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Annie shook her head. “I just know it. Right, Joey?”
Joey considered her question. “I don’t know.” At the fear and hope laced through his words, Wade’s throat tightened. Joey was awfully young to be afraid of love, though perhaps he had as much reason as Wade did. But Wade didn’t care to see such doubt in his nephew and decided he would tell a story about a cowboy who loved a lady.
“She was a beautiful lady,” he said.
Annie sighed. “Like Missy.”
Wade didn’t argue the point. How could he when he pictured Missy in the role? Not that he saw himself as the cowboy. Nope, that wasn’t a part he intended to take.
“This young lady liked to cook and sing and play the piano. She liked children and hoped she could have dozens of them.” He swallowed back a bitter taste in his mouth. How had his story gone from thinking of Missy to thinking of Tomasina?
“Did she?” Joey asked.
“What?” He’d gotten lost in his thoughts.
“Did she have lots of kids?”
“She did. Six little boys and six little girls.” Might as well make the story big and give it a happier ending than his own.
“And the cowboy played games with them?” Joey leaned over him, his face so close Wade could smell his little-boy scent. Joey’s eyes were intent. Wade realized play was very important to this child.
“He sure did. He played ball and chase and tag and taught all the children to ride and rope.”
Joey flopped to the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “I wish...”
Wade waited and when Joey didn’t finish he pulled him back to his chest so they stared into each other’s eyes again. “What do you wish?”
Joey looked at Wade’s chin. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Hey, it’s Christmas. What better time to wish for something?”
Joey’s eyes slowly came to Wade’s. “I wish we had a home and...”
“Our mama and papa.” Annie finished for him.
Joey flung himself from Wade’s arms and lay stiffly on the bed. “See? I knew it was impossible.”
“I’ll make sure you have a nice home.”
Both children sat up and looked at him. “Here? With you?”
“We’re all going to stay here until I sort things out.”
The pair looked at each other, their mouths in matching frowns. It was the best he could offer. Someday they would understand that.
“Miss Porter is going to help look after you.” He hoped they would see it as a fair exchange for him not being able to fulfill their dreams.
“I like Missy Porter,” Joey said, a goofy look on his face.
“You should address her as Miss Porter.”
The boy’s brow furrowed. “What’s the difference between Miss and Missy?”
“One letter. Y.”
“Because I was wondering.”
Wade grinned secretly at Joey’s literal understanding of why and y. It would be fun to watch the kids grow and learn. He clamped down on the thought. He wouldn’t be the one enjoying it.
Before the sadness could find lodging in his heart, he heard footsteps in the hall. The household was awake. Good. He could get up before the children delved any deeper into the mysteries of life. “Get dressed and then we’ll go to the kitchen.”
Both children hopped off the bed.
“Mind you be quiet in case the babies are asleep.”
Annie’s rushing footsteps stalled. “I wish we had a baby brother or sister.” A ragged breath rushed from her lungs, then she sighed dramatically. “Guess Mary and Martha will have to be my babies.” She trudged to the adjoining room as if she had lost something she valued.
Wade slipped into his shirt and trousers and began to follow, intending to comfort the child, but he made it as far as the doorway and saw she was dressed and singing to her dolls. He grinned. Drama should have been her middle name. “Are you two ready to go downstairs?”
They sprang to his side, as eager to go down as he was suddenly reluctant. He did not like uncertainty and at the moment everything about his life was a question. Would the Fort Macleod family continue with adoption plans? How long would it be before he could be on his way to Stuart’s ranch? And most uncertain of all...was he asking for a continual dose of disapproval by enlisting Missy’s help with the children?
He filled his lungs and squared his shoulders as they reached the bottom step. He was about to find out what he’d gotten himself into.
* * *
Missy had been up for some time. She’d made coffee, mixed up biscuits and put them to bake. She’d set the table, sliced bacon and put it to fry.
Linette had come downstairs several minutes ago, her eyes shadowed. “I think Jonathan has his days and nights mixed up,” she’d said. “I hope we didn’t keep you awake.”
“Not at all. I had a good sleep.” Apart from a few moments when Missy wondered what she’d gotten herself into by agreeing to care for the children, then insisting Wade be involved. Not that she regretted the first. Not in the least. In fact, her mind flooded with things she could do to make the time special and comforting for the children.
But with Wade at her side?
There was something about that man that put her nerves on edge. It was more than the fact she thought him too much like Gordie. Not that she thought him dishonest and living outside the law. No, that wasn’t what bothered her. It was his attitude toward the children. He seemed to be doing his best to be rid of them, and yet he was so obviously fond of them. It was such a strange contrast that she couldn’t decide what to think. But then what did it matter? He’d offered to pay her and she’d take his money, but more than that, she’d enjoy her time with the two children.
She’d fallen asleep with a smile on her face as she’d played over the scenes with them—opening gifts, going through their belongings, hugging each other, feeling little Annie’s arms about her neck...
Missy heard a footstep in the hall and turned, a smile filling her face. It was only Eddie. She told herself she wasn’t disappointed and returned to setting out preserves for the biscuits.
At the sound of more footsteps she looked up again, slowly this time. It was Louise and Nate with baby Chloe.
Louise looked as if she had gotten little sleep. “Chloe still won’t sleep without being rocked.”
“You two sit,” Missy told the two new mothers. “I’ll take care of breakfast.” She tended the bacon and broke a dozen eggs into a fry pan.
“Good morning.”
At Wade’s greeting she almost dropped the next egg. With one hand pressed to the thudding pulse in her neck, she spun about. His hair was slicked back and his eyes bright. Obviously he’d slept well. A child clung to each hand.
Annie held her dolls. Joey swung back and forth as if clutching a school yard swing, making Wade sway slightly.
Missy grinned. “Good morning.” Her gaze rested on each child, then came to Wade.
He grinned back as if realizing she found Joey’s play amusing. “These two are raring to go.”
Joey paused. “We’re going to the barn, aren’t we?”
“After breakfast and chores.” The resigned note in Wade’s voice gave Missy cause to think he might have had to explain it a few times already.
“Breakfast is about ready.” She returned to the stove and a few minutes later put the food on the table.
“I surely do appreciate your help,” Linette said.
“It’s my pleasure.” For some reason she wasn’t ready to explore, Missy liked helping in this house. She did it not out of obligation or duty but because she wanted to, and perhaps that made all the difference. Not to mention it was appreciated.
Grady, Joey and Annie chattered freely at the table and the adults gave them attention, just as her mama and papa had done with her.
Reliving her memories of her parents through these children was better than any Christmas present Missy could have wished for, and she knew a sense of joy and rightness she had not known since her parents had died.
The meal over, the men excused themselves.
Eddie stood at Linette’s side. “Is there anything you need before I tend to chores?”
She pressed her hand to her husband’s arm. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about us.” She glanced toward the cradle where little Jonathan slept peacefully.
“I’ll give you a hand.” Wade joined Eddie and Nate as they left the house.
Joey and Annie stared after their uncle. Annie’s lips trembled.
Missy sprang into action before they could start crying or worrying. “I need help with the dishes.”
Linette wanted to help, but Missy shooed her away. “Sit and rest while you can.”
She assigned each child a chore and turned putting food away into a game of “what’s next?” Laughter rang through the kitchen.
“You’re very good with the children,” Linette observed.
Missy chuckled. “It’s because I’m not much more than a child myself.”
Linette and Louise both snorted. Louise shook her head. “When was the last time you looked in a mirror?”
Missy grinned, purposely misunderstanding her. “Why, is my hair untidy?”
Louse chuckled. “You’d be beautiful whether your hair was tousled or tied back in a tight bun.”
“Thank you.” Missy hugged her sister-in-law.
Annie watched, her eyes studying Missy’s hair. “You have awfully pretty hair.” She yanked at her tangled locks. “Mine is ugly.”
Missy grabbed the child and hugged her. “Not so. The first time I saw you, I thought what a pretty little girl. With those big dark eyes and thick curls, you could never be anything but beautiful.” She eyed the child’s hair. It could do with a brushing and maybe some styling.
“As soon as the dishes are done, I will fix your hair so pretty you won’t recognize yourself.” She stuck her hands in the dishpan full of hot soapy water and a stack of plates.
Annie grabbed a drying towel and handed one to each of the boys. “Let’s hurry.”
The women chuckled at her eagerness, and in no time the kitchen was clean and the dishes done. Missy got her brush and sat behind Annie. Slowly, gently, she worked the tangles out of the curly hair. As she brushed she talked to the children about the stagecoach trip she and Louise had recently completed.
“Weren’t you scared?” Joey asked, when she told about the snowstorm they had been forced to travel through.
“Maybe a little, but the men seemed to know what they were doing. I was awfully glad to get to the next stopping house, though.” Equally glad when the storm ended and they could move on. The old man at the stopping house had done his best to get Missy interested in his advances. She stopped a shiver before it could race through her body.
She French braided Annie’s hair into a thick rope, then showed the girl a mirror. “What do you think?”
Annie stared into the glass a long time and when she lifted her face to Missy, tears filled her eyes. “Mama braided my hair like this,” she whispered.
Missy hugged the child. “I hope it’s okay that I did it, too.” Perhaps Annie preferred to remember her mama’s hands on her hair.
“I like it being like Mama did it.”
Joey had slipped away to the window overlooking the ranch, and Missy went to him.
He leaned on the ledge, peering at the scene down the hill. “I don’t see him.”
Missy knew he meant Wade. “He’s there someplace helping with the chores.”
Joey turned and fixed her with a demanding, yet sorrowful look. “What’s going to happen to us?”
Missy’s throat tightened. She’d agreed the children should enjoy some special days before they were faced with the truth, but oh, how she wished she could give them assurance that their future was secure, that they would stay with the one person they knew and loved.
But Wade had made his plans clear, as well as his reasons.
“What’s going to happen? We are going to enjoy a special Boxing Day celebration.”
Annie’s eyes grew wide. She covered her mouth with her hand.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Missy asked.
“We need a star.” The child’s voice trembled.
“What kind of star?”
“A paper star to take to the barn. We hang it over the manger.”
“Don’t you worry. We’ll find a star.”
Missy asked Linette for paper and scissors. She pointed her toward the cupboard. “There’s brown paper and everything you need in there.”
Missy led Joey and Annie to the cupboard, while Grady hung back at Linette’s side, looking down at his sleeping baby brother.
