Jarrod smiled as he watched Abby dig into the fried chicken. He had to pay extra to get the fried chicken for her but it had been well worth it. Mary had tried to get her to try some roast beef but Abby refused as she ate her chicken and mashed potatoes. Jarrod ordered some dessert for Abby as he wasn't sure what was waiting for him or her once they arrived in Lincoln later that night.
Before they walked back to the main travel car they took a detour to stop at the stock car so Abby could give Jingo his nightly sugar cubes. Jarrod was delaying having a talk with Abby, which he feared would upset the little girl. Mary kept watching Jarrod as she waited for him to talk to Abby and she too knew this was not something he was looking forward to.
Finally after Abby and Mary returned from the water closet Jarrod knew he could no longer delay talking to Abby. The little girl ran to Jarrod and jumped in his lap waiting for their nightly story.
Jarrod turned Abby to face him so he could talk to her. Mary sat across from Jarrod and smiled at him. Jarrod blew out a long breath and said, "We need to talk princess."
Abby frowned and asked, "Am I in twouble?"
"No, honey. But I need to talk to you okay?" Abby nodded her head as she got comfortable in Jarrod's lap. He wasn't sure how to even start this conversation but he knew he had too. "There has been a change of plans. We are not going to meet your family after all."
"Am I staying with you?" Abby asked excitedly.
Jarrod was not expecting that question and frowned slightly. "You want to stay with me?"
Abby nodded her head as she wrapped her arms around Jarrod's neck and gave him a big hug. "I love you Mistah Jay and wanna stay with you and Ms. May." Abby shyly looked at Mary who could not contain her smile that Abby wanted to stay with her.
Jarrod was completely blindsided by Abby's confession and wasn't sure what to say next. He closed his eyes and for a brief second thought about getting off the train at the next stop and disappearing with both Abby and Mary; but he knew he couldn't do that. He cleared his throat as Abby sat back down in his lap. "Princess I would like nothing more than for you to stay with me but I have to take care of some business first."
Abby interrupted Jarrod and asked, "What about Ms. May?" Abby pointed at Mary.
"Huh?" Jarrod asked.
Abby turned back to face Mary and said, "You want Ms. May to stay with us too?"
Both Mary and Jarrod blushed at Abby's innocent question. Mary spoke before Jarrod could answer, "We'll talk about it later okay?" Abby nodded her head yes while Jarrod looked at her in shock. "You were saying Jarrod?"
"Oh, yes. I have some business I need to take care of and while I am doing that I need you to stay with Mary okay?" Abby nodded her head yes. "And you are to do exactly as she says understand?" Abby once again nodded her head yes. "Good. Now my family may be in town and if they are you are to listen to my mother."
Abby giggled and said, "You have a mama?"
Jarrod smirked, "Yes I do as well as three brothers and a sister." Abby's eyes got wide as Jarrod rolled his eyes. "If my mother is in the next town you and Mary will be staying with her until I can take care of my business and you both are to do as she says understand?" Jarrod looked at Mary as he spoke his last statement. Mary rolled her eyes at Jarrod but didn't say anything. "Hopefully after I'm finished we can see about you staying with me for good, okay?"
"And Ms. May too?" Abby asked.
It was apparent the little girl was not going to drop this subject. "We'll talk about it later okay?"
Abby looked at Mary and smiled, "Okay."
Jarrod asked, "Ready for your story?" Abby nodded her head yes as she jumped down and got a book to read. She climbed back in Jarrod's lap and eventually dosed off. Jarrod enjoyed holding her in his lap and wanted this moment to last as long as it could. He sighed and got up to lay Abby down. He covered her up with a blanket and kissed her on the forehead as he stood watching her and felt a lump form in his throat.
Mary watched Jarrod with Abby and knew he would be a good father whether it was to Abby or his own children. Jarrod finally turned away from Abby and looked at Mary who was smirking at him.
He arched his eyebrow and asked, "What is that look for?"
Mary shrugged her shoulders and said, "Just watching you and Abby."
"Hmph." Jarrod started pacing up and down a few rows making Mary a nervous wreck. "Jarrod please sit down. You are making me dizzy."
Jarrod looked at Mary and frowned as he sat, "Happy?" Mary smiled at him. "Should I have told her?"
Mary shook her head, "No, she has already been through enough. Besides we're not even sure he's there so there's no sense in upsetting her for something that may or may not happen."
"You're right. But I was serious when I said I want you and her to stay with my family."
Mary smiled, "I heard you."
Jarrod ran his hand over his beard and cursed, "I'll be glad when I can shave this blasted thing off."
"Oh? I like it. Makes you look distinguished."
Jarrod rolled his eyes and said, "Well it's driving me nuts."
They sat in silence for several more minutes with their own thoughts.
"I didn't know she was going to say that Jarrod."
"I know Mary but she definitely caught me off guard."
Mary smirked, "No, not you."
Jarrod rolled his eyes and said, "I noticed you seemed to be enjoying my discomfort."
"I did but you handled it very well."
Jarrod bowed and said, "Thank you. But I know she's not going to drop the subject."
Mary stood up and sat next to Jarrod, placing her hand on his and said, "I've become very attached to Abby and I'd like to continue to be a part of her life if it's possible."
Jarrod smirked and said, "Well if I have my way she will stay with me which means we're a package deal."
Mary grinned, "I was hoping you would say that."
Jarrod leaned and brushed his lips against Mary's. As he pulled her closer he heard the unmistakable giggle. He pulled away from Mary and looked over her shoulder. He knew Abby was playing possum as he could see her giggling under the blanket.
He yanked the blanket away from her face which scared her at first but when she saw Jarrod smiling she smiled back and said, "You kissed Ms. May," and made a funny face.
"Yes I did. Now you need to go to sleep young lady." Abby frowned and rolled over.
Jarrod got up and shrugged his shoulders at Mary and grinned sheepishly at her. Mary winked at him and decided to close her eyes and rest a little while before they arrived in Lincoln in a few hours.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As Victoria scanned over the files in front of her she was in shock; no disgusted was a better word. They had received a large envelope this morning and when Nick opened it all the files came flooding out. If the files and papers were true this was enough damning evidence to send Wells to prison for life. At first the family and Sister Catherine thought it was some sort of sick joke but they found the note from James Sherlock; Wells former attorney.
"Oh my heavens," Sister Catherine muttered. She knew some of the horrors that Martha and Abby had suffered but after reading the doctor's reports she was horrified.
Heath was so mad he ranted and raved about finding Wells and giving him a dose of his own medicine which Nick was all for. It took all three women to talk the brothers out of seeking revenge on Wells. First and foremost they had to find Abby and Jarrod then they would deal with Wells.
Since Audra had been working at the orphanage she knew what happened to children whose parents were no longer able to raise them. "Will Jarrod be able to keep Abby?"
Victoria sighed and answered, "I honestly don't know Audra but after reading these files there is no way any judge will send that little girl back to that monster."
"Your son actually talked about trying to raise Abby himself but once we found out about Toby Mitchell he said he had to do the right thing and take her to her family." Sister Catherine hesitated and said, "He was heartbroken when we found Toby Mitchell."
"He's always wanted his own children," Victoria stated.
Sister Catherine smiled, "He was so patient and loving with Abby. It was quite obvious to all of us how he felt about her and to be perfectly honest I wasn't sure he would go through with taking her to her grandfather."
"We have to make this right for that little girl and Jarrod," Nick said to no one in particular.