Free The Midwife's Secret by Kate Bridges Page B

they were older. The conductor’s wife would probably know more.”
    What could she do? Amanda wondered again. If she could meet the children, she’d be better able to make a decision, and ask if the children even wanted to stay here.
    “What are you thinkin’, Amanda?” asked Ellie, grabbing her by the shoulders. “You couldn’t possibly keep them here in the shack. There’s not enough room for four people to sleep.”
    Could they all squeeze in? “I’d just like to meet them.”
    Ellie dropped her hands. Donald shifted beside his wife. “Amanda, Ellie and I have eight children of our own, and some of ’em are harder to look after than others. You’ve never met these children, so you don’t know what they’re like.”
    Amanda ran a hand over her soiled apron. She was dressed in work clothes, and there wasn’t much time to spare if she were to meet the wagon. “There’s no harm in saying hello.”
    Oh—she’d almost forgotten. Grandma. Amanda couldn’t entertain an idea like this without asking first. The older woman was all for taking in homeless children when the cabin was completed. In fact, they’d planned it well—if Amanda were called to a delivery in the middle of the night, Grandma would be here for the children. But if, onthe odd chance, these new children were to stay in the shack for the next four weeks—
    “We have to go now,” said Ellie, cutting into Amanda’s thoughts. “I left the children preparin’ supper, but don’t dare leave ’em long. Please don’t do anythin’ rash.”
    When the three of them left, Tom stood staring at her, large hands propped on his hips. His green eyes lit with something unreadable. He was assessing her. Again.
    She really didn’t care what he thought of her, she told herself, or her plans for the children, but she was mighty grateful he was here at this particular moment. Surely he wouldn’t refuse her request, no matter what he thought of her, being divorced.
    “Tom, would you mind since there’s no one else to ask on such short notice—” She moved back from him to give herself a comfortable space to breathe. “Would you mind giving me a lift to town? I prefer not to use my bicycle tonight.” Because if the children returned with her, they’d have to walk and how could they lug their suitcases alongside a bicycle? She’d hitch another ride home from someone else with a wagon, but she’d get there sooner with Tom.
    She glanced up at his surprised face, hoping he’d put their argument behind them. “Please.”
    “Children really do mean a lot to you, don’t they?”
    “Yes, they do. An awful lot.”
    His face, bronzed by the wind, was rugged and solemn. Something in his manner calmed her. “Then how can I say no?”
    Her mouth curved into a soft smile. He returned her smile with one of his own, and there went that invisible pull of attraction.
    “Thank you,” she blurted, filling with a giddy sense ofpleasure, stumbling and racing toward the shack. “I’ll tell Grandma.”
    “I heard every word of Ellie’s explanation,” bellowed the round old woman from the door. “The next time you people start talking behind the children’s backs, make sure you don’t talk so loud. I had to prop the door open because of the smoke—”
    “The smoke?” Amanda stepped into the shack.
    “I burned the flapjacks. Got distracted by one of Pierce’s jokes.”
    “I know it’s short notice, Grandma, and we weren’t figuring on it happening so soon, but would you mind if I brought the two children back here tonight?”
    Grandma gazed at her with sharp eyes, then her expression softened. “I haven’t seen you this flushed and excited for a year and a half. It does my old heart good. Of course you can bring them back, but only if you think it’ll work out after you meet them and see who they are. Remember, they have to live with us for a while before someone adopts them, and stayin’ here might not be the best thing for us or