Her Motherhood Wish

Tess saw them and waved. The tall women left a group of older children working in the garden and crossed the yard. “Well, this is a surprise. One of the girls saw your wagon coming and told me a family had arrived, but I see that’s not the case after all.”

A surge of longing flowed through Callie. Her greatest wish was to have a family. The fact that she, Chip and the children had been mistaken for one was understandable. Jasper and Ruby, with their golden locks, did bear a resemblance to her, and the boy’s eyes were the same sapphire-blue as Chip’s.

Chip hopped from the wagon. “When I learned that Callie was coming this way, I offered her a ride. Along the way, we came across these children and discovered they’d been orphaned this very morning. We couldn’t think of a better place to bring them.”

Tess’s hand flew to her throat. “The poor dears. All our beds are full, but we’ll make do until you get the new ones built, Chip.”

Callie glanced from Chip to Tess and back again. “Your next job is here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Chip shrugged. “It didn’t come up.”

She chuckled. “I’ll have to remember that you’re not the most forthcoming of gentlemen. All that aside, I’m glad you’ll be making beds for these precious children.” She turned to Tess. “This fine young man is Jasper, and the pretty girl in my lap is Ruby. Children, this nice lady is Mama Tess.”

Jasper piped up. “She’s real tall.”

Tess nodded and spoke with her characteristic mix of efficiency and warmth. “That I am. Tall enough to help you down, Jasper.” She lifted her arms, and he allowed the orphanage owner to assist him.

Chip had walked around the wagon. He reached for Ruby. “Come to me, princess.”

Princess. Callie heaved a silent sigh. Could Chip have said anything sweeter? He would make all those children he planned to have a terrific father.

Ruby went willingly into Chip’s arms. He shifted her onto his hip and offered his free hand to Callie—along with a knee-buckling smile. “Your turn.”

An unexpected wave of shyness washed over her. “Thank you, but I’ve got it.”

“I’m sure you do, but I’m here if you need me.” The rich timbre of his voice, coupled with his kindness, was her undoing. She didn’t need his help, but she certainly wanted it.

“It would be easier if I had assistance.” She took his hand. He clasped hers tightly as she navigated the sizable spaces from the wagon bed to the wheel’s hub and from there to the ground below. Much to her delight, he didn’t let go until several seconds after she’d completed her descent, giving her hand a squeeze—and her a wink—as he did. The handsome man possessed so much charm he was dangerous.

A slender young girl, around nine years old, sidled up to Tess. “I took the last of the gingersnaps out of the oven, Mama. What would you like me to do next?”

“I think these two youngsters might be eager to sample your baking, Lila. What do you say, Jasper? Would you and your sister like to go inside with my daughter and have a cookie?”

The boy cast a quizzical glance at Callie.

She nodded. “It’s fine.”

Uncertainty crinkled his brow. His gaze bounced between Callie and Chip. “You’re not gonna go off and leave us, are you?”

Chip was quick to answer. “I have an errand to tend to, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“What about you, Miss Callie? Ruby needs you.” The boy put on a brave front, but clearly he was scared, too.

“I don’t want to leave, but this isn’t my home.” Although she hoped it would be, she didn’t know what her future held.

Tess faced Jasper, stooping to put herself on his level, and spoke in a reassuring voice. “Your new friends will be here for you. Mr. Chip is building furniture to fill the rooms in Jack and Jill House so we can invite more children like you to come and live with us, and Miss Callie is going to be working here, too.”

“I am?” The words had slipped out before Callie could stop them. “But you haven’t even interviewed me yet.”

“That—” Tess straightened and waved a hand dismissively “—is entirely unnecessary. I’ve watched you when you visit your brother. Your love of the children is evident, and that’s my top priority. I can teach you everything else you need to know.”

“Thank you.” She’d always wanted children to shower with love. Now she’d have them.

Chip set Ruby down, and the youngsters followed Lila inside. He looked at Callie, one eyebrow raised. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here for a job interview. I thought you were just visiting your brother. And you said I’m not forthcoming?”

She ignored the teasing gleam in his eyes. The jovial man had a disturbing ability to weaken her defenses. She’d spent the past six months putting him and his endearing ways out of her mind. She responded with feigned detachment. “I wasn’t sure I’d get the job, so I saw no reason to mention it.”

Tess folded her arms and smiled. “I didn’t realize you two were so well acquainted.”

Callie rushed to answer, eager to dispel any false impressions. “We’re not. Close, that is. I helped Chip with his orders a few times when he came into the Blair brothers’ lumberyard, and we went to lunch once, but that’s all.”

“I see. Now, what can you tell me about the children?”

Chip quickly filled in Tess on how they’d come across Jasper and Ruby and made the decision to bring them to the Double T.

“What did you find when you went in search of their father?” Tess asked Chip.

Callie had been wondering the same thing.

He cleared his throat. “It’s, um, not a pleasant tale, nor one fit for a lady.”

“Be that as it may,” Tess countered, “since Spencer and I are taking the children in, I need to know what took place.”

Chip rubbed the back of his neck. “When I got close enough to assess the situation, their father’s wagon was fully engulfed in flames. The killers were nowhere to be seen. They must have ridden off, as Jasper said. Since I didn’t know for sure or have any idea how many people were involved in the holdup, I approached cautiously. Jasper told us afterward that he’d seen two men and one woman, but all I saw were footprints. The trio took the horses and left the wagon’s contents strewn all over the ground, evidence of a hasty search.”

“What were they after?” Tess asked.

Callie blurted the answer. “Jewels.”

He jerked his head toward her. “How did you know?”

“Jasper told me his father was on his way to Placerville to open a jewelry shop. If the crooks knew about that, it makes sense that’s why they’d come after him.”

He nodded. “Yes. I found a letter to that effect in his pocket from his new landlord.”

“Was he still...in the wagon?” Callie dreaded the answer, but she had to know.

Chip shook his head. Tightness around his eyes and mouth showed his anger, but his voice was level. “I found Mr. Tate tied to the trunk of a tree a short distance from the wagon. Based on the number of cuts and bruises he’d sustained, it was clear that before they shot him, his killers roughed him up in an attempt to get him to tell them where to find the jewels.”

Callie’s eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She must remain focused on the children and their needs. Thanks to her new job, she’d be here to help them move beyond this tragedy and find happiness once again.

“I’m going to head up the hill now and see that Mr. Tate receives a proper burial. I’ll stop by the sheriff’s office afterward and report the crime to the deputy.”

Tess took charge, as was her way. “I’d like you to ask Spencer to provide a couple of ranch hands. They can help with the task and ensure that you’d have backup if the murderers return to the scene of the crime. We’ll have our workers keep a lookout for any suspicious activity here at the Double T, too. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the children.”

“I’ll talk with Spencer and get underway.” Chip strode toward the barn.

Callie’s chest tightened. “You don’t really believe the children are in danger here, do you? It seems to me this would be the safest place possible.”