Meg rubbed her eyes as she walked towards the kitchen where Frank and Bill were waiting for her outside the door looking very distraught. Meg smiled at them, their innocent eyes lighting up when they saw her.
“Mama Meg.” Bill hurried forward addressing her by the new name they’d given her. “We found something, and it’s not pleasant.” He took her hand and Meg trotted after him.
“What is it, Bill?” she asked, looking around as he stopped at the doorway. Bill pointed down, turning his head away from the gray bird with its head twisted in an unnatural position.
“Its neck has been snapped,” Frank explained with tears in his eyes.
Meg knelt beside the little bird, a chill creeping up her spine. She’d often seen birds like this in the hotel garden and around the fountains. Little delicate things with their necks snapped and left in the cold.
“Poor little thing. A cat must have got to it.” She’d always assumed it was cats and had never liked them for their merciless hunting of fragile creatures.
Frank shook his head. “That’s not a cat, Mama Meg. Cats eat the body and scatter the feathers.”
“Not always,” Bill countered.
Meg looked up at the distraught faces that tugged at her heart. “It is Sunday. We’re only cooking breakfast so I think we have time to give this bird a proper funeral. Frank, you dig a hole, and Bill, find a stone, and can you also collect a few flowers?”
“A funeral would be awfully nice, Mama Meg.” Frank smiled and hurried off to dig a hole. The two brothers left to do their duties and Meg pulled out her handkerchief to wrap around the little body. A distant light caught her eyes, and she recognized it as Jeffries’s home. Odd he was up this early; he shouldn’t be striding over for another hour.
“I got a rock.” Bill ran towards her, holding a perfectly round stone. He handed it reverently to Meg.
“It is perfect Bill. Wonderful work.”
He clasped his hands in front of him, holding them tightly to his chest. Meg now recognized it as a motion he did when pleased with himself. They all had their motions, gestures that communicated feelings which were otherwise difficult for them to express. She hoped to be able to understand and recognize all of them one day.
Frank joined them soon enough. He had dug a little hole behind the kitchen and Bill had picked some wildflowers in pinks, blues, and yellows.
“That is a pretty handkerchief, Mama Meg,” Frank noted, nodding with approval.
Meg was silent as she placed the little bird into the ground. The delicately embroidered handkerchief had been a gift on the Christmas before her father left. It had been his final gift to her. She’d held onto it, taking great care it was never lost, never damaged. So it surprised her that she did not mind burying it in the ground. Perhaps it was because she knew it would please the twins, and she found herself wanting to please them more and more every day. Or, maybe, it was because she was ready for new memories. Meg blinked back tears as she gently brushed the soft soil over the bird. She hadn’t ever asked God why bad things happened to her. She had asked if He cared, if He noticed. He had answered and once again she felt an overwhelming truth that God was not just aware of the bird, but of the twin’s disappointment and sorrow also.
Meg stood up, moving aside so Frank could place the stone and Bill his flowers. They were so innocent, so gentle. The thought of someone taking advantage of them was horrible. That wickedness was not God’s; it was people choosing evil over righteousness. God’s work was sending Jeffries to help them, sending Rose to Meg, and letting Daisy find a home where she would be loved.
She was reminded of stinging nettle that could bite someone’s skin, but somehow horsetail, with its soothing sap, always grew alongside it. Mercy in the midst of trials.
“Mama Meg, what’s wrong?” Frank asked, his own eyes filling with tears at seeing Meg cry. “Are you sad about the bird?”
Not wanting to share her thoughts, Meg nodded. “Yes, Frank,” she wiped her eyes and was shocked when his two long arms wrapped around her, followed by a suffocating embrace. Bill joined, wrapping his arms around them both.
The tenderness did not help in controlling Meg’s emotions. Her heart nearly burst at the love of these brothers. Years of near starvation and horrible circumstances made them small and delicate, but their compassion was larger than any mountain.
“The bird is with God, Mama Meg,” Frank assured her. “I’d wager it is flying right now.”
Meg smiled. She had no doubt that Frank was right. The large door of the kitchen let out a giant clank causing the twins to release their embrace. They frowned and looked at Meg who shrugged. “Jeffries must be wanting to start even earlier to make it to church.” She looked at the grave, “But he can wait a bit. Bill, would you say a few words?”
Meg bowed her head reverently as Bill spoke about the sweet bird and asked God that it would be happy and have plenty to eat and that the birds in heaven would be kind to it. He closed with an “amen” and they all sang a song before returning to the kitchen where Jeffries sat at the table next to a tall and incredibly handsome man. His longish hair was brushed back, still wet with a splash of morning water. He tilted his head at Meg, wide set eyes giving him a dangerous look paired with lean muscular arms that rippled as his fingers toyed aimlessly with a piece of leather.
Meg looked at Jeffries for an explanation. The manager sighed and stood up as did the stranger.
“Miss Meg, Frank, Bill, this is Cade Walker. Miss Rose’s husband.”
Meg blinked, then folded her arms across her chest feeling quickly protective of Rose. “Her husband?” Rose was fairly clandestine about Cade Walker, but her leaving him spoke for itself.
Jeffries nodded. “We’ll be starting work early as we need to speak with the Castles before church.”
When Meg did nothing but lift her chin at the amused smile of Cade Walker, Jeffries cleared his throat. “We would like to eat breakfast, if it pleases you,” he said with slight impatience in his voice.
Meg’s eyes darted to Jeffries who rarely used any sort of negative tone. Obviously, the unspoken situation was uncomfortable for him, so she simply nodded. “I’ll have it right out for you gentlemen.” She enunciated the word and gave a doubtful look at Cade one more time before fetching her apron.
“Bill, I want blueberries for muffins. Frank, I want onions and mushrooms cooked in butter then diced bacon. I’ll start on the crust for quiches.”
Meg whipped together a batter of milk and eggs and poured it into the half-baked crusts that already held the cheese, onions, mushrooms, and bacon and then set them to bake before turning her attention to the muffins. Soon she had hot quiche, steaming muffins bursting with blueberries, and soft butter on the table.
“Coffee?” Meg asked Cade coldly. Goodness he was handsome. He and Rose would be a striking pair together. “Yes, thank you.” He tried smiling at her, a charming smile. The kind that was slightly crooked and made his eyes crinkle. It was a look that smoldered and dared a woman to not fall in love with him.
Meg nearly huffed out loud. She’d seen plenty of these arrogant and conceited men in the hotel. The kind who had sweet wives at home and led other women behind closed doors. The kind who complained over spilt tea and rumpled pillows.
“Rose found you, didn’t she?” He surprised her with the question as she poured his coffee, nearly spilling it onto his lap.
“What do you mean?” She frowned, not looking at his face. She much preferred Jonathan’s gentleness and humility.
“Am I right?” he asked.
At Meg’s silence he chuckled and shook his head. “Rose. She was always rescuing lost kittens.”
“I am not a kitten,” Meg snapped, though she often felt like one.
Cade squinted his eyes at her; folding his arms, he tapped his bicep with a finger and leaned back in his chair. “No, I don’t believe you are.” He tilted his head staring at her, not in lust or intimidation, merely with curiosity. Meg held her ground, meeting him with a stern mouth and squared shoulders.
“Rose always wanted to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves, but you …” he paused in thought. “She liked your strength, found a kindred spirit, I would imagine.” Cade leaned forward resting his elbows on the table and entwining his fingers. “I am never wrong about people.” He nearly whispered before turning his attention raptly on his food.
Meg swallowed and willed her feet to walk away from Cade Walker. Oh, she worried for Rose, worried fiercely. It would be awfully hard for a woman to refuse eyes like that.
Cade pushed away his plate when the workers walked through the door. He knew what needed to be said; Jeffries had explained everything. Even though Cade was near frantic with the desire to shut these men’s gossipy mouths with his fists, he was smart enough to know there were more effective ways.
“Cade? Cade Walker?” A thick mustached man Cade recognized as Paul strode up to him. “What the devil are you doing here?”
Cade stood and gripped Paul’s hand in a friendly shake. “Wanted to surprise my wife,” he said loudly enough so everyone could hear. “I know, I seem like a lovesick fool ruining her holiday here in Tall Pine, but I just missed her so much.”
The sharp clang of a dropped pan caught Cade’s attention. He turned to see Meg picking up her skillet, her eyes wide and head tilted just enough so she could listen more acutely.
“Vacation?” Paul frowned. Several men had inconspicuously gathered around.
“She needed it.” Cade shook his head sadly, “After losing her cousin and taking in her niece. Have you men seen Daisy? The prettiest little thing alive, isn’t she?” Cade shook his head in unbelieving admiration. He hadn’t seen Daisy up close, and felt a protection over her simply because she was now loved by Rose.
“So you know about … the baby?” Paul frowned looking very confused.
“Of course, I know.” Cade stuck his thumbs in his pockets and rolled his neck casually. “You think I wouldn’t know about a child Rose adopted? Anyway, I am eager to see both of them, so if you don’t mind, I am helping Jeffries out so we can surprise them before Rose goes to church.”
Paul nodded, still looking confused. Cade turned away and caught the little cook’s eyes. Her rosy lips spread into a smile, and she gave the most subtle bow of the head, as if to say thank you.
Cade tossed her a wink and strode out of the kitchen with Jeffries on his heels.