Oh I love Myles' new calling in life! How perfect!!!!! And I'm sure you can pick him out the perfect woman, can't you, Roas?

kav

love myles' plan for the children

wonder if Sue is pregnant again?

cath

Me too!

Great post, Rosa!

What a wonderful plan Myles has!!!

And, I think there's a wonderful woman closer than he thinks!! I also think she would make an excellent teacher for the boys later on!!!

Joy

Thanks for feedback a little bit more, for you

Lucy sat with the door open it was a warm Thursday afternoon and quiet, Alice had gone out with some new friends she had made who were her age.

“It’s not that I mind being with you all the time Lucy” she had said “But sometimes girl, even an old girl like me likes to be around folk her own age”

Lucy tapped the end of her pencil on the counter, nobody had walked or ridden past in the past hour and she yawned. Some scratching outside caught her attention soon after though, thinking it was perhaps mice or worse still rats, she took her broom and went to investigate.

She found the perpetrator behind the building except it wasn’t a mouse or rat, it was a girl, a little girl that reminded Lucy so much or herself when she had been small. The girl looked at Lucy, wide eyed with fright and back stepped a little placing the water butt between them. Lucy realised she was still brandishing the broom leant on it instead and the girl and woman regarded each other for several minutes. Lucy knew that she would have to speak first.

“Are you lost? I don’t remember seeing you round here before”

The girl shook her head and said “No Ma’am”

“You don’t have to call me ma’am” said Lucy not comfortable being addressed as such “I’m Lucy, what’s your name?”

“Faith”

“Do you know where you’re from? Who are you with?”

“New York, I’m from New York”

“That’s a long way from here” said Lucy sternly

“We’s were heading west” she supplied

“Who is we's I mean we?” asked Lucy imitating the child's poor grammer by accident

“The peoples I was with”

“Where are they now?”

Faith shrugged and said “When I woke up this morning theys was gone, all of them”

Lucy sighed and said “Come with me” she nodded and Faith followed a few steps behind as they walked towards the general store and went in.

“Afternoon Lucy” said Allie “It’s quiet today, who’s this?”

“Faith” said Lucy “Did you know of any travellers last couple of days?”

“There were a few, came into town day before yesterday, bought a few supplies, can’t say I saw this little lass with them though”

“Mmm” said Lucy thoughtfully “Will they miss you do you think?”

Faith shrugged and said “No”

“Your ma and pa won’t miss you?” asked Allie surprised, for often children of this age if not particularly wanted or loved had their uses in caring for younger siblings.

“No I wasn’t with them”

“Where are your parents?” asked Lucy

Faith shrugged again and said “Heaven I guess”

“Heaven?” queried Allie “You sure about that?”

“I guess” said Faith “I never had no father and my Mom died a few weeks ago after we left New York, I guess the other families didn’t want me none. I was an extra mouth to feed and all”

Lucy sighed at the injustice of life and said “Well Faith, come back to the telegraph office I’ll see if a mug of coffee doesn’t revive you a bit and then later when I’ve shut for the day, I’ll take you somewhere that might be able to help”

Faith not having any better offers followed Lucy out of the store to the telegraph office as Lucy suggested.

I wonder if Myles is going to have to rethink his home for boys?? Methinks he might have to take in girls too!!!

Joy

another lovely post

cath

Poor Faith! To be abandoned just like that is just cruel to a child. Lovely post!

how can people do that poor faith listen to lucy she's going to help you

“No” said Myles

“What do you mean no?” asked Lucy watching out the window at Faith sitting on the porch steps with her head resting on her elbows.

“No. N-O, what part of no do you not understand?”

“But this farm I thought it was to help children like Faith to have a home, to learn a trade, to have an education, to provide somewhere where they could be safe from harm and clothed and fed and…and…valued as people”

“Yes it was, it is, but it’s for boys, it is to help boys,”

“What about girls? Girls need help as much as boys. And girls are just as likely to be orphaned as much as boys, she deserves better Myles”

“How can I take care of a girl?” he shouted back

“I’m sure you’ll learn” she retorted just as loud

“It’s not a good idea unless I have a live in female care worker is it?”

“Then get one, advertise in the Wisconsin paper”

“I don’t want some old bat coming here and thinking she can rule the roost, my roost”

“You’re impossible and maybe you’re right, what woman in her right mind would want to stay here with you anyway even in the working capacity, I’m sure I don’t” she snapped back and then turned on her heel and walked out taking Faith by the arm as she descended the steps.

Myles stood there watching them leave in the wagon feeling more than mildly unsettled. Was Lucy right?

Of course she's right, Myles!

Well -- it wouldn't have been proper for him to have one little girl there and no woman around. Now, I can think of a very nice arrangement that would handle everything... I wonder if Myles will come to the same conclusion?

kav

good one kav.

I agree with you, Kav!!!

Joy

Thanks. Here is what happens next


Myles caught up with them just before Lucy drove out the gates.

“Wait” he shouted and Lucy pulled the horse to a standstill.

“Wait what?” she replied still disgruntled with him.

“Can you get back down?”

“Why?” she asked

“I want to talk”

“I’m not stopping you, talk”

“Properly I’m not yelling at you while you sit on your wagon and the entire farm can hear what I have to say”

“I don’t mind”

“Well I do”

Lucy sighed and gave an apologetic glance at Faith.

“Here” said Lucy handing Faith down to him and he took the child and set her on the floor where she ran over to a cat who was sitting on the steps. He then gentleman as he was helped Lucy down but she just glared at him. “This better be good Myles” she added scathingly and they walked back to the house.

^^^^^

“Maybe you have a point” he said conceding a little

“What exactly would that be Myles?”

“About Faith, that she deserves as much a good start as Danny and the others…but…”

“I knew there was a but coming”

“Will you let me finish?”

“I suppose so” she said begrudgingly

“I might have been a little rash, or course I want to help, I just don’t know how or if I can”

“Of course you can, you helped Danny, why can’t you help Faith?”

“I’ll help her on one condition”

“What?” asked Lucy shaking her head as she looked at the man opposite her who was more than a little frustrating.

“That you help me”

“I have a job Myles, I can’t be here all day, you know that I have responsibilities, I can‘t take care of her. If you won’t or can’t take her I’ll take her up to Sue and Jack”

Myles winced, he knew exactly what she would tell them about how he wouldn’t take the young girl in.

“How about I advertise in the paper for some help and until I get said help you take her to Sue and Jack’s”

“You mean you’ll take her if you have some help?”

“Yes, but not until then. I can’t Lucy I’m sorry” he said and instinctively and impulsively cupped his hand to her cheek, instantly aware of what he was doing dropped his hand as though he had burnt himself.

“I can take care of myself” piped up Faith who was now standing beside them and had walked silently in the room, bored when the cat ran off

“No you can’t” said Myles and Lucy at the same time and they walked back to Lucy’s wagon

“Something we finally agree on” replied Lucy dryly as she climbed into the wagon and Myles lifted Faith up to sit beside her.

Not really Myles mused sadly to himself, for if she truly agreed with him, she would come to the farm and work alongside him.

Myles, why don't you just tell Lucy how you feel???

Joy

hmmmmmmm it's a big ask for luce to give up the telegraph office to work for myles, maybe alice could help then luce would visit faith and alice..................

cath

FINALLY! Myles has his mind turned around! Go Lucy Go!!!!

Oh, but Myles,you haven't told her that yet! How's she supposed to know?
kav

I'm with Kav! Lucy doesn't read minds!

Em

Thanks. I might not be able to update tomorrow, I have some big commitments tonight and during the day tomorrow, which I am nervous about. If I get a chance to update you know I will.

“So will you?” Lucy asked Jack and Sue who were sitting, holding hands opposite her in their sitting room with Josh and Ethan crawling on the floor at their feet.

Sue looked at Jack who nodded and she replied “We would not turn Faith away, she is more than welcome to stay with us but…”

“But?” asked Lucy alarmed “There’s a but?”

“Yeah” said Jack “This isn’t about what’s right for you, or what’s right for Myles, this is about what’s right for Faith. Do you honestly think it’s in her best interests to stay here with us for a few weeks? To just begin to feel safe…settled and then have to move elsewhere”

“It seems” added Sue “That she’s been moving around a lot lately and her mother had just died, the people she was travelling with didn’t want her, she must be feeling bad and hurting inside, despite her positive disposition”

“Well Myles will just have to take her in now then” replied Lucy exasperated with Myles, Jack and Sue

“Lucy” said Jack gently “Do you really think that Myles has to advertise in the Wisconsin paper?”

“What do you mean?” asked Lucy slowly looking at first at Jack and then at Sue before fixing her gaze at both of them at once.

“He means” said Sue picking up a fretful Josh and soothing him “That are you sure that you are in the place God intended you to be?”

Lucy looked at them nonplussed “I don’t know what you two are getting at. I have a job, independence, my freedom and I have never felt like that before in my life and now you’re asking if that’s what I think I should do with the remainder of my life? I thought when I started the job at the telegraph office that….that was what I had been born to do and now you’re confusing me”

“Then think on it” suggested Jack “Meanwhile Faith can stay with us”

“Jack and I can’t have contented hearts knowing that if she doesn’t stay here she’ll be sleeping rough and have to fend for herself. She’s no more than seven Lucy” Sue said with a great compassion that made Lucy feel as if she was missing something here, something big, important, but she wasn’t sure what it was.

Jack stood as Lucy did and added “Take some time Lucy to think about your life” and then after they bid her farewell he walked her to the door.

She rode off leaving a bewildered little Faith standing on the steps of the Hudson’s farm house. Lucy turned round once before it fell from view and watched as Jack put his hand in comfort on the child’s shoulders and led her into the warm house.

Think, Lucy, think. I can see how hard it would be for her though. She's come so far in such a short time. She doesn't want to lose what she has gained.

kav

lucy you said it yourself....it was a BORING DAY....maybe the day wasn't boring maybe you just didn't like to do the work.....help myles ....help faith

thinking of you tomorrow (sorry missed today since i was at work), hope it went ok

wonderful words of wisdom from jack & sue

cath

Hi I'm back, feeling shattered but I did promise to update if I could as time is ticking on, so I need to be getting on with it.

Lucy had a sleepless night tossing and turning thinking about her childhood, about Faith and about Myles. Why did his touch affect her like it did? She could still feel the imprint of his hand on her cheek now.

^^^^^

Myles was in the telegraph office the next morning wanting to wire the paper in Madison for help. It was awkward they did not make eye contact as she told him Faith had gone to stay at Sue and Jack’s.

“I thought Lucy” said Myles slowly and a little sadly “That she would be better off with you” then he turned on his heel and left.

^^^^

Her day didn’t improve when Allie popped in and said “Lucy you know there are orphanages in Madison that will take the girl, you could drop her off at one of those, it’s only a suggestion”

^^^^^

A week later as dawn broke a distraught, scruffy and unshaven Jack arrived at the telegraph office on a horse, with Sam and Howie riding in behind him.

“Jack!” said Lucy alarmed “What’s wrong?”

yes jack what is wrong?

I finally caught up Rosa! I'm so glad to see the change in Myles and I can only hope he and Lucy will start to actually talk with each other...and finally, what's wrong with Jack?

any chance you could update soon?

unshaven jack i could live with but distraught and scruffy must mean it's not good

cath

Well I could, don't you want the suspense though? "

NO!!!!!!!!!!

and as you said you have a deadline to meet!!!

cath

That is also true, okay you have talked me into it

“Faith and Abby” he replied shortly at Lucy’s puzzled expression added “There was a note from Abby said she was taking Faith back to where she belonged, that Faith wanted Abby to show her the way, I wondered if they had come by this way”

“No” said Lucy feeling responsible for this but knowing all the ‘if only’s’ in the world wouldn’t change a single thing. “Can I help you look?”

“You can help by wiring the local telegraph offices and put out an announcement about two young girls wandering around the countryside by themselves”

“Did they take anything with them?”

Jack grinned, a wry kind of smile and said “My best horse, some food, blanket rolls and such, guess my eldest daughter knows too much”

“How’s Sue?” asked Lucy concerned

“Worried, we all are, it’s not a place for them to be out all by themselves Lucy”

“I know, I’m sorry I feel kind of responsible”

“You are” he replied brusquely, regretting the words as soon as they fell from his mouth and added “Lucy…I’m sorry…I didn’t mean..”

“Yes you did and you’re right. It is my fault, I’ve been doing what Myles used to do”

“And what’s that?” he asked gently despite the urgency he felt to find the two children

“Putting myself first and not the needs of other people”

“You know Lucy, things, life has been difficult for you” he said with a sigh and ran his hand over the back of his neck “It’s never too late to change and you've come so far already, so too has someone else we know, look at Myles….I….I’ve gotta go”

“Take care, all of you” she said and Jack nodded, she watched as he mounted his horse and the three of them rode away, out of town and away from the farm and Anson’s Creek.

Please let them be heading to Myles' place!

thank you for posting, does this mean if i ask often enough you'll put up the whole story????????????????

hope they find the girls soon before jack has a heart attack

cath

I'm sorry you had such a stressful day -- but did you have to take it out on us? Just kidding! I hope Lucy does some soul searching and Myles thinks about phrasing what he wants to say to her the right way and that Faith and Abby are all right. I think Abby is just like her mom -- stubborn and loyal!

kav

I hope that Abby and Faith are okay after all this tie by themselves! And I hope that Abby hasn't sent Faith to an orphanage.

kids!...........who'd have em????

okay lets hope they can find these small, yet well prepared people soon

No Cath, but I have finished writing it so it is only a matter of posting it all
Kav: I was not taking my day out on you It was just the way the posts worked out and I know that you were only teasing me. _
And I hope this post helps to put all your minds at ease, won't do anything for Sue or Jack however



Danny had not joined in the search party but was fishing in the creek, not that he ever caught enough to feed everyone but it was a fun thing to do. He felt secure and at home here with Myles . Since he had come to live at the farm two more boys had joined them and they right at this minute were looking for some namby pamby girl who had run away from home.

He’d been sitting on the bank for some time and had a small collection of fish at his side when he was aware of being watched. He looked around but couldn’t see anyone just trees and bushes. Danny shook his head and decided it was his imagination. When he turned back to his fish however they had gone.

“Hey!” he called standing up “Who’s taken my fish?” There was nothing, but a faint giggle on the breeze and so he added “Look I don’t mind sharing my fish but you know it’s polite to ask first”

The giggling was louder this time and then he heard a horse snort as if it was joining in the mirth of the perpetrators . Finally a blonde girl stepped out from behind a tree holding his fish up.

“Would you like them back?” she asked at the scowling boy

“I know you” he said to her

“I know you too” she replied “You’re the boy Myles, Mr Leland found in Boston called Danny”

“And you…you” He paused and shook his head “I don’t know you’re name but you’re one of Jack Hudson’s kids, in fact you’re probably the one they’re all out looking for, why’d you run away, you had a Mother and a Father who love you, I don’t get it?”

“I didn’t run away, I’m going back when Faith is safe” she said

“Faith?”

Faith then peered round the tree and answered “I’m Faith. I saw you at Mr Leland’s farm. I think I’d like to stay there too but Mr Leland says it just for boys. That’s not fair though”

“I guess not” said Danny looking at the two girls who were obviously several years younger than he was, which made him feel the adult in the situation. “Where you two going? ‘cause you sure haven’t got very far, your Father was up at the farm before dawn looking for you with your brother and some other guy”

“That’s why we’re here” said Abby “ ‘Cause I know he will look for us along the road, ‘cause he’ll think that will be the route I will go and ‘cause he thinks that, that’s why we’re not”

“Oh” said Danny thinking that was rather a confusing explanation. “So where are you going?”

“How do we know we can trust you?” asked Faith

“You don’t” shrugged Danny “Where are you going?”

“I want to go to New York. No one wants me here”

“Why do you think anyone will want you there?” he asked

“I was borned there”

“So, I was born in Boston and no one wants me there, you got folks in New York?”

“No”

“So then what? I’ll tell you shall I? You’ll have to live on the streets like I did but you’re a girl so it’ll be harder for you to stay alive stay away from people who…well who are not as honest and kind as Mr Leland or Mr and Mrs Hudson, that’s what will happen to you”

“You think I should stay?”

“I know you should stay. I know that you’ll have a much better home here than on your own on the streets with no one to watch out or care whether you live or die. I’ve been there, I nearly died and if Mr Leland hadn’t found me last winter I would be dead now. You should stay”

“My parents are gonna be so mad with me though” said Abby who had gone quiet during the conversation between Danny and Faith.

“I think” said Danny “That they will be relieved that you are okay and you should never forget how much they love you or how lucky you are to have them”

“For a boy and I have a lot of brothers” said Abby slowly “You speak a lot of sense”

“Come on” said Danny “I’ll walk you back home how’s that sound?”

“Okay, but let me get the horse, it’s Dad’s favourite and best”

“You took his best horse?” asked Danny “Well you know he might be cross after all, if you did that”

Abby laughed nervously and walked alongside Faith and Danny back to the Hudson farm

it was worth asking about all the posts, i'm one of those who peeks at the end of a book, which obviously i can't do here!!!!!!!!!!!!!


danny is very wise and speaks the truth, i'm sure jack and sue will hug them all in relief that they are safe

cath

Jack and the search party which included Myles arrived back at the Hudson farm after nightfall with no sighting or news of the two missing girls. The men were tired and weary and Jack had promised some nourishing stew for their help in the search.

He stopped stock still on the threshold of the kitchen at the scene before him of his wife, his mother, and his children, minus the babies but with Faith sitting round the table eating supper. The children looked up and then down again and Sue followed their gaze up and met with her husband’s dark unreadable expression.

He looked away from Sue and said “Abby” Abby stood and looked down at the floor waiting for a punishment to follow. “Come here” he said in a tight voice.

Abby looked back at Sue who with an inclination of her head told Abby to do as Jack had requested. She walked woodenly slowly to her father and stopped directly in front of him.

“I’m sorry” she whispered “It was…Faith…and I…just wanted to help”

Jack knelt down, his eyes had filled with emotion and he blinked rapidly to clear them as he pulled his eldest daughter into his arms for a hug, to reassure not only her, that he had forgiven her but also to reassure himself that she was alright, unharmed, alive and back where she belonged.

ahw how sweet....i knew jack couldn't be to mad at her at that moment you are just glad you have her back home

he is so sweet and loving

cath

Danny was the perfect person to find the girls!! He's been there, done that, and knows how difficult and dangerous it can be!!! I love the forgiveness and love Jack showed Abby!!!

Now, Lucy, I hope you're thinking hard on this!! You would make a wonderful teacher and you love children!! And, it would definitely be more interesting than the telegraph office!!!

Rosa, sorry you are having a hard time right now!! Thinking about you!!!

Joy

Just catching up! I sure missed a lot. Great posts! I'm glad Faith and Abby returned safely and that Jack reacted so lovingly towards Abby upon her return. I look forward to more!

what a wonderfully sensible child danny is nice work lad!

and naturally jack was a 'glad you are safe' kind of dad and not a 'come here and let me whack you for scaring us' kind of dad

I'm coming to like Danny! Great job with the plotline!!!

Myles must be so proud of Danny! And he was the perfect person to find Abby and Faith, since he could talk from experience. Phew! Now what about Lucy's dilemma?
kav

Thanks for feedback


Lucy watched as a number of formidable women disembarked off the stage coach and climbed into the wagon that was being driven by Bobby up to Myles’ farm. He helped the last one up and looked at her and winked.

“I can’t believe they have applied for the position”

“Just a thought Luce but why haven’t you?” he commented casually

“Why haven’t I what?” she asked

“Applied for the position” he said before turning to the applicants and saying “Righto ladies, it’s a bit of a bumpy ride up to the farm but you’re in the capable hands of Bobby Manning”

^^^^^

Myles looked out into the fire it had been a disappointing day, none of the five applicants he had short listed for the position had seemed suitable and now as there was no transport until morning when he and Bobby would escort them back to Mason’s Ridge so that they could catch the train to wherever they had come from.

There was an unexpected knock upon the door and he slowly, tiredly went to answer it.

“Lucy?” he asked peering into the darkness at the figure before him “What are you doing here?”

“I know it’s probably too late, that you have employed one of the women that Bobby brought up here this morning but I wanted…I wondered if you would consider me for the job?”

Good for you, Lucy!!!

Joy

finally lucy, it took you long enough

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!


cath