same thing," Rusty told them, thinking how good God was to them all. "I won't say that her announcement didn't upset me, but I've been praying for that very miracle since you left."
"Thank you," Jessie said to her, now looking close to tears.
"How did it go upstairs?"
"Very well," Doug told them, giving his wife a moment to compose herself. "They were as pleased as last night about their new nightclothing, and I even got a hug from Lizzy.
She thanked me for taking her to school."
"I didn't get a hug," Jessie added, "but both gave me shy smiles when I kissed them and said I love you."
Rusty's chest rose with a sigh. "That's wonderful. I'll talk to Lizzy in the morning. Something tells me she'll have changed her mind."
"That might happen more than once in the next two days," Chase inserted.
"I think you're probably right," Doug agreed. "But we're still going to pray, and like you said, Rusty, just because they leave doesn't mean it's over."
It was so good to see the Davidsons treating this with a practical view. Rusty's decision would not have changed had they been unreasonable, but it would have made things all the more uncomfortable.
The sun finally dropped until it was too dark to remain on the porch. Jessie asked everyone in for coffee, and they ended up around the table in the kitchen playing cards. Although the children were still on everyone's mind, the subject of their staying was dropped for the evening, giving a tranquil end to an already wonderful day.
----
8
"I want to stay," Lizzy told Rusty, and surprisingly enough, it was the first time she had said it. Saturday and most of Sunday had flown by, and in those days Chase and Rusty had watched a miracle transpire. Lizzy Parks had fallen in love with the Davidsons. She spoke as soon as someone talked to her—no more lowered head or eyes—and she went willingly into Doug and Jessie's arms the many times they reached for her.
It was now Sunday night, and Rusty was conducting her final interview. She had already spoken to Thomas, who had not changed his mind about staying. As planned, Rusty had spoken with Lizzy on Saturday morning, and the little girl had still been headed back to Manitou. Telling her she would not try to talk her out of her decision, Rusty now asked Lizzy what her final word was. Eyes shining with peace, Lizzy told her she would stay on the ranch.
"I'll miss you, Lizzy." Rusty felt she could be honest. "But I know how much you're going to love it here."
"They like us," she told Rusty. "And Jessie said that we can visit you sometime."
"Of course you can. How fun that will be. And think of the school, Lizzy. Miss Kay was so nice.
"She was. I'll have my own desk."
Rusty drew her into her arms and held her close. With another 53 children waiting for her in Manitou, it didn't make sense that she would miss this one little girl, but it was true. She moved back and looked her in the eye.
"Shall we go tell the others?"
Lizzy nodded, and they ventured onto the front porch. Betsy, the tiny black kitten, padded toward them, and Lizzy lifted her into her arms. Her face rather set against the emotions she felt inside, Rusty slipped into a chair and pulled Lizzy and the kitten near to her.
"Lizzy has something she wants to tell you," Rusty said gently. It was a blessing that Lizzy wasted no time. The little girl looked at Doug and then at Jessie.
"I want to stay."
There was no stopping the tears. Jessies hand came to her face, and Doug shut his eyes against the onslaught of emotions. Lizzy's eyes flew to Rusty s.
"Do you remember," Rusty began gently, "that day when Aunt Sammy handed you your slate and said you were going to school?"
"I cried."
"That's right, you did. It's like that for Doug and Jessie. They're so happy you're staying that they can't do anything but cry. "
Lizzy nodded and turned back to look at Jessie. Jessie gave her a watery smile, and Lizzy returned it.
"Come here, Lizzy," she said softly, and a moment later she was
"Thank you," Jessie said to her, now looking close to tears.
"How did it go upstairs?"
"Very well," Doug told them, giving his wife a moment to compose herself. "They were as pleased as last night about their new nightclothing, and I even got a hug from Lizzy.
She thanked me for taking her to school."
"I didn't get a hug," Jessie added, "but both gave me shy smiles when I kissed them and said I love you."
Rusty's chest rose with a sigh. "That's wonderful. I'll talk to Lizzy in the morning. Something tells me she'll have changed her mind."
"That might happen more than once in the next two days," Chase inserted.
"I think you're probably right," Doug agreed. "But we're still going to pray, and like you said, Rusty, just because they leave doesn't mean it's over."
It was so good to see the Davidsons treating this with a practical view. Rusty's decision would not have changed had they been unreasonable, but it would have made things all the more uncomfortable.
The sun finally dropped until it was too dark to remain on the porch. Jessie asked everyone in for coffee, and they ended up around the table in the kitchen playing cards. Although the children were still on everyone's mind, the subject of their staying was dropped for the evening, giving a tranquil end to an already wonderful day.
----
8
"I want to stay," Lizzy told Rusty, and surprisingly enough, it was the first time she had said it. Saturday and most of Sunday had flown by, and in those days Chase and Rusty had watched a miracle transpire. Lizzy Parks had fallen in love with the Davidsons. She spoke as soon as someone talked to her—no more lowered head or eyes—and she went willingly into Doug and Jessie's arms the many times they reached for her.
It was now Sunday night, and Rusty was conducting her final interview. She had already spoken to Thomas, who had not changed his mind about staying. As planned, Rusty had spoken with Lizzy on Saturday morning, and the little girl had still been headed back to Manitou. Telling her she would not try to talk her out of her decision, Rusty now asked Lizzy what her final word was. Eyes shining with peace, Lizzy told her she would stay on the ranch.
"I'll miss you, Lizzy." Rusty felt she could be honest. "But I know how much you're going to love it here."
"They like us," she told Rusty. "And Jessie said that we can visit you sometime."
"Of course you can. How fun that will be. And think of the school, Lizzy. Miss Kay was so nice.
"She was. I'll have my own desk."
Rusty drew her into her arms and held her close. With another 53 children waiting for her in Manitou, it didn't make sense that she would miss this one little girl, but it was true. She moved back and looked her in the eye.
"Shall we go tell the others?"
Lizzy nodded, and they ventured onto the front porch. Betsy, the tiny black kitten, padded toward them, and Lizzy lifted her into her arms. Her face rather set against the emotions she felt inside, Rusty slipped into a chair and pulled Lizzy and the kitten near to her.
"Lizzy has something she wants to tell you," Rusty said gently. It was a blessing that Lizzy wasted no time. The little girl looked at Doug and then at Jessie.
"I want to stay."
There was no stopping the tears. Jessies hand came to her face, and Doug shut his eyes against the onslaught of emotions. Lizzy's eyes flew to Rusty s.
"Do you remember," Rusty began gently, "that day when Aunt Sammy handed you your slate and said you were going to school?"
"I cried."
"That's right, you did. It's like that for Doug and Jessie. They're so happy you're staying that they can't do anything but cry. "
Lizzy nodded and turned back to look at Jessie. Jessie gave her a watery smile, and Lizzy returned it.
"Come here, Lizzy," she said softly, and a moment later she was
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