As Jane put out her lamp and crawled into bed, she told herself she must pray that whatever happened would be what was best for the children. But as she drifted off to sleep, the family she envisioned for the children included not only herself, but Adam.
When Adam was ready to leave with the children, Peggy turned back. She ran to Jane, who knelt to give her a hug and a kiss. "Ann Jane go, too?" Peggy asked.
"No, sweetheart, Aunt Jane has to stay here."
"Peggy come back."
Adam saw Jane's eyes fill with tears. "Come back anytime," she said.
Peggy, her kitten scampering at her feet, ran cheerfully back to Adam. She took his offered hand and one of Johnny's and skipped across the backyards to Adam's kitchen door.
Adam felt like a monster. Jane loved the little girl and would make a wonderful mother. His reasons for denying her the child were becoming less clear all the time. But now, when he would like to give in and let Jane have Peggy, there was Johnny to consider as well.
Johnny wasn't going to make anybody's life easier. The incident the evening before had made it clear the boy had his own idea of what was acceptable behavior, and there was every chance that attempts at discipline would only make him run away, perhaps taking Peggy with him.
At the same time, it seemed cruel to separate them. Adam wasn't sure he would be willing to send Peggy off with the couple today if they didn't want to take Johnny, too. He would have to try to guess whether or not they could handle the boy.
When they entered Adam's kitchen, Johnny found his old clothes and wanted to change into them. "I think you look better in those," Adam said.
"You're not serious," Johnny said, tugging at a rolled-up sleeve. "I look like an idiot."
"Suit yourself," Adam said. At least the boy's clothes were clean. He had found an interesting little pick hidden in a seam of the shirt while he was wringing it out. He could guess its purpose. He wondered if Johnny would be willing to admit to owning it and ask for it back.
He left Johnny in the kitchen and took Peggy upstairs with him. He changed her into a clean dress and fresh white apron and combed her hair, then stood her on his dresser so she could see herself in the mirror. "Isn't Peggy pretty?"
Peggy laughed. "Nonny, come see!" she called. "Nonny!"
In seconds Johnny was bounding up the stairs, buttoning his shirt as he came. "What, baby?"
"See Peggy." She pointed at the mirror and giggled.
"Yeah, silly, that's what Peggy looks like. Didn't you know that?"
"Nonny, too." She beckoned him closer. She pointed to the Johnny that appeared in the mirror and back at her brother.
"Yep. That's me."
Adam let Peggy kiss her image goodbye, then lifted her off the dresser. While he packed Peggy's few belongings in her little case, Johnny looked around curiously. He pretended disinterest, however. Peggy followed her kitten, watching him explore.
With the case in hand, Adam directed the children back downstairs. The kitten headed toward the front room with Peggy right behind him. Johnny followed Adam into the kitchen.
"You got somethin' that belongs to me," the boy said.
"And what might that be?" Adam asked, turning to face him.
"My lock pick," he answered without a moment's hesitation.
"I don't think you need that anymore, Johnny."
"How would you know? If this family takes Peggy they ain't gonna want me. Aunt Jane ain't gonna keep feedin' me once Peggy's gone. And you can't wait till I'm outta your life."
Adam sighed. "That's not true, Johnny." He bent to gather the discarded clothes.
"The hell it ain't."
"Johnny, this family would be more likely to want you if you'd watch your language." He shook out the shirt and turned a pant leg right side out. Something heavy hit the floor at his feet.
Johnny started forward, but Adam reached it first. He turned the brand-new pocketknife slowly in his hand. Peggy's call from upstairs had evidently caused the boy to leave it in the borrowed pants.
"Now you got two things that are mine."
"Where did you get this, Johnny?" The last thing he expected was an honest answer.
"I stole it yesterday." The boy's jaw set as if he dared Adam to hit him. In the strained silence, they heard Peggy giggle in the other room.
"You'll have to return it," Adam said.
"Like hell! It's mine now."
Adam shook his head. "No. It still belongs to the store you stole it from."
Johnny grinned in triumph. "Then that pick's still mine."
Adam chuckled. "All right. The pick's still yours. I'll give it back to you, but I'll take it again if you ever use it. There's a big difference between stealing from a store and confiscating from a criminal."
"Oh, now I'm a criminal."
Adam tossed the pocketknife lightly in the air. "Seems like."
He put the clothes over the back of a chair and, taking Johnny's arm, walked through the house. "We're going for a walk," he told Peggy.
Peggy grabbed up the kitten and took Adam's other hand. Adam set a pace that was comfortable for the little girl. They were a block from the house before Johnny spoke. "What you gonna tell 'em?"
"You're going to tell them you stole the knife yesterday, and you're sorry. Then you're going to offer to sweep the floor and wash the windows to make up for it."
"I ain't sayin' no such thing."
"Sure you are." Adam smiled down at Peggy, who seemed oblivious to her brother's plight.
"Or what?"
"Or nothing. There's no choice here, Johnny. You're going to do what's right."
Johnny laughed. "Ain't ya gonna tell me you're gonna send me to jail?"
"I don't have to, Johnny." Adam released the boy's arm to bend and lift Peggy. She gave him a half hug around the kitten. He lengthened his steps a little just as Johnny slowed, as if he considered running. Adam stopped and waited for him. "How much do you want to stay with your sister?"
"That ain't fair," Johnny said, catching up.
"Maybe not, but it's effective."
"I don't trust you anyhow, you know. I could turn over the knife, and you could still send her away from me."
"It's not always easy to figure out who to trust." Adam found himself thinking of Jane as he said it. "Take the storekeeper. He trusted his customers to pay for what they took. How's he going to trust you to do anything you promise?"
"'Cause he figures you'll beat me if I don't?" Johnny guessed.
Adam sighed. "You're supposed to say because he knows you're honestly sorry you stole from him."
Johnny was silent for a moment. "You got a funny way a lookin' at things."
They were approaching the business district and Adam asked, "Which store, Johnny?"
"Maybe I don't want to tell-you."
"Fine," he said. "We'll just start with the first store and ask."
Johnny stepped forward. "It was that one." He pointed toward Gardener's General Store.
Inside, Peggy and her kitten both squirmed to be released. They were the only customers in the store at the moment and got the full attention of both Mr. and Mrs. Gardener.
"Look, Earl," the Mrs. said. "It's the children that were here yesterday with Miss Sparks."
"Morning, Dr. Hart," said Earl.
Adam took the knife from his pocket and handed it to Johnny, nudging him forward. The boy cast him a scowl that didn't quite cover the fear in his eyes.
"Yesterday." He stopped and cleared his throat, then went on in a rush. "I stole this knife." He held it out to Mr. Gardener.
Mr. Gardener hesitated a moment before he took it. "Lila?"
His wife scurried over to a small display. "Yes, one's missing," she said.
Adam gave Johnny another nudge.
"I'm sorry I stole it, and I'll sweep up if'n you want." This last was said with a marked lack of enthusiasm.
"And … " Adam prompted.
"And wash the windows."
"What a nice boy," Lila said, joining her husband.
Adam had serious doubts about that assessment. He listened to the tap of Peggy's shoes, hoping that as long as she was moving she wasn't getting into anything.
"Maybe you'd like to work here until you can buy the knife," suggested Mr. Gardener.
"We're not sure where the boy will be living," Adam said. "He may be too far out in the country. But he can sweep up now." Adam hoped they got the hint that he thought making Johnny work for an hour or so would be a good idea.
The Gardners looked at each other. Earl made the decision. "He could stock some shelves for us. Can you find your own way home, after?"