Ralph and Katy left soon after breakfast with Ralph riding Maude and Katy on Sassy. Katy had red-rimmed eyes, but Leann tried to be strong for her daughter's sake and not cry anymore. She had two boys and another child on the way to think about. Like Ralph said, she must leave things in the Lord's hands.
Jim and Jesse went outside. Jim to the horses and Jesse to play with Toby. She was alone in the middle of the morning doing some necessary cleaning on the boys' bedroom floor, when a knock sounded on the front door. She put the scrub brush in the bucket of soapy water, wiped her hands on the apron tied around her expanding waist, and went to the front door. When she opened it, Ray Moore stood in the doorway twisting his hat by the brim. She could only stare at the man. He looked older, rougher, and ragged, but she would have recognized him anywhere.
"Hello, Leann," he said.
Her hand went to her mouth. She didn't know what to say.
"I know you're surprised to see me. Sorry I gave you such a shock."
She managed, "It's been ten years, Ray. Yes, I'm shocked to see you. We thought you were dead."
"Well, I was working hard to earn enough money to come back for Katy. I never forgot about her. She's my Ruth's only child."
Leann couldn't answer. She wanted to scream, Katy's my child now.
"I come for Katy. I want her back," Ray said after a long silence.
Leann's voice cracked when she tried to answer. She didn't want Ray to know Ralph was gone. "Katy's not here. She's visiting a friend."
"When will she be back?" Ray put his hat on. The brim flopped to his eyes.
"I'm not sure."
"Look, Leann. I know she won't be gone long. Where's Ralph? I'll talk to him."
"I don't know, but he's around somewhere."
"I'll wait outside under that tree until she gets back. I intend to take Katy with me today."
Leann knew Ray would do what he said, and she did not want him hanging around her house all day with Ralph gone. She tried to think quickly.
"Ray, we were getting ready to leave the house and visit with my husband's brother. You need to come back tomorrow," she said.
"I ain't leaving here without Katy. You can go wherever you like, but I'm staying right here like I said."
Leann watched as he turned and left the porch. He made himself comfortable beside his mule and wagon under the big tree in the front yard, cut a plug of tobacco, then began chewing. He spit the tobacco juice long and hard. He was there to stay.
Leann didn't know what to do. She went to the back door and rang the bell for the boys to come inside. Maybe she should leave the house like she told Ray. Jim and Jesse soon came through the door. Since the storm, they came quickly when the bell rang.
"Jim, can you hitch the buggy?" she asked in a high pitched voice.
"I think I can, Mama. I've never hitched it before, but I've watched Papa." He thought for a moment. "Papa took Maude to Uncle Joe's. Starbright's never pulled the buggy, but I guess Jed could."
"We need to go to Uncle Joe's," she said. "I can't ride a horse."
"Who's that man out there?" Jesse asked, seeing Ray through the front window.
"He's Katy's father. I need to warn Papa and Katy that he's here."
Jim and Jesse went to the window to watch Ray. Leann thought for another minute and made a decision. "Jim, saddle Starbright and ride to Uncle Joe's to get Papa. Tell him Ray Moore is at our house. He'll know what to do. Jesse and I will stay here. Ray won't hurt anything. He's a nice man. He just wants to see Katy."
"Okay, Mama. Are you sure you'll be okay? Papa may get mad if I leave you by yourself," he said with concern in his voice.
"Jesse's here. We'll be fine. Hurry."
Jim put his hat on in the same manner as Ralph. He looked a lot like her husband, but the boy should favor his uncle. She went to her son and gave him a hug. He smiled.
"I'll hurry real fast, Mama," he said and rushed out of the back door.
Leann and Jesse went to the window to watch for Jim. Ray stood when Jim rode out of the barnyard and around the house to the road. The man tipped his hat, but Jim did not acknowledge him, and rode by in a gallop. Leann knew Ray was aware she had sent for Ralph. Hopefully, her husband would be home soon.
She often told herself if anything happened to Ralph, she would be lost. He was the strong one, like her pa. She depended on him entirely to know what to do in a crisis. Her mind seemed to shut down when trouble came. She couldn't think straight. He was so dependable and always there for her and their family.
Leann went back to the boys' room and finished scrubbing the floor. Jesse busied himself with his wooden horse. After finishing the floor and discarding the dirty water, she told Jesse to get his school books. She would help him with his homework instead of waiting until Sunday afternoon. He complained about spending time doing schoolwork on Saturday. He wanted to go back outside to play with Toby.
"I want you to stay with me, Jesse, and keep me company 'til Papa gets back. Katy says you need some help with your arithmetic problems."
"I hate doing arithmetic problems on Saturday." Jesse frowned, but fetched his book.
Leann and Jesse sat at the table with his book, a slate, piece of chalk and eraser. He showed her the problem he needed to solve. She explained it. Jesse soon worked more of the same type problems with little difficulty. He had a quick mind and learned easily when he decided to do so. Jesse thought more about play than study.
The time seemed to drag. Leann listened to the clock on the mantle ticking. She stood up, went to the clock, and found the winding key. She wound the clock each morning, but had forgotten this morning in all the rush to get Ralph and Katy off. The time read eleven o'clock. Her clock did not chime on the hour like the one on her parents' mantle. Maybe she would buy a new chiming clock with her egg money.
Hoof beats sounded on the road in front of the house. Leann turned and rushed to the porch with Jesse following. Ralph, riding Sassy with Katy in back of him and Jim on Starbright, rode into the yard. They stopped beside the tree where Ray stood. Ralph dismounted and helped Katy down, then handed the bridle to Jim, who led Sassy to the barnyard. Ralph placed his arm around Katy, leading her to Ray. He shook hands with Ray. Ray removed his hat, and held it in one hand. Leann told Jesse to go help Jim with the horses and then rushed out to join Ralph and Katy.
Ralph introduced Katy to Ray, keeping his arm around the child's shoulder. Leann rushed to Katy's side. Ralph acknowledged her with a nod while Ray shook Katy's hand. Fear gripped Leann's heart like a vice. Ray's expression was one of awe in meeting his daughter for the first time in ten years. He left a baby in the Wades' care, and now, a beautiful young lady stood before him.
"You look just like your mother," Ray told Katy, twirling his hat by its brim.
Katy remained silent, studying the man who claimed to be her father and twisting the fabric of her skirt.
"Ray, do you want to sit with Katy on the porch?" Ralph asked. "You two have a lot to talk about."
"Yeah, that would be good." Ray smiled at his daughter. Katy gave him a half smile.
The little group made their way to the porch. Ralph kept his arm around Katy's shoulder and led her to the rocker on the front porch. Ray sat on the straight chair. Leann worked at not crying while Ralph took her by the arm and led her into the house.
"We have to let them get acquainted, and find out what Ray has in mind," he said when they were inside the house. "I figured it was time for him to gather enough courage to come for her. That's why I took her with me this morning."
She didn't want to leave Katy alone with Ray. Her daughter must be terribly afraid. Leann could only bury her head against her husband's chest. He wrapped loving arms around her.
"We don't have a choice. We're at Ray's mercy. He can take Katy if he wants, and he probably will." He held her tighter.
She stood in the embrace of his strong arms until the boys came in from the barn. Ralph released her and guided her to the rocker in the parlor. She sat down with a heart that felt like the iron skillet on the stove.
"You boys did good today," he said. "You minded quick and helped your mama. I'm proud of you."
"Is Katy leaving, Papa?" Jesse asked.
"We don't know yet, but she probably will."
"I don't want her to go." Jim's voice broke.
"Me either." Jesse swiped at his eyes.
Ralph sat down across from Leann and drew the boys to him. "The Lord gave us Katy for ten years. Some people don't have their children that long."
Leann knew her husband was thinking about the two babies she miscarried and his sister who had died when a few days old.
Ralph continued, "Let's be thankful for the time we've had Katy. She's filled our lives with her love. We'll surely miss her, but she'll never be far from us. She'll always be in our hearts."
The boys and Leann took some comfort from Ralph's words. His heart was broken, too, but he had to be strong for his family.
"I want you boys to stay in the house for right now. We'll help Mama get lunch when she's up to it."
Jim asked, "What about Maude, Papa?"
"Maude's pastured at Uncle Joe's for awhile." Ralph rose from the chair. "When she comes back, hopefully she'll be expecting a foal. It'll be hard to do without her, but we can manage for a week or two."
"I wanted to ride Maude to school again." Jesse followed Ralph to the kitchen.
"Jesse, I'm not completely sure I can trust you yet."
Leann spoke from her chair in the parlor, "He's minding real well."
"We'll see," Ralph said with an edge to his voice.
He sounded aggravated with her for defending Jesse again. She could not help taking her little son's part. He did mind better and quicker, but of course, Ralph could see that for himself. She didn't need to say anything.
Katy came inside from the front porch with a long face and fear in her eyes. She went directly to Ralph and hugged him hard around the waist. He stroked her hair.
"Papa, he told me to pack my clothes. I'm going with him today." She began to cry into Ralph's shirt. "I don't want to go. I don't know him. I don't want to leave you and Mama."
Ralph's face filled with mixed emotions. He sought Leann's eyes with an intensity she had seldom seen, but for Katy's sake he tried desperately to remain calm.
"Katy, you know we talked about this last night. You may have to go with Ray right now, but we'll be close by. Maybe we can work something out so you can come for regular visits. I'll go talk to him while you and Mama pack your clothes."
He pulled her arms away and looked into her wet eyes. "Just remember, we love you with all our hearts and will be close. We aren't gonna abandon you."
Katy left Ralph and went to Leann. The child stood beside Leann's chair, placed sweet arms around her neck, then buried her face in Leann's hair. She patted Katy's arm, fighting back the tears.
"Leann, help Katy pack. I'm going to talk to Ray," Ralph said, and went outside.
Leann rose and took Katy by the hand. She didn't want to help Katy pack. They went in search of the carpet bag Leann brought with her when she married Ralph and came to this cabin after her wedding. She found it under the bed, dusted it off, and took it to Katy's room. Katy sat down on the bed with tears streaming down her face.
"Katy, we have to be strong, sweetheart." Leann choked on the knot in her throat.
She sat beside her daughter on the bed and wrapped loving arms around the shaking shoulders. She had to be strong for Katy's sake, or she would have gone to bed and pulled the covers over her head.
"Help me get your things together. We'll pack only what you need right now. Papa and I will bring the rest to you later." Leann rose to begin packing the carpet bag with her daughter's clothes. "I hear your new mother has three young children. You'll enjoy playing and tending to them. I know how you love young children. You're so good with the little ones."
She opened the drawers to Katy's bureau and began putting clothing into the carpetbag.
"I want to be here when you have your baby, Mama. Now I can't help take care of you, and I told Papa I would." Katy grabbed Leann's skirt.
Leann lifted the sweet face and held the pretty chin in her hand so that Katy looked into her eyes. "The baby and I will be fine. You don't worry about us. When she's born, maybe you can come for a visit to see her. Papa will ask Ray."
"I hope so, Mama. I'll be praying for you and the baby. I hope Jim and Jesse don't get into anymore trouble and cause you to be upset."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. Papa will keep those boys straight. We'll pray for you and your new family," she said and then decided, "Let's pray right now. The Lord will give us peace."
Leann sat beside Katy on the bed and placed her arm around the small, trembling shoulders. She held the young girl close and prayed for Katy, Katy's new family, and her family. She asked for the Lord's care, comfort, and peace. She kissed Katy on the top of her lovely head.
The carpetbag was soon packed. Leann didn't want to pack all of Katy's things. She and Ralph would have an excuse to visit their daughter and take the remainder of her belongings. Katy placed the picture of her mother on top of the articles in the bag.
"We need to gather your books, so you can keep up with your studies. I think they are in the parlor," Leann said, taking Katy by the hand and leading her out of the bedroom.
Katy gathered her books. Jim and Jesse watched from the kitchen.
Katy said, "Bye Jim, bye Jesse."
The two boys rushed to her. Each one hugged her neck. "We'll miss you, Katy," Jim managed to say.
"Yeah, we'll miss you." Jesse hugged his sister tightly.
"Take care of Toby, Jesse," Katy said. "And Jim, take good care of Sassy. Feed her some oats for me and an apple."
"I will, Katy," Jim promised with a catch in his throat and trying really hard not to cry.
Leann held Katy's hand and walked with her to Ray. The boys followed. Ralph took Katy's bag from Leann and placed it in the bed of Ray's wagon. Katy kept her books in her arms. The boys stood by watching.
Ralph said, "Leann, Ray said he'll take Katy to John's on Sunday morning. She can go to church with them, and come home to spend the night with us. I'll take her home Monday morning."
"What about school?" Katy asked, with brows knit together.
"We'll talk about school later," Ray said.
Hope and excitement over the prospect of being able to visit with Katy each week washed over Leann. "Wonderful. I'm so glad we will be able to visit each week." She smiled at her daughter.
Katy's mouth tried to turn up in a smile, then she looked at the man who would now be her father. "Thank you, Ray."
Ray looked from Katy to Ralph and then to Leann. "I know this is hard on all of you, and hard on Katy. But I need her with me now. I missed her terrible all those years. I want to get to know her. My Ruth would want it this way."
No one answered him. Ralph led Katy to her side of the wagon. He hugged her before helping her up to the seat. Ray climbed to his place and took up the reins. Leann stood beside Ralph. The boys stood beside her.
She grabbed Katy's hand to place a kiss in the palm. "Be brave, sweet Katy. Be very brave. We'll see you next week for sure."
Katy called and waved as Ray drove away, "Bye Papa, bye Mama, bye Jim and Jesse. I love you."
The family watched and waved until the wagon left their sight. Leann wiped her eyes. Ralph put an arm around her shoulder pulling her close, not saying a word. He led the quiet family into the house. Their hearts were breaking. What could they say?