“No.” The lad’s lip quivered. “The bad people left us here and made Papa drive away, but what if they come back? I gotta keep Ruby safe.”
Chip’s features tightened, but he spoke with admirable calm. “Ruby’s a nice name. What’s yours?”
“Jasper.”
“That’s a great name, too. You said the people took your father, Jasper? When was that?”
The young fellow shrugged. “Not too long. One of the bad men hollered to the others and told them to get back on their horses when you come along.”
Thank the good Lord they’d shown up when they did. These children could be in danger. It sounded like their father was. Callie joined Chip, cradling the frightened girl to her chest. “Do you know where they went?”
“Over there.” Jasper pointed to the north, where a cloud of white smoke crested the trees.
Callie inhaled sharply. Something was on fire!
Chip leaned over, putting himself on the boy’s level, and spoke with such tenderness that Callie stifled a sigh. “I need you to stay here with my friend Miss Callie while I look for your father. Will you do that?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good.” Chip straightened, assumed a take-charge manner Callie found reassuring and spoke beside her ear. “I don’t like leaving you and the children alone, but I have no choice. Take them back behind that log—” he angled his head toward the downed tree where Jasper and Ruby had been hiding “—and keep out of sight until I come back.”
Although she did her best to keep her voice level, it cracked. “I’ll do that. What about you? They’re sure to be armed.”
“I have what I need.” He flipped open his jacket, revealing a revolver strapped to his hip.
Callie nodded. “Go on then. We’ll be fine.”
He left, and she hustled the children to their hiding place. She held Ruby in her lap and pulled Jasper to her side.
“What’s the tall man’s name?” the boy asked.
Callie replied in a hushed voice, using the informal manner of address preferred by the owners of the Double T orphanage, where she hoped to work. “Mr. Chip.”
“I never heared that name before.”
“I’d never heard it, either, until I met him.” It had to be a nickname, since his parents had given his brothers longer names. “I like your name. Did you know Jasper is a special stone?” If she could keep him talking, perhaps the traumatized boy would relax.
He scoffed. “’Course I do. Papa told me. He makes pretty things out of stones like that.”
“Oh, is he a jeweler?”
“Yep. He’s gonna start a jewelry store up in Placerville. Have you ever been there?”
“I live there.” But if her interview went well, she’d be moving to Shingle Springs.
Jasper’s face pinched with worry. “When will Papa and Mr. Chip come back?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. We must be patient.”
“Why did the bad people take him?”
She wished she knew. “I’m sure we’ll find out shortly.”
The rapid-fire questions continued until Chip returned. Alone. Callie approached him with Ruby on her hip, eager for good news.
Jasper raced around the log and faced Chip, with his legs spread and arms folded, scowling. “Why didn’t you bring Papa back? You said you would.”
Chip squatted and rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder. The kindhearted man spoke with such compassion that Callie’s eyes misted. “I looked for him like I said I would, but I’m afraid I have some sad news, Jasper. Your papa won’t be coming back. He’s...gone.”
The boy’s face paled. “You mean he’s dead, don’t you?”
Blood rushed in Callie’s ears, drowning out all other sounds, much as it had the day the robbers burst into her parents’ house and took their lives all those years ago. She clutched Ruby to her and pressed a kiss to the girl’s mass of blond curls.
No, Lord, no! How could You let this happen to these precious children?
She drew in a calming breath. Giving way to sorrow would do no good. The days ahead would be difficult ones for the children, but things would work out for them, as they had for her.
With her composure restored, she became aware of her surroundings once again. Chip stood nearby, holding the brokenhearted boy tightly, his features drawn.
Ruby clung to Callie, soaking her shoulder with tears. How much did the darling girl understand? She couldn’t be more than two or three years old. How could she grasp the harsh realities the way her brother had?
Jasper had told Callie about his mama going to heaven not long after Ruby learned to walk. With their father gone, too, they were orphans. Callie could empathize with their pain, as could Chip. How like the Lord to put the two of them on the road at the precise time Jasper and Ruby had been left alone.
Chip set the boy down, held his small hand and looked into Callie’s eyes. “I suggest taking our young friends to the Abbotts’ place. I know space is limited, but from what Spencer said, Tess won’t turn away a child in need.”
“I think that’s our best option.” While life in an orphanage was not ideal, the bighearted owners gave the children in their care a nice place to live, plenty of food in their bellies and a whole lot of love. If the couple hired her, she’d be able to look out for Jasper and Ruby during their first days as orphans. In time, smiles and laughter would replace tears and sorrow, as they had for her after Mom and Pop Marshall had taken her in.
Callie inclined her head toward the area where the children’s father had lost his life. “Do you need to tend to anything before we leave?”
“I saw to the most pressing matters. I’ll come back as soon as I can to finish the job.”
Since she saw no sign of smoke, he must have extinguished the fire. Without tools or a wagon, there would have been little more he could do. She’d get the details later. “We should get going. The sooner we get the children there, the better.”
“You’re right.” He scanned the area. “I’m fairly certain we’re alone now, but we don’t want to encounter any...company en route.”
They returned to the wagon. Jasper sat on the buckboard’s seat between Chip and Callie, putting on a brave front that was at odds with his red-rimmed eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. Ruby sat in Callie’s lap, trembling.
Jasper broke the lingering silence. “Where are you taking us?”
Chip answered. “To a place where some nice people will look after you.”
“What kind of place?”
“It’s called the Double T, and I think you’ll like it.” Chip sent the inquisitive boy a warm smile. “There will be plenty of other children to play with.”
Jasper’s brow furrowed. “Is it one of them orph’nages? Papa told me ’bout them. He said they’re cold and dark and stinky.”
Callie hastened to reassure the misguided boy. “The Double T is nothing like that. The buildings are big and blue, and there are lots of windows to let in the sunlight. Each child has a comfortable bed, a wardrobe full of clean clothes and plenty of delicious food to eat. Outside, there are horses and lots of cows. My brother, Isaac, works there. He teaches the children how to ride horses.”
Jasper eyed her with suspicion. “Are you fibbing?”
“Not