Home of Her Heart (Hearts of the War Book 2) Page 21

  Absently, she wondered if Mac was anywhere near that area. How she wished he’d joined the Army instead of the Navy. Then again, she supposed fighting off a boat wasn’t any worse than combating Germans on land.

  With a quick prayer to keep the Allied men fighting there safe, and a longer plea for her brother’s safekeeping, she flipped off the radio and hurried outside. At least she knew Klayne wasn’t in the midst of that particular battle, since he was in the Army Air Force.

  The next few days were filled with work, visits to the hospital to sit with her father, and more work.

  Delaney had never been so tired in her entire life.

  The third morning after Dill’s accident, the boys that worked for them arrived with an extra car and three high school-aged girls.

  “Miss Dee, we know you need more help and well…” said Tommy. He’d become the group’s spokesperson, although as he talked, he swirled the toe of his scuffed work boot in the dirt. He took a breath and looked up at her, making eye contact. “This is my sister and my two cousins. They can work hard and know how to do things on a ranch.”

  “Do they?” Delaney asked, trying to hide her smile. The girls all looked to be about sixteen or so. They wore denim overalls with the legs rolled up, boots, and cotton work shirts. Delaney walked closer to the girls. “What are your names?”

  The tallest girl bore a striking resemblance to Tommy and straightened a little taller. “My name is Louise, Miss Dee. I’m almost sixteen, can work as hard as my brother,” she tossed a glance at Tommy, “and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”

  “That’s good,” Delaney said, “because if you work here, your hands, your face, and most of the rest of you will be coated in dirt by the end of the day.” She turned to the other two girls. “And you are?”

  “I’m Jilly and this is Lina,” the more outgoing of the two said. “We used to live on a farm until our dad decided he wanted to sell insurance and we moved to town.”

  “I see. And you both like to do farm work?” Delaney asked. Jilly enthusiastically nodded her head while Lina slowly shook hers. Delaney focused on the shy girl. “What do you like to do, Lina?”

  “I like to clean house and cook. I’m good at doing laundry, and I don’t mind working in the garden. Tommy said he thought you might need some help around the house, too.” The timid girl glanced up at Delaney then dropped her gaze.

  Delaney smiled at the girls. “You all three are hired. I’ll see how you do today and we’ll talk about wages at the end of the day. Does that sound fair?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” they all three answered.

  Delaney set the boys, Louise, and Jilly to work outside then returned to the house with Lina. She showed her where the washing machine was located, the rags and supplies she used for cleaning, and asked if the girl would water the garden before she started working on the chores inside.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lina said, grinning shyly.

  “Maybe you’d like to listen to the radio while you work,” Delaney said, flipping on the radio and listening in surprise as the announcer relayed the news that the Battle of Midway was over and the Americans had triumphed.

  “Despite the overwhelming odds, the American Navy has proven they are a force to be reckoned with. The battle is over folks, and victory is ours,” the reporter proclaimed with excitement.

  Spontaneously, Delaney executed a few dance steps around the kitchen, then gave Lina a hug. “That’s such wonderful news!”

  “It sure is, ma’am,” Lina agreed.

  Delaney patted the girl on the back then moved toward the door. “Just call me Miss Dee like the rest of them, Lina, and we’ll get along fine.”

  “Yes, m..” Lina blushed. “Yes, Miss Dee.”

  “I’ll check back in on you in a while.”

  That afternoon, a car drove up the lane and Nik Nash got out along with a beautiful blond-haired girl every bit as tall as him. She looked willowy and graceful, like Delaney pictured a fairy might appear.

  “Dee! I’ve brought you a new hand with the horses,” Nik said, motioning to the girl. “This is Charlotte. I went through medical school with her older brother. She is excellent at handling horses. Lottie has been bored almost to death since she arrived last week to spend the summer here. Maybe you can keep her busy?”

  The girl blushed but reached out and shook Delaney’s hand. “Nik may be exaggerating slightly, but I’d be happy to help with your horses if you need someone.”

  “I do need someone, Charlotte.” Delaney looked over the girl and smiled. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two. My fiancé enlisted in the Army and my folks thought it might be a good idea for me to get a change of scenery for the summer, so here I am. I’m hopeless in the house, can’t cook to save my life, but I like to work outdoors.”

  Delaney laughed and turned to Nik. “Now, this is my kind of girl.”

  Nik chuckled. “I figured you two would get along well. Why don’t I leave Charlotte here for a few hours so you can both see how things might work out? I can drop back by around five.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Doc. I can drive her into town when I go to visit Dad this evening.”

  “Perfect,” Nik said, backing toward his car. “Your father is coming along quite nicely. In spite of his insistence we let him come home, it will probably be another week or two before I feel comfortable moving him out here. Even then, he’ll need constant care.”

  “I’ll figure something out, Doc,” Delaney said, wondering how she could run the ranch, care for her father, and take care of herself. She saw the doctor eyeing her, as though he gauged to see if she was following his orders to get plenty of rest.

  He nodded and opened the car door. “If you need help, let me know.”

  “I will,” she said. They both knew she wouldn’t, though.

  Delaney turned to Charlotte and motioned toward the corral next to the barn. “Want to give riding one of the horses a go?”

  “You bet!” Charlotte said, falling into step beside her. “And please call me Lottie, Miss Dee. Everyone does.”

  “Lottie it is,” Delaney said, leading the way over to the horses. An hour and a half later, she almost hurried into the house to call the doctor and praise him for sending her Lottie. The girl was a marvel with horses and had no trouble at all riding any of the horses. Delaney had her ride four different horses, of varying ages and temperaments. Lottie’s gentle hand combined with her unyielding determination to bring the horses around to her way of thinking gave Delaney confidence in the girl’s abilities to handle the job.

  As Lottie saddled one of the mares who hadn’t been ridden for a while, Delaney lowered her voice. “Did Nik tell you why I need help with the horses?”

  “All Nik said was that you have too many irons in the fire and need some help with the horses this summer. That’s all I need to know.” Lottie grinned at Delaney as she swung onto the back of the horse and patted the chestnut’s neck. “I’d ride from dawn to dusk if someone would let me.”

  “You might come to regret those words,” Delaney teased, as she moved away from the fence. “I’ll be back in an hour to head into town.”

  “Thanks, Miss Dee. I’ll be ready to go.” Lottie loped off across the pasture and Delaney went to check on the work the boys did as they finished hauling in the first cutting of hay under the supervision of Duffy.

  Assured they had things well in hand, she’d started toward the equipment shed but stopped when Lina ran outside, waving one of Dill’s dirty shirts over her head. “Miss Dee! There’s a telephone call for you. It’s urgent!”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Delaney broke into a run and raced to the house, taking the back steps in a few leaps before charging through the laundry area and into the kitchen. She lifted the receiver and listened breathlessly to her sister-in-law sobbing on the other end of the line.

  “Carol, I can’t understand you. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong,” Delaney said, imagining
a hundred horrible scenarios that started with Ryatt and ended with Mac.

  “It’s Mac. He was in the Battle of Midway. I just received a telegram he’s been injured. I don’t know more than that, but I wanted to let you know.” Carol snuffled into the phone.

  Shocked, Delaney knew it wasn’t the time to give in to her emotions. Carol needed someone to lean on.

  “Let’s think positive, honey. Mac is as tough as nails and you know it. He’ll probably be back up and ready to fight again in no time at all.” Delaney tried to keep her tone cheerful and upbeat while panic and worry seeped into her. “Do you need me to come there? Help with anything?”

  Carol sniffled again. “No, Dee. You’ve got your hands full there. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have added more worries, but I…”

  Delaney interrupted her. “No, Carol. We’re here for you. Always. For anything. Call anytime you need us.”

  “Thanks, Dee.” Carol sighed.

  “You’re welcome.” Delaney could picture the woman wiping her cheeks and straightening her spine.

  “How’s Dill? Is he getting along okay?” Carol asked, clearly anxious to change the subject.

  Delaney barely held back a derisive snort. “No, he’s not. He’s terrorizing the hospital staff, demanding someone, anyone, bring him home. The doctor said it will be a few more weeks before that can happen and then someone will need to be in the house to take care of him.”

  “Oh, gosh, Dee,” Carol’s voice sounded heavy with concern. “What are you going to do? Should Ry and I come spend the summer there?”

  “No, Carol. We’ll be fine,” Delaney said, then hurried to add. “Unless you want to spend the summer here. You know we’d love to have you.”

  “I know, and we’d love to come, but I wouldn’t feel right leaving our farm unattended. The neighbors have had some strange things happening at their place. You know the big farm Mr. and Mrs. Yamada owned? Well, once they had to report to the Assembly Center, a very nice young man purchased it. Ryatt’s little friend Petey said he was a captain in the Army before his plane crashed and he almost died. I don’t know all the particulars, but it looks like he’ll keep the fruit stand open this summer.”

  “Oh, that’s a great thing,” Delaney said, knowing the fruit stand drew customers to the area, many of whom would see Mac’s apple orchard and remember to come back in the fall to purchase apples. “Are you sure you two are doing okay on your own?”

  “We’re fine. Ryatt, bless his heart, thinks he’s the man of the house with his daddy gone and tries hard to do his share.” Carol’s voice softened. “He’s such a good boy, Dee. I don’t know what I did to deserve him.”

  Delaney giggled. “You married my brother. He’s such a handful, you got Ryatt as a reward.”

  Carol’s smile carried across the phone lines. “Indeed. Ryatt can be a handful, too, but he’s also a sweetheart.”

  “Just like his dad.” Delaney’s heart ached, thinking about her brother. Wherever he was, she hoped his injuries were minimal and he was safe. “Listen, Carol, I better run. Thank you for letting me know. I don’t think I’ll tell Dad right now. He needs to focus on getting well.”

  “Agreed. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”

  “Thanks, Carol. Take care and tell Ry his Aunt Dee sends her love.”

  “Consider it done,” Carol said, then disconnected the call.

  Delaney thanked Lina for running out to get her then hurried to change her clothes. She rushed back downstairs, stopping to speak to the girl as she finished the last load of laundry. “Lina, you did a great job today. If you want to come back tomorrow, I could certainly use your help. Here’s your wages.”

  She placed money in the girl’s hand and watched her eyes widen with delight. “I’ll be back, Miss Dee. Thank you!”

  “See you tomorrow?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Lina said, then blushed.

  In the coming weeks, Delaney would be more grateful for Lina’s help, the help of all the kids they’d hired, than words could express.

  While Lina kept the house spotless, the laundry washed and pressed, and the garden watered and weeded, the rest of them worked outside. Delaney pushed herself from dawn to dusk, but couldn’t make it through the day without stopping for an afternoon nap. Since she couldn’t very well sneak into the house with Lina there, she finally admitted the truth to the girl, showing her the picture of Klayne she’d found in the magazine, along with her wedding pictures. Lina promised not to tell a soul, and as far as Delaney knew she hadn’t.

  Jilly and Louise kept up with the boys and Delaney gave them the same wages. Those girls earned every penny, too. Three times a week, Lottie came to work with the horses. Sometimes, she’d stay late and help if they were in need of an extra hand.

  Typically, Sage Hills Ranch had half a dozen cowboys working there year-round and added an additional six to eight during the busy summer months. Although some of the kids helping on the ranch were inexperienced, they worked hard and gave their best to whatever task Delaney asked them to do.

  With Dill unable to do anything but gripe from his bed and the baby siphoning some of her strength, Delaney was surprised to find the ranch work wasn’t suffering as she’d anticipated. The young people brought endless energy and loads of fun to work with them each day, something she both looked forward to and appreciated.

  They’d made it part-way through the month of July without any problems, other than her dad’s constant care. Lina took on part of those responsibilities. Much to everyone’s surprise, Dill stopped grumbling and grousing anytime the girl stepped into his room to bring him a drink or something to eat. He actually smiled at her and exchanged pleasantries. Delaney could have whooped with joy to find Lina considered Dill as the grandfather she’d never had and didn’t mind keeping an eye on him during the day.

  To simplify his care, Delaney had moved all the furniture out of a room that had once been a study. With plenty of young legs and backs to run up and down the attic stairs, Delaney packed up everything she wanted to keep but wouldn’t use and had the boys haul it to the attic. She discovered both Jilly and Lina were excellent seamstresses and set them to the task of making new curtains for the windows from the stacks of fabric her mother had purchased shortly before she passed away.

  After Delaney and Louise cleaned the room and installed a new area rug, the boys set up an iron bed they found in the attic, along with a bedside table, a rocking chair, and a small desk. Delaney had Duffy run into town and bring home a new mattress and pillows, to ensure Dill would be as comfortable as they could make him. Until her father was fully recovered, Nik advised against him navigating the stairs.

  For now, the small room was Dill’s domain. The bed was positioned so he could look out the window and see part of the pasture and the barn. Twice a day, Butch went in to visit him and challenge him to a game of checkers to alleviate Dill’s boredom.

  Delaney worried her father would notice the rounding bump at her midsection, but so far, he’d not paid her any mind. It was only a matter of time before she’d have to tell him the truth, but she kept putting it off. She still hadn’t told him about Mac, either.

  She’d all but given up on hearing from Klayne. The pain that pinched her heart each time she thought of him confirmed in her mind that something was wrong with him, something horrible that kept him from reaching out to her.

  With no time to dwell on the morbid possibilities, she focused her attention on the unending work of running the ranch.

  Her birthday arrived and, much to her surprise, Lina baked a chocolate cake and Butch made ice cream. Amy showed up and handed Delaney a gift in a fancy wrapped box.

  “What’s this, Amy? You already gave me a gift. I love the gloves,” Delaney said, holding the box and looking at her friend.

  “Your husband mailed this box to me back in April. He sent a note, pleading with me to keep it a secret and give it to you for your birthday,” Amy said, tapping the box with her finger. “I’m
dying to know what it is. Open it!”

  Delaney carefully removed the paper, setting it aside since it was too pretty to tear. She lifted a note taped to tissue paper hiding the contents of the box and read it.

  Happy Birthday, my darling wife!

  I’m sorry I can’t be there with you today to celebrate, but I hope you enjoy these gifts. The top one is just for you because I think you’ll enjoy it, especially in your Eastern Oregon heat. The bottom gift is, in truth, more for me. I can’t wait to see you wear it when I return home.

  Love you always, Delaney.

  Have a special day!

  Your devoted husband,

  Klayne

  Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away and folded back the tissue. Her fingers traced over a pale blue summer dress with dainty flowers in the print. Lifting it from the box, she held it out and grinned. The style would hide her expanding figure and still look fashionable.

  Pleased with the dress, she passed it to Amy then looked back in the box, curious what else Klayne had sent. She started to pull out a filmy, silky bit of fabric then realized it was a daring peignoir set. Embarrassment burned her cheeks as she placed the lid back on the box and set it beneath her chair.

  If Klayne returned home anytime soon, he’d be surprised to find he’d left a pregnant wife behind, one who would most certainly not wear something so seductive as the negligee set he’d sent. However, thoughts of him wanting to see her in it drew out her smile.

  Altogether, it was a pleasant birthday, even with her husband missing, her brother in a Navy hospital, and her father recovering from his injuries.

  Chapter Eighteen

  One hot, sunny July day, Delaney had just left the bunkhouse after lunch and started toward the house to take a nap when Lina ran outside, calling for her to hurry inside to answer a telephone call.