Liberty House Page 11

  Tommy leaned her forehead against his chest then looked up at him, her clear blue eyes showing the pain she felt, "I don't think I can." She walked back into the cabin; the screen door swinging shut behind her.

  Chapter Eleven

  Her days of painting and working on the gallery show were all for this moment. Excitement filled her as she passed back and forth in the backroom waiting for it to start. Would they like her work, or would all this be for nothing? She just knew they wouldn't like her work. What if they didn't buy any?

  She wore a new dress, a gift from Maverick. It was blue and silver striped, with blue lace on the collar and sleeves, and she had on her best petticoats and wore her pair of laced up boots. Her hair was pulled up in a perfect bun with little curls around her face. She might be nervous, but she would look great. Still, on the inside, Tommy knew she was an orphan and would always be. It felt like everyone that looked her way knew she was an orphan.

  She went to the front room, walking back and forth like a caged animal or a nervous one. Then, she saw Sawyer walk through the door. He had been working a lot at the newspaper office while still helping the boys at the ranch and office, so he hadn't been by as much. She ran up to him and hugged him. "Sawyer, you came." She smiled. Many of her worries went away seeing him.

  "Of course, I did. You think I’d miss this? Not on your life. So, how are you?"

  "Great. My dream’s comin’ true. I never thought it would."

  "I'm so glad." He kissed her cheek then looked at her. "You're worried, nervous?"

  "As a cat caught in a tree."

  "What worries you?" He led her to a bench and sat down.

  "What if they don't like my stuff? I know Cole does, but what if they don't share his taste in art? What if they don't buy, or I get a bad name? Or what if…"

  He cut her off. "Tommy, if, if, the biggest word in the dictionary. You just gotta wait and see what happens. That's all I can say. And just trust Cole and the family."

  "But…"

  "No, just wait and see. I believe in you. Anything you set your mind to, you do it, and you do it well. You can do this."

  "You really think so?"

  "Of course, my girl can do anything. And now you have to realize it too."

  She was about to say something, but Jerry came in. "Hey, Sawyer, you two wanna come in the back? Cole’s gonna give us a run-through on what to do."

  She nodded and managed a smile.

  "You’ll do great today," Jerry told her.

  "Thanks." Before they started walking back there, Tommy stopped and looked up at Sawyer. "You think I look okay?"

  He put his arm on her shoulders. "You look beautiful, believe me. Now, let's get to work, sis.” They entered the main gallery hall and joined the rest of the family and Cole. Cole smiled brightly at her. "So, Tommy, are you waiting to become a world-famous artist?"

  Tommy met his gaze. "I want you to answer me truthfully, Cole."

  "Okay."

  "Do you think I can really do this?"

  "You wanted me to answer truthfully, right?" He looked at her seriously. "Well, I have to admit…" He paused. Tommy knew what was coming.

  "You will do wonderfully.” He smiled at her. “Just trust me on this. And I believe these people wanna see landscapes, the tourists, anyways, and the local folks will love your work too."

  "How d’you know so much?" Jesse asked.

  "I like art. I have been to plenty of galleries."

  "Alright, let's pray before we start," Matt said, "I know Ellen’s been prayin’ for this day for a long time."

  They all held hands and bowed their heads as Matt prayed. "Lord, protect us all today. Make Tommy's day go well. Thank You for what You have already done for our sister and for this family. In Jesus' name, amen.” They all whispered their amen as they ended the prayer.

  "Let's go. Everyone understands what to do?" Cole asked.

  "Yes, sir." Tommy put her hand out first, and all the others put their hands in and as one, they all cried. "The Starry Yankees. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Starry Yankees." Then they lifted their hands in the air as they often did as children. They were all one happy family. They’d make today perfect.

  Tommy watched her first buyer look at her artwork. He was a wealthy man who lived south of Silkwood named Mr. Runyan. And he was looking at her art. She could not believe it. She wished she could see if there was any emotion on his face, but it just looked like ice. He inspected everything with detail. When he was done looking at all of them, he turned to Tommy.

  When he said nothing, Tommy could hold it no longer. "What do you think, sir?"

  "Mmmh! I'm thinking." He looked at her without his glasses. "Could I see a piece of art that you made of yourself with your family?"

  Tommy glanced beside her to Cole then back to Mr. Runyan. She was about to respond, but Cole spoke up.

  "Sir, I'm U.S. Marshall Donovan, if you don't mind my asking, why would you like to see that?"

  "You're the U.S. Marshall Donavan?" Mr. Runyan finally showed emotion---surprise.

  "Yes, sir."

  "You are one, bright, young man."

  Cole didn't know what to make of that comment, so he just nodded.

  "Can I see a portrait of your family and yourself?"

  Tommy looked at him. "May I ask why?"

  "Because…I want to see what you think of yourself."

  Tommy thought over his words then said, “Okay, just a moment, please." She walked to the back room where she had a painting of the family. Cole followed. "What do you think of what he asked?" She asked when he walked in.

  "I'll go talk to him and ask him some questions. You get that painting ready, but stay here ‘till I come back. Sound good?"

  "Sure." She grinned. "You're a bright young man."

  "Hey, knock it off, ma'am," he told her as he smiled. Rarely did he get compliments on anything. He wondered why he got one today. Did it have to do with the past? "Be good." He again smelled cinnamon. He was learning to love the smell. He grinned and then walked out to talk to Mr. Runyan.

  Cole went to find Mr. Runyan to find out the truth behind his request.

  "Mr. Runyan,” Cole began as he walked up to the man, “Why’d you compliment me in such a way? I do appreciate it. But where’d that come from?" He said it respectfully, but firmly.

  Mr. Runyan nodded, not seeming to mind the forward question. "I’ve heard of what you did to the train and how you have helped people. I think that's what men need to do, help."

  Cole considered him. "How do I know you're tellin’ the truth?"

  "You don't. But perhaps if I stand by my word, I can earn your trust?”

  Cole took the bait. “What exactly do you mean by that?” He asked, his curiosity peaking.

  “I can make sure Miss Starry has a future in art. I want to see her go to high places," said Mr. Runyan.

  "Why?" Cole didn't want to lose him, but he wanted to make sure the man knew the truth. "If people find out who you’re workin’ with, you could lose your name and reputation."

  "I'm a businessman, and I know what these paintings are worth. I don't care about where she came from. This is fine art." He paused. "Years ago, I gave my reputation to the Lord. He will do with it what He wills, and I do the work the Lord calls me to. May I see this painting of her family?"

  "Fine. Come with me." He walked to the front where Gloria and Susan stood waiting to assist customers. He asked Gloria to get Tommy then faced Mr. Runyan again. "So, what do you know about what I do?"

  "I know you turned the train around into a good moral thing to behold. And I know what you have done with Liberty Home."

  "How do you know about that?"

  "I figured that out when I started watching you do things with the train and your name."

  "Okay, that's enough. Just don't tell anyone, understand?" Cole said firmly. He didn't like people mentioning that part of his life. He kept his past a secret for a reason. He had faced it alone these many years, and he could do it
more. He thought about telling the Starrys, but then he always decided against it. It didn’t seem to matter now.

  "Yes, sir," Mr. Runyan assured him.

  Before either of them had a chance to say anymore, Tommy walked in with Gloria helping to carry the painting. They placed it on the table and watched as he looked over the smaller, simpler painting with some of the family. The big one was of all the family, including Missy, Ben, Pedro, and Jerry, with the beautiful gulf as the backdrop and above it, in light blue were the words "The Starry Yankees.” She knew it was one of her best paintings. You could almost tell the love for her family in how she painted them. She even painted herself well, but maybe only because she wanted her family to look good.

  Again Mr. Runyan said nothing, so Tommy had to ask again what he thought.

  "My dear, Miss Starry." He took her hand and kissed it. "You are a wonderful artist. I want to buy it."

  Gloria laughed and hugged Katrina.

  "Are you sure?" Tommy asked, shocked. No one liked the Starrys, let alone liked them enough to buy a picture of them.

  "You don't understand?" he asked, confused.

  "Oh, yes, I do." She paused, getting her bearings. "I didn't plan to sell this one…but the bigger paintings like it are being sold for." she smiled. "But since it's family, I'll put 10 more on it."

  He laughed. "You are learning from a man's world." He held out a hand. "You've got a deal, my lady." He paused. "And I'll look at some of your other work again. I will be seeing you later." He took her hand, kissed it, and walked away to look around again.

  Gloria hugged Tommy as she whispered, "Tommy, that was amazing. He loves it. I knew you would do well." She hugged her again, laughing all the while.

  Tommy was too much in shock to know how to feel. She took a deep breath.

  "Did I tell you, or did I tell you?" Cole asked.

  Tommy gave him a smirk. "You were right."

  "You're still in a daze, huh?" Cole grinned.

  She smiled shyly.

  "Tommy, that is great," Susan told her.

  "Thanks," Tommy responded finally.

  Cole looked down at her. "You did so well. How did you learn to do that?"

  She gave him a smug look. "Maverick helped me before the gallery-to know what to say and how to act."

  Cole's eyes turned a little too tender. "Well, you are doing great, darlin'." He paused. "Just next time, don't be as forward, I know that's just how you are, but that is not what most men expect."

  She looked at him. "Why don't you hang out and tell me how I should act?" She wanted to do this job right.

  His smile deepened. "Do you dare to trust me enough?"

  "I'll just have to take that chance."

  "You're a brave woman."

  She was about to say something, but another customer came in. She was loving being able to fulfill her dream, and she could see that Cole did too.

  Maverick stood very still when Mr. Runyan approached. He didn't know what to think about this man. He was going to have to be careful.

  "Are you Maverick Starry?" Mr. Runyan asked.

  "I am. You are Mr. Runyan?"

  "Yes. You are a lot like Mr. Donovan. You help people." It was a statement, not a question.

  "And you like that?" Maverick could normally read people so well, but not this man.

  "Oh, I do. I want to help your sister to sell in my galleries. She is your sister, right?"

  "Right." Most people from Starry still called him and the other orphans, not siblings. This was a plus. "You want to do what?"

  Just then Tommy walked up with Cole beside her.

  "I want to get Miss Starry 's art in my gallery."

  "You want to do what?" Tommy's mouth dropped open.

  "Do hearing problems run in the family?"

  Katrina coughed, trying not to laugh. She certainly had hearing problems.

  "No, sir. We’re just feelin’ a little…shocked. What, exactly, do you have in mind for our Tommy?" Maverick asked.

  "Well, it's as simple as you think, I am willing to take Tommy's art and put it in my gallery."

  "Do you know where we live?"

  "Yes, I do, and I see much of the landscape art is from your land. I have heard it is some of the plushest, green land around here."

  Maverick nodded. "It is. We work hard at it." It helped during the war, General Sherman hadn’t burned and destroyed their land.

  "I am sure you all do,” Mr. Runyan said before adding, “I want to help such hard-working people, especially when I see such talent. I am willing to have someone train Miss Starry."

  "What do you think he could teach me?" Tommy asked, her mind reeling from the excitement rushing through her.

  "I have a partner that is a tutor. He is a very good teacher, and he could teach you the technical side of art. You have all the talent. You just need to gain skill and perfect your craft."

  "He wouldn't mind trainin’ a girl like me?"

  "A girl like you?"

  "Me bein’ an orphan and a Starry. Many Southerners don't like that." Her words were an understatement. She said it with pride but also humbly because she wasn't sure what he would say.

  "Oh, well, it's a good thing that I am not a Southerner. My partner ain't a normal southern."

  They all chuckled.

  "Miss Tommy, are you not a member of the Starry family?” He continued without allowing her to answer, “If you are, my dear, then you are not an orphan. None of you are orphans; you all are a family." He spoke gently, meaning what he said.

  She nodded. Thinking he was a strange man. Not many people thought anything nice about them.

  Ellen had just walked up and heard him. She smiled softly. "I tell them that all the time, sir."

  Mr. Runyan held out his hand. "And you are?"

  Ellen took his hand. "Ellen Starry. I raised most of the people you see here, Tommy included."

  "I am honored to meet you, Mrs. Starry," he told Ellen sincerely.

  Maverick spoke up, "Sir, I gotta let you know somethin’. There are some scary men out there who want to kill us, Tommy more than anybody. It’ll put your tutor and you in danger to teach her," he paused, "That’s the only reason we’re questionin’ so much about this deal."

  Tommy looked down, feeling despair. Who would want to train her? Cole took her hand.

  "I do know this. There are not many that don't know about those men." He rubbed his chin. "I am willing to take that chance. I have an idea. Miss Starry and a chaperone will come and stay at my place, which is fenced in. We can have guards on it all the time, and you can put up anything you need. It will only happen if y'all agree. If not, we will do something else. It would be safer than my tutor coming out to your place all the time."

  Maverick nodded. "We will give it some thought."

  "I have a plan. You paint for me, let's say as many as you get done, in a month's time. It will take that much time to find buyers. I will get a hold of you about then, and we will work something out." He held out a hand to her.

  She looked at Maverick, and he nodded. Then she shook his hand. "Yes, sir, I look forward to it."

  Chapter Twelve

  Because she went to bed late, Tommy woke up a little later than usual the next morning. Though it felt good to be home, she had a bad dream-not a terrible one, but it took her time to fall back asleep. The family wouldn't say anything about her sleeping in. They'd probably figure out she'd had a bad dream. She was half glad the girls weren't with her this time when it happened. The other half, she liked them there just so she wasn't alone, but she wouldn't tell anyone that. Suddenly, she needed to see someone, so she dressed and walked out to the kitchen.

  There stood U.S. Marshal Cole Donovan in the white apron her brothers used when they were over. It was covered with flour. He had his western shirt, jeans, boots, and even his badge on. She wanted to laugh after she got over the shock. He looked so cute dressed like that. Gloria sat at the table reading a book and drinking coffee, and Katrina was in t
he parlor. She sat on the stool and leaned on the corner, meeting Cole's gaze. For a minute, his brown eyes seemed so familiar.

  "Well, just take over the kitchen, why don't you?" She teased.

  "I should have asked you," he said.

  "No, it's fine. I was funnin’ you. Just don't burn it down like my brothers."

  He laughed. "Since they ain't here to say different, I will stand for them."

  "They will admit they can't cook."

  He handed her a plate of eggs, two pancakes with lots of butter, two large pieces of bacon, and a cup of coffee.

  "Thanks." She bit into the eggs, and the delicious flavor tingled in her mouth. "This is really good."

  He chuckled. "You don't have to act that shocked."

  She smiled, "I didn't expect you to know so much. U.S. Marshal, owner of a train, knows a lot about horses, great with children, and can cook?"

  "I had to learn early in life how to cook. And when I got older, I made sure I knew how to make it good, and I do enjoy bakin’." He put the flour into the bowl.

  "Want some help? I feel bad I woke up so late."

  "It's okay. You worked hard yesterday. You might want to take the day off."

  "No, it's fine. I just need some good food." She smiled.

  She ate the eggs in silence then worked on the pancakes. When she finally got the nerve, she asked the question that had been on her mind. "Cole, can I ask you a question?"

  He looked at her. "Shoot."

  "I heard someone say yesterday about Liberty House standing for high morals. Most orphanages are a bunch of show and don’t really care emotionally.” She paused and then cocked her head to one side like she shouldn’t have said anything. “I know most emotional needs don’t need to be met but…”

  “No.” Cole showed compassion through his eyes. “You are right. Most emotional needs are not met by Matrons in orphanages. But Liberty Home does it differently. They have Godly caring leaders, mostly parents, who love and try to understand a touched, a hurt child. They deal with a lot on structure and care. Even if they can’t meet every need, every time, they show true, unconditional love for each child. One reason it is called Liberty in the name is because Liberty means freedom in Christ, if the child chooses. Also, it is for freedom of being a child and who they are meant to be.” Cole wiped his hands on his apron, “And to be free loved children like they are meant to be means keeping the morals in the home. I don't mean free children by running wild and no structure like so many orphanages and asylums but by letting them be a child even if they are still a child in the mind and an adult in the body. The touched adults who can’t live on their own go to live with families that set up a safe and healthy way for them to live as independently as they can. Many times, they are so good at showing love to little ones while they didn’t get it for so long themselves.”