Author's Note: Here it is at last, chapter one of the next story in my Beauty for Ashes series. It's a bit shorter than my usual chapters, but it felt complete. I will try for a chapter a week, but sometimes it might be longer.
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Choctaw -English glossary
Inki – his/her father
Anki – My father
Nashoba – Wolf (Johnny's Choctaw name)
Ishki – his/her mother
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September 24, 1985
Johnny watched Sarah Kate and Liza play together outside. Sarah Kate kept looking at her bicycle. She was on edge, her body stiff, her eyes darting around. He was afraid she might be planning to run.
He walked out to the field and picked up the Frisbee the girls had been tossing about. "Mind if I play?"
Liza ran up to him and gave him a big hug around his legs. He stooped down and kissed her on the nose. She was a sweet little girl, full of love for everyone around her. He pitied the people who couldn't see the value in her life. "Hello, Princess Liza."
Sarah Kate came over to stand next to them. "Can you play with her? I want to ride my bike."
Johnny shook his head. He wasn't about to let Sarah Kate go off on her own. He put a hand on the girl's arm. "Listen to me, sweetheart. You've got a lot of people ready to fight for you. Let's take Liza inside and then we'll take a walk together."
Sarah Kate nodded solemnly. She had a broken look in her eyes. Johnny wondered if he had looked like that after he found out Inki had died.
Once Liza was with Nancy Halverson, Johnny took Sarah Kate outside. They walked along the edge of the cow pasture. "You're planning to run away, aren't you?"
Sarah Kate looked up at him, her eyes widening in surprise. She didn't say anything, but Johnny knew he had hit the nail on the head. He stooped down so he could look her in the eyes. "I know because I was ready to run too, after I found out Anki had died."
The girl's forehead wrinkled up. "Anki?"
Johnny smiled. "That means 'my father' in Choctaw. See, I'm half Choctaw. That's a Native American tribe."
Sarah Kate nodded. "Daddy told me about them. Didn't they live in Mississippi and then Oklahoma after the Trail of Tears?"
"That's right. But some stayed in Mississippi. I lived on a reservation in Mississippi when I was a boy. But when Anki got sick, he sent me to boarding school in Oklahoma. He didn't want me to watch him get sicker and sicker. I didn't know about it until after he was gone."
Sarah Kate stuck her hand in his. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "My English teacher, Mr. Ward, took a special interest in me. I think he understood how upset I was. I think he knew I was planning to run away. All I wanted was to go back home to Mississippi. I was only thirteen years old. I didn't know the dangers that I might face traveling on my own."
Sarah Kate's face settled into a scowl. "I can take care of myself."
"I know you can." Johnny sat in the grass. "You did OK on your own for months. But honey, there are bad people out there. People who would take advantage of you."
"Like Uncle Peter." She shuddered. "I don't want to go with him."
Johnny nodded. "And we're going to do everything we can to prevent that." He pulled Sarah Kate into a hug. "You need to let us take care of you now. You don't have to go through this alone."
She started to cry. "I miss my Daddy."
"I know. I miss mine too." Johnny held her close. He felt the tension flowing out of her as she rested in his arms.
"I won't run," she promised. "I'm tired of being alone."
Johnny took her at her word. She had deceived them at first, but deep down, he believed, she preferred truth over lies. He knew it would take some work to gain her trust, but at least she was willing to give them a chance. "Liza will be glad you stayed. But remember, you shouldn't tell anyone that she's your sister. That's just for us to know right now. Got it?"
Mrs. Diehl had blurted out that bit of news even though she'd promised Mr. Wentworth to keep it a secret. Johnny had overheard her apologizing to him. Now it was a secret Johnny and Swede and Nancy and Sarah Kate would have to keep.
Sarah Kate nodded. "Yeah. I know."
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Tonya Diehl sighed as she looked over Sarah Kate DiAngelo's file. She'd been forced to amend the name on the file to Sarah Kate Benedict, but she couldn't think of the little girl that way.
She'd tried to gain jurisdiction over the child's case, to no avail. She had to go back to California. At least she'd been assured Sarah Kate would be placed in a foster home until things were settled. Roy and JoAnne DeSoto had already been approved to take on the role of foster parents.
Tonya worried about the placement. Oh, she was convinced the DeSotos would take excellent care of Sarah Kate, but they had a teenaged son. That could prove a struggle for the little girl, who had been mistreated by her cousin. She wished John and Nita Gage could take the role of foster parents. By law, they had to be considered, but they were Native American, and it was likely they would be passed over.
She carried the file to the office to make copies. She intended to give them to the California social services worker who was coming with the Benedicts to get Sarah Kate. The most important thing was the note Sarah Kate had written: Dear Miss Collins, I dont want to live with Uncle Peter and Aunt Judy. I dont like how my cusin Michael tuched me when I stayed with them while Gramma was sick. Please ask my daddy to come get me insted. I want to live with him. Thankfully, it wasn't Miss Collins coming to get the girl. Apparently, she'd been fired a couple of months ago. Hopefully Edna Richards would pay attention to a little girl's earnest pleas.
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Sarah Kate sat on the sofa, trembling. Johnny sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Listen, honey," he said. "I'm going to be here with you the whole time. You aren't going with them. We're going to Los Angeles together and you'll stay with Roy and JoAnne. Remember D.J.? He'll be happy to see you again."
She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his side. "I like D.J., but I want to stay with you! D.J. has a big brother." She shuddered.
"You know," Johnny said, "I've known Chris since he was a little guy. He's a good kid. He would never, ever hurt you."
Sarah Kate blinked back tears. Only babies cried. She wasn't a baby. "But you understand me. Nobody else does."
Johnny's hand rubbed her back. "You know, Roy lost his dad too. And his mom. I think he understands more than you know. Can you give them a chance?"
Sarah Kate was quiet for a long moment. Then she nodded. "I'll try." She swallowed hard. Her voice was wavering, and she hated that. It was a sign of weakness. Daddy always told her she had to be strong.
"You know, it's OK to cry," Johnny said. "It's OK to need help or a hug or a friend who will stand up for you."
She stopped holding back the tears. They flooded down her cheeks and she wrapped her arms around Johnny. "I don't want to see them! Please let me go to my room."
"Honey, you have to see them." Johnny kept rubbing her back. "You don't have to go to them or let them touch you, but you have to see them. I'll be right here with you the whole time. Tomorrow, we'll travel back to California together on the train. Mr. Wentworth and Liza will come with us."
They were going on the train because Liza's grandpa couldn't travel on a plane. He was too sick. Sarah Kate wished he could be her grandpa too, but she was afraid to let herself love him. He was dying. She couldn't love someone and then lose him.
Outside, they heard a car pulling up. Then they heard voices. Johnny wrapped his hand around Sarah Kate's. She leaned against him. He was her protector, her knight in shining armor. He wouldn't let Uncle Peter take her away.
The doorbell rang. Nancy opened the door. She stepped aside and let three people come in. Uncle Peter, Aunt Judy, and a lady Sarah Kate had never met before.
A minute later, Mrs. Diehl came through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said. Sarah Kate sat up straighter, but she kept hold of Johnny's hand.
"Not at all," Uncle Peter said. He kept his voice smooth and calm, friendly. He liked to make people think he was a decent guy even though he wasn't. Daddy said he worked for a really bad guy who liked to hurt people. He went to court and convinced juries that the bad guy wasn't really that bad, even though Daddy saw him kill somebody.
He was mean to Sarah Kate too. In his opinion, his son Michael was the perfect child. Everything he did was OK. Everything Sarah Kate did was something to yell and complain about. Whenever she was around him, she felt like she was about six inches tall.
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Johnny put his arm around Sarah Kate. She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his arm. Nancy led Peter Benedict and his wife into the living room. Stephen Wentworth came in as well and sat on the other side of Sarah Kate. Nancy and Swede were watching Liza.
Peter Benedict took a seat in one of the armchairs facing the sofa. He leaned forward and glared at Sarah Kate. "So, there's the ungrateful child who refuses to appreciate the opportunities I offer her. The best schools, the best clothes, and she prefers to go on the run with her loser father."
Johnny curled his hand into a fist. He could feel Sarah Kate's body trembling under his arm. She was terrified. He bent down and whispered in her ear. "Don't listen to him, sweetheart."
"Get your hands off of my daughter, Injun," Benedict growled. "Yeah, I've done my homework. I know who you are, John Gage."
Johnny ignored him. He felt Sarah Kate's muscles tightening. She lifted her chin and glared at Benedict. "I'm not your daughter. I never will be! And Uncle Johnny is kind and smart and good. I'd rather be his daughter than yours."
She hadn't called him uncle before. She must have heard D.J. call him that. "Hey, sweetheart," Johnny said. "It's OK. I don't listen to ignorant people like him."
Benedict chuckled. "Ignorant? I have a doctorate from Stanford University. All you have is a high school degree and the fire academy. Oh, and your three months of paramedic training."
"I don't care how high your IQ is," Johnny said. "You thrive on belittling people. You don't see Sarah Kate's intelligence, her kindness, her persistence, her determination, or anything else good about her. That's ignorance."
Mrs. Diehl put a hand on Johnny's shoulder. "Let's put an end to the insults. What matters right now is Sarah Kate. I've talked with Mrs. Richards. I've been promised that Sarah Kate will go to a foster home until the matters I have raised are considered by CPS and the courts. She's afraid of her cousin Michael and her concerns so far have been ignored."
"Alice Collins determined her complaints were unfounded," Benedict said.
"Alice Collins was fired for taking bribes," Edna Richards snapped. "I hardly think we can take her word for anything. Roy and JoAnne DeSoto have been approved as foster parents for Sarah Kate. John Gage will accompany her on the trip to Los Angeles. They leave tomorrow morning, along with Mr. Wentworth, the lawyer who represents Sarah Kate's father."
"I heard her father died," Benedict said.
Wentworth straightened up. "Where did you hear that?" he asked.
Benedict's eyes darted about. Johnny thought he looked anxious and guilty. He had messed up by mentioning Marcus DiAngelo's death. Wentworth had explained that this news had never been publicized. Johnny wondered how Benedict knew about it. Sarah Kate was crying now. Benedict didn't care how he hurt her. Johnny rubbed a hand through her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Everything is going to work out, sweetheart." After what she had done for his family, fighting for her happiness was the least he could do.
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Nita Gage wished her husband was home. JoJo had been crying for Inki all day long. Nita knew the little girl was recovering from her ordeal. It would be easier to get her through it with Nashoba. She had given her blessing for him to stay with Sarah Kate, not knowing what things would be like at home without him. Of course, she knew Sarah Kate needed him. At least they would be starting home soon. She moaned. She had to get the house ready for visitors. Mr. Wentworth and Liza were going to stay with them. She was way too tired to clean.
JoJo wanted Ishki within sight at all times. She would only sleep pressed up against Nita in bed. These were things that JoAnne had warned Nita to expect. It would just be easier to manage if Nashoba were here.
Meanwhile, Nita wasn't feeling good. She thought she had stomach flu. It was going around. That made it even harder to mother a clingy toddler. Nita hoped that some time today, JoJo would be willing to go with Anna or Papi Tex for a while so she could get a nap. She was exhausted.
She didn't use the playpen much, but today she set it up in the middle of the living room. She put both babies in it with some toys, then she sank down onto the sofa to watch them play. She picked up the phone and dialed Anna, hopeful that it was her day off. "Anna," she said when her brother's wife answered, "I'm sick and I have to clean the house. We have company coming. Also, JoJo won't let me out of her sight. Can you help me?"
"Of course! I'll be right over." She walked through the door a couple minutes later. She and Billy lived in the ranch's old bunkhouse. Nita liked having them close.
Anna sat down next to Nita and laid the back of her hand on Nita's forehead. "No fever. What's wrong?"
"I've been nauseous all morning. I couldn't even eat breakfast. I cooked eggs for the twins and something about the smell —" Her voice trailed off as she remembered the last time the smell of eggs cooking made her sick. "Oh no. I can't go through that again." She'd almost died when the twins were born.
Anna took her hands. "Listen to me, Nita," she said softly. "There's a very good chance everything will be fine with this pregnancy." She smiled. "I'll tell you something I haven't told Billy yet. I'm expecting too. I'm six weeks along."
Nita hugged her sister-in-law. "I'm happy for you. Scared for me, though."
"Listen," Anna said. "My OB/GYN, Alanna Miller, specializes in high-risk pregnancies. You should call her."
Nita's stomach twisted. "Is there a problem for you?"
Anna shook her head. "No. I'm fine. She works with regular patients, too. But she won't miss any problems like your last OB did."
"Thank you." Nita reached for the yellow pages that she kept close to the telephone. "I'll call her and make an appointment now."
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Matt smiled. For the first time in weeks, Melissa seemed bright and happy. The nerve block had relieved her headache. And the doctor had assured her that the procedure wouldn't harm the baby. One of the hospital obstetricians had performed an ultrasound earlier today and they'd been able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Matt had listened in awe. Now he was reading while Melissa rested.
"You sure are enjoying that book," Melissa said.
Matt closed Cost of Discipleship. "It's good. Sometimes it's hard to understand, but that's OK." He took a deep breath. "Lissa, I want to talk with you about something."
She grinned. "You want to quit your job with the fire department? I've been waiting for you to say something."
Matt shifted in his chair. "How did you know?"
"Sometimes you talk in your sleep." She laughed. "But you've never said what you want to do instead."
"I'd like to go to college and become a pastor, like Taffy."
She reached for his hand. "I think you'd be a good one. You're a lot like Taffy, you know." She smiled. "Must be the name."
Matt laughed. "We won't have health insurance while I'm in school. That's why I hesitated."
"Honey, you don't need to worry about that anymore." Her hand stroked his. "With my inheritance, we have everything we could need."
Matt breathed out a sigh of relief. "I can use Taffy's money for my tuition. I don't want to take anything from your inheritance."
Lissa shook her head. "No. That money was meant to honor Jordan. We have to talk about how we're going to do that."
Matt rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I had an idea about that. What if we started a camp for kids with special needs? Your nephew and D.J. and Liza would all benefit from that. Think about how many kids we could help."
Lissa sat up, her eyes shining. "I love that idea, Matt." She leaned over to kiss him, then wrapped her arms around him. "You're pretty special, you know?"
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September 25, 1985
At ten in the morning, Johnny watched Sarah Kate climb the steps into the train. He motioned for Stephen to climb up next. Johnny was carrying Liza, who had wrapped her arms around his neck. Once the others were aboard, Johnny mounted the steps. He got the girls and Stephen seated, then went back to get their bags, which were under the watchful eye of the conductor. "Thanks!" Johnny said as he grabbed their things.
"My pleasure," the man replied.
Johnny stowed their luggage, then settled himself in the seat next to Sarah Kate. Liza was sitting on Stephen's lap. Sarah Kate had her nose pressed against the window. "I've never traveled by train before, Uncle Johnny!"
Johnny grinned. He liked seeing her relaxed and happy. The anxiety she had shown yesterday had vanished entirely. She turned around and settled back against her seat. "This is fun."
Liza jumped down from Stephen's lap and climbed up next to her big sister. The pair had become fast friends. Sarah Kate kissed the little girl's forehead and said, "I love you, Princess Liza."
"It's a good thing Princess Liza has Princess Sarah Kate in her corner," Johnny said.
Sarah Kate shook her head. "I'm no princess," she said. "Daddy always called me a tomboy."
Johnny shrugged. "I don't see why you can't be a princess and a tomboy." He ruffled Sarah Kate's hair. "It just makes you more interesting."
A smile tugged up the corners of Sarah Kate's mouth. She leaned her head against Johnny's arm and turned so she could look out the window as the train set in motion.
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Nita had reluctantly left JoJo and Jamie with Anna to make it to her appointment with Dr. Miller. It was the only appointment available for a new patient in the next three months. She didn't want to wait any longer to confirm that she was pregnant and to talk with a doctor who might relieve her fears.
She liked Dr. Miller right away. The young woman came into the exam room and greeted her with a smile that lit up her eyes. "You are expecting, Mrs. Gage," she said. "Based on your intake form, I'd say you're about eight weeks along. Now, tell me about your first pregnancy."
Nita told her the whole story. "I had to have a liver transplant." That part of the story still caused her feelings of regret. Though she was grateful to be alive to watch her children grow up, she hated that her continued life depended on someone else's death. "I'm nervous about this pregnancy, Dr. Miller." She laid a hand on her abdomen. "And yet, I love this baby. I will do whatever you tell me to do."
"There is only a small likelihood that you will suffer from HELLP Syndrome again. There is a greater possibility that you will have pre-eclampsia, which doesn't usually occur until the twentieth week of pregnancy. We will keep a careful eye on your blood pressure and the levels of protein in your urine. Today, I will give you written information about symptoms to watch out for. If you experience any of these, call my office immediately."
Nita nodded. "Thank you, Doctor." She glanced downward. "Are we finished? I need to get home to my twins." She was worried that JoJo would be giving Anna trouble.
Dr. Miller put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, we're done for now. Make an appointment on your way out for two weeks from today. For now, we're OK with two appointments a month. We'll move to weekly appointments once you reach twenty weeks."
Nita grabbed her purse. She already felt better about this pregnancy. "Thank you so much, Doctor. It was a pleasure to meet you."