Keli Gwyn - Her Motherhood Wish

“What’s he going to make?”

She held up an index finger, leaned forward and grinned. “That, my dear boys and girls, is for you to figure out. The first one to guess correctly gets to ring the dinner bell tomorrow. Now, I’ll excuse you. Once the clean-up is done, we’ll gather on the bottom floor of Jack and Jill House, where we’ll have benches set up.”

One group of children began clearing the tables. The rest filed out in a noisy but orderly fashion. Jasper and Ruby watched the exodus, their brows furrowed. They had to be overwhelmed by all the changes in their lives. Callie had to admit she was feeling a bit unsettled herself. A new job could do that to a person. Her uneasiness had nothing to do with the handsome carpenter she’d be assisting. Or did it?

Chip stood. Callie rose, too, and planted Ruby on one hip. “You’re a man of many talents. My brother told me you drop off toys here from time to time, but I didn’t realize you’d built the playground equipment. No wonder you know so much about how things work around here. I’ve visited several times, and yet I have a lot to learn.”

“I’m no expert, but I’d be happy to teach you what I know. All you have to do is ask.” He sent her one of his most winsome smiles.

She chuckled. “All right. I’m asking. What happens next?”

“Very well. Now that Tess has excused the children, they’ll complete their assigned chores under the supervision of their group leaders. Each of the groups has a name. Tess chose to use wildlife found in California for them. Whenever a new group forms, the children in it choose the name. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the first boys who lived here dubbed their groups the grizzlies, the cougars and the salamanders. The girls, on the other hand, went with quail, chipmunks and rabbits.”

Jasper tugged on Chip’s sleeve. “Mr. Chip.”

“What is it, Jasper?”

“Can I be in the grizzlies?”

Chip leaned over, his hands on his knees. “You and I are going to be in a special group, just the two of us. And you—” he gave Jasper a playful tap on the tip of his nose “—get to pick the name.”

“I do? Oh!” He scrunched his face in the cutest way as he contemplated. A smile burst forth. “I know. We can be the bullfrogs. I used to hear them outside my window at night.”

Chip grinned. “What do you think of that, Miss Callie? I’m sure you’re fond of frogs.”

“It’s a fine name. I’ve seen some big bullfrogs up in Hangtown Creek. I even grabbed one once.” Accidentally, when she’d mistaken it for a rock. She’d nearly shrieked her lungs out, but they didn’t need to know that.

Jasper gazed at her with boyish admiration. “Really? How big was it?”

Chip’s lips twitched, a telltale sign of his disbelief. “Yes, Miss Callie. Tell us. Just how big was this frog you befriended?”

Since she’d gotten Jasper’s attention focused on something pleasant, she might as well finish the tale with a flourish. She suppressed a shudder at the memory of that dreadful experience, shifted a yawning Ruby to a more comfortable position and forged ahead.

“It was a spring day much like today, clear and warm, with not a cloud in the sky. Recent storms had filled the creek, and it was burbling over the rocks. I tossed stones in the creek just so I could hear the satisfying plops. I reached for a nearby stone, but I saw something else.” She paused for dramatic effect.

“What was it?” Jasper asked.

A strangled sound from Chip stopped her. She recognized it for what it was—a cough covering a chortle. He was laughing. At her.

So be it. She wasn’t going to let his amusement ruin Jasper’s fun. “It was a big ol’ bullfrog with bulging eyes. That fellow was huge. Why, he must have been as big as my hand. Or bigger.” Definitely bigger. And very ugly.

Jasper trembled with excitement. “And you picked it up?”

“I sure did. He didn’t like being disturbed, though, so he took a flying leap out of my hand.” If she wasn’t embellishing the tale for the boy’s benefit, she might have mentioned that the slippery creature didn’t have much choice, not when she’d flung him as fast and as far as possible. She could happily live the rest of her life without seeing another frog.

“Miss Callie is a brave woman, isn’t she, Jasper? Now that she’s finished her exciting tale, we should be going. I have to make sure everything’s ready before the rest of the children arrive. How would you like a piggyback ride?” Upon receiving a nod, he hefted Jasper onto the bench and presented his back. The young fellow climbed up and wrapped his arms around Chip’s neck. Chip galloped across the dining room, bringing forth peals of laughter.

Chip stopped at the doorway and turned. “The honorable knight and his trusty steed can’t ride off and leave the pint-sized princess and her lovely lady’s maid behind. It’s our job to protect the ladies—and the realm.”

There it was again—that edge of concern to his voice. Why was he so convinced that the children were in danger? And if he was, why had he cut her off earlier when she attempted to reassure Jasper? Those were questions she’d ask him as soon as she could get him alone, but with their two young chaperones present much of the time, opportunities to have Chip to herself could be few. Which could be a good thing. He might exasperate her on occasion, but his charisma and magnetic personality drew her to him.

Since she didn’t know him as well as she’d thought, she would be wise to keep her distance, for the time being anyhow. But there was nothing to stop her from inviting the attractive carpenter to have a cup of hot cocoa with her after they got the children in bed later that evening, was there? They did need to make plans, after all, and admiring him over the streaming beverage would be a nice way to end the day. If their time together led to her having sweet dreams, so much the better.

* * *

Carving with an audience wasn’t something Chip had done very often. The few times he’d attempted it, he’d had a handful of adults looking on. Mindful of his need to concentrate, they’d remained silent. Carving with a group of curious children watching and calling out their guesses would test his ability to remain focused on his work, but he thrived on challenges.

He stood in the middle of the large space that would become the new playroom, with Tess by his side. She surveyed the setup. “Do you think this arrangement will work?”

“I do.” The older boys, assisted by their group leaders, had carried in benches from the dining hall and arranged them in a U shape, three rows deep, with a sturdy table in the middle.

“Very well. Then I’ll leave you to finalize your preparations.” She headed out the door just as Callie walked in, with Ruby by her side.

Apprehension clamped a vise around Chip’s chest. “Where’s Jasper?”

Callie responded with a casual shrug. “Outside.”

“Where?”

“I’m not sure exactly, but he’s fine.”

The vise squeezing Chip’s chest tightened. “How do you know that, if he’s not with you?”

“He’s with Spencer and Luke. I believe they’re capable of looking out for him, don’t you?”

She didn’t understand how important this was. He lowered his voice so Ruby, who was walking between the rows of benches, wouldn’t hear them and become alarmed. “I know you don’t think the children are in danger, but based on the facts, I believe they could be.”

Her words were hushed but forceful. “If they are—and I’m not convinced that’s the case—I see no need to alarm them.”

“Neither do I.”

“Really? Then why did you stop me at dinner when I tried to assure Jasper that they’re safe here?”