4

On the ride back to camp, Robert wondered about Grace. Why was a comely woman like her living alone with her invalid father? Hard work could break a woman. He should know—his mother exemplified that, God rest her soul.

He found himself missing Ada even though their marriage had been brief. He shook his head. Would I have married her if I’d known about the children? Hard to say, but he rather doubted it. He wished she hadn’t kept it a secret. That’s the main reason he’d left when the wheat crop failed—he’d felt humiliated the day an attorney and Ada’s sister had shown up with three children, only hours after her funeral. Humiliated and shocked, he’d been the laughingstock of his own community.

So here he was, trying to scrape out a living to support her children, and it angered him! Teach him to trust any woman again. He vowed to himself he’d never marry again. Someday, when the children were old enough to be on their own, he’d leave the country. ’Course he’d be so old by then, love would be the furthest thing from his mind.

He tried hard to change his attitude as he entered the clearing where he’d left the children. He knew in his heart they didn’t deserve his anger. All three of them were sitting on rocks, leaning over and drawing in the dirt with a stick.

Sarah hopped up, running to him with a cheerful greeting. “We’re playing a game,” she shouted.

Robert dismounted. “Is that so? What kind of game?”

“We’re making our dream home. Come see!” She took his hand and pulled him to where Becky and Tom sat.

With twigs and pine needles from the forest floor, they’d outlined a two-story house with shutters and flowers in the yard, a rough outline on the porch of a couple along with three children and a dog. Robert’s heart lurched with a clear reminder—all children needed a real family. “Mighty nice, Sarah,” he choked out. “How about we eat our supper and I’ll tell you about my new job?”

“Finally,” Tom said with a stern look at Robert. “Becky, dip soup for the honoree who’s finally got a job.”

Becky uncrossed her arms. “Maybe soon we’ll have some real food.”

Sarah slipped her soft, little hand into his, guiding him to have a seat by the campfire. “Everything’s gonna work out just fine!”

“Yes, Sarah, but how do you know this?” Tom asked.

Sarah handed Robert a bowl of soup while Becky dipped the rest. “’Cause, I had a dream last night and an angel told me, silly. You just wait and see.”

Robert watched the expressions between the two of them—Sarah giving an angelic smile, convinced by her dream of a family, and Tom who rolled his eyes.

Becky took her seat on a camp stool, steadying her bowl. “You and your dreams! You know nothing about the future. If you did, you’d be more worried about living with a stepfather who doesn’t want us!”

Quick tears formed in Sarah’s eyes. “He never said he didn’t want us. Besides, with Mama gone, God will take care of us.”

Robert’s heart squeezed, and he tried to think of a reply. “I never once said to you that I didn’t want you.” He saw Becky’s eyes lower, not wanting to look at him.

“Children, let’s say a blessing for the soup that Becky made for us.” He looked into the bowl at the thin watery stuff and pretended it was chicken ’n’ dumplings, then blessed the food.

“So you were going to tell us about a job?” Tom stared at him.

“Yes I was. I’m going to work on a farm not far from here. But I want you all to stay out of sight for now. When I get enough saved, I’ll rent us a couple rooms at the boardinghouse in town.”

“Can’t we go tomorrow?” Becky pleaded. “I’d give anything to sleep in a real bed for a change.”

Sarah echoed her plea. “Oh, yes, please?” Her eyes flashed in anticipation. “Becky and I can share a bed.”

“I’m sorry. Not until I earn some money.” Robert pretended he enjoyed Becky’s soup, but soon set his bowl aside. He wasn’t all that hungry anyway. “The wagon will have to do for you girls a little while longer, and Tom and I will sleep underneath as usual.”

“I can hardly wait,” Tom said sarcastically. “Just what are we supposed to do all day while you’re gone?”

“Your aunt packed your school books, so you can read and do your arithmetic until I can get you settled. I’ll ask about school tomorrow so you can finish out the school year.”

“Just how I wanted to spend my spring—teaching my sisters.” Tom stood, angrily slamming his bowl down. He picked up a stick and walked over to their straw design and savagely destroyed it, leaving a messy pile of straw. “See this? It’s never gonna happen no matter what you dream, Sarah!” He stalked away from the camp.

Becky and Sarah were suddenly quiet, but Robert saw their tears. He sighed, not sure what to do next. He was weary and wished he could be alone with his thoughts.

Sarah reached over and patted his hand. “Don’t fret none. He hates school, but I like it. Becky can be the teacher.”

Becky made a face. “I can try, but Tom’s a whole lot smarter than me.”

Robert sighed. “I’d better go after Tom.”

“I’ll come with you,” Sarah said, hopping up.

He looked down at her. “I’d rather you stay and help Becky clean up.”

“I need to take the dishes to the creek and wash them, so come with me. I can use your help.” Becky’s voice was softened as she tried to pacify her younger sister.

He left them gathering the dishes and walked in the direction Tom had gone. He wasn’t sure what he’d say to the boy. Having no experience with kids left him searching for answers.

The farther he walked into the woods, the cooler it became, as wind swayed the tall pines. A sound of rushing water in the distance led him to a waterfall that flowed into Bozeman Creek. He surmised the water fed the farmlands surrounding the adjacent area—maybe even the Bidwells’ by way of Gallatin River.

When he drew closer, he saw Tom was standing on a boulder at the edge of the creek bed tossing pebbles into the rushing water. The roar of the water was so loud that Tom didn’t hear him walk up until Robert was standing alongside him. Tom jumped and glared at him before going back to throwing rocks with force.

“Look, Tom—I know you don’t like the situation we have any better than I, but we need to have a truce between us until we can get something worked out.” Tom said nothing and looked straight ahead, so Robert continued. “I’m not your enemy, and I know you don’t like me, but for starters we’ve got to work together for the sake of your sisters.” The silence was heavy, but Robert waited, wishing he knew what Tom was thinking.

“All right then. If you don’t want to talk about this, then I’ll leave you alone.” Robert started to leave, but Tom turned to look at him.

“Why didn’t you just leave us with Aunt Mildred? At least she was family.” Tom’s eyes snapped angrily.

Robert shifted his weight and gazed at the boy. “You don’t get it, do you? I hate to break it to you, but your Aunt Mildred didn’t want y’all around.” There. He’d finally told him.

Tom’s face crumpled. “I thought she liked us.”

Robert felt bad that he’d blurted out the truth. “Tom . . . it’s not that she didn’t like you. It’s hard to take care of three more children when you already have four.”

“But she was Mama’s sister! Mama sent us off to stay with her because she was so sick—but I didn’t know she’d die!”

“Tom—I know. I didn’t know she would either. I never even knew that your mother had any children. I will do right by you and your sisters until you decide you’re old enough to be on your own.”

“I guess I should be grateful, but I don’t know what I feel right now.”

“That’s understandable. You’ve had a great loss. Besides, I don’t know how I feel about all of this myself. That’s why we have to call a truce.” Robert held out his hand. “Deal?”

Tom stared down at Robert’s hand, hesitating. After a long minute, he finally shook Robert’s offered hand. “Deal, for now.”

Robert wasn’t reassured by Tom’s answer and tried to remember when he’d been Tom’s age. “We’d better start back to camp. It’s getting dark, and I don’t want to leave the girls alone.” He led the way until Tom fell into step with him, and both were silent on the walk back.