Chapter 11

Chapter 11

All Robert saw was an avalanche of cream-colored whiteness coming towards him, then a puff of cloudy flour flew into his eyes. When he was able to see again, his sister stood in front of him with flour halfway on her face and dress. “Violet? What is happening here?” He spit out a mouthful of flour and dug a rag from his pants pocket, then began to wipe the flour from her face.

He thought Miss Emmett had everything under control. Apparently, she was going to go the way of the rest of the caretakers. He sighed. “Go up to your room and change your dress and clean up.”

“I didn’t try it,” she told him, shame covering the part of her face that stuck out. Chocolate covered her cheeks along with the flour that he had tried to scrape off.

“What’s done is done.”

“I’ll help her,” Elijah spoke up.

Robert watched as the boy followed his sister up the steps then he turned to Miss Emmett. She had turned away, her back to him while her shoulders were shaking. Had he spoke that loud that he scared the woman? He didn’t mean to frighten anyone, let alone Madeline.

Striding across the room, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Miss Emmett. Don’t cry. It looks like things got out of hand, but they will get better.” He really didn’t want to lose her. “You just got here. Violet takes time to get used to. She’ll do better. I promise you.” Even though in his heart he knew better. Violet was like dynamite. He never knew when she would explode.

He was desperate to keep his new caretaker. He didn’t want to let her go. Not now, not when he was just getting to know her. A realization hit him hard. It wasn’t all about Violet, was it?

Deep down he knew that even though he just met Miss Emmett there was something that had connected to her right from the start. He was drawn to her like nobody’s business. Robert wanted time to get to know her better and was she sobbing?

Her shoulders were shaking so much as sobs came from her throat. She had both hands over her mouth when he slowly turned her to him. He was about to pull her into his arms to calm her down when his eyes connected to hers. They were bright and lit up with something he had seen before.

What was going on? She was holding back laughter?

She was laughing at him getting dumped with a bowl of flour. Now that he had time to digest the whole thing, it had to be rather comical from her point of view.

He grinned. The more he did so, the harder her shoulders shook. Robert could not for the life of him help himself. He roared with laughter. Miss Emmett removed her hands from her mouth and did the same. Tears ran down her cheeks as he looked on and shook his head.

She had a way about her that made everyone else in the room feel her glowing reaction to the circumstances surrounding her. How did he get so lucky? He reached out and touched her cheek, unaware he did so.

She slowly brought her hand up, resting it on his. “I didn’t mean to laugh.”

“Yes, you did.”

She snorted. That made him fling his head back and laugh harder.

When he stopped laughing and looked into her eyes, they were filled to the brim with unshed tears, ready to spill over at any moment. He took his other hand and ran a finger over the one that fell down her cheek. She sniffed and snorted and they both wound up laughing again. He grabbed her other hand and held it in his. Both of their hands were intertwined as they laughed and neither one realized how they held hands.

Until Elijah came into the room. “Madeline? This is all my fault.”

Madeline quickly sobered. She realized at that moment she was facing Mr. Adams and he had both her hands in his. She pulled back. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He shrugged. “I didn’t mind,” he told her, which brought a smile to her cheeks.

She moved towards Elijah. “Why are you taking the blame for this fiasco, Elijah?”

He stood in front of her looking up, his chin quivering. “If I hadn’t stole the chocolate and gave most of it to Violet, she wouldn’t have gotten so crazy. As soon as she ate it, she started acting all nervous and laughing in a way I never seen before.”

Robert joined in their conversation. “If Violet gets too much sugary food, she seems to speed up and gets hard to control. I’ve spoken to the doctor about the situation and he didn’t really think there was anything we could do except keep her sugar to a minimum.”

“It wasn’t sugar, it was chocolate.”

Madeline tousled Elijah’s hair. “Chocolate has sugar in it.”

Robert got down to Elijah’s eye level. “I don’t allow stealing in my house, Elijah. You’ll have to turn yourself in and take the consequences.”

“Like an outlaw would do?” His innocent question had Robert confused. He knew there was more to Elijah’s story, but he wasn’t sure of the details.

“Elijah? I think we should be honest with Mr. Adams and tell him the truth about everything. We are guests in his house.”

The boy turned to Robert. He found it difficult to look in the boys eyes. Eyes that were scared and yet brave enough to stand up like a little man and talk to him. “Go ahead, son. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I just wanted to be an outlaw. Like my father. He was an outlaw. I wish I knew where he was but I don’t think he’ll ever come back.”

Madeline lifted a hand in the air. “It’s time I tell you the truth, Elijah. I’m not sure if your father really was an outlaw. I told you those stories so you wouldn’t be so upset that he left you at the orphanage.”

Robert watched as the boy rolled his eyes. “I know you were storytelling, Madeline. Everyone knows that. I wanted him to be an outlaw so I could be one too. Now that I’m here in Cooper’s Ridge, no one is an outlaw any more. Everyone is redeemed, just like you said. Since I was never bad, I thought if I stole the chocolate I could be bad like an outlaw and then redeem myself and be good just like everyone else.”

Madeline, who was ready to say something, snapped her mouth closed, shocked at his admission.

Elijah looked into Robert’s eyes, holding his chin up like a little man. “Am I going to jail?”

Robert shook his head. “No. I do think we need to get this over and done with though. You and I will go to the mercantile and tell the owner what you did.”

“Madeline said we’d go tomorrow.”

Robert shook his head. “I don’t believe this can wait. It’s time to face the consequences like a man, Elijah. After today, your outlaw ways are going to be over, right?”

Elijah nodded, his eyes huge. “I’ll never do wrong again.”

“Then let’s move on out, son. It’s time to face the music.”

Madeline’s eyes were on the two of them as they walked down the hallway and out the front door. Robert was hoping she wouldn’t try to interfere, after all, the boy just needed a firm hand now and again.

They’d have to come to an agreement. When Elijah needed disciplined, he should do it, but when Violet was misbehaving, then she should take over.

The thought of what he told himself caused Robert to freeze in his spot. He was halfway across the street when it hit him. He was thinking about long term after only knowing a woman for two days!

What had happened to him? Maybe he needed a good night sleep because he was starting to behave like a man starving for affection.

“Are you all right, Mr. Adams?”

Elijah’s voice struck him hard and he pulled himself out of his crazy thinking and started walking again. “I’m fine. Let’s get this over and done with.”

When Elijah saw the sheriff walking into the mercantile, he slowed down. “I am going to jail, Mr. Adams, aren’t I?”

“It just so happens the sheriff is going to the same place we are. But maybe it’s best the law knows about your crime, too. It’s best to come clean. Do you mind calling me Robert? Even Smithy is better than Mr. Adams.”

“That’s what Madeline calls you.”

“Well, we’ll set her right too. Now, let’s face the music like a man, Elijah. You go in first.”

Robert watched with pride as Elijah marched up to the counter, his stride forceful. The counter top was taller than him. The sheriff was leaning against it, but made room for the boy. He nodded to Robert, then stared at the boy.

The shopkeeper looked at Robert, who nodded, then motioned to Elijah. “What can I do for you, boy?”

“I’m here to admit a crime,” he said, his voice so serious it caused Robert to hold his breath.

The shop owner narrowed his eyes. “What kind of crime?”

“I stole a big chunk of chocolate from the bin earlier today. Hid it in my vest pocket and I came to apologize and admit my wrongdoing. I ate it so I can’t give it back. If I go to jail, do I have to spend the night alone in jail? I am scared of the dark sometimes.”

Robert was so proud and yet so disturbed by his admission. The boy needed a father figure in his life.

The sheriff crossed his arms. “Well, son. Since I’m the law in this town, I think I came along just in time.”

Elijah’s eyes got huge. “In time for what? Are you going to tie me up and arrest me?”

“Not today. But I imagine you’ll have to work off the cost of the chocolate if the shopkeeper agrees.”

The mercantile owner nodded, then gave Elijah another hard glance. “Tomorrow morning you be here at eight sharp. I’ll put you to work for the morning. You agree, Smithy?”

“I think that’s a good punishment. What do you think Elijah?”

He looked surprised that his opinion was being asked. “I didn’t think I’d get a choice.”

“Well, we’re curious to know if you think this will change your outlaw ways? It’s not easy being an outlaw.”

The sheriff watched the whole conversation and kept quiet. Robert knew he’d get a kick out of Elijah’s theory of outlaws. It was best to squelch the whole thing before it got too serious. Like stealing in order to redeem himself. “Elijah, how about going out on the porch and waiting for me. I’ll be right out.”

“Yes, sir.” He scooted down the aisle and the door slammed after him.

“This better be good,” Sheriff Mac told Robert.

“It is interesting. The boy needs some help. He’s an orphan that nobody wants. Came on the orphan train.”

“We already know that. The woman is trying to find him a good home. Too bad there’s really no one here in Cooper’s Ridge who can give him one right now. I’m afraid he’ll be disappointed.”

It made Robert realize right then that if there was no home for the boy, then he’d have to go back to the orphanage. He sure hated to see that happen. “He wanted to be an outlaw so that’s why he stole the chocolate. Now he can be redeemed like everyone else here. The kid just wants to fit in somewhere.”

“He sure did a heck of a job,” Sheriff Mac teased. “It took guts to march on in here and face up to his crime. Not even grown men are willing to do that.”

“You tell him that, Sheriff. I have my hands full with Violet. But at least Miss Emmett is a huge help. I figured I’d help with the boy as much as I can since she’s doing me such a big favor helping me with my sister.”

The sheriff grinned. “Aren’t you paying her to take care of Violet?”

“Yes. But -”

“Ah huh! I see now. Well, good luck with that, Smithy. You deserve some happiness.”

Before Robert left the store, he looked from the sheriff to the shop owner. By this time tomorrow the story here would be so twisted they’d have him marrying the woman he hired! He gave them both a warning look. “Keep this conversation amongst ourselves.”

“Sure will,” he heard one of them mumble, then laugh out loud.

Robert left the store with a feeling of dread twisting around him like a snake. God only knew what kind of rumors the shop owner would tell people just to get a reaction out of his customers. The sheriff would probably keep his trap shut. The other guy, nope. Robert was doomed to be made fun of for awhile. Oh well, it wasn’t the first time and he was sure it wouldn’t be the last.

“Come on, Elijah. Let’s go home and see if Miss Emmett and Violet have settled down.”

“Yeah, okay. They get so worked up sometimes. I’m not sure what to say to make them stop.”

Robert tousled the boy’s hair. “No idea, son. Women just behave that way sometimes. You start by telling them you love them and if that doesn’t settle them down, then you run like the dickens. It’s best to stay out of their way.”

“Then we did good leaving the house.”

Robert looked at the boy and grinned. “We sure did, now, didn’t we?”

Elijah nodded. He tucked his hands in his vest and strutted down the street alongside of Robert.

“I have to go stop by the shop and do some work first. Would you like to come along with me?”

“Your Smithy shop? Can I help?”

Robert nodded. “Well, let’s figure out what you can do to help.”

“Boy, oh boy,” he told Robert. “I’m a reformed outlaw, got to work at the mercantile and now I’m going to help in your shop. I’m just like everyone else here, right?”

Robert’s heart jumped a beat or two. He knew the boy was here to find a family. How was he going to tell Madeline there were no families close by that would take him? He heard that from the sheriff and the sheriff would know for sure. Robert sighed. Maybe he’d keep that bit of information to himself and save it for another day.