“Thank you, Mr. O’Brien,” Pastor Radke said sincerely. And with that the service was underway. As with most Sundays, it was a special time of praise and nourishment from God’s Word for Rusty, but her mind was also on something else, or rather someone else, this morning. She finally had a moment with that someone when they were all back at Briarly for lunch.
“I didn’t know,” Rusty whispered so softly to Chase that he had to bend down. Everyone else had gone inside, but Rusty lingered without in order to have a moment alone with her employer. Chase didn’t mind. She looked beautiful in the new dress her mother had had made for her, the very one they had chosen the fabric for on Rusty’s last trip home.
“I didn’t know you were a benefactor at Fountain Creek.” She was still speaking very softly, and Chase stayed bent over to hear her, his eyes on her face.
“Does that bother you?” His voice was quiet too.
“No, I just didn’t know.” She was afraid she might become emotional, but she still had to say it. “You make it possible for those children to have a home, and well, all this time,” she shook her head. “I just didn’t know.” Rusty ran out of words. For a moment she looked into his face and then suddenly shifted just enough to tenderly kiss his cheek. Chase’s brows rose in question, and Rusty dropped her eyes.
“I think you’re wonderful,” she told him by way of explanation and began to turn toward the house. Chase stopped her with a hand to her arm.
“Thank you,” he said when she let her eyes meet his.
Seeing how pleased he was, Rusty was glad she’d said something. She smiled a lavender blaze at him, but Chase didn’t detain her any longer. However, he thought about the kiss off and on for the rest of the day.
“It’s been a wonderful weekend,” Clayton said to Rusty as they took a stroll around the property.
“Yes, it has. You and Mother can surprise me anytime you like.”
Clayton only smiled.
“What train are you taking?”
“The ten o’clock. We’ll get in a little later, but it’s nice not having to rush around this morning.”
“Please hug my sisters and brother for me.”
“I’ll do that. They’ll have a hundred questions for me.”
“Well, tell them I’m doing fine and that they all could write a little more often.”
Clayton laughed. “I’ll tell them, but Clare for one is so busy at Mrs. Wood’s, you probably won’t hear a thing.”
“She told me in her last brief letter that she loves it, and that Mrs. Wood said to tell me hello.”
“She does love it, and Mrs. Wood is a gem. Clare hasn’t heard from anyone overseas yet, but her enthusiasm mounts daily.”
“I’m so happy for her.”
“She’ll be happy for you too,” Clayton said calmly.
“Over what?”
Clay only glanced at the house and then back at his daughter, who looked content.
“I’m leading with my head, Papa, just like you told me, so don’t give Clare any news yet.”
Clayton smiled at her. It was foolish to take Rusty Taggart for granted. Her innocent eyes and impetuous nature made her seem overly protected and naive, but beneath that head of dark red curls was a hardworking mind.
“I will tell Clare and your other siblings that you’re doing fine, because it’s very true.”
Rusty’s smile was warm. “Thank you, Papa.”
With Clayton’s arm around her shoulder, the two strolled back toward the house to join Jackie, Chase, and Quintin in the breakfast room. Rusty felt no sadness when Briarly’s coach took them away an hour later. It had been a wonderful weekend, and her heart was so thankful that there wasn’t room for tears.
38
Two weekends later, near the middle of July, Rusty returned to Manitou for Tibby’s wedding, and her absence proved to be an enlightening time for everyone. Chase thoroughly enjoyed his time with Quintin and found his heart did erratic things when the little boy sought him out over Mrs. Whitley, or when he climbed into his lap and called him Papa, as Rusty had begun to refer to him. But still Chase recognized that something was missing, or rather, someone.
Chase had not wanted to pursue things with Rusty too swiftly after the Taggarts had gone home, but the way he missed Rusty on this weekend could not be ignored. He thought about her constantly, and when Quintin asked about her almost as much, he knew it was time to speak with her. Easier to think about than act upon. Just exactly what was he going to say to her—I want to court you? How do you feel about me? Have you ever pictured yourself married to a widower with a child? All those things seemed so contrived. He lost a great deal of sleep over the weekend, but to his surprise the decision was partially taken out of his hands.
Rusty’s train had brought her back to Briarly on Sunday night, so Monday morning brought business as usual. Whit had made an early run into town and kindly stopped at the post office on the way back. Normally he would have placed the mail on Chase’s desk, but he spotted him in the breakfast room and delivered his correspondence there. On the top of the pile was a personal letter.
“She’s not coming back.” The words were out of Chase’s mouth before he remembered that he was not in his office. He lowered the paper to find both Rusty and Quintin staring at him.
“I beg your pardon?” Rusty said politely.
“She’s—” Chase began, but then his eyes darted to Quintin and he shut his mouth. Rusty assumed that he wished to speak to her privately.
“Are you almost finished, Quin?”
“I have to drink my juice.”
“All right. When you’re through, will you please run upstairs and check to see if you made your bed?”
“You already checked.”
“Oh, did I? Well then, when you’re finished you can wait for me on the veranda.”
The little boy nodded, but he was in no hurry to leave. Completely oblivious to anyone else in the room, he sipped his juice as if he had all day. Rusty’s eyes went to her employer and found him looking very amused. They shared a small smile before Rusty went back to her breakfast and Chase read more of the letter. At least five more minutes passed before Quintin asked to be excused.
“Yes, you may,” Rusty told him and helped him move his chair to leave. She watched as he skipped off but noticed that he turned in the wrong direction. Rusty stood and went to the door.
“Quin,” she called to him. “I thought you were going to be on the veranda.”
“I am,” he stopped and said to her, “but I have to thank Cook.”
Rusty smiled at him. “I’ll find you wherever you end up.”
“All right.”
With that Rusty stepped back into the breakfast room and took the chair immediately to Chase’s right.
“Did you need me, sir?”
“Yes, thank you,” Chase said calmly, thinking it was an odd time for him to wish she would call him Chase. “I’ve had a letter from Mrs. Harding. She’s to be married in a few weeks’ time and will not be returning.”
Rusty’s mouth opened in a most unfeminine way, and Chase chuckled at the sight.
“That’s just the way I felt when I read this letter.” He lifted the paper.
Rusty still could not laugh; she could only think of Quintin.
“Do you think Quintin will be terribly upset?”
Chase’s brows rose. “I don’t think he’ll be upset at all.”
Rusty looked taken aback.
“I can see that I’ve shocked you, Katherine, but the truth of the matter is, I don’t believe he’s given her a thought since you arrived.”
Rusty was at a complete loss. Was that possible? She then remembered the first day she and Quintin had spent together many weeks ago. Yes, it was possible. A child who had been under that much rule would cherish his freedom indeed.
“What will you do?” Rusty finally asked quietly.
“Two options come to mind,” Chase said without elaborating.
Rusty
knew better than to question him. After all, it wasn’t her business—but she did need to tell him that she understood how Mrs. Harding’s departure could affect the situation.
“I’ll understand if you don’t need me to stay the entire summer, Mr. McCandles. I know this changes our original plans.”
Chase studied her and said simply, “That all depends on which option I take. If I hire another companion for Quintin, you’re right—I won’t need you to stay. If I take the other option, however, I’ll need you very much.”
It took Rusty a very brief time to catch his meaning. When she did, she could only stare. She licked her lips and tried to say something. A second later she froze and watched her employer reach up and tuck her hair behind her left ear. He smiled, and she knew it was bright red. Rusty swiftly raised her hand to bring the hair back out, but Chase caught it and held her hand in his own.
“Have I horrified you, Katherine?”
“No,” she said softly, “I’m just so surprised. That is,” she hesitated as a heart-sinking thought struck. “Oh, I see.”
“What do you see?”
“You need a mother for Quintin.”
“You’re not even close,” he told her in no uncertain terms. “This is not about a mother for Quintin. Is that clear to you?”
“I think so.” She was trying to get used to the idea in such a short time.
“But?” he prompted her.
Rusty saw no choice but to be honest. “If that’s the case, it’s even more of a surprise.”
“Why is that?” Chase had to know.
“Aunt Rusty?” Quintin chose that moment to look for her, and Rusty realized they’d been talking for quite some time. She pulled her hand from Chase’s hold, and he let her go. But before she could speak to him or rise, Chase called his son over.
“Come here, Quintin.”
The little boy came right to his father, and Chase lifted him into his lap.
“Mrs. Harding has written me a letter,” Chase wasted no time in saying. “She’s going to be married this summer to a man in South Carolina. She won’t be coming back to us.”
Quintin looked up at his father and then over to Rusty. He looked back at Chase.
“Is Aunt Rusty going to stay with me?”
“That’s what we’re talking about right now. No decision has been made for the present, but I wanted you to know about Mrs. Harding. Won’t getting married be nice for her?”
“Do I know that man?”
“No,” Chase replied, picking up the letter. “He’s a man she’s known for years but hasn’t seen for quite a while. They’re going to be married on July 31.”
“I think you should marry Aunt Rusty,” Quintin said without even looking at the woman. Chase wisely didn’t look at her either.
“Do you?”
“Yes. She could stay with me.”
Chase tenderly smoothed his son’s hair but didn’t comment or question him further.
“I think I’ll go upstairs for a few minutes,” Rusty said, her voice breathless.
Chase wanted to stop her but, seeing how pale she was, wisely didn’t.
“I’ll see you in a little bit, Quin,” Rusty said softly.
She made for the door, the sound of Chase’s voice in her ears as he gave instructions to Quintin. She did not expect Chase to stop her before she could gain the second stair.
“Can we talk tonight?” he asked, both his hand and eyes holding her.
“Yes.”
“Have I ruined your day?”
“No.”
“But you’re upset.”
“I don’t know what I am,” Rusty admitted, telling herself not to cry.
Chase’s thumb stroked the back of her hand, and Rusty’s eyes softened.
“Please give me time, Mr. McCandles.”
Chase smiled. “I’ll give you all the time in the world if you’ll just call me Chase.”
Rusty sighed, her heart needing this lighter subject. “Chase Jefferson McCandles.”
“It’s rather a mouthful, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s easier than Katherine Alexa Taggart.”
Chase relaxed. Her voice was back to normal, and he felt he could at least let go of her hand.
“Quintin and I will go on a walk in the woods or to the stable. Will you come down when you’re up to it and join us?”
“Yes.”
“And we’ll talk tonight.”
“All right. Thank you.”
He had no choice but to let her go, although it was the last thing he wanted to do. She still looked shaken. He comforted himself with the knowledge that they could have an uninterrupted conversation after dinner that evening. What he didn’t know was that Rusty would not join them in the woods before Quintin would need to come back to the house for a personal need or that his mother and stepfather would show up just as he and his son were headed back outside.
“Oh, Quintin,” Nan Capland said for the fifth time. “You’ve grown so much, and Grandma is so proud of you. Look at him, Cap,” she said to her husband, whose full name was John Charles Capland III. That man grinned at the little boy in their midst but didn’t speak.
Quintin smiled up at his grandmother before saying, “I have a watch.”
“You do?”
“I think you’ll recognize it,” Chase put in. He sat across from them on an overstuffed chair, one that would give him a view of the stairs.
Nan looked surprised by this until Quintin pulled the watch from his pocket and held it out for inspection.
“Oh, Quintin, you have the watch! Do you know how proud your father was of this watch? He loved it, and he gave it to you.”
Nan looked across to smile at her son, but his attention was focused on the door. He stood a moment later, excused himself, and went to the hall.
“My mother and stepfather are here,” Chase told Rusty, who had just gained the bottom step.
“Oh.” Rusty’s eyes grew large.
Outside of her family, Briarly had not had company since she’d come. She hated to presume. “Would you like me to go to Manitou for a few days and give you some time alone with them?”
Chase blinked at her, looking slightly shocked. “Do you know how much trouble I would be in if Quintin’s companion didn’t meet my mother?” He shuddered theatrically.
His actions and voice were so dramatic that Rusty laughed her normal, loud laugh and had to slap her hand over her mouth. Chase smiled hugely at her. Just a moment later she heard Quintin’s voice.
“Aunt Rusty, Aunt Rusty,” he cried, dashing into the foyer. “Come and meet Grandma. She’s here to see me!”
Rusty fell in with his enthusiasm without a moment’s hesitation, allowing him to take her hand and lead her to the drawing room. She didn’t count on Quintin’s breach of manners.
“This is Aunt Rusty,” Quintin said as soon as he entered the room. Although she knew he was excited, Rusty nonetheless felt embarrassed when her small charge interrupted the man and woman who were speaking to each other. It grew worse when Cap came to his feet but Nan just sat still and stared at her as if she’d had the shock of her life.
“Hello,” Rusty said. She was smiling but feeling terribly awkward.
“Please allow me to make the introductions,” Chase broke in as he stepped beside her. Rusty turned grateful eyes to him. “Miss Katherine Taggart, please allow me to introduce my mother, Nan Capland, and her husband, John Capland.”
Nan recovered herself and stood, a gracious smile coming to her face.
“How lovely to meet you, Katherine. I can already see that Quintin is very blessed to have you.”
Rusty smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you, and please call me Rusty.”
“Join us, Katherine.” Chase indicated the nearest chair and waited until she sat down.
“I need to find my bear,” Quintin said, coming close to his companion. “I need to show Grandma my bear.”
“All right. I think it must be in
your room.”
Quintin turned to charge from the drawing room, but a very soft word from Rusty stopped him.
“Quintin.”
He spun and caught her look.
“Oh, okay.” He turned to the other adults. “Please excuse me now,” he said to the room at large, and still in an obvious hurry, he turned, moving much more slowly to walk from the room.
Rusty watched him take the stairs at breakneck speed, but he didn’t look back so she could catch his eye. When she turned around, the other three adults were watching her. Her ears felt on fire. She was thankful she’d worn her hair down.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly and sincerely, her eyes telling of her shame. “You must wonder how Mr. McCandles could have ever hired anyone so ill-equipped to care for Quintin. I’ve let much of his good training go by the wayside. I hope you won’t hold it against him. It’s all my fault.”
Chase was on the verge of going to her. He couldn’t stand to see her upset over something that needed no apology. But his mother jumped in ahead of him.
“We weren’t thinking that at all, Rusty,” she said softly. “I’ve never seen my grandson so happy. In light of that, I don’t care if he runs from the room or never remembers to thank me.”
Rusty smiled at her. “You’re too kind, Mrs. Capland.”
“Not at all,” she spoke bracingly. “I only spoke the truth.”
“How long will you be here, Mother?” Chase realized he’d not asked. He also thought Rusty needed to be rescued with a change in subject.
“Until you throw us out,” she returned with her standard reply.
Chase frowned. “I just realized how early in the day it is. When did your train get in?”
“Last night,” Cap answered. “It was late so we stayed in town.”
Mrs. Whitley came to the door of the drawing room and spoke to Chase.