Page 7 of A Groom for Heather
“Here you go, Mama Heather,” Cecily said, handing Heather the brush. Heather’s heart clutched each time she heard the word Mama from Cecily’s lips. She had always wanted children. Perhaps God provided these two angels to her since she didn’t have any of her own?
Cecily sat in the chair and sipped her milk as Heather worked the brush through the tangled hair. The girl’s locks were super fine and silky. Heather ran her fingers through the strands and worried a knot between her fingers. Finally, it was loose enough so she could get a brush to break through the tangled hair without hurting Cecily. Arthur sang softly to himself as he drank his milk. Heather recognized it as one of the hymns they sang in church.
“When we go to town, I need to mail a letter,” Heather finally said.
Arthur stopped singing. “Are you sending for a husband?”
Heather paused detangling Cecily’s hair. “Where did you hear that?”
“Everyone at school is talking about how their Mas are getting hitched. I think Pastor Collins has made everyone mad.”
Heather gave a little chuckle. “Maybe.” She thought about Bea’s words. Even though they may not convey her feelings, they might make sense to a younger child. “Perhaps he just wants the best for everyone.”
“Even us?” Cecily asked.
“I know he wants the best for you. Which is why I wrote a letter.”
“To get us a new Pa?”
“No. I’m thinking of selling the ranch.”
Cecily turned abruptly in the chair. The brush flew from Heather’s hand and hung limply from Cecily’s hair. “Are you getting rid of us?” Cecily asked, tears starting to fill her eyes.
“Oh no,” Heather insisted. She placed Cecily’s glass on the table and wrapped the girl in a hug. “I would never get rid of you.”
“What about me?” Arthur asked.
Heather opened her arm to encourage Arthur to receive a hug. When the boy moved closer, Heather had both of her children right where she wanted them.In her arms. “I would never get rid of you either. In fact, I would like you to become my children permanently.”
Cecily’s eyes grew wide. “You’d be our mama?”
Heather nodded. “I’d like that very much.”
Arthur tightened his arms around Heather. “I love you, Mama,” he said.
It was the first time Heather heard him call her Mama without her name attached. She felt her throat thicken and blinked back the tears that were rapidly developing.
“I love you, too. Both of you.” She pressed kisses against the tops of the children’s heads. “We will go see Mr. Cairn when we get to town. I’m sure there is some paperwork we would need to fill out.”
“Why do you have to sell the ranch then?” Cecily asked.
“Well,” Heather started, then paused. “I was thinking that we could go on a grand adventure. My parents live in Pennsylvania and I know that they would love an opportunity to meet you.”
“So, we’d move?”
Heather nodded at Arthur. “I’m sending a letter to my mother asking her to find us a home.”
“I don’t want to leave Last Chance,” Cecily said softly.
Heather pulled her close. “Neither do I, sweetie, but I don’t have a choice.”
“Miss Reed says you always have a choice.”
Heather snickered. Trust her best friend to plant a perfectly logical idea into the mind of a child. “Well, let’s see if I get a response first.” She pulled the hairbrush from Cecily’s hair and gave it one final stroke before putting the brush on the table. “So, who’s hungry?”
Arthur’s belly rumbled in response.
“He’s always hungry,” Cecily laughed.
