Page 35 of Hank and Elsie
“I can do that.”
Dr. Angus continued to snap out orders. “Elsie, if ye’d stay within eyeshot of Hank’s house in case Jewel comes here. Hank, first search yer barn and other places nearby, then move farther afield.” He pointed toward the forest. “I suggest that way, for ye know the place and won’t get lost like we might. No sense making a bad situation worse.” He glanced at Miss Taylor. “We’ll take the opposite direction across the meadow. Set up a shout if ye find her.”
Hank shook his head. “Better to fire three shots. Can hear them farther.”
“Shots, then,” Dr. Angus agreed.
Just having a plan seemed to calm Torin somewhat. “Thank you. All of you.” He turned and trotted back the way he’d come, carrying the rifle and yelling Jewel’s name.
Dr. Angus looked toward the surrey. “Let me get my bag and rifle, just in case.” He hastened to the vehicle, Miss Taylor following him.
Hank glanced at Elsie, his body stiff as if braced for a blow. “Jewel doesn’t look quite like other girls. Not ugly or anything.Just different. But she is the sweetest, happiest child as can be, and she has my heart clutched in her two little hands.” He spoke fiercely, almost glaring at her as if daring her to disagree. “I bought that hat for her, the one you saved.”
“Wearing that boater, I’ll bet she’ll look as cute as a button.” Elsie placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I look forward to meeting her.” She waited until he relaxed, and then gave him a little pat. “Now, where are her favorite places around here?”
“Swans. She likes to feed them. The rest of the animals.”
“Well, then, go look at your pigs and chickens and in your barn. I’ll go look under your bed and such.” She made a shooing motion. “Go on now. After I check the house, I’ll keep watch in front by the lake in case she wanders over to see the swans.”
Without waiting for him to respond, she picked up her skirts, and hurried to the house, up the stairs, and inside. Aside from the bed, there weren’t many places for a child to hide. To be sure, she opened the wardrobe full of more men’s clothing than she’d ever seen in one place outside of the mercantile and brushed them aside to double-check that no little girl crouched amid several pairs of boots, some very worn, and another pair practically new.
Closing the door, she glanced out the window to check for Jewel, and then went to the bed, kneeling to look underneath. No girl. Just one low, narrow chest. But also, no sign of dust balls.Hank’s a good housekeeper.Even in her anxiousness about the child, the thought made Elsie smile.
Rising, she went over to the kitchen and crouched to open the only closed cupboard, revealing several sizes of pots, some empty mason jars, a Dutch oven, a cast iron frying pan, a blue splatterware coffee pot, and some other odds and ends in the back of the shelves.
Elsie couldn’t imagine a child fitting in the icebox, but she checked anyway and saw only food. As sure as could be thatJewel wasn’t in the house, she couldn’t resist a final look around, thinking how charming she found this home, so different from the half-soddy, half dug-into-a-hill, with-an-interior-wall-made-of-logs, Bailey home. Their small house kept them warm and dry and cool in the summer. But it was functional and not at all pretty.
She stepped outside and went to lean over the porch rail, shading her eyes from the sun’s rays glaring off the lake, and looked all directions as far as she could see. But she sighted no red-clad girl.Where could that child be?
Dear Lord, please may we find Jewel soon!
Hank had just finisheda visual sweep of the final empty stall when the crack of three gunshots made him sag against the wooden wall, relieved down to the soles of his boots. He inhaled a deep breath of the straw-and-manure smelling air and sent up a fervent prayer.Thank you, thank you, God!!!
Racing from the barn, past the garden and along the side of the house, he reached the front yard just as Elsie caught up her skirts and leaped down the steps.
She sent him a wild smile but didn’t stop.
He slowed his run to keep pace with her, until they neared the rescue party.
Jewel, her face almost overshadowed by Miss Taylor’s hat, rode piggyback on Dr. Angus’s back, one hand holding a peppermint stick.
The dressmaker carried the doctor’s bag and his rifle. “Watch her right leg,” she called as soon as they came close. “Jewel sprained her ankle.”
Hank took the child from Angus and ducked his face under the hat brim to give her a big smacking kiss on the cheek. “Jewel baby, you worried us so.”
“Han, hurt.” Frowning, she pointed to her leg.
“I know, baby. We’ll get you home, and you’ll feel better.”
“Con-nee pretty hat.” Jewel placed a hand on the crown.
“Jewel’s pretty hat,” Miss Taylor corrected with a fond smile.
Dr. Angus gestured in the direction of the surrey. “If you ladies would climb inside, we’ll give Jewel to you while we hitch up Zeus.” He turned toward the pasture.
“Wait!” Elsie held up her hand in a stopping motion. “Let me grab the picnic basket to take along. Jewel’s probably hungry, and we all could use food to settle us.”
Hank nodded his agreement, pleased with her quick thinking. “Grab the chicken and dumplings in the icebox if there’s room in your basket.”
