By the time they'd returned to the ranch, the sack of jellybeans had been finished off.
Charlie discovered this, when she peeked into the sack, and shook out the last two remaining.
"Two left," she reported. She handed off the red one to Murdoch, and then ate the orange one herself. "One for you, and one for
me," she said.
"It's not a good thing that we ate all of those on the ride home," Murdoch said, sounding regretful. But he still popped
the last jellybean into his mouth.
That made Charlie giggle a bit.
"I won't tell anybody, if you don't," she told him, and he gave her a mock-stern look.
"Next time, we must show some restraint," he said, sounding totally serious. "And only eat half of them. Agreed?"
Charlie giggled again. "I think you ate more than I did."
"Is that so?" he countered, as he pulled the buggy to a halt.
Scott came walking across the yard towards them. "How was the trip to town?" he asked, as Murdoch
got out of the buggy, and Charlie hopped down.
"We managed to accomplish everything we set out to do," Murdoch said, in answer, going around to the back to
retrieve the box of groceries.
"Good. How about you?" Scott asked, looking down at Charlie. "Did you spend all your allowance at the mercantile?"
"No. I have some left," Charlie said.
"You didn't spend it all on candy today, huh?" Scott asked, smiling at her.
"No. Only one bag of jellybeans today," Charlie said, and she and Murdoch exchanged a smile of comradery.
"Well, that's good," Scott said.
Charlie looked up at Murdoch, waiting for him to tell Scott about taking food to the old man's shack, and sitting to drink coffee
with him, and all of that. Murdoch correctly interpreted her impatience, though his comment, as they walked towards the
house together, was calm and matter-of-fact.
"Charlie used a bit of her money to buy some apples," he began.
"I'm glad to hear it. Apples are better for your teeth than candy any day of the week," Scott said, looking at Charlie.
"We put those with a few other items, and took them out to the edge of town. To the elderly man," Murdoch clarified.
By now, they were inside the house, at the door of the kitchen. The kitchen smelled of bread baking.
"What's this?" Scott asked, as Murdoch set the box on the table. "How did that come about?"
"It's rather involved," Murdoch said. "And I've got some papers to look over. Charlie and I can tell all of you about it
at supper." He patted Charlie on the back. "Can't we, darling?"
Charlie nodded. "Yes. We can."
"Hmm," Scott said. He looked interested. Wondering. But all he said was, "Alright. It sounds as though it's a good
story."
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Friends of Murdoch's came to visit in the afternoon, and stayed for supper, as well. Mr. McRae and his wife. So the sharing of
the story about the old man had to be put off a bit. Charlie enjoyed the supper that Maria had prepared, eating two pieces of
chicken, and generous helpings of the dumplings and corn with red peppers. She was applying apple jam to her roll when
she realized that Mrs. McRae was speaking to her.
She answered the questions Mrs. McRae asked of her, but felt somewhat uncomfortable. It seemed as though that particular lady's
eyes were judging her, and finding her wanting in some way.
"You know, of course, that you're a very fortunate little girl," Mrs. McRae told Charlie. "To be able to live with a family like
the Lancers. Lots of children wouldn't be so blessed."
Before Charlie could formulate a proper response to that, Scott intervened smoothly.
"We're all fortunate to have found one another. Blessed. We, as well as Charlie," he said.
"Of course," Mrs. McRae said, and seemed to be a bit embarrassed. Charlie knew she shouldn't be glad about that part of it,
but she was. For some reasons that Charlie couldn't quite realize, that lady reminded her of Katherine.
Charlie was relieved when the guests finally took their leave soon after supper. They all helped clear the table of
the dishes, carrying them to the kitchen. Maria had left after the supper preparations, and Charlie was surprised when
Murdoch put water on to heat, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
Pausing to watch him, cups in her hand, Charlie asked, "Are you going to wash the dishes?"
"I certainly am," he replied.
"I didn't know you did that-" Charlie began, and then broke off, as Teresa giggled.
"I have many, and varied talents, young lady," Murdoch said, pretending sternness. "And you'd do well to remember
that."
Teresa laughed again, and Charlie smiled, too, as Murdoch said, as if issuing battle orders, "Gather up the rest
of the silverware. And be quick about it."
Scott and Johnny ended up wiping the dishes dry, and Teresa made cups of hot chocolate for she and Charlie to sip,
as they sat at the table, watching the three men do the cleanup of the kitchen.
"This is the way it should be," Teresa said, teasing.
"Nothin' to form a habit out of," Johnny told her.
When Scott asked, again, about the morning trip to town, and the taking of food to the old man, Murdoch explained the
basics to it, and how he and Charlie had taken a few items out to the shack, and given him a partial ride.
"So, what did you make of him, Murdoch?" Johnny asked.
"He's intriguing," Murdoch admitted.
"Harmless, do you figure?" Johnny asked then.
"I couldn't answer that for certain," Murdoch said. "He seems erratic, unpredictable."
"Unhinged?" Teresa suggested.
"It's hard to say," Murdoch answered. "I wouldn't like to say anything to condemn a man, based on limited knowledge."
He'd finished washing the dishes, and was drying his large hands with a towel.
Johnny hoisted himself up to sit on the high counter, as Scott finished drying the last few plates.
Murdoch went on talking, about how the man's tone and manner of speaking had changed so dramatically. "Intriguing," he said, again.
"That doesn't mean you need get any ideas about goin' out there by yourself," Johnny said, eyeing Charlie.
"No," Scott added. "Nothing's changed on that issue."
"I won't," Charlie said, wishing they'd keep talking and not focus on her.
"She understands what we expect of her," Murdoch said, his gaze now on Charlie. "Don't you?"
Charlie nodded. "Yes, sir."
In a softer tone, Scott said, "It was kind, you helping to buy food for him today." He smiled at her.
"It was just a few apples," Charlie said, shrugging lightly.
"It was a fine thing to do," Scott maintained, and Charlie smiled at him.
"Is he really in need?" Teresa asked. "I mean, is he going hungry, do you think?"
"I think he is," Charlie spoke up first. "That's why he looks thru the bins back of the café."
"Wilma's likely to aim a load of rock-salt in his direction one of these days," Johnny said.
"I think he has meager supplies, and not much income," Murdoch said, in response to Teresa's question.
"Well, can we take him some things, then?" Teresa suggested. "Baked goods? Eggs?"
Charlie, excited now that the family seemed to be on board with all of it, added, "Jelly, or jam? We have a lot of that."
"Let's not rush ahead of ourselves," Murdoch said. He looked thoughtful, and then looked toward Scott, and Johnny, as well.
"Let's decide together. A box of supplies-once a week or so? How does that sound?"
Johnny shrugged, and Scott said, "Sounds alright to me."
"Fine," Teresa agreed.
Murdoch fastened his gaze on Charlie, who had been still.
"What about you, sweetheart? Does that sound fair to you?"
Charlie nodded, suddenly finding that she had no words, really, to express what she was feeling.
The family had come together, and agreed to help the old man, and Charlie felt that he needed help so very badly.
She got up and went to wrap her arms around Murdoch's waist. "It's fair," she said simply.
"We'll leave it up to you and Teresa to decide what to put into the box," Murdoch determined, patting Charlie's back. "Agreed?"
"Agreed." Charlie squeezed Murdoch in appreciation, and then went to stand with Scott.
"One of us will always be along, though, every time," Scott added, looking at both Teresa and Charlie.
"That's fine," Teresa agreed. "I have no desire to go there alone."
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