Page 86 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
Jesse flipped the paper closed. “Everything confirms what Mr. Ellesworth says.” Except that Mikey was Emily’s child. He had only her word against Mr. Ellesworth’s. If only Mikey’s age didn’t fit the time Emily went to work at the orphanage.
Emily studied her hands, unable to look at Jesse. A moment later, his footsteps faded away, taking with him every hope for her future.
She was a fallen woman. She knew Jesse would never see her as anything but a reflection of his mother. A woman he despised. He would feel the same toward Emily.
One thing she knew without a doubt. Mikey was not her child. She would never have allowed him to be adopted by someone and lose touch with him.
She didn’t know how long she sat there, immersed in misery, before she began to think. Her shaky weakness gave way to determination, and she rose and went to the house.
Thankfully, Jesse had departed. Her strength might not have lasted if she had to face him.
Gram’s face was full of sympathy.
“I can’t stay here any longer,” Emily said and went upstairs to pack. It was all well and good for this Matron Hilda to say she should take Mikey back to Alliance, but how was she to do that? She was penniless, homeless, and a woman with a shameful past.
She folded her few clothes into the basket. Even her clothes were not her own. She did the same for Mikey’s clothes, pressing each little garment to her lips.Oh, Mikey, if you were really mine, I would never let you go.
Gram came upstairs. “You don’t have to leave. You will always be welcome here.”
“I don’t think everyone shares your opinion.”
“Jesse can be a little hardheaded at times, but he’s got a good heart. He’ll come round.”
Emily paused at her task and faced the older woman. “He has never forgiven his mother for her choices in life.”
Gram nodded. “Like I say, he can be hard.”
“He sees me as a copy of his mother. If he can’t forgive her, I know he’ll never grant me anything but his disdain.”
Gram looked so sad that Emily wanted to hug her, but she wasn’t sure how people would react after hearing Mr. Ellesworth’s story. And she had no way of knowing if it was true or not.
“Where will you go?”
“I intend to throw myself on the mercy of the preacher and his wife.”
“At least let me pay you for your help with the sewing.”
“Absolutely not. You’ve given me a home for the past month. It is I who owe you.” Her belongings were gathered up, her Bible on the top of her things. At least she had One friend she couldcount on. Jesus had promised to be with her always. She found comfort and strength in that assurance even as her throat closed off with pain she would not give voice to.
Downstairs, she called Mikey to her. The boy took in the packed basket and gave her a surprised look.
“We go?” he asked.
“We’re going to stay with Evan and his mama and papa.”If they’ll have us.There was every reason to think they would not. “Or we might find some other place.”
“Yesse go?”
“No, sweetie. Jesse has to stay with Gram and take care of her.”
“Muffin go?” He held onto the little dog’s fur.
“Evan has a dog, remember?”
“Me not go.”
“Don’t you want to play with Evan?”
Mikey looked at Muffin, at Gram, and then at Emily. He read the determination in Emily’s face and sighed. “Me, go.”
