Sarah's Surrender (21 page)

“I'm sure the man has seen much mistreatment of children. He was only concerned for the girl. And I was about to explain what happened when that man rushed in and interrupted us.”

“Obviously Dr. Worth had no concern for
our
feelings. I don't ever want to see that rude man again.”

“We may have to if the medicine he gave us doesn't help her. I'm sure once he knows we found her, he'll treat us differently.” He released the brake and clucked to the horses. “I reckon we should stop at one of the stores and pick up some things for her.” He flicked a glance her way. “What do you want to do about her?”

“Since the town doesn't have a lawman, I suppose we should talk to someone in the army and let them know about the girl. Her family might be looking for her and her mother.” Sarah laid her cheek against the top of the child's head. Poor thing. To lose her mother and be taken in by strangers, and to be sick on top of all that. She was a good girl, all things considered.

“Are you going to turn her over to the army?”

Sarah's mouth fell open. “Are you crazy?”

Jack chuckled. “Could be. I overheard a few church ladies murmuring about just that thing once.”

“That's awful. Was it recently?”

He shook his head. “When I first started preachin'.” He reached over and held out his index finger near the girl's hand, and she wrapped her tiny fingers around it. His smile took on a faraway look, as if he were remembering Cody doing the same thing when he was small. “Maybe you oughta think up something to call her. Kind of awkward always referring to her as ‘the girl' all the time.”

“That's true. I've actually been thinking about calling her Claire.”

“That's a nice name.”

“Then Claire it is—unless we learn differently.” Sarah smiled and looked down at the girl, who stared at the horses. It almost felt as if they were a family, just the three of them. She thought of Luke and wondered if he'd made it back to the ranch yet. What would he say about Claire? He could surely make her laugh. He had that way about him.

“Did you find anything at the mother's campsite to indicate who she was?”

Jack shook his head. “She didn't have much. No papers with a name on them. Just a raggedy satchel with a few things for Claire and some personal items.”

“It must have been dreadful for Claire's mother, knowing she was dying with no one to care for her child.” Why hadn't she come to town for help? Or even crossed the river and come to Sarah's? Hadn't she been concerned for her daughter?

She gazed down at Claire. Her long lashes dipped as she studied the piece of biscuit Sarah had given her. How was she going to keep from getting attached to Claire? The girl was so quiet and sweet. Sarah gently worked her fingers through another of the tangles in Claire's hair and tossed aside a piece of grass. The doctor was correct that she needed a bath, but Sarah hadn't had time to give her a complete one and was afraid to after realizing she had a fever. She sure didn't want her to take a chill.

Jack stopped in front of a big tent. They climbed from the wagon and walked inside the tent store. All manner of scents—pickles, leather, spices, coffee—assailed Sarah's senses. There were more colors in here than in a field of wildflowers in springtime. She searched for the clothing section and made her way there. She would need yards of flannel for diapers, but it would take time to stitch hems in them, so she decided to also purchase several ready-made hand towels to use right away.

“Do you think she'd let me hold her so you can shop easier?”

“I don't know, but my arms sure are getting tired.”

Jack shook a multicolored cloth ball he found that made a jingling sound. Claire watched with interest. “You want it?” He clapped his hands together then shook the ball again. “Come and get it.”

Claire reached for the ball, and Jack deftly picked her up. He shook it, and she actually smiled, revealing her tiny teeth. Sarah blew out a relieved breath then rubbed her upper arms. On a table in front of her was a stack of baby gowns. She held up several and picked out two to purchase.

The clerk walked up to them. “Can I help you find anything?”

Sarah nodded. “We need a case of canned milk, if you have it.”

“Do you know where we can purchase a milk cow?” Jack asked, shaking the ball again. Claire grabbed it and lifted it to her mouth.

The man rubbed his chin, looking up at the ceiling. “I have the milk, but I don't know about a cow. You might try one of the other stores.”

“Do you have any dresses small enough to fit Claire?”

The man studied the girl for a moment. “I have a box of nice used clothing a woman brought in to trade earlier this week, but I haven't had time to look through it. You're welcome to do so, if you want to.”

“That's sounds great. Thank you.”

He disappeared for a moment then returned with a crate. “Help yourself.”

“Thank you. While I look around, could you please cut me ten yards of white flannel?”

He nodded. “I'm happy to do so, but if you're planning to make diapers, I actually have some ready-made ones in stock.”

“You do?” Sarah hadn't heard of such a thing, but then she rarely shopped for baby items. Instead, she usually helped Lara make things for her babies.

He nodded and walked past the fabric section. He pulled a stack of cloth diapers from a shelf and set them on top of a table filled with men's pants. “I wasn't too sure of them at first, but several women who tried them were thrilled with how they worked. You still have to pin them on, but you won't need to stitch anything.”

Sarah studied the padded piece of cloth. They looked to be more absorbent than mere flannel. She checked the price. They cost more than the flannel but less than the towels she'd planned to get. “I'd like a dozen and a half of these, please.”

“Make it two, and I'll contribute the extra money. It's my little way of helping, and it will save you from having to wash as often.” Jack rattled the toy ball, receiving a sleepy smile from Claire. “And add this to my tab.”

“I like the idea of washing less often.” Sarah fingered some pink cotton fabric. It would make a cute dress for Claire, but before she purchased fabric, she probably should look through the crate of used clothes. She couldn't afford to spend a lot of money on the child, especially not until she knew if she'd get to keep her. She'd buy what she needed for now, and if the girl's family didn't come for her, she could get more later.

She thumbed through the crate of mostly boys' and men's clothing, all of which held a strange odor. Wrinkling her nose, she shoved them back and walked over to the clerk. “I'd like to order two yards each of the pink cotton fabric and the green.”

“I'll see to that right away.”

While the clerk tended to the task, she chose some trim and buttons for the dresses. She could alternate the colors to make collars and cuffs.

Claire started to fuss. “I think she has a problem.” Jack held Claire away from him, jiggling her. She spied Sarah and held out her arms to her.

“Guess these diapers will come in handy.” She grabbed one and took Claire to a corner and laid her down on the floor.

When she rose, holding the girl, Jack lifted the handle of a white enamelware pot with a lid and held it in front of her. “You might want to buy one of these to keep those smelly things in.”

“That's a wonderful idea.” She flashed him a wide grin. “You can grab that wet diaper on the floor and put it in there.”

He pursed his lips to one side. “I walked right into that one, didn't I?”

She chuckled and ambled toward the front. They needed to finish up and get Claire home and in bed. But Sarah didn't have a bed for the child. How could she keep Claire from walking out of the tent while Sarah was sleeping? She shook her head, unable to think of a way to prevent that problem. Only one of many problems that was sure to arise with a young child to care for.

They finished paying for their supplies, and then Jack stopped at one of the army tents and left word about finding Claire and where she'd be in case someone came looking for her.

As they rode home, Sarah watched Claire fall asleep in her lap. Giving her up if her family came calling would be difficult, but so would keeping her. She knew well the challenges of raising children, and it was even harder for a woman who wasn't married. She'd seen the things Jo had struggled with when her son Jamie was little—before she married Baron.

Though it would make her life more difficult, she was more than willing to keep Claire, but was that the best thing for the girl? This was not a decision she could make without consulting God. Sarah lifted her gaze to the sky.

Thy will, Lord, not my will.

Luke and two cowpokes rode in from a day of moving the main herd to a new section of grazing land. It had been a long, hot day, but for him, the day wasn't over. Lara had invited him to join them for supper, and then Gabe wanted to talk to him.

While he was happy to help out his old friend, he longed to be back with Sarah. Over two weeks had passed since he left Anadarko. By now, the sides of her house were surely finished, and the windows installed. Had she started moving in yet? He had hoped to be there to witness her dream come true, but he feared he would miss it.

Shorty, the cook for the cowboys, waddled out of the bunkhouse, carrying a bucket. He waved at them. “You eatin' with us tonight, Luke?”

He shook his head as he dismounted. “Nah. Gabe wants to talk to me.”

“Lucky you.” Shorty set the bucket below the pump. “I wish the boss wanted to gab with me so's I could eat some of Miss Lara's cookin'.”

Luke chuckled. “That doesn't say much about the supper you're fixin', what with you being the cook and all.”

Shorty shrugged. “I only know so many things to fix.”

Tom and Slim dismounted.

“Yeah, like beans, stew, and pancakes.” Tom led his horse to the trough.

Shorty glared at him. “I realize that a man likes to dine on somethin' different now and then, but I do the best I can.”

“Yes, you do.” Luke smiled at the riled cook then led Golden Boy to the trough and allowed him to drink. “Why don't you ask Lara for some ideas?”

Shorty looked as if he'd told him they'd run out of beans. “I cain't do that.”

“Why not?”

“Well, she's a woman, fer one.”

Luke chuckled and shook his head as he led his horse into the barn. “That she is—and she's a mighty good cook.”

Shorty grumbled something he couldn't hear then started pumping water into his bucket.

Luke groomed his palomino and made quick order of cleaning up. He donned a fresh shirt then headed to the house. It seemed wrong that Sarah wouldn't be there to greet him. She'd lived there for nearly as long as he'd been at the ranch. He still remembered the day she arrived here with Jo. She'd quietly watched everyone with those dark eyes and disappeared upstairs the first chance she got.

It was her attraction to horses that drew them together. He'd made sure no one bothered her whenever she came to the barn, and they'd gradually become friends.

He strode up the kitchen porch steps and knocked on the door. A delicious aroma wafted out. Before he'd left for Anadarko, he would have walked on in, but it didn't seem right now for some reason.

Beth walked to the screen, her brown eyes lighting up. She pushed on the door. “Luke! Why are you knocking? Get on in here.”

He stepped inside, removed his hat and hung it on a peg near the door, and then smiled at Beth, Gabe and Lara's eight-year-old daughter. “I declare, you've grown an inch since last time I saw you.”

She laughed. “That was just yesterday.”

He grinned and gently tugged her braid. “I know, squirt.”

“Howdy, Luke.” Drew, with a small wooden horse in his hand, waved at him from where he sat on the floor, stacking blocks with Missy.

Lara looked over from where she stirred something at the stove. “Dinner's almost done.” Behind her on the far wall was the large table where he'd shared many meals with the family. For a long time, this had been his home, at least in his heart. “Gabe's in the parlor. Would you mind letting him know it's time to eat?”

He gave her a brief bow. “It'd be my pleasure, ma'am.”

She tossed a tea towel at him. He caught it and laid it on the table as he passed by. He figured she'd probably need it for one of the young'uns during the meal. He reached the parlor and found Gabe staring out the large front window, holding a closed book in his lap. “You're lookin' bored. Must have been deep in thought, ‘cause you didn't even hear me.”

Gabe's gaze shot toward him. “I was thinking.”

Luke walked in and dropped onto a side chair near his friend. Gabe's leg, stiff from the plaster cast, stuck out straight in front of him, his crutches leaning against the side of the settee.