"Pretty," Ellie pronounced as Lillian came back into the bedroom, now dressed for her double date. Ellie still spent most of her time by the sitting room window if Gabriel wasn't visiting, though Lillian had been able to coax her away for a bit these last couple of days. Not sure how her leaving with Gabriel was going to affect the little girl tonight, Lillian had been spending some extra time with Ellie. She had even fed Ellie early in the kitchen while she helped Eleanor prep for dinner.
"Thank-you, Ellie," Lillian said smoothing the dark-green skirt she had put on with a white frilly blouse, and black belt.
"Out to dinner?" Ellie asked.
Lillian hadn't yet mentioned to the girl that she would be leaving for a bit this evening. She hadn't wanted to upset the girl ahead of time.
"I am. With Constable Kinslow. How did you know, Ellie?" Lillian asked, sitting down next to the girl who sat on Lillian's bed.
"Mom always dressed pretty when Papa took her out."
"That is a wonderful memory to have of your parents," Lillian told her.
"Do you have to go?" Ellie asked.
"I gave my word to go," Lillian told her. "I'd disappoint people if I didn't. You'll be safe here, Ellie."
"Will you still put me to bed?"
Lillian nodded. She wasn't sure how late she would be out tonight, but even if it was a little past Ellie's usual bedtime, staying up a little late wouldn't hurt any.
"I will," Lillian promised her. She had a feeling Ellie would be sitting at the window at the window while she was gone. "In fact," Lillian said getting to her feet, a way of possibly easing Ellie's worries coming to her. She crossed her dresser and picked up the garnet heart necklace Gabriel had given her a few months ago. She wore the necklace most days and had only just removed it when she went to change. "I want you to keep an eye on this necklace for me while I'm gone, Ellie," Lillian said, as she picked the necklace up and returned to the bed with it.
"Constable Kinslow gave me this necklace and it is very special to me," Lillian told Ellie as she sat back down on the bed. Reaching out, she slipped the necklace over the girl's head. "I want you to wear it and keep it safe while I am gone. You can give it back to me when I come home tonight, okay?"
Ellie nodded, tiny fingers picking up the tiny garnet heart that rested against her dress.
"Now, do you want to help me pick out a necklace to wear tonight?" Lillian asked.
Ellie nodded. Lillian got up again and retrieved her jewelry box. Putting it on the bed, she told Ellie to pick one. After a few moments, Ellie pointed to an emerald pendant that had been Lillian's adoptive mother's.
"Matches your skirt," Ellie said.
"A very good choice," Lillian said, picking up the selected necklace. "Thank-you, Ellie."
There was a knock on the door downstairs.
"You know, I think that is Constable Kinslow. Could you go downstairs and tell him I am almost ready?"
Ellie nodded, sliding down from the bed. The little girl hurried from the room as Lillian watched her. While she was thankful that Ellie was connecting with her, she still hoped the Mounties would find family for the little girl.
Lillian put her jewelry box back and put the necklace on. Taking one last look in the mirror, she slowly made her way downstairs. While she didn't want to keep Gabriel waiting too long, she also wanted to give Ellie a little time with him.
As she expected, Ellie was in Gabriel's arms when Lillian came downstairs.
"I am sure you'll keep it very safe," Gabriel was telling Ellie. Lillian was sure she had told him about the necklace that she had asked Ellie to keep safe.
"I will," Ellie promised solemnly. Lillian noticed that the little girl held a yellow rose.
Gabriel turned his attention to Lillian as she stepped off the bottom stair.
"You look beautiful tonight, Lillian," Gabriel told her.
"Thank-you," Lillian said, as Gabriel handed her two red roses tied with a white ribbon. Lillian instinctively smelled the roses. The fragrance smelling especially nice in the middle of winter.
"I can put those in water for you," Grace told her, suddenly at Lillian's side. "I need to find something for the girls' roses too."
Looking into the sitting room, Lillian noticed that both Sophia and Mary Louise held a yellow rose like Ellie's . Lillian looked toward Gabriel, who simply shrugged.
It took a few minutes before Gabriel was able to escort Lillian from the home. As they stepped off the front porch, Lillian's arm looped through Gabriel's, both of the looked back and waved to Ellie, who unsurprisingly was in the front window. Ellie still held the yellow rose and Lillian wondered if Grace would be able to convince the girl to put the flower in water.
"I see Ellie is forming a bond with you as well," Gabriel commented as they continued walking toward town, following the path already broken in the snow.
"Thanks to you," Lillian replied.
"I just hope it doesn't make things harder on her if we find family for her," Gabriel commented.
Lillian shook her head. "I don't think that will be an issue. There is a connection with family, even if you haven't met them. If Ellie's family comes for her, I think she'll go willingly despite the bonds she forms here. In the meanwhile, those bonds give her comfort."
"Well, that is definitely more your expertise than mine," Gabriel replied. "I am starting to realize just how sheltered a life I lived growing up," he told her. "Granted, I have issues with my parents, but I have never doubted that they loved me. I know that no matter what life throws at me, I have them and my sisters to lean on if I need to. That is a wonderful safety net to have. One that these children, and you and Grace, haven't always known."
Lillian nodded. "My adoptive parents gave me a wonderful home growing up, one that I feel blessed to be able to share now. They are the reason I'm able to be that safety net you're talking about for these children. I feel lucky in my own way. I had them, and this community growing up and now I have Grace and you to lean on. You've given me strength to be strong for these children, Gabriel even before I admitted my feelings for you. All that you have done for us, they might seem like little things in the grand scheme of things, but those little things make a world of difference to children who have so little. Like those roses tonight," Lillian said. "You probably just thought you were bringing a smile to three little faces tonight, but you did more than that. You are helping teach the girls how they should expect to be treated by a gentleman when they get to be that age. Something that girls usually watch how their father treat their mothers to learn."
"You are starting to make me nervous," Gabriel replied.
"That wasn't my intention," Lillian told him. "Just keep being yourself around the children, Gabriel. You and Chuck both are wonderful role models for them."
Gabriel sighed. "Right now I'm trying to be a good role model for a boy that I'm still not convinced will ever completely trust anyone again."
"Billy?"
"Billy," Gabriel confirmed. "I think I might be getting somewhere but I know, one little mistake can ruin all that again. I got him to open up about one thing in his past and that alone was enough to break my heart."
Lillian leaned her head against Gabriel's shoulder and patted his arm with one hand. "Just trust your instincts," she told him.
"Even if you criticize those instincts?"
"Yes," Lillian said, without hesitation. "I may have more experience with kids in general, but the children under my care want to be here. If one of them was set on running away, I wouldn't know what to do or how to handle it. I think that is the case for most orphanages. Grace ran away from quite a few orphanages, even her last one, and I doubt much was done to find her. You put Billy's safety first. I respect that, even if I didn't like the idea of him being in the cell."
"Thanks Lillian," Gabriel said. "That makes me feel a little bit better about what I'm about to spring on you," he told her.
Lillian looked up at Gabriel. In the light of the lantern, she could see the serious look on his face. He continued on before she had a chance to ask anything.
"I asked Joe and Maggie to meet us about twenty minutes later than we originally planned. I was hoping you wouldn't mind coming with me to get Billy's dinner. He consented to thanking you for the book personally, and I thought it might help if you were the one that brought him dinner tonight."
"Of course I will," Lillian said without hesitation. She thought about Gabriel's words to Ellie to try using his influence to get the little girl to trust her. "Are you hoping to get Billy to trust me enough to want to choose to stay at New Hope Orphanage?" she asked.
In the lantern light, Lillian saw Gabriel's expression harden and his eyes darken with anger.
"I'm not sure you can ask anyone to have that much trust," Gabriel replied. "I also don't want to see him get lost in a system again that has already failed him. I hope Judge Avery gets here soon because I feel like I am in over my head and I don't want to fail this boy, Lillian."
"Be patient and understanding with him. Show him that there is love in this world and then leave the rest in God's hands," Lillian told him. "You and Billy have both been in my prayers at night since that first day he came into our lives."
"Thank-you," Gabriel told her. "At least I'm not in this alone even if I am in over my head."
"I'm right by your side," Lillian told him. "If nothing else I'll be sure to throw you a life preserver."
"Good to know," Gabriel told her as he came to a stop.
Turning to face Lillian, Gabriel pressed his lips against Lillian's. She quickly got over her surprise of the intimate gesture, and returned the kiss, enjoying the taste of his lips. As they broke for air she asked quietly, "what was that for?"
"That was to tide me over until after dinner, because I know if I try kissing you while we're in town it will not go over well."
Lillian ducked her head. She wanted to deny the statement but she knew she couldn't do so honestly. Holding Gabriel's hand in sight of the town people was one thing. Sharing an intimate kiss in public was something else entirely. She felt like she was already the talk of the town quite enough as it was.
"It's not that . . . " Lillian trailed off as Gabriel put two fingers underneath her chin and gently lifted her head.
"You don't need to explain or apologize. I love you, just the way you are and you don't need to be comfortable with public displays of affection to convince me that you love me. Believe me. You show me in plenty of ways just how much you love me."
"Do you think we have time for one more kiss?" Lillian whispered.
"I don't care if we're late for that reason," Gabriel told her, the last word a little muffled as Lillian pressed her lips against his, this time being the one to initiate the kiss.
Billy paced the perimeter of the cell, just wanting to move. He didn't understand it, but he really didn't mind being locked in here, though he realized he probably should. However, locked in here he knew he was safe. He was safe from the cold, heat and storms. He was getting the best food he had probably had since he had lost his parents. He didn't have to try to figure out how to survive the next day or even the next hour. His basic needs were met, and though he might not be able to leave the cell, the only people who could get in here were people with the keys. The keys that Constable Kinslow was very careful with. Like right now. Right now those keys were locked in the dress drawer and Constable Kinslow had the key to that drawer on him.
Feeling safe was a nice feeling. Billy wondered how long it would last.
Constable Kinslow had mentioned he was waiting for a judge to come to town. Billy knew what that meant. The judge would decide what would happen to him just like judges had done in the past. He would be sent to some government run facility where people cared more about the money than about the children there. Not for the first time he wondered what was so wrong with him that his father's family didn't want anything to do with him.
There was a great-grandmother who had cared enough to send letters but she couldn't take care of him. Billy missed her letters.
The door opening broke through Billy's thoughts. Stopping his walk, he turned toward the door to see Constable Kinslow come in with a pretty redhead. His mom had been a red head. Billy remembered that much.
"Hello, Billy," Gabriel greeted as he closed the door behind him. "This is Miss Walsh. She and her sister provided the clothes, book and art supplies for you."
Miss Walsh was much younger than any of the other women who had run the orphanages Billy had been at. She also had a pretty smile. Billy couldn't remember any of the orphanage workers smiling while he had been at them.
"Thank-you, Miss Walsh," Billy said. "I appreciate the things you have given me."
"You're welcome, Billy," Lillian said, as she stepped forward with a tray. "I'm glad you are enjoying the book."
Billy nodded. Though the lady was now standing near the cell door, holding the tray through the slot provided, Billy stayed where he was. He was use to getting his trays from Constable Kinslow or Nurse Parsons. He wasn't sure about taking a tray from someone else.
"It's okay, Billy," Gabriel said, stepping up beside Lillian. "Miss Walsh offered to help me out by carrying the tray before I take her to dinner at the hotel."
Billy nodded, slowly moving toward the two of them. Miss Walsh stood patiently near the cell, the tray extended through the slot, and a pretty smile on her face. Billy could see why Constable Kinslow could like her. Miss Walsh had the prettiest smile he had ever seen, except for his own mother. Dad had always said mom's smile lit up the room she was in. Unfortunately, mom's smile had gone away when his Dad had gone north. Neither his dad nor his mother's smile had returned.
"I hope you enjoy it, Billy," Miss Walsh said softly as he took the tray from her.
"Thank-you, miss," Billy told her, keeping his gaze focused on the tray as he drew it into the cell.
"I'm planning on walking Miss Walsh home after dinner. Would you want to get some fresh air and make the walk with us?" Gabriel asked the boy.
Holding the tray, Billy looked from Gabriel to Lillian and back to Gabriel again.
"I wouldn't want to be in the way."
"You wouldn't be," Lillian assured the boy. "I'd actually feel better knowing that Gabriel had company for his walk back."
Billy looked at her. The lady was still smiling. He wanted to believe her, but people had lied to him plenty. For some reason though, he felt like the lady really wouldn't mind if he tagged along. Maybe not for the reason she said. Perhaps she was just trying to be nice to him, though he supposed having someone be nice to you wasn't such a bad thing.
Then something else occurred to him. Constable Kinslow had said that Miss Walsh ran the orphanage. Perhaps they were simply trying to get him out there. He definitely would rather be out fending for himself or in this cell than left at a third orphanage. The first two had been anything but pleasant.
"Are you going to leave me at the orphanage?" Billy asked, staring directly at Constable Kinslow.
Gabriel shook his head. "I am not trying to trick you, Billy. You don't even need to go into the house. We can say good-bye to Miss Walsh on the front porch."
"Another walk would be nice," Billy finally consented.
"Okay," Gabriel replied. "We'll be back after dinner then."
Billy nodded and then turned to take his own dinner back to the cot. He couldn't help but wonder if he was setting himself up for another heartache. Perhaps he should just take a chance and make a run for it during the walk. Except then he would have to leave his things behind. Constable Kinslow would be suspicious if he tried taking the things with him, though he supposed his dad's compass at least he could put in his pocket.
The truth was though, he was tired of being alone. He wanted someone to lean on. He wanted to be able to trust someone. Running when Constable Kinslow was extending some trust to him would not be the way to achieve any of that.
Not to mention, Constable Kinslow had been kind to him even after he had bit him. When he had been caught the second time that day, Billy had expected to be punished for that action. He supposed some might find being locked in a cell punishment, but Billy didn't. He had suffered much worse than that. Besides, even though he had been put in a cell he had been fed, given an opportunity to bathe and given clean clothes. The constable had even asked a nurse to come check him over. Billy liked Nurse Parsons even if she did talk funny. His wrist was starting to feel better than it had in a long time.
No, Billy decided. He would not try to run away while with Constable Kinslow. Not unless the Constable went against his word and tried to leave him at the orphanage. If that happened, then Billy would know he truly couldn't trust anyone.