Orphan

Chapter One

T he train rumbled along through the country side past fields bare of any growing thing. It was February and still too cold to plant. The train was cold. You could see your breath in the icy dawn. The sun was just showing color to the East.

Lila Jo Brewster lay curled up across the hard bench seat. She was covered with the old, brown, moth eaten, wool coat that Miss Lettie had given her just as she almost pushed her out the door.

Jo had lived at the Kavanagh Children’s Home in a small place called Gransburg, bordering between Wisconsin and Minnesota, since just before she turned six years old. Her mother had died giving birth to the child she had wanted so badly. She had named her Lila Joann before she was born, knowing in her heart, she was a girl.

Randolph Brewster had tried his best to raise the child that looked so much like his beloved Jodie. That was the only reason he married again just before Jo turned four. People kept telling him that she needed a mother, that he wasn’t capable of raising a daughter. He thought he had been doing a pretty good job really. He could see that they were right in some ways; the child needed some one to possibly make her a dress or do something with that mass of curly hair that crowned her precious head. It always seemed to be tangled no matter what he did.

That young woman; what was her name Kate or Kathy Wise? She seemed nice and she had been really great bringing special foods to the old woman, Jodie’s grandmother, to tempt her appetite, and she had made Jo a couple of pretty dresses. Jo seemed to like her and she seemed to like Jo, but the poor girl was homely. Jodie had been extraordinarily beautiful and he had loved her so. He felt sure he would never love another as he had Jodie but he wasn’t looking for love, just someone to be there and to help raise his child; after all, he had known real love and knew that he would never know anything even close to that again.

Jodie’s grandmother had raised her and she and her new husband had moved into her home to take care of the elderly lady when they married. Randolph and the baby had stayed on and in the beginning the old lady was able in some way to help take care for the little one, but by the time the child was a year old the old woman’s health had really begin to fail. Two months after Leila Jo turned two years old the old lady died. She had not been of much help with the child in the last several months, but she had given the child love and he knew this was as important as all the rest.

John Adams had died in an accident on the railroad, where he worked as a brakeman. One night during a bad ice storm he had made a jump for the train and his foot slipped on the icy step and he fell under the wheels. They wouldn’t let her see him, but one of the other men that had worked with John had told her that he had not suffered. She had been grateful for that.

He had been a dare devil. That was one of the things she loved most about him. Martha had warned him time and again to please be a little more careful, but he didn’t listen.

She had loved her dare devil and she missed him something awful, but he had not been much of a manager with money. If Martha or one of the girls said they would like to have something, he went out and bought it for them if at all possible. Just days after they came and told them that he was dead, she learned that they had been living, as it was said, hand to mouth.

Martha could find no work. There weren’t many jobs for women, especially in a small town. She tried taking in washing, but she didn’t have the stamina for that. The railroad gave her his last pay check and were good enough that they added an extra check. She learned sometime later that the men that he worked with had chipped in and made up enough to make a check for her. It was a help but it didn’t go far. With the little money she made doing laundry and the money from the railroad she was able to make it almost a year.

One day when it looked as if the world was going to come to an end along with the last of the money that she had been so careful with, she had gone crying to her neighbor Molly Doyle.

Molly what am I going to do? The only thing I see is to go to Miss Hollie’s place and take a job as one of her girls.

The other woman gasp out, Martha, you can’t do that. You aren’t the type; besides what would John say?

John would say nothing! John is dead and if he had been less careless he would still be here to support me and our girls. She almost screamed out, and with this she broke into tears.

Martha, there is another way.

What, what way? The distraught lady ask curtly.

You could marry again.

Marry again? And who would I marry? I don’t go anywhere to meet anyone. Every man in this town is married, so just who am I suppose to marry?

No one. Molly came back with.

Who then? Who in Harrisburg Pennsylvania is not married?

Well Randolph Brewster! Jodie has been gone, what? Close to two years? He is a nice guy and I am sure he needs help raising that little girl of his. The old woman, ugh, Jodie’s grandmother I think she was. She was real old and she has been as much help to Randolph as she could be but now that she is dying, he is going to need someone to help with his child as you need someone to help you and your girls.

I don’t know Moll. I have never been with any man but John and I don’t know if I could preform the wifely duties he would expect.

You don’t think you can provide wifely duties, but you could go down to Miss Hollie’s establishment and provide, ugh, duties?

No, No. Martha said horrified. I could never do that. I was just spouting off! I was miserable and I wanted to shock you. I could never, well, I guess I could to keep my babies from starving and it is about to come down to that. We have enough food in the house for one more week and the rent is due at the end of that same week.

Well, think about Randolph Brewster, but I wouldn’t wait too long. Kathy Wise has been making eyes at the man in question. Taking food over to the old lady and making little dresses for the child! You can check him out at church Sunday. You do know how to find the church, don’t you? Molly said, throwing it at her friend as she had for a while been trying to convince the lady that she had needed to get back to church.

Martha had refused to attend church since John was killed. She had gone to church her entire life and she had prayed for John every day as she had watched her love leave for work and; then she felt God had let him die. So she had blamed God and refused to darken His door. She thought it might be worth it to check out Randolph Brewster, and this she did when a few days after the conversation with Molly, the old lady had died and she had gone to her funeral and had shook his hand and given him her condolences. That had been the only time she had ever spoken to him. Of course she had seen him around town; after all, it was a small place, but he had not been one of her customers. He must have taken his families clothes to the other lady in town who did laundry. She didn’t think he would wash the family’s clothes after working all day and then come home to tend the child and cook supper for them and clean up afterward. Molly had been pretty positive he would be at church with his little daughter.

Sure enough, they were there. The old lady had not been able to attend church with them in a couple of months. Molly steered Martha and her two girls into the pew just in front of where she knew Randolph would sit. After singing a couple of songs the congregation was asked to greet those around them and Martha shook hands with the family in the pew in front of her and a couple on her right, but she didn’t turn around. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder and when she turned it was to look into the face of Randolph Brewster. He was a nice looking man, not nearly as handsome as her John had been; but he wasn’t bad looking.

She had planned this and as she placed her hand in his, she squeezed gently then she let her hand go limp before pulling it away. She ducked her head, lowering her eyes, and she sat down, pulling her youngest daughter into her lap.

Chapter Two

A fter the services were over Martha hung around and visited with a few people but she kept her eye on Randolph. She came to the conclusion that she might be able to spend the rest of her life with this man.

It was just three days later when Molly let her know that the old woman had left the house and property to Randolph until the child came of age; then it would go to her.

This makes the proposition even sweeter. With what Randolph made in wages and owning the house, you would be sitting pretty.

Oh, Moll, you make it sound like I am a gold digger.

No, you are not a gold digger, but it is a simple fact. You do not need to marry someone that could not take care of you and the girls. Just knowing these things makes it all right and proper. You will be doing him a service in keeping his house for him and looking after his daughter, and he will be providing you a service. Don’t you see, girl, it will be the best not only for you and Randolph Brewster but the three little girls that are involved in all of this.

Martha wrestled with this for a couple of days and when Sunday came around again she presented herself in church once again and sat as she had the Sunday before, in the pew in front of where she knew Randolph Brewster and his child would sit.

This time when the minister asked everyone to stand and greet their neighbors, she again greeted the people in front of her and the ones to the right and the left, but then she turned and waited until Randolph Brewster finished greeting someone in the pew behind him.

As soon as he turned she put out her hand and said, Mr. Brewster, greetings. and again she lowered her eyes before turning and sitting down with her youngest child in her lap.

After the service was over she left the building as soon as she could make her way through the crowded aisle. Descending the steps out front with her youngest in her left arm and her oldest holding on to her mother’s skirt tail, she held the railing on her right. On the second to the last step from the bottom she stumbled and would have fallen, but a strong arm caught her around the waist from behind. It was Randolph Brewster.

Helping her on to the ground, he stepped around in front of her and asked Are you all right Mrs. Adams? Did you twist your ankle? When she answered that she had not twisted her ankle, he continued with Are you sure you are ok? Can I give you a lift in my buggy? It is right over there and I don’t think you need to walk home after the unnerving upset you have just experienced.

All right. I would appreciate that it is a far piece, especially with the two girls, she said as he steered her to his buggy and held her youngest in his empty arm as she climbed onto the buggy. He then handed her the smallest child. Then taking the hand of her older child, he walked around the back of the buggy and stepped up on the wheel, then sat his daughter in a seat he had contrived for her. Once she was safely secured in it, he stepped back down and lifted Martha Adam’s oldest daughter onto the seat before mounting the buggy himself.

You live over by the blacksmith shop, don’t you? He asked and she replied that they did.

We rent the little house from him, or we did. If I can’t come up with some money to pay him for another week by tomorrow, we will be living in the street, I guess. And the tears flowed.

They soon reached the little house set back from the street a few yards beyond the blacksmith shop, and Randolph stopped the buggy. Turning to Martha said, Is it all that bad Mrs. Adams?

Oh, I am sorry! I should not be crying on your shoulder about my problems. I know you have your own and they are just as bad as mine.

Well, I do have my problems but no one will be kicking me out on the street thanks to Jodie’s grandmother Aunt Sally. Lila Jo and I have a roof over our heads and I do have a decent job although I will never be rich. We will have food on the table and cloths on our backs.

Mr. Brewster. She asked hesitantly, Now that Aunt Sally is gone, who is keeping the child for you?

Well, I have been having Georgia Lott taking care of her, but I am not really all that satisfied. Most days when I pick her up she is dirty and usually really hungry and I can tell she has been crying. Lila Jo is a good baby, she hardly ever cries as long as her diaper is changed and her tummy is full, he said, looking lovingly at his daughter.

Do you think I could keep her for you? In fact, I could do your laundry and keep your house clean for you. She asked with a rush, If you could just pay me enough to pay the rent on my house I could continue to take in laundry for other people to be able to buy food for myself and the girls.

Why, yes. I think that would be a good idea. I was wondering who else I could get to take care of Leila Jo, and I do need someone to clean house. I am afraid it has gotten beyond me. It is a mess I am afraid. In fact, didn’t you say that you would be kicked out of your house if you didn’t pay rent tomorrow? At her nod he went on, I can give you an advance if you will be at my house in the morning at seven-forty-five. I have to be at work at eight. You can spend the day cleaning house and there is a good size pile of laundry and by the time you finish all of that I will be home. Do you think that will suit? You can pay your land lord before you come to the house in the morning. Is that okay?

Okay Mr. Brewster, it is wonderful. You are an angel. You have saved my life. Oh, thank you Mr. Brewster! I could kiss you!. You don’t know how worried I have been.

Well I don’t think you had better kiss me out here in front of the world on a Sunday, he said with a chuckle and a red face. Her face turned as red and she handed her youngest to him so she could step down from the buggy. Coming around to his side she took her baby from him and then he handed down her oldest.

Saying, I will see you in the morning, he then asked How much is your rent? And she told him; and before he began to drive off he pulled from his pocket the four dollars she had said the rent would be for another week.

Then driving away he stopped the buggy and called back to her. You do know where we live, don’t you?

Yes, I know. And waving she, went on into the house.

He had given her the four dollars that the rent was on the little one room house.

House? She thought it was not much more than a storage shed. There was a well out back and she had to share the out house with her landlord. It was behind the blacksmith shop. The house was furnished with a bed that had a corn shuck mattress, two straight backed, rope bottom chairs and a tiny table. There was a wood cook stove and a coal oil lamp and a coal oil lantern.

The only possessions she had in the world was a rocking chair, her cooking utensils, pots, pans, a dish pan and a setting of four forks, knives and spoons. She had a change of sheets for the bed and two dishcloths, two tea towels and two face cloths and two bath sheets, plus three dresses for herself and three changes of clothes for the girls, which they were rapidly out growing. She knew that she had to marry Randolph Brewster if there was any way. But how was she to get the idea across to him?

She need not have worried about that. Not only had Molly Doyle been working on Martha, but she had her husband Jeff working on Randolph; and she had been able to sneak in a word or to also.

Randolph would have asked Molly to keep Lila Jo had she not been due any day with what the doctor thought might be twins. He would have just had to look for someone else as soon as she went into labor, so he hadn’t asked her.

The day after they had buried Aunt Sally, Jeff Doyle had came to him and said,

Hey, Rand you know I am your friend, and I don’t mean to be sticking my nose into your business, but what in the world are you going to do now? You can’t take care of Leila Jo alone. You need to get married again. I know, I know. He said when his friend would have protested, You loved Jodie and no one can ever take her place; we all loved Jodie and there will never be another like her, but you have to be realistic, man. Jodie wouldn’t want to see you killing yourself and neglecting Lila Jo to boot.

Marry who? Came Randolph Brewster’s retort. Other than Kathy Wise every other woman around here is married or almost as old as Aunt Sally was. Kathy is a sweet woman, but, man, I don’t think I could be a husband to her even with the lights turned out.

Well, no, I probably couldn’t either, but there is someone else and she is in as dire straights as you—maybe worse. She has two children and her husband left her destitute; and she can’t get a job here. The two of you could be a great help to one another.

Randolph had given it some thought and had almost made up his mind that afternoon when he had driven the woman and her two children home. She was in dire straights. If Lila Jo was well taken care of and the house was reasonably clean when he got home from work the next afternoon, he might put the subject to her. She might not go for it. She might flatly turn him down. She might be satisfied to care for his house and Lila Jo and take in laundry to put food on the table. Well, he thought he had given her that out also. She wouldn’t feel she was being pushed totally into marrying him. Would she?

Martha Adams thought long on the situation that night. If he didn’t ask her to join in an arrangement with him as his wife, she could make it taking care of his child and house and doing other people’s laundry on the side. She wished he would ask her to join into an arrangement with him. She would ask him for them to sleep in separate beds for at least a couple of months while they got to know each other. He might not go for that; then again he might not want to ever share his bed with her. Well, that would suit her. But now she knew if he asked her, she was going to marry Randolph Brewster.

She was knocking on his door the next morning at exactly seven-forty-five. He had fed Lila Jo already, he told her, as he showed her around the spacious two story house. They didn’t go up stairs as he had to get to work, but he showed her the kitchen and where the cleaning things were and the laundry room with two huge tubs that drained out into the yard behind the house. He had two large pails of water on the gigantic stove in the kitchen heating already. He said he was sorry that he didn’t have time to show her more, that she could look around all she wanted; and he left.

Lila Jo was sitting in a homemade high chair nibbling on a biscuit. Martha put a quilt on the floor and, placing her own two children on it. Then she lifted Lila Jo from the high chair and sat her down beside Missie, her youngest, who immediately reached for Lila Jo and, pulling her hair, drew her toward her. Of course, the child began to cry, and when Martha turned to see what the problem was, the older child was hitting Lila Jo.

No, Daisy Sue! Stop that! You and Missie, be nice to your new play mate. You are going to be seeing a lot of her. Lila Jo still cried and Martha was forced to go and pick her up, soothing her with, It’s okay Jo, it’s okay Baby. You will need to learn to take up for yourself if you are going to live with these two. And looking into the child’s big, beautiful, violet eyes she said, And you are, you are going to live with these two if I have anything to do with it.

Randolph Brewster and Martha Adams were married six days later in church after the morning worship service. There was no reception and there was no honey moon. This was a marriage of convenience and neither pretended other wise. Randolph slept upstairs in the room he had always slept in, with Lila Jo in the nursery next door to him where she had slept all of her life. Martha slept in a nice room down stairs with her two children in a room next door to her. They would eventually furnish this room as a nursery and a small, vacant room next to it would be set up as a play room, then later a school room.

Martha loved the house. There were four rooms upstairs counting Randolph’s and Leila Jo’s and the downstairs had been cut up into smaller rooms. Her room was at the back of the house where a back door opened out onto the porch that ran all the way around the house. Next to her, of course, was the girl’s room, then the play room; and a seven foot hall way ran the length of the house. At the front of the house was a nice parlor and next to that was a small dining room then across from