High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart) (42 page)

Victoria snugged the last comb into a wave of dark hair and rested the circlet of the veil on Mama’s head, then bent and kissed Mama’s warm cheek. “Alright, I promise not to rob myself of future happiness.”

Mama arched a slim, dark brow.

Victoria gave her a cheeky smile, knowing she hadn’t promised what Mama really wanted to hear.

“Ria, you know good and well what I mean.”

Victoria sighed. “Mama, Rocky has not so much as ever even hinted that he thinks of me as more than a friend. But if he does, I promise you I will seriously consider him.”

A gleam of satisfaction leapt into Mama’s eyes and she nodded her acquiescence to Victoria’s promise.

There. Now Mama could go through the day with a light heart.

And it wasn’t like she was in any danger of having to follow through on her promise. Rocky was never going to pay attention to her in that way. So she would never have to worry about having a lawman for a husband – A lawman who could be killed in the line of duty anytime he went to work, or even stepped out his door to call in the dog.

And that would definitely ensure her future happiness.

ChristyAnne glared daggers at Jimmy Horn across the swaying train aisle.
Big bully
! She pressed her own half of an apple into Damera’s tiny hands and sat back, folding her arms. This time she would watch and make sure Mera got to eat it. Jimmy smirked, stuffed a huge bite of apple in his mouth and turned to look out the train window.
Hope he chokes on it
!

Mera tapped her arm. “Sissy, you can have yer apple. ’Sokay.”

ChristyAnne smiled and used the sleeve of her dress to wipe away Mera’s tears. “You eat it, Mera. ’S good for ya.” Her tummy rumbled and she coughed, hoping Mera hadn’t heard it. Raymond Thornton had taken Mera’s biscuit at breakfast, so she’d given hers to her.
Least dumb ’ol Ray got picked at the last stop. Don’t havta worry none ’bout him no more
.

She carefully wrapped the biscuit from tonight’s meal in a scrap of cloth she’d saved and stuffed it into the top of her small valise. She and Mera could share it later. There wouldn’t be any more food today and Mera always got hungry right before bedtime. A small snack usually helped her settle down and go to sleep. If they didn’t get picked today, they’d at least have a bit of something to calm Mera’s hungry tummy.

Since Jimmy was now busy drawing pictures in the dust on the seat in front of him she looked out her window. The train chuffed into a forest of tall trees that blocked out the sun and she could see her reflection pretty good in the dirty glass. She practiced her smile, the rhythmic chug of the engine in the background a monotonous reminder that they were moving farther and farther away from all they’d ever known. She adjusted her lips. Not too big a smile, but not too timid either. She’d tried big and timid both already. Those hadn’t worked for her. Well… She sighed. Maybe they had. Someone at every stop had wanted to take her home with them, but no one, so far, had wanted Mera too. And she refused to be separated from her sister.

Miss Nickerson, the woman who worked for The Children’s Aid Society, was getting desperate to find homes for the rest of them that were left. At the last stop, she’d made ChristyAnne go with an old woman and her husband who wanted a maid. ChristyAnne shuddered at the memory of that old woman dragging her out of the church by one arm while Mera screamed for her from Miss Nickerson’s arms. Mama had always told her if she couldn’t say anything nice not to say it at all, but the look on that woman’s face when she’d told her she would break all of her fine dishes, rub dirt into her floor and even poison her well if she didn’t take her little sister too, had almost been worth the whole ordeal.

ChristyAnne suppressed a giggle.

The woman’s expression had reminded her of the time Raymond Thornton put that big ol’ toad in the top of the lunch basket and it jumped out into Miss Nickerson’s lap, because she looked just like Miss Nickerson had that day. Her mouth had dropped open and she’d sputtered several indecipherable phrases, then promptly marched ChristyAnne back inside the church to announce that she’d changed her mind about taking her. Miss Nickerson had been beside herself, but ChristyAnne had never been more relieved than at that moment. She had simply pulled the distraught Mera into her arms and rested her cheek atop her head, holding on tight.

The train lurched over a rough section of track and the whistle sounded. ChristyAnne reached over and clasped Mera’s little hand.
No one is going to separate us
! Mera was all the family she had left in the whole wide world and nobody was going to take that from her.

The next stop was going to be the last on this trip. And if nobody picked them, ChristyAnne had determined that she and Mera would run away rather than go all the way back to New York.
I’m big for ten. Lotsa people think I’m older. I can get a job and take care of us
. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the glass. “I’m trying, Mama,” she whispered.
I’m trying to take care of Damera like I promised you. But I miss you lots
. Hot tears pressed at the backs of her lids, but she didn’t let them fall. She didn’t want Mera to see how worried she was, and Miss Nickerson would just tell her to toughen up if she saw the tears.

Maybe at the next stop there would be a family that would want them both. Maybe.

Rocky gingerly slipped his arm into his Sunday-best, black coat. Pain sizzled in jagged shards through his shoulder and down into his torso. He winced, closed his eyes and waited for the pain to pass.
Thank you, Lord that I’m still here to feel this pain
. It was the prayer he’d been repeating daily since his accident two weeks ago.

The scent of bacon and coffee wafted through his room. His stomach let loose with a rumble that could probably be heard in the next county.

Downstairs, someone knocked at the door and Dad answered it. “’Morning, Dad.” That was Sky’s voice – probably dropping off Brooke and Sierra, so Brooke could visit with Ma while Sky picked up the bride. Dad would be on his way out the door to head for the Sheriff’s office. With all of them busy with the wedding today, Dad had said he would cover things down at the jail and to give Clarice and Doc his best wishes.

Rocky pulled a deep breath in through his nose and eased it out through his mouth. His tense muscles gave up some of their pull. So long as he didn’t move his right arm the pain was tolerable. Thankfully Ma had pressed his shirt and suit last night, so he hadn’t had to deal with ironing them this morning.

Using his left hand, he flipped his string-tie over one shoulder and fumbled to pull it around so he could tie it at the front.

Today he would have the honor of giving away Victoria’s mother. Doc Martin had asked him yesterday, as he’d examined his arm, if he would be willing to do it. Rocky had never felt so privileged. Clarice Snyder was pure gold – one of his favorite people ever.

Her daughter’s not so bad either
. He grinned at that thought as he made an X from the two sides of the tie and tried to loop them together. His heart felt as light as Hannah Johnston’s biscuits. Yesterday, Clarice had granted him permission to call on her daughter. Victoria hadn’t been far from his thoughts recently – but especially since the accident. Yet the very reason for her occupying his thoughts, the fact that he’d almost lost his life, was the reason Victoria wouldn’t want anything to do with him. He was a lawman. And her father had been a lawman. One killed in the line of duty.

He sighed and gave up on the tie, heading downstairs to where Ma could help him with it. All he could do was lay his heart bare before Victoria and hope she didn’t trample it under her tiny booted heels. The irony in it all was that if he could get his hands on some nice horse-flesh and find suitable property in the area, he’d walk away from his tin star in a heartbeat. But he didn’t see that happening any time soon. His savings would just have to sit in the bank a little longer.

Ma was in the front parlor, snuggling Sierra and cooing like only a granny could. “How is Grammy’s baby, huh? Is Grammy’s baby just getting to be
such a big girl
? Oh yes you are!” She smooched the baby’s cheek loudly. Sierra slobbered happily on one fist, her gaze fixed on Ma’s face. She didn’t look too impressed with all Ma’s commotion.

Rocky grinned at Brooke seated in the armchair to his right. “I see Ma’s hands are full. Can you help me with this?” He gestured to the tie. “One handed bows are not something I’ve been practicing, lately. I’m bad enough when I have two.”

Brooke smiled tiredly. “Sure.” She started to rise.

Rocky reached out to stop her. “Just sit.” Quickly, before she could protest, he bent down to a level that she could reach. “Sky tells me Sierra prefers to sleep during daylight hours.”

“Yes. And last night was no exception.” She grinned and deftly gave the tie one last adjustment. “There, you’re all set. You look great.”

Rocky gave a small bow. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself. I’d say green is definitely your color.”

“Oh, yes. He’s right, Honey,” Ma pitched in. “Your red-blonde hair looks stunning with that green.”

“Thank you. Sky picked this material out for me and had Mrs. Chandler sew it as a gift after Sierra was born. I thought that was very sweet of him.”

Ma turned back to Sierra. “You have one smart Daddy. Yes you do!”

Rocky adjusted the sleeves on his coat. “Well, I better get on over to the church. Is Sky coming back for you ladies, or would you like me to walk you over now?”

Ma waved him on. “We have a few minutes yet. Sky said he would be back for us. Don’t forget to grab yourself some bacon and eggs in the kitchen on your way out. Everything is made ready and waiting.”

He grinned. “Thanks, Ma. My stomach could have been mistaken for T. Edgerton Hogg’s Southern Pacific Railroad when I first smelled that bacon this morning.”

Ma chuckled. “See you over there.”

With a wave of his hand, Rocky headed for the kitchen, hastily sandwiched bacon and eggs between slices of bread, then hurried out the back door as he stuffed a huge bite in his mouth.

Bright sunshine warmed Shiloh. It was a good day for a wedding. A good day to start wooing Victoria’s heart.

2

In the small back room of the church Victoria sat with her mother. Mrs. Hollybough was playing the music Mama had picked out for the time before the ceremony, so the ushers must be seating people. Victoria glanced at Mama who sat on her chair, hands folded in her lap, eyes closed.
Probably praying. Which I should be doing myself. Lord, bless Mama and Doc Martin as they join their lives today. Keep them safe while they travel to California and back and help me with all the adjustments I’m going to need to make in the near future.
Her mind turned to the article she had read in that morning’s paper.
And help me know what to do about those children, Lord
.

A tap at the door interrupted her prayer. Mama opened excited eyes as Victoria stood. They smiled at each other.

“Ready?” Victoria asked.

Mama laughed. “I’ve been ready since we walked in here and sat down.”

Victoria opened the door. Rocky stood on the other side, looking more than handsome in his black Sunday-best suit.

She swallowed and glanced behind him towards the sanctuary. “Everything set?”

“They’re ready for you.” His gaze slid past her so that the words were directed straight to Mama.

A small sadness enveloped her and she bit her lip. This was the first time she’d seen him since he’d come home. And he’d spoken only to Mama. Barely even looked at her.

She brushed the disappointment aside. Right now she had to concentrate on making Mama’s day the best it could be and she had no business being disappointed in anything Rocky did anyhow. She stooped and placed a kiss on Mama’s cheek. “I’ll be waiting for you up there. I love you so much!”

Mama returned the kiss and then Victoria pressed the bouquet of white daisies into her hand and brushed past Rocky, her own single daisy clutched against her like a lifeline.