Lillian looked through the boxes and trunks of items sent to them by some of the bigger orphanages. These things had come in handy in the past, and she was certain she would find some adequate clothing for the boy Gabriel had come across this morning. She still didn't like the idea of a child sitting in a jail cell but she had to concede that Gabriel had a good point. The boy was better off there than out on his own, especially during the winter months.
As much as Lillian wanted to help this boy, she needed to accept that for now Gabriel was in a better position to help the child. She certainly didn't want to put the other five children at risk nor could she do much to stop the boy if he chose to run off. Besides, she had learned over the last few months just how much Gabriel cared about children. He interacted with the children whenever he was out here. He was teaching Christian and Vincent land nav and other outdoor skills. He had once again helped them find a tree for the Orphanage and helped decorated it, even though he had spent the holiday in Hope Valley with the Grant family.
Gabriel would make a good father. Seeing him interact with the orphans in her care was all the proof she needed to convince her of that. Letting him into her life here had shown her that she could indeed have both the orphanage and Gabriel in her life. She had no doubt now that she wanted both. She loved Gabriel, despite the worry that his job brought. She wanted to end the day climbing into bed beside him and wake up with him every morning. She wanted to be able to give him a child of their own. A child that they would never have to give up to another's care.
Gabriel had told her once that he planned on asking for her hand in marriage when he felt she was ready to give him the answer he wanted to hear. Though Lillian hadn't been there then, she knew she had gotten to that point. More than once, she had thought about how she could go about letting him know that. Grace would probably just blurt the information out, but she wasn't Grace. Her practical mind and upbringing told her that such action was too forward for a lady. For now, she was just going to have to be patient.
Having found some clothing she thought would serve Billy well, Lillian got to her feet, clothes in hand. Reaching the second floor, Lillian retrieved a pair of socks from Christian's drawer. She could make the boy a new pair and until then, the others he had would suffice. Her next stop was her own room where she took a novel, a pad of paper, and some colored pencils out of the trunk at the foot of her bed. They were things that they had bought when they had some extra funds to be used when needed or when a new child came into their care. Billy wasn't exactly a new charge of theirs but Lillian felt no qualms about giving him a few things. Especially not as Gabriel had provided things for the children that he hadn't been required to. Helping out in this situation was the right thing to do.
Her hands full now, Lillian made her way downstairs. A peek in the sitting room showed Mary Louise on the settee a school book open and little Ellie kneeling in the chair by the window, staring out. Lillian wondered what the child was watching for. Was the little girl still hopeful that her parents would show up for her or was she simply watching for 'the man in red'.
Lillian remembered the heartache she had felt at the loss of her own parents. She remembered hoping they would one day come back, despite grown ups telling her that they couldn't. At first, she'd still had Grace and then even her sister was gone. Even when she had been brought to this home, and shown love by the folks she had come to love as Mother and Dad, part of her had still ached for those first parental figures. Her adoptive parents had helped ease the pain of that loss, but even though they had loved her, they had never replaced her first mom and dad. Nothing ever could. That was what she hoped to convey to these children while they were in her care and she hoped that soon, little Ellie would allow them to start that learning process with her.
Moving over to the dining room table, Lillian put her armful of items down. She properly folded the clothing and made a neat pile of everything. Retrieving some string from a drawer, she tied things together into a bundle so Gabriel would be able to carry it with him back into Brookfield.
"Put this with that bundle," Eleanor said coming in with an oblong item wrapped in a white cloth.
"What is it?" Lillian asked as she took it from the older woman.
"A loaf of my cornbread. I know the force will provide meals for that kid while he is sitting in the jail cell, but I thought both he and Gabriel might enjoy some of my home made corn bread."
Lillian smiled. "I'm sure they will. Thank-you, Eleanor."
"I was baking cornbread today anyway," Eleanor said, shrugging her shoulders as she headed back into the kitchen.
Lillian placed the cornbread next to the pile on the table with a smile on her face, not at all fooled by the matronly woman's gruff demeanor. With things ready for Gabriel, Lillian made her way out to the sitting room.
"How is the schoolwork coming along, Mary Louise?"
"I'm fine, Miss Lillian," Mary Louise said. "Could you read to me after lunch?"
Lillian smiled. "As long as you've made good progress with your schoolwork, I will read to you for a bit," Lillian told her. "How about you, Ellie? Would you like to hear a story?"
The little girl shrugged her shoulders as she continued to look out the window.
As Mary Louise didn't need help with the school work, Lillian set about doing some much needed dusting. She had dusted the sitting room and was working on the dinning room when she heard the sound of little footsteps hurrying closer. Putting down the duster, Lillian headed for the sitting room. Looking around the room, she spotted Ellie standing in front of the front door.
Wondering what was going on, Lillian moved toward the front door herself. Looking through the window, Lillian spotted the bright red of Gabriel's uniform jacket.
"Can you take a couple steps back for me, Ellie, so I can open the door?" Lillian asked gently reaching out a hand but not quite touching the little girl who was still averse to most contact.
Ellie silently took a couple of steps back. The little girl's focus however remained on the door.
Through the door window, Lillian saw Gabriel approach. Reaching out, she opened the door for him before he had to knock. Gabriel opened his mouth to greet Lillian but before he could speak Ellie rushed forward, wrapping her arms around his one leg. Both Gabriel and Lillian watched the little girl, surprised for their own reasons.
"Thank-you," Ellie said.
Getting over his surprise, Gabriel reached down and gently removed the little girl's arms from around his leg. He easily lifted Ellie into his arms. To Lillian's surprise, not only didn't the little girl protest the action, she also rested her head against Gabriel's shoulder.
"What are you thanking me for?" Gabriel asked her as he stepped into the orphanage so that Lillian could close the front door behind him.
"For coming when I was alone," Ellie answered.
"You are very welcome," Gabriel told the little girl.
"Can you stay?" Ellie asked.
"Only for a little while," Gabriel told her. "I have things I need to do elsewhere."
"I want to feel safe," Ellie stated.
Lillian felt her heart ache for the little girl. After what she must have gone through in the accident it made sense that she would feel attachment to the person who rescued her.
"You're safe here, Ellie," Gabriel told her softly. "I wouldn't leave you somewhere where you weren't going to be safe."
Ellie's response was to wrap her arms around Gabriel's neck.
Gabriel rubbed the little girl's back. "Want to know a secret?" he asked conspiratorially to the little girl.
Without lifting her head from Gabriel's shoulder, Ellie nodded in response.
"I didn't just choose to leave you here because it was available. Miss Lillian is a very special person to me and I know she'll take very good care of you. I wouldn't trust just anyone taking care of you," Gabriel told her softly.
Keeping her arms around Gabriel's neck, Ellie turned her gaze to Lillian. The little girl regarded her with a curious expression as if gauging whether to trust Lillian or not. For her part, Lillian remained quiet, a peaceful smile on her face. She appreciated Gabriel's attempt at using his influence to try building some trust between her and Ellie.
"Maybe," the little girl said.
"I need to talk to Miss Lillian for a bit," Gabriel told the little girl. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a paper bag. "I brought two pieces of licorice with me. Do you think you can take this over and sit with Mary Louise and share with her?"
"Will you say good-bye before you leave?"
"I promise," Gabriel told her.
Ellie reached out slowly and took the paper bag form Gabriel. "I can do that," she told him.
"Good," Gabriel replied, placing the little girl on the ground.
"Thank-you," Ellie told him politely before turning and making her way slowly over to where Mary Louise sat.
Lillian and Gabriel watched as Ellie walked up to the older girl. Having already put down her schoolbook when Gabriel had arrived, Mary Louise watched as well. Reaching the settee, Ellie opened the paper bag. Reaching in, she took out one of the pieces of licorice and held it out to Mary Louise.
"For you," Ellie told the girl.
"Thank-you," Mary Louise said, taking the candy. Looking over to Gabriel, she added, "thank-you Mountie Gabe."
"You're welcome," Gabriel told the girl, reaching up and finally removing his hat.
Turning her attention back to Ellie, Mary Louise invited the younger girl to sit next to her on the settee. To Lillian and Gabriel's surprise, Ellie climbed up next to Mary Louise.
Lillian looked from the scene and over at Gabriel. Gabriel met her gaze.
"It's a start," Lillian whispered.
Nodding in the direction of the diningroom, Lillian headed that way. As they stepped into the room, she indicated the bundle sitting on the table.
"I found some clothes that I hope will fit," Lillian said, still keeping her voice down.
"For now they don't need to be a perfect fit. He just needs something to change into after he gets clean up. If he will get cleaned up. He's still being very reticent."
Lillian nodded, a look of sympathy on her face. "It isn't unusual. When the Walshes first brought me home, I remember being very timid. Even after a few years in orphanages, I still missed my birth parents and didn't want to get too attached to my new life out of fear it might be gone soon as well."
Gabriel nodded, noting that it was the most Lillian had spoken to him about how she felt during those years before coming to Brookfield.
"I added some paper, color pencils and a book to the bundle. Eleanor is sending some cornbread for both you and him."
"Thank-you," Gabriel told her, looking at the small bundle. He noticed the title of the novel. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Gabriel read out loud. "He had a worn copy of Treasure Island in that bundle so I think that is a good choice for him."
"Then you gave him the bundle?"
"I did. He gave me permission to open it and check that there wasn't anything dangerous in it. There were a canteen and a compass that I'm fairly sure were Force issued."
"His father's?" Lillian asked.
"Maybe," Gabriel said, thoughtfully. "Could have been another relative's though? However, it's something to go on. I sent the added information to the Clearwater Headquarters and Judge Avery. I wish I could do more with the search myself but my resources are limited here and a long trip isn't feasible right now. If I could leave him with you, it would be one thing, but even that isn't an option right now."
Lillian reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll figure this out," she told Gabriel, trying to be supportive. "Billy might not realize it yet, but he's lucky to have you helping him."
"Thank-you, Lillian," Gabriel said, grateful for her support as he turned to face her.
Reaching out, Gabriel placed his hat on the table next to the things Lillian had gathered. Placing his hands on Lillian's waist, he leaned in to gently press his lips against Lillian's. As her hands came to a rest on his shoulders, Gabriel felt the added pressure of her lips against his as Lillian deepened the kiss.
For a few moments, the orphanage and the others in the house were forgotten. Lillian and Gabriel were aware of only one another and the love they felt for each other.