help me. I was taking the train to meet my elderly great-aunt in California—”
“California!” Mrs. Drake frowned. “That’s quite a ways to travel alone.”
“Yes, well, I placed my reticule in my lap where I was sure no one would dare take it, but when I awakened it was gone. I’m sure that man sitting across the aisle stole it. To think he got close enough to steal my money and I never even felt it!”
“How unnerving! I’m sorry, dear, but what can I do?”
“I thought perhaps you might let me work for you so I can pay my room and board. It would just be until I’m able to get more money somehow.”
“I wish I could.” Suddenly the woman froze with some sudden thought. “Do you like children?”
“What?”
“I know of a job for you if you like children but— Oh, what time is it?” Mrs. Drake popped open her small pocket watch. “We just might be able to catch them.”
“Catch who?”
“The children.” The woman rounded the desk to survey her carefully. “Yes, I think you’ll do perfectly. Is that your only bag?”
Lorelei glanced down at her traveling bag. “Yes.”
“Good. You won’t take up much room.” Mrs. Drake grabbed her hat from the stand and opened the door. “Come on. We have to run to catch them.”
Lorelei followed her out the door and down the porch steps at a trot to keep up with her rapid pace. “But, Mrs. Drake, I really don’t understand. Where are we going? Who are these children and what sort of job is it?”
“I’m sorry. I get rather scattered when I’m in a rush.” The woman darted across the street with Lorelei at her heels. “The position is with a traveling preacher and his wife. They are very good friends of mine. James takes his family with him on his circuit once every few months or so. They’re going with him this time. Usually the young woman down the street goes with them to help see to the children, but her father is sick so she can’t go. James and his wife, Marissa, couldn’t find anyone else on short notice.”
“So I’m supposed to replace their neighbor?” Lorelei asked breathlessly.
“Yes, if we can catch them. They were supposed to be leaving now,” Mrs. Drake said. “Watch that hole in the road.”
Lorelei veered away from the hole just in time to save herself from a sprained ankle. “You said he’s a traveling preacher. Where are they traveling?”
“That’s the beauty of it, Miss Wilkins. They’re going farther west. Not to California, mind you but— Oh, there’s the wagon. Help me wave it down.”
Lorelei lifted her free hand to wave at the retreating covered wagon. The little boy who was practically hanging out the back of the wagon waved back with a grin, then turned around. He must have yelled something to his parents because the wagon pulled off the road and stopped. Mrs. Drake caught Lorelei’s arm and led her around the wagon to meet an attractive young couple. They listened patiently to Mrs. Drake’s breathlessly halting explanation and introduction.
Marissa Brightly smiled down at Lorelei, though her brown eyes showed compassion. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Miss Wilkins, but I can’t help feeling this is all part of God’s plan.”
“It certainly is. We’d be delighted to have you join us,” James said. “I know that you want to get to California as soon as possible, but we are heading farther west and would be glad to pay you a small salary. Once you have the financial ability to continue your journey, we would send you on with our blessing.”
Marissa leaned forward. “Please, say you’ll come.”
Lorelei bit her lip for a moment, then smiled. “I suppose I will. I have nothing to lose and I think I’ll enjoy traveling with you very much.”
“Good,” James said with a satisfied nod. “Let me help you into the wagon.”
Lorelei thanked Mrs. Drake for her help, then followed James to the back of the wagon where the little boy she’d seen earlier peeked out from the large hole in the canvas. “Pa, is she coming with us?”
“She sure is,” James answered as her traveling bag disappeared inside. “Move out the entrance so she can get in, Hosea.”
Once inside, Lorelei glanced around to take stock of her surroundings and froze. “Are all of these children yours?”
“Yes. Starting with the oldest, there is Henry, Julia, William, Hosea and Lacy. Children, Miss Lorelei will be traveling with us. Mind her as you would your Ma and I. I’ll leave y’all to get acquainted.”
Each child lifted a hand when their name was called as though their father was taking attendance. They stared at her as she found a seat near the rear of the wagon on a cushioned wooden chest. She stared right back at them. Five children. She was going to be taking care of five children. She hadn’t even had any siblings growing up. What was she going to do?
The wagon started abruptly, and she fell off her seat onto the wagon floor. A few stifled gasps echoed under the canvas roof as the children waited for her reaction. They looked so shocked that she burst out laughing. That somehow gave them permission to, as well. As they laughed, relief settled into her bones just as tentatively as she settled back on her seat.
She was on her way again after only a momentary delay. Although her trip had been a disaster in some ways, it had been successful in its main goal. She’d barely thought about Sean since she’d left Peppin and certainly wouldn’t have a chance anytime soon, now that she was surrounded by five children. She tried not to wonder if he even cared that she’d left or what he thought about possibly never seeing her again. He’d probably been indifferent, or worse: relieved.
No, though the decision had been made on the spur of the moment, she knew she’d made the right choice in leaving. She only wished she’d made that decision sooner. If she hadn’t wanted so badly to prove she wasn’t a flighty, insincere heartbreaker, she might have done the right thing with Lawson a long time ago. She should have trusted her instincts from the beginning instead of spending so much time overthinking things. Usually her first thoughts on a subject were clearest anyway. She shook her head. That was in the past. She could finally look forward to a future without Sean’s distracting presence. In the meantime, it seemed she had a job to do.
The chortles finally died down enough for her to ask, “Who wants to play a game?”
All five hands eagerly went up. She grinned. Her new life without Sean O’Brien was going to be a cinch.
* * *
There she was—Lorelei Wilkins. Sean slid from his mount, then put a calming hand on Jericho’s nose to keep him quiet as they crept through the woods toward the banks of the river. He ought to walk right out into the open and give her a piece of his mind. That’s what he’d been planning to do for the two days it had taken to find her. Now that he’d found her, he decided to take a moment to gather himself.
Through the green veil of leaves, he could see her peaceful expression as she sat innocently reading under a nearby weeping willow. He noticed the soft smile at her lips and the dark curve of her downcast lashes. For some reason only one thought came to mind—she hadn’t married Lawson. Relief lowered his tense shoulders for an instant before he frowned. It shouldn’t matter to him that she was no longer engaged. It didn’t matter to him. The relief he felt at seeing her came only because it meant his task was nearly complete, and he’d soon be able to return home. Nothing more.
He gave a dutiful nod and began moving toward her. Suddenly she tossed her book aside. The soft hum of a melody drifted through the air as she practically danced into the river. He froze, befuddled yet transfixed by the sight. Her well-trained soprano arched over the quiet woods into the first lilting verse of “Beautiful Dreamer.” He was barely aware of leaving Jericho to walk quietly toward the woman wading in