By RhonyLynn Winklepleck
Copyright 1999
Louise McLoud-Morgan sat on the buck board next to her husband of two weeks, nervously fiddling with the collar of her new green dress. Beside her Kid watched out of the corner of his eye as he drove Katie and Lightening down the streets of Saint Joe Missouri.
"Relax Lou," He smiled encouragingly at her, tugging at his own new blue suit, "Everything will work out fine."
She returned the smile uncertainly, "Itıs been so long, Kid." He said, "And I know Jeremiah thinks I abandoned them!" As her dark brown eyes filled with tears, she added, "Maybe heıs right."
"Heıs NOT right, Lou." He responded, his own blue eyes shone with pain. He hated seeing her cry. The tiny brunette stood barely five feet tall, but she was always the pillar of strength "Youıve done everything for those kids, Theresa knows it, and Jeremiah will come around."
"I hope youıre right, Kid." She said quietly. "I hope youıre right."
Saint Joeıs Orphanage hadnıt changed a bit in the eight years since Lou had run away to build a life for Jeremiah and Theresa. The stucco walls that surrounded the old missionary building, were showing their age. As were the buildings themselves. But the yards were still immaculately kept.
Flowers of all kinds decorated the path as the young couple made their way to the Reverend Motherıs office. Watching the children playing in the yard, Louıs memories wandered back to the days following her motherıs death.
"Youıll have to be their Mama now." Their mother had told her on her death bed.
As they entered the building, Louise whispered sadly, "Iım sorry Mama."
The Reverend Mother greeted her visitors warmly. Hugging Lou, who she always considered her "Wandering Rose". "Itıs so good to see you again, My child!" She said, her green eyes gleaming with excitement.
"And you, Reverend Mother." The young woman smiled. "How have you been?"
The older woman smiled kindly, "I am sure you have not come all this way to ask about ME." She told her, "I think youıre more interested in your brother and sister."
Louise ducked her head guiltily, "Canıt I be interested in all three?"
"Youıre kind, Louise." She looked from Lou to Kid, and back again, "You're not here just for a visit, are you?"
"No, Mother," Kid replied, "Lou I mean Louise. And I got married a few weeks back."
"Yes," The Reverend Mother nodded, "We received your letter. I assume you are here for Jeremiah and Theresa?"
"Yes, Mother." Lou answered, "We just bought a farm five miles out of Saint Joe."
Smiling at her favorite child, The Reverend Mother said, "It sounds wonderful. But are you both ready for an instant family?"
Kid answered her enthusiastically, "We have talked this over, and weıre ready. They will both have their own rooms, and plenty to do."
Raising her hand to stop him, Mother sat behind her desk, "Jeremiah will give you problems." She informed them, "Despite our best efforts, he has become quit an angry young man."
"Thatıs my fault," the tears returned to Louıs eyes, "I should have returned for them long ago."
Reaching across her desk, the older woman took the youngerıs hand, "You have a right to a life also, Louise." She told her lovingly, "Jeremiah has to realize that you did the things you did for them. Theresa knows." Seeing Lou begin to smile, she elaborated, "Not a day goes by when she doesnıt mention her brave big sister who cut her hair off, put on boys clothes, and joined the Pony Express."
Kid looked at his petite wife lovingly, "Sheıs has every reason to be proud of her, I know I am!"
Blushing a deep red, Louise tried changing the subject, "Can we see them, Mother?"
"Of course," Standing once again she began for the door. Taking a deep breath, Lou followed, with her husband right behind her.
The play yard was a bustle of activity. Children ran everywhere. Some swinging on the dilapidated old swing set, others playing with marbles and jacks.
While his sister played jacks, Jeremiah McLoud stood off to the side watching. Already tall and strong, the morose thirteen year old boy with curly, light brown hair and green eyes, watched over his sister like a hawk.
As he watched her, the small ten year old girl with waist length, chestnut brown hair and eyes to match, laughed and played with her friends. And he couldnıt help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
"Come play too, Miah!!!" The happy child shouted, waiting expectantly.
He smiled at her, "Some other time, Resa." He answered. As he watched her return to her game, movement to his right caught his eye. As he turned to face the Reverend Mother, he was surprised to find himself face to face with his older sister.
She smiled uncertainly, "Hello Jeremiah."
"Louise." He replied in shock, then turned towards his new brother-in-law, "Kid. What are you two doing here?"
Kid flashed the young boy his most winning smile, "We came to bring you and Theresa to your new home."
"What?" He asked, unsure if he heard right.
Lou answered this time, watching her brotherıs face for a reaction, "Kid and I bought a farm just a few miles outside of town." She began, "You and Theresa will each have your own rooms, but the house needs a lot of work."
"The whole farm needs a lot of work!" Kid joked with his wife, trying to lighten the mood.
Jeremiah looked from one to the other, "Really?" He questioned, "Youıre here to take us home for good?"
"Yes Jeremiah." Louise assured him, "For good." Turning towards the group of children playing jacks, she shouted, "Theresa!!!"
Looking up from the game, the little girlıs expression quickly changed from confusion, to excitement, "Louise! Kid!" She screeched, rushing into her sisterıs open arms. "You came!"
Jeremiah, still holding back from the group, replied, "I better go pack our things."
Taking the youth by the hand and leading him towards the old building the children lived in, the Reverend Mother replied, "Sister Marie has already started packing your belongings."
Swinging Theresa between them, Kid and Lou followed the older woman and the young boy into the building.
"Louise wasnıt kidding," Jeremiah thought ruefully, entering the run down house with his trunk. "This place is a disaster!"
What used to be a beautiful, white, two story farm house with blue trimming, was now a run down shack with busted windows and missing the middle of the three steps into the house.
Kid carried Theresaıs trunk into the large room that served as the living room and dinning room. "Where is Theresa?" Jeremiah asked.
"Helping Lou put the horses up for the night." He answered, "Come on, Iıll show you to your room." The upstairs consisted of a hallway, closet, and three bedrooms. One large room to the left of the stairs, along with the closet for bedding, and two smaller bedrooms to the right. The hard wood floor had recently been cleaned and polished, and had a bright red carpet with a gold checkered design in the middle.
Setting the trunk down, Kid quickly lit the lamps that stood on shelves at either end of the hall way. Helping Jeremiah with his trunk, Kid led the boy to his room.
The room was sparsely furnished. As Kid lit the Karosen lamp on the nightstand, Jeremiah looked around the room. A large bed lay under the window, with the nightstand beside it. Next to the closet door stood a dresser, and across the room was an empty shelf unit. With a blue rug beside the bed, and curtains on the window that matched, it was the nicest place Jeremiah had lived in a long time. Yet he was seemingly unaware of the luxuries of the room and asked Kid, "Whereıs Theresaıs room?"
"Right across the hall." He replied with a smile. When Jeremiah merely nodded and looked away, Kidıs face fell slightly, "Look," He began, "I know youıre angry. That you think Lou left you, but thatıs not the way it was."
"Thatıs surely the way it felt!" He snapped bitterly, "I had to take care of Theresa these last eight years! Where was she?"
Trying to keep his cool, Kid calmly replied, "Trying to save money so she could buy a farm for all three of you." Seeing the anger in his brother-in-lawıs eyes, he added, "And you have no idea the hell she went through all those years. She didnıt come for you sooner because she didnıt want you or Theresa to suffer the way she did."
"We suffered!" He yelled, "We were alone!"
Finally having enough of this boyıs self pity, Kid spat back at him, "You were NOT alone! Did you ever go hungry? Did the Reverend Mother ever left you to someone elseıs mercy? Were you ever hurt? Beaten? Homeless?"
"Well, no." He faltered.
"Lou has been through all that, and worse!" Kid shouted, "And she did it all trying to scrap together enough money to get you and Theresa out of the orphanage!"
Leaving the boy to think this over, Kid stomped out of the room.
Dinner had been quiet, the excited ten year old doing most of the talking, while Jeremiah picked at his ham and beans, casting thoughtful glances now and then at his older sister, and Kid and Lou trying very hard to pay attention to Theresaıs ramblings.
After dinner Kid went out to check on the horses one last time as Lou and Theresa began clearing the table. To everyoneıs surprise, Jeremiah also grabbed up some dishes. "Guess I better start chipping in." He joked nervously when he noticed the surprised looks he received.
Seeing the smile spread on his wifeıs face, Kid happily agreed, "Tomorrow weıre going to a nearby neighborıs to buy some animals, want to come along?"
Jeremiah smiled brightly, "Sure!"
And with that, the family began. Read the next story in the Series
