Wings of a Dove (9 page)

    Mr. Smith's appraising glance continued to skim the crowd, abruptly drawing to a halt as his graying brows merged into a frown. While he watched, Delaney Marsh, his expression grim, responded to the short, well-dressed farmer who had addressed him. The farmer expressed surprise and glanced down at Allie Pierce, who had not left the boy's side from the time Delaney had, startlingly, taken it upon himself to help her overcome her reluctance to leave the railway car.

    Shaking his head, the farmer then turned toward another older boy, and Mr. Smith felt a familiar annoyance. Realizing that it was neither the time nor the place to address that annoyance, he put it aside. He would look into the situation later, and he would get to the bottom of it, once and for all.

    Delaney sensed, rather than felt, the inner trembling of the young girl at his side, and a familiar anger assailed him. As he had expected, he was one of the first in the group to be offered a home. His second conversation had produced the same result as the first, and he was once again waiting.

    Delaney looked at the top of Allie Pierce's pale head as she stood silently beside him. She had not said a word since he had    led her out of the train. She had self-consciously dropped his hand when they stepped down on the platform, but she had continued to walk beside him as they approached the church. Her chin high, her face composed, she had not budged from his side in the time since.

    Strangely, he did not remember making a conscious decision to go back into the car to get Allie. Even now, he was a bit incredulous at his actions, which contradicted his decision of the night before. But somehow, watching Allie Pierce learn her hard lessons, one after the other, caused him more pain than he was willing to bear.

    Allie's desperation had been obvious to him from the moment they pulled into the crowded station; he had seen it in the tensing of her limbs, her sudden pallor. With fierce determination, he had ignored her silent plea as he had walked past her, but those steps had been costly. He was still uncertain whether he had finally gone back into the car to relieve her distress or his own.

    He had continued to surprise himself. When approached in the church hall, his response to inquiries had been a question that had been startling even to his own ears: "Are you willing to take both of us?"

    The prospective parents had not been willing.

    It occurred to Delaney that, for the first time in recent memory, he was putting someone else's welfare before his own. What was more, he was acting in contradiction to his own rule of survival. It also occurred to him that somewhere along the line he would probably pay for his stupidity. Well, it would not be the first time. The only thing he was certain of right now was that he was at ease with his feelings for the first time since Allie Pierce had clutched his medal and given him her trust.

    Delaney's frown darkened. Yes, he would probably pay for this some day, and very dearly.

    Allie stood silently beside Delaney in the church hall. She had seen several children walk off with smiling couples and had heard some of the older boys voicing agreement to proposed contracts. She did not want to acknowledge, even to herself, that Delaney had turned down two offers because those offers had not included her. The realization that she was selfishly allowing Delaney to make that sacrifice for her nagged viciously    at her mind. Even more vicious, however, was the prospect of being alone again.

    The persistent feeling she was being watched suddenly turned Allie from her thoughts to scan the crowd in the small room. It did not take long for her to see that a small woman standing a few feet away was studying her intently. Strangely, the woman's gaze did not discomfort her in any way. Her gray eyes were comforting, and Allie responded with a small, hesitant smile.

    The woman did not approach her, allowing Allie the time to study her in return, and it occurred to Allie that the woman did not look at all well. She was very thin and pale, and when she raised her hand to the man standing beside her, it trembled weakly. The concern in the burly fellow's expression seemed to confirm her suspicion, and Allie remembered Mama during those last days before she left her forever.

    Determined to put those unhappy thoughts behind her, Allie looked at the other two in the woman's
partya
pretty, dark-haired adolescent girl and a boy several years older. Allie guessed they were brother and sister, and since they both resembled the burly fellow, she concluded they were a family.

    The woman smiled in her direction, and Allie felt the warmth of that smile glow within her. Abruptly, the woman turned toward the man at her side. Her whispered remark made him glance in Allie's direction. Then he gave a short negative shake of his head.

    Allie flushed and stepped to one side, unintentionally bringing herself up against Delaney's arm. He looked down at her, and she knew he had missed little of the disagreement progressing between the sweet woman and her reluctant husband.

    Her attention diverted by Delaney, Allie was not prepared for the warmth of the sweet face looking down into hers as the woman suddenly appeared beside her.

    "I think it is time we became acquainted, my dear. My name is Margaret Case." Turning slightly, she continued. "This is my husband, Jacob Case, my daughter, Sarah, and my son, James. Now, may I ask your name?"

    Allie's voice was just above a whisper. "Allie, ma'am. Allie Pierce."

    "Allie dear…" Pausing as her eyes filled with tears, Mrs. Case attempted a smile. "Mr. Case and I came here today for a    very special reason. You see, my youngest child, Annie, and I were stricken with the fever several months ago. I was fortunate enough to recover, but my poor Annie was not. It occurred to me that the Lord would not have taken dear Annie without a specific purpose in mind, and when I heard that your group was coming to town, I hoped I had found that reason.

    "I spent a long time walking about this room, Allie. There are many lovely girls here, but my heart did not call out to them. You weren't standing with the rest of them, and I momentarily despaired. But then I saw you." Her gray eyes moistening further, Mrs. Case whispered in a breaking voice, "My heart called out to you, dear. Mr. Case and I would very much like you to join our family if you are willing."

    Her own eyes filling, Allie was unable to speak. In the time since she had lost Mama, no other woman had touched her heart in the same way this frail lady did.

    A movement at her side alerted Allie to Delaney's stiff posture. She glanced up, for a brief moment catching and holding his narrowed gaze. Yes, this woman touched her, but not in the same way Delaney had touched her. Her feelings for Delaney were different. With Delaney she felt a kinship a bond. He was special to her, and he had a special place in her heart.

    Allie slid her hand into Delaney's. There was a moment's hesitation before his hand closed around hers, and taking a determined breath, Allie responded, "Will you take both of us, ma'am?"

    "Both?" Obviously startled, the woman glanced toward Delaney. "Is this boy your brother?"

    "No, ma'am. He's my friend."

    "Your friend and you will not part from him?"

    "No, ma'am."

    Delaney's hand tightened around hers, and its warmth gave Allie strength as the woman turned again to her husband.

    "Jacob, if we had another hand we could plow the north field."

    Her husband shook his head, frowning. "I wasn't expecting to plow that field for another year, Margaret."

    "We could plow it a year earlier. We're both getting older, dear. We don't have much time to waste, and another strong arm will help."

    "It'll also mean another person to feed and clothe."

    "Jacob, we have more than enough."

    At a sound to their left, they turned their attention to Mr. Smith as he extended his hand toward the uncertain farmer.

    "If I may be of help, sir. My name is Smith. It is my pleasure to have brought these children here."

    Jacob Case accepted Mr. Smith's hand and introduced himself. "It was our intention to come here today and take one of your group, Mr. Smith. We did not intend to take two."

    "Two? We are placing one child at a time, sir."

    "But the girl will not come unless we take the boy."

    Glancing down at Allie in surprise, Mr. Smith raised his brow. "Is that so, Allie?"

    Allie felt Delaney's warmth at her back as she moved closer to him. Her reply was soft, but firm. "Yes, Mr. Smith."

    "And you, Delaney?"

    There was a long, silent moment before Delaney gave a short nod.

    His expression revealing his astonishment at Delaney's response, Mr. Smith shook his head. "I admit to being surprised at this. These children are related by neither blood nor circumstance and to my knowledge have nothing in common except the venture on which our group has embarked. However, it is the policy of the Society not to allow a child to be taken into a home without his or her consent. Since it appears neither will give consent without the other…" Mr. Smith's voice trailed away as he raised his shoulders in a shrug. "But before you make any decisions, there are some things you should know in the way of background information."

    Mrs. Case's voice was soft as she replied. "We care very little about background, Mr. Smith."

    "Of course. But if you will be so kind as to oblige me. Mr. Case?"

    Taking Mr. Case's well-muscled arm, Mr. Smith drew him a few steps away and began talking in earnest. Allie's stomach tightened, but her discomfort was not for herself. She remembered Delaney's rage at Sam's name-calling, and she felt his anger rise as Mr. Case glanced sharply in his direction and then rejoined their group. Directing his words to Mrs. Case, he spoke    gently. "Margaret dear, I'm afraid I'm forced to disappoint you. We cannot take these children."

    Obviously confused, Mrs. Case searched her husband's expression. "I don't know what this gentleman said, but I tell you now, Jacob, nothing will shake my conviction that Allie is the child the Lord meant for us. And if she is determined not to accept us without our accepting her friend also, I can only think the Lord meant him for us, too."

    Mr. Case's voice dropped a notch lower. "Margaret, you don't understand."

    Delaney spoke up clearly. "Your husband is trying to tell you, ma’am that I was released from prison to join this party, and he does not want a prison boy in his home."

    Mrs. Case's surprise was evident. She was silent as she glanced toward her husband. Reading confirmation of Delaney's statement in the senior Case's face, she turned back to Delaney once more. "And what are your thoughts, Delaney? Do you feel you would be out of place with us?"

    Delaney responded in his low, young-man's voice. "It was in prison that I was out of place, ma'am. I didn't belong there. I don't make excuses for myself, ma'am, or apologies, but whether I go with you or with someone else, I'll never go back to prison or to my old ways again. I've set my mind to that and to much more."

    Mrs. Case paused. "You have set yourself a goal in life, then?"

    "I have, ma'am."

    "May I be privileged to know what that goal is?"

    "I'm sorry, no, ma'am."

    Low gasps indicated to Allie that the others considered Delaney's response insolent, but Mrs. Case merely smiled.

    "No,
I'm
sorry, Delaney. That question was an intrusion on your privacy. I hope someday you'll trust me enough to confide in me."

    "Margaret…"

    Margaret Case turned toward her husband, her smile bright with conviction. "Jacob, these are the children we came for. Please, let us conclude this discussion and take them home. I find I am tiring."

    Appearing to note his wife's pallor for the first time, Jacob

    Case turned toward Delaney. "I will ask you one question, boy: Do you intend to honor your contract with us and to deal with us honestly?"

    Allie felt Delaney stiffen. His frown did not soften as he held the man's eye. "As honestly as you will deal with us, sir."

    "Jacob dear, do let us go home
all
of us."

    Appearing to consider Mrs. Case's soft request for a moment, Mr. Case turned finally to Mr. Smith. "My wife is tired, sir. Might we get the paperwork out of the way?"

    Allie did not hear the remainder of Mr. Case's remarks. Enfolded in Mrs. Case's warm arms, she briefly shut her eyes, closing out all else but her joy. Stepping back a moment later, she watched as Mr. Case extended his hand to Delaney. He accepted it and shook it firmly, but she did not miss James Case's harsh expression or the peculiar fascination with which young Sarah Case stared at Delaney.