something like that-"
"He's mentally unstable, that's what he is," Sarah added and blessed herself. "And them two boys, it's not worth thinking about…"
Robert got back to his feet. "George is in custody at the moment, I'll have to go down there—the two boys have no one to take care of them and the sheriff asked-"
"Bring them boys here," Sarah said, lifting her knitting off her lap and putting it aside. Getting to her feet, she pointed to the other side of the house. "We've got a spare room out back. They could bunk in for a few days until we get this thing sorted."
Robert nodded. "Thanks." Turning to Mary, he said, "I'll be back as quick as I-"
"You're not going on your own," Mary interrupted. "Remember, I teach there too, I want to help them."
"Alright, but we better hurry, I don't want them boys hanging around the sheriff's office any longer than they have to," Robert said and went back to the front door. Joining him at the door and getting her own coat, Mary found him thank her.
"For what?"
"For being understanding," Robert smiled. "You're a good woman, Mary Samuels."
"You're not a bad one yourself, Mr. Hagan," Mary smiled.
Opening the door and allowing her to go ahead of him, he joked, "Maybe one day I'll get to change that surname of yours."
Some things are worth waiting for, Mary said chuckling as he chased her to the horse and buggy.
*****
"Thanks for coming down," the sheriff nodded on opening up his office door. "Robert, Miss Samuels." Standing back to allow them through, he pointed to a wooden bench where both boys were fast asleep. "Probably the shock of it all. Once we feed them, the two boys cuddled up on the bench there and fell asleep. Kinda sad to wake them, they look so peaceful."
Robert nodded to the back of the office. "And George?"
"He's out the back, none too happy about all of this," the sheriff said, looking that way. Turning back to the children on the bench, he added. "He gave poor Tom there a tongue lashing for spilling the beans on him.—I don't know what's going on in George's head lately. But neighbors say he's been hitting the bottle a lot lately."
Looking at the pair of children Mary's heart went out to them, thinking of the life they must have been living outside school. Seeing Tom asleep with a reassuring arm around his brother, she felt blessed for the short time she'd had with her own parents. They mightn't have always been there for her, but they'd given her a good start and made her the woman she now was. Shaking her head Mary muttered to herself. "Poor dears."
"Yes, Ma'am," the sheriff nodded. "But now you're here we can get these two to bed."
Standing back, Mary watched the men pick the two boys up easily without wakening them. Then going to the door she held it open as they took the pair to the buggy outside. Joining them there, she climbed aboard and helped the boys get settled. Holding them in place while Robert jumped in from the other side, she threw an extra blanket over them all and pulled them closer to her. Looking to the sheriff and getting a silent nod in reply, Robert 'clicked' to his horse and got them under way.
Now used to getting around Woodvale, Mary paid little attention to the countryside that passed them in the dark. Looking to the sky, and watching the stars instead, she found herself happy looking at the vast expanse above her head. Lost in a world of her own, Mary felt for a moment as though she was being watched. Turning to Robert she found him looked at her with a grin. Seeing the children still asleep and fearing of waking them, she whispered, "What?"
"You and me."
"What about you and me?"
"Traveling under the stars, with our ready-made family."
Mary smiled at the comment and felt what he meant. Looking at them traveling with a couple of children between them, seemed so natural to her. Wondering if it was this that was making her feel so happy with herself, she felt the buggy slow. Looking to Robert, she asked, "Something
Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright