But none of that mattered as much as the present. Her grandmother's teachings had led her to mistrust Adam. How miserably she had treated him! He had told her he loved her and she had thrown the words right back in his face.
She had no idea how to make amends. She had fought him over the children until he thought they were all she cared about. They were probably even now heading for their new home. Adam must think she could never forgive him.
She hadn't allowed herself to try to understand why he had prevented her from taking Peggy. She had assumed that he couldn't be trusted to have her interests in mind. She had believed her grandmother.
She bent and gathered the letters into a neat stack and retied the ribbon around them. She wouldn't let her grandmother's bitterness ruin her life the way it had her mother's. But exactly where she should start was a question she didn't know how to answer.
She left her bedroom, glancing at the clock in the parlor as she went by. It was already past noon. She should fix herself a lunch and start the pies for dinner.
As she entered the kitchen she heard a muffled argument outside her door. A familiar voice rose to a demand. "See Ann Jane!"
She swung open the door to find Johnny urging Peggy away from her back steps. Both children fell silent when they saw her.
Peggy held up her kitten. "Nonny fat," she announced, grinning.
"Dr. Hart said not to bother Aunt Jane," Johnny reminded his sister. "Seems like we're always botherin' somebody."
"Oh, pooh," Jane said. "When were you ever a bother?"
Johnny's answering grin didn't have quite the defiant edge she had seen before. "I don't think I wanna say."
Jane laughed, taking the kitten, which was showing signs of resenting being held in the air. "Do you want to come inside?"
Johnny glanced toward the house next door. "We better not."
It occurred to Jane that their prospective parents might even now be conferring with Adam. She sat on the step and tried for a cheerful voice when she asked, "Has the family come to meet you yet?"
"Come and gone," Johnny said, digging a toe into the dirt.
"Gone?" She hadn't been entirely successful at keeping the elation out of her voice.
Johnny grinned suddenly. "Peggy wouldn't have 'em. Told 'em to go away."
"Oh, dear. Were they so awful?" She tried for a sympathetic tone, but she wanted to laugh out loud.
"Pretty awful. They was real old, and she didn't want no boy. He said they'd keep me in the barn."
Jane hugged Peggy. She would have hugged Johnny, too, but he kept out of reach. "I'm glad you told them to go away," she said. "There'll be better chances for a family, someone who wants you both."
Johnny gave a derisive laugh. "When Ma's last boyfriend hit Peggy I decided I didn't want no family."
Jane reached a hand toward him but he sidestepped, studying his toes. "It was gonna be just her and me, but I can't take care of her. I thought I could, but I can't."
"Don't even think about running away," she said softly. His head jerked up, and his startled expression told her she had read his mind. "You'd break Peggy's heart. And mine."
Peggy's head turned to the side, and she squirmed out of Jane's embrace. Adam was striding across the yards, and the little girl ran to meet him. "See Ann Jane," she-directed.
Adam swept her up in his arms, and she squealed with delight. "Yes, I see you found Aunt Jane."
Jane stood as he walked toward her. She felt like she was seeing him for the first time, seeing him for who he was, not what she had been taught to see. What she saw made her heart skip. He was handsome, as she had noticed before, but the kindness that she had never let herself believe seemed so obvious to her now.
He joined them by the back door, hugging Peggy again before he set her on her feet to follow her wandering kitten. "Did they tell you about Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs?"
"A little," Jane said. She noticed Johnny shied away, as if he expected to be blamed for something. She wondered if he had been less than truthful about their reason for rejecting Peggy.
Adam sighed. "They weren't what we hoped for."
He hesitated a moment. "I hate to ask this, but could the children stay here this afternoon? I've got a call and it sounds like another case of the flu. I had two yesterday and heard of a few more. It's nothing too serious, but I don't want them exposed."
"Of course," Jane said. "Is there anything I can do?"
Adam laughed. "Are you going to make enough chicken soup for the whole town?"
She tried not to smile. "I just might."
"Well, don't. Not yet, because the whole town isn't sick. I need to run. I'll be back as soon as I can." He turned to Johnny. "Help watch your sister, all right?"
Johnny wasn't quite fast enough to avoid the squeeze on his shoulder. It didn't seem to be what he was expecting.
As Adam started back across the yard, Peggy ran after him. "Docka Hart!"
Adam stopped and crouched before her. He gave her a hug and whispered something in her ear. She nodded. He turned her around and gave her a light pat on the back. She skipped off after her kitten. As he stood, he waved to Jane and Johnny.
Jane found herself staring after him long after he had gone back inside. It was Johnny who brought her back to her senses. "You wantin' a hug goodbye, too?"
Jane felt her cheeks flame. "Johnny!"
He laughed. "You look at Dr. Hart like Nonny looks at a bowl a cream."
Chapter Fourteen
It was George who mentioned the flu at dinner. He had heard of several cases from people coming into the bank. There was even a rumor, he said, that it was really cholera. "They've canceled church services this morning," he added.
Adam shook his head. "No, it's just influenza. Rumors could cause a panic worse than the disease itself."
"I've heard there have been three deaths," George added before suggesting that the platter of beef be passed around again.
Adam wondered if this was another rumor or if there were deaths he didn't know about. He was still new here, and not everyone trusted doctors. "There's been one death. The elder Mr. Bartlett."
He glanced around the table. The Cartland sisters and young Ferris Wood were watching him with alarm. Bickford didn't look quite as bored as usual. Jane was trying to distract the children from the conversation and listen to it at the same time.
"I didn't hear names," George admitted. "Bartlett was an old man. He had to die of something."
"Well, yes," Adam conceded. "Influenza is always hardest on the elderly, very young and those already weakened by some other cause."
George poured gravy on another scoop of potatoes. "I've already heard speculation that the orphans brought the disease, and it spread at that gathering."
He gave a quick glance toward Peggy, and Adam realized folks would remember her falling ill during the presentation. It didn't help that she was in his care. Some might hesitate to seek his advice because of Peggy.
Certain someone would come to his home carrying the illness, Adam asked Jane to keep the children all the time. He discovered rather quickly that he missed them. He was often out on a call at mealtime, but stopped in to see them once or twice a day if at all possible. He told Jane that he needed to make sure Johnny was staying out of trouble. He admitted to himself that he was missing Jane as well.
He had worried that the children would wear Jane out, but she seemed to be holding up better than he was. She never complained about them. In fact, from her reports one would think they were perfect angels. Johnny occasionally admitted to some minor mischief, as if Jane were ruining his reputation.
Every day, Adam noticed additions to Johnny's wardrobe or Peggy's basket of toys, starting with a set of painted blocks. By midweek Johnny was wearing shoes and carrying around a reading primer. Adam hadn't thought to wonder if Johnny could read, but Jane evidently had.
Called away at all hours of the day and night, Adam left a notice on his door as to whose house he was visiting. Often he was tracked down and taken directly from one home to another. He gave up horseback riding and rented a buggy so he could sleep on the way back to town.
Jane was so grateful for the children. She worried about Adam anyway, of course, but not with the overwhelming anxiety she might have. Johnny and Peggy simply kept her too busy. Peggy was a very happy, energetic child. It was a bit of a challenge to keep her occupied.