Promise me tomorrow (19 page)

"You're the second person to say that to me," Clare admitted quietly.

"Who was the first?"

"Papa."

Rusty nodded and smiled. "I'm so glad you talked to him, Clare. He's got such a huge heart. I know he cries every time I leave—Mother wrote and told me so—but he's never tried to hold me back. When I had a heart to go and be with those children, he wrote to Paddy and Sammy immediately. And now this. I wouldn't be too surprised if Papa hasn't talked with Pastor Henley already to see if he knows anyone in India with whom you could correspond." "Do you really think so, Rusty? Would he do that?" "That's just what he would do. If I were you, I'd bring it up again, ask him if he has any suggestions for you. After all, you're finished with school next month. Mother and Papa both know you'll be needing something to do."

"I'm supposed to work for Mrs. Wood this summer." The 17-year-old was clearly not thrilled with the prospect.

"Mrs. Helen Wood?"

"Yes, I was going to write and tell you, but I just never

did."

"How did that come about?"

"She broke her leg this winter and is still off her feet. Her live-in housekeeper is leaving this summer for two whole months, and she needs someone to come in during the day. There was an announcement at church, and without even taking time to think, I volunteered."

Rusty smiled and then laughed in delight.

"I don't think it's funny, Rusty. She's in her seventies, and I'm dreading the whole thing."

"Oh, Clare." Her sister grabbed her hand. "God is so good. Don't you know who she is? Don't you remember anything about this woman? She came and talked to us in school one time."

Clare frowned in concentration and then shook her head no.

"Helen Wood has been all over the world," Rusty said with soft excitement. "If you've a yearning to travel to India, I wouldn't be at all surprised if she's been there."

"Are you serious, Rusty?"

"Yes," her sister told her with a huge smile. "God knew just where you needed to be, Clare Melissa Taggart. I don't know what she's like now, but at one time I thought Helen Wood was the most exciting person I'd ever known."

Clare looked like she could laugh and cry all at the same time. She hugged Rusty and then jumped to her feet.

"I've got to tell Dana."

"Okay," Rusty said on a laugh, finding Clare's excitement contagious. "I'm going to head downstairs. You and Dana should come pretty soon. This is Mr. McCandles' last night."

"Okay," Clare called breathlessly as she dashed from the room. Rusty followed until she reached the stairway and then joined the adults in the living room. It wasn't more than ten minutes before Dana and Clare came as well. Business talk was put aside long enough for Clare to tell her parents what Rusty had said about Mrs. Wood. Her father confirmed the facts and added a few of his own. By the time Leslie joined them and they had decided on a board game to play, Clare was floating on a cloud.

***

The train station was routinely busy for early on a Monday morning. Chase stood still, waiting for his call to board, his ticket tucked safely into the pocket of his shirt. It was hard to believe the weekend was over. He was a little tired after three late nights with the family, but you wouldn't have known it by looking at him. He was freshly shaved and bathed and already thinking about the journey home. The only one up early that morning had been Clayton, but he had still managed to put a filling meal into his guest.

It was a little chilly, so Chase moved around some, not wanting his feet to get cold. That was when he spotted her. Coming toward him at a breakneck speed was Rusty. Her hair was slightly wild around her face, and her eyes were sleepy, but they lit up when she saw him.

"I thought I might have missed you," she said breathlessly, a full smile in place as she stepped in front of him. "I meant to get up and tell you goodbye and to thank you one last time for everything you've done."

"You're welcome," he said graciously. "Especially considering how late we all retired."

"Well," Rusty replied, at her logical best, "you were up just as late, but you still managed to get up."

"This is true," he said seriously and smiled at her.

"Will you tell Quintin I said hello?"

"I certainly will."

Rusty opened her mouth to say something but then shut it again.

"Was there something else?" Chase had been watching her closely.

"Yes," she admitted, "but it's presumptuous on my part."

"I doubt if you'll offend me."

Rusty bit her lip.

Chase's brows rose in question, his eyes holding hers. Rusty's comment finally came out in a whisper.

"I just hope you wont take the bear away from him."

Chase nodded, his face understanding. "I've thought a lot about that, Katherine, and I have to tell you honestly that I do plan to tell Mrs. Harding that Quintin is to keep this bear, but because he's never been allowed to form attachments to toys, I'm not sure he'll warm up to it."

Rusty nodded. She had not thought of this. Her heart beat a little slower now with sadness, but she worked at not showing this to Mr. McCandles. That was no way to say goodbye to anyone.

"Well, we tried," she said at last, her smile forced but back in place.

"I'll be sure to tell him that we chose the gift together. He'll enjoy knowing that."

"But won't that diminish some of the specialness of your taking him a gift?"

"I don't think so," he spoke sincerely. Chase might have gone on in an effort to convince her, but his train was called.

"That's your train, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Thank you for coming to see me off, Katherine."

"Thank you for coming," she said right back. With that she stuck out her hand, and Chase shook it without thinking. He made himself turn and walk away right then, wondering if he should have followed his heart and given her a hug. He boarded the train and sat by the window so he could look out. She was still standing where he'd left her. When she found him at the window, he waved and noticed that she made no move to leave.

The young men gathered around her in the alley flashed through his mind again. The train jerked into motion, and Chase glanced one more time to see Rusty wave again. She was out of sight just seconds later, and by the time the train picked up speed, he had convinced himself that the only reason he felt regret about leaving was because he still thought he could have done a better job taking care of her. With this firmly rooted in his mind, Chase reached for the newspaper he had purchased and settled in for the ride.

***

"Did you get there in time?" Clayton asked his daughter the minute she came back in the door.

"Yes. We talked for a few minutes, and then his train was called."

Clayton watched as she poured herself a cup of coffee and joined him across the table. Clayton put his paper aside and smiled at her.

"Sorry to see him go?"

"A little, and I don't know why."

"Well, you care for him, don't you?"

"Yes, but we barely know each other."

"Sometimes it's like that, Rusty," Clayton said softly. "Instant attraction. It certainly was between your mother and me.

"You're starting to sound like Dana."

"What did she have to say?"

Rusty rolled her eyes. "As if we hadn't stayed up late enough as it was, after the game last night she tells me she has to talk to me. "

"And?"

"According to Dana, I
am
going to marry the man." "Well, considering the fact that Dana is not prescient, I don't think you need to worry about it. But why do you find her suggestion so outrageous?"

Rusty cocked her head to one side and listed the reasons on her fingers. "For one thing he lives in Springs and I live in Manitou. He's older than I am. He's a businessman who travels a good deal and has a son he barely knows. I have no idea what I feel right now, and most importantly, I can see that he's not interested in me at all."

"Now there you're wrong, Rusty."

The coffee cup stopped on the way to Rusty's mouth. "What do you mean? Has he spoken to you?"

"He didn't have to."

She set the cup back down and looked at her father.

"Don't misunderstand me, honey. I'm not saying he's getting ready to propose, but Chase McCandles is very interested in you. He's not the first man certainly, but he is the first man whom you seem interested in as well."

Rusty stared down at the table. She was interested, but right now she was having a hard time recognizing Mr. McCandles' interest. He was kind and very caring, but she didn't see that as romantic fascination. And if her father did, what had he seen? She was about to ask him when he had a question for her.

"Can you tell me what you meant when you said he doesn't know his son?"

Rusty sighed. "It's true. He has this huge home and a hill staff, including a nanny for Quintin, but he simply doesn't know him. They don't talk, they don't hug, they don't do anything together that has meaning. Mr. McCandles doesn't know what toys his son has and doesn't seem to want to know." Again she sighed. "I am interested in him, but I think I'm angry at myself for caring about a man who could have so little regard for his child."

"Does he see it, Rusty? What you described to me—is Chase aware of it?"

"I don't think so. I would love to show him what a lovable little boy he has, but it's not my place."

Clayton's hand suddenly covered Rusty's. "I know you, Rusty. I know you well. And I'm going to say something you must heed. I don't know if God has a future for you and Chase, but you must not become interested in the man because you love the little boy. That's not fair to any of you. If ever you find yourself at the receiving end of Chase McCandles' attentions, and you accept them, you must do so out of love for him, not because you want to rescue Quintin."

Rusty nodded. Her father did know her well. She didn't think she'd go so far as to enter into a loveless marriage, but she was very vulnerable where Quintin McCandles was concerned.

"Have I upset you?"

"No, but you've certainly given me a lot to think about." She paused and met her father's gaze. "How would you and Mother feel if I did care for Mr. McCandles?"

"We both like him very much, Rusty, and we know he took very good care of you, but by your own admission there are some things missing. I would welcome your getting to know him better, and if at all possible, your mother's and my spending more time with him."

"We're talking like it's a done deal," Rusty said, her chest feeling oddly tight. "As I said, I have no idea what I feel, and I have only yours and Dana's opinion that he's even interested."

"Be that as it may, Rusty, this is the time to talk about these issues, not when emotions have taken over and your heart feels as though it's over the moon."

That was yet another good point, and for the moment it was the last one. Leslie wandered into the kitchen a few minutes later and started on his breakfast. Jackie came next and was eventually followed by Clare and Dana. They ate breakfast amid much fun, but another school day was about to begin and before long everyone was off at full speed.

22

Colorado Springs

Chase sank into his chair and looked at the stack of mail on his desk. He'd been gone only two business days, but it had certainly mounted up. After reaching for his business case and setting it on the desk, he flipped the latch, and the first thing he saw was the bear. He smiled at the sight of it and went immediately to find Mrs. Whitley. She was in the kitchen.

"Do you know where Quintin is?" he asked of the older woman.

"I believe he and Mrs. Harding are on a walk, sir."

Chase nodded. "Please send him to me when he returns."

"Yes, sir."

Chase returned to his office and went to work on his correspondence. He had accomplished much when he heard the sound of Quintin's voice and the patter of little feet. Preparing himself to have Quintin stop in the doorway, Chase was surprised when the little boy shot direcdy into his office, his eyes alight with surprise. Chase watched in confusion as the younger McCandles looked around the office and then at his father.

"Where is she?" Quintin asked, his formality with his father dropping away from him for the first time in his life.

"Where is who, Quintin?"

"Miss Taggart. Where is she?" His little head turned as he looked for her again, and he turned a smiling face to his father, as though waiting for the surprise to end.

"Miss Taggart isn't here, Quintin," Chase said kindly. "She's at her home in Boulder."

Quintin frowned a little. "I found a new nest," the little boy explained. "She has to see my nest. When is she coming?"

"She's not, Quintin," Chase continued gently. "From Boulder she's going back to the orphanage where she works." ones not coming?

"No, Quintin, I'm sorry you thought she was."

The little boy could have been made of stone, so frozen became his stance, but it didn't last. Chase watched in amazement as tears filled his son's eyes. Numb with shock, he stared when Quintin dropped his face into his hands and sobbed. He was speaking now as well, but Chase caught little of it. A moment later Mrs. Harding carefully put her head around the corner. She looked at her small charge, who was still crying into his hands, and then at Chase, who looked back at her helplessly.

"What is it, Quintin?" Mrs. Harding asked in a voice that was gentler than usual.

"She's not here," he managed. "She didn't come back, and I can't show her—"

Again Mrs. Harding looked to Chase. "Is he talking about Miss Taggart?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Harding nodded, her face exhibiting no surprise. "Shall I take him, Mr. McCandles?"

"Yes, I guess you'd better." His voice still reflected his shock. He watched as Mrs. Harding led his son away and then sat completely still, his eyes on the spot where Quintin had been standing. He had certainly seen that Quintin had become attached to their guest, but never had he expected this.

After a few minutes Chase sat back in his chair. On doing so his eyes caught sight of the stuffed bear. He picked it up and looked into its grumpy face. His lids slid shut on the memory of Katherine, and he knew why Quintin cried. She was so fun, so special, and she made everyone with her feel special. Chase looked down at the toy again, but the bear blurred as Quintin's face jumped starkly back into his mind. He had to do something for his little son, but at the moment he didn't know what.