stop at the clinic.”

“Uh … well, we … uh … picked up my brother and sister-in-law at the depot,” Sam said. “We were planning to go back into town after lunch to check on Jody.”

Tommy’s eyes went to Josie. “She must be Jody’s cousin. They really look alike.”

Josie tried to smile, but was in a state of shock herself.

Sam turned around on the seat to look at Emma. She stared back at him, tears cascading down her cheeks, and reached toward him.

He took hold of her hands. “Sweetheart, our baby is awake! Did you hear that? She’s talking! Dr. Traynor says she is going to be all right!”

“I … I heard, honey. I’m just having a hard time believing it.”

“Well, you can believe it, Mrs. Claiborne!” said Tommy. “Jody’s awake! And Dr. Traynor said she’s asking for her parents.”

Emma raised her eyes skyward. “Oh, thank You, heavenly Father! Thank You!”

Suddenly, Sam, Ed, and Sarah erupted in praise to the Lord.

Emma let go of Sam’s hands. “Turn the buggy around, honey! Hurry! Our little girl is waiting for us!”

“We’re on our way!” Sam shouted in jubilation as he snapped the reins and guided the horse in a circle. Tommy trotted his gelding ahead of the wagon and put him to a gallop as Sam quickly put his own horse to his fastest pace.

All four Claibornes were celebrating the good news as the dust flew up in roiling clouds behind the buggy. No one noticed how subdued and quiet Josie had become. Her mind was in a virtual turmoil. She was glad to know that Jody had come out of the coma, and would live … but now, what would happen to her? The Claibornes had their daughter back. They wouldn’t need a foster daughter.

When the Claiborne buggy pulled up in front of the clinic, Tommy dashed to the door and held it open while Sam, Emma, Ed, Sarah, and Josie filed inside.

They were surprised to find Dr. John Traynor in conversation
in the waiting area with Pastor Forbes, Clara, Mike, Natalie, and Betty.

Instantly Clara, Natalie, and Betty rushed to Emma, and Mike went to Sam. Having met Ed and Sarah when they were in Cheyenne before, the Forbeses and the Houstons greeted them and spoke their delight over the good news about Jody. Josie remained in the background beside Tommy Wentworth, silently looking on.

When the rejoicing subsided, Sam said, “Dr. Traynor, Ed and Sarah came here from their home in Omaha so they could be with us in our sorrow when Jody died.”

Traynor smiled. “How much better to be with you in your joy!”

“Oh yes! And what joy we have!”

“God does indeed answer prayer.”

“Amen!” said Sam.

Dr. Traynor ran his gaze between Sam and Emma. “Joyce is with Jody at the moment. I want to tell you about her recovery.”

“Oh, her recovery is beyond wonderful!” exclaimed Emma. “Can I see her now, Doctor? I’ve been waiting for this day for what seems like forever!” Even as she spoke, she started for the door at the rear of the room.

Sam reached out and seized her arm. “Wait a minute, sweetheart. Let’s hear what Dr. Traynor wants to tell us. We don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize her full recovery.”

Emma turned back to the doctor.

Traynor smiled. “Let’s sit down over here. I’ve already told the Forbeses and the Houstons this story, but I imagine they’d like to hear it again.”

Tommy quietly backed away and slipped out the door.

As the adults headed for the chairs, Betty Houston spotted Josie Holden for the first time. Puzzlement etched itself on her face. “Who’s this?”

Emma wheeled around. “Oh! Josie, come over here and sit beside me, honey.”

Pastor Forbes looked at Josie as she was heading toward Emma, then set his eyes on Ed and Sarah. “Well, I didn’t know you two had a daughter! Doesn’t she look like her cousin Jody?”

Sam said, “This little lady isn’t Jody’s cousin, Pastor. She does resemble her remarkably, but her name is Josie Holden. She’s from New York. When we went to the depot to pick up Ed and Sarah this morning, we found that it was also an orphan train. We’ll give all of you more details later, but suffice it to say that Emma and I both felt the Lord leading us to choose Josie from among the orphans and to become her foster parents. We signed the papers right then and there.”

Forbes said, “Well, isn’t that something? Welcome to Cheyenne, Josie.”

Josie forced a smile. “Thank you, sir.”

Sam then explained that just last night, the nurse who traveled with the orphans had led Josie to the Lord. This brought joyful comments from the Forbeses, the Houstons, and the doctor.

Dr. Traynor thought to himself that this sudden turn of events might put a different light on the Claibornes taking Josie Holden into their home.

Sam quickly introduced everyone to Josie, adding to the Houstons that they had told Josie about Betty being Jody’s best friend.

Betty gave her a pleasant look. “I’m glad you’re here, Josie.”

Josie made another smile. “Thank you.”

Sam said, “Now, Doctor, tell us about Jody’s coming out of the coma.”

Dr. Traynor told them about Jody’s heart stopping almost two hours ago, and that he thought they had lost her. He explained
that he began massaging her heart while Joyce Adams was at his side, and suddenly Jody opened her eyes, gasping for breath. He listened to the heart with his stethoscope and it was beating normally again. Within about twenty minutes, Jody was focusing on him and his nurse, and asked why she was at the clinic. He explained about her fall from the horse that had taken place a month ago and that she had been in a coma until now. Jody then asked to see her parents. It was then that he sent for Tommy. He told the boy that Jody had come out of the coma, and asked him to ride out to the
Circle C
and tell her parents the good news.

Sam and Emma wept for joy while praising God that He gave Dr. Traynor the wisdom he needed. They thanked Him for the way He had answered all the prayers that had been offered by so many people on Jody’s behalf.

While this praise was in process, Emma glanced at Josie two or three times, and noticed the strained look on her face. However, it didn’t register in Emma’s whirling mind what might be causing the look.

Sam said, “Doctor, Tommy told us you said that Jody is going to be all right. She struck her head plenty hard on that rock. Could there be brain damage?”

“That certainly would have been a possibility, but there doesn’t appear to be any brain damage at all. Her mind is sharp and clear. She can think rationally, her speech is quite normal, and she can focus her eyes perfectly. Once she came out of the coma, it was like she had only taken a nap.”

“Praise God!” said Emma. “Only He could have done this!”

The adults and Betty spoke their agreement. Josie smiled, but remained silent.

The doctor said, “Sam, Emma, when you take her home, Jody will require a lot of care to help her regain her strength and to gain back the weight she has lost. But before I release her, I
would like to keep her here at the clinic another twenty-four hours for observation.”

Emma nodded. “I understand that, Doctor. We want you to make certain she’s ready to go home before we take her there. I assure you, though, that when we do take her home, she will get all the care she needs. Ah … can we see her now?”

“Just you and Sam. It is best right now that only the two of you go in.”

Dan Forbes set his eyes on Sam and Emma. “I know you’re eager to get in there and see Jody, but could we have prayer first?”

“Of course,” said Sam.

The pastor offered praise to the Lord for sparing Jody’s life. He also asked that the Lord would bless Sam and Emma for taking Josie into their home, and that Jody and Josie would each be a blessing to the other.

When the prayer was finished, Dr. Traynor said to Sam and Emma, “It’s best at this point that you stay no more than ten minutes. She’s very weak, and we don’t want to tire her. Joyce will come out so you can have some privacy for your reunion.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” said Sam, and with an arm around Emma, guided her through the door at the rear of the office.

As the adults chatted about Jody’s recovery, Betty went to Josie and said, “I’m so glad you’re here. You’ll really love Jody, and I’m sure she’ll love you. I’m her best friend, but I envy you.”

Josie looked a bit surprised. “You do?”

Betty smiled. “Uh-huh. You get to be her sister.”

Josie’s features flushed. “Oh. Maybe she’ll wish
you
could be her sister.”

Betty touched Josie’s hand. “I’m sure Jody will be happy with things just as they are.”

Josie did not voice it, but she seriously wondered if that would be so.

As Sam and Emma made their way down the hall toward Jody’s room, Sam said, “Sweetheart, should we tell Jody about Josie?”

Emma thought on it briefly. “I don’t think we should, honey. It might very well be too much for her right now. In fact, I don’t think we should tell her about Ed and Sarah being here. Let’s just have our reunion with her. We’ll leave them at home with Josie when we come to get Jody tomorrow. We can tell her about Josie on the way home, and that her aunt and uncle are here to visit too.”

“I agree. Let’s do it that way.”

When the anxious parents stepped through the door, they saw Joyce Adams standing at the bed, looking down at Jody, whose eyes were closed.

Joyce smiled and tiptoed toward them. “She’s resting, but she’s awake. I’ll leave you with her.”

With that, Joyce stepped into the hall and quietly closed the door.

Holding hands, the parents moved up slowly toward the bed. Jody’s eyes were still closed.