Read Online Wings of a Dove by Elaine Barbieri - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elaine Barbieri
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Unexpectedly dropping her hand, he turned without another word and strode back to the two farmers.
Hot tears gathered in Allie's eyes as he deliberately turned his back. Swallowing with considerable difficulty, she sat down, stiffly erect as she studied the couples still mingling in the room. With the exception of a few who were talking to the older boys, it appeared they had all found a child to suit them. Nevertheless, about fifteen girls and a like number of boys were still without homes.
Allie brushed a strand of hair back from her face and clamped her lips tightly shut against their trembling. No matter what Delaney said, she knew the Lady was watching over her. She would go on with Mr. Smith and the rest of the children, and she would find a family to love her. The Lady would see to that, too. The Lady had already sent her Delaney, hadn't she? It didn't matter that he was presently angry for some reason and had turned his back on her. He was still her friend.
With that thought in mind, Allie raised her chin and blinked back the tears that were still threatening.
The church meeting room was silent except for the sound of shuffling feet. Disappointment inhibited conversation between the children remaining as the last of the congregation finally trailed away. Attempting to inject a note of hopefulness into the desolate glances turned his way, Mr. Smith raised his voice into the silence.
"All right, children, take your places in line. We have a very successful morning behind us. Many of our number have found homes, and tomorrow, before we take the train to the next stop, we may yet find homes for more. In time, you will all find a place to your liking."
His small eyes assessing the reception his words of encouragement had received, Mr. Smith mentally counted the heads in his greatly diminished flock. He nodded and turned to smile at Reverend Martin. "Our sincere appreciation, Reverend. You have truly done God's work this morning."
Pausing only to accept an invitation to a church supper that evening, Mr. Smith waved the children on. As they marched solemnly out of the church and back up the street toward the hotel, he tapped the broad shoulder of the boy in front of him.
Delaney turned at his touch.
"I feel it is my duty to speak seriously to you, Delaney. It is the conviction of the Society that none of our children should be placed in a home that is not to their liking, and I concur with that policy. I do not, however, sanction the actions of any of our group who sees fit to insult good people by turning down the offer of a home without true cause." Pausing so that his stern words might be absorbed, Mr. Smith studied Delaney's unreadable expression.
"You do realize how very fortunate you were, Delaney, that two men of superior reputation and circumstances offered to take you into their homes. Two, mind youtwo ! It is doubly impressive that both these men saw fit to put aside all thought of your history. And for that generosity of spirit, you rewarded both of them with a refusal to accept their offers. Delaney, I am incredulous at your lack of foresight as well as your ingratitude!"
Delaney's dark brows drew into a familiar frown.
"I refused, and they took someone else. What difference does it make?"
Mr. Smith's expression tightened.
"The difference is that you might have had reason to turn down one of those men, but to turn down both without even a word of appreciation or regret to either? Just what are you looking for, Delaney? I doubt you will find circumstances at any of the stops farther along the line that are any better than those you refused today."
Observing the boy closely, Mr. Smith noted the almost indiscernible tightening of Delaney's lips.
"The decision was mine, Mr. Smith. And I'll pay the consequences, won't I?"
"Yes, but" The sobriety of Delaney Marsh's
Hot tears gathered in Allie's eyes as he deliberately turned his back. Swallowing with considerable difficulty, she sat down, stiffly erect as she studied the couples still mingling in the room. With the exception of a few who were talking to the older boys, it appeared they had all found a child to suit them. Nevertheless, about fifteen girls and a like number of boys were still without homes.
Allie brushed a strand of hair back from her face and clamped her lips tightly shut against their trembling. No matter what Delaney said, she knew the Lady was watching over her. She would go on with Mr. Smith and the rest of the children, and she would find a family to love her. The Lady would see to that, too. The Lady had already sent her Delaney, hadn't she? It didn't matter that he was presently angry for some reason and had turned his back on her. He was still her friend.
With that thought in mind, Allie raised her chin and blinked back the tears that were still threatening.
The church meeting room was silent except for the sound of shuffling feet. Disappointment inhibited conversation between the children remaining as the last of the congregation finally trailed away. Attempting to inject a note of hopefulness into the desolate glances turned his way, Mr. Smith raised his voice into the silence.
"All right, children, take your places in line. We have a very successful morning behind us. Many of our number have found homes, and tomorrow, before we take the train to the next stop, we may yet find homes for more. In time, you will all find a place to your liking."
His small eyes assessing the reception his words of encouragement had received, Mr. Smith mentally counted the heads in his greatly diminished flock. He nodded and turned to smile at Reverend Martin. "Our sincere appreciation, Reverend. You have truly done God's work this morning."
Pausing only to accept an invitation to a church supper that evening, Mr. Smith waved the children on. As they marched solemnly out of the church and back up the street toward the hotel, he tapped the broad shoulder of the boy in front of him.
Delaney turned at his touch.
"I feel it is my duty to speak seriously to you, Delaney. It is the conviction of the Society that none of our children should be placed in a home that is not to their liking, and I concur with that policy. I do not, however, sanction the actions of any of our group who sees fit to insult good people by turning down the offer of a home without true cause." Pausing so that his stern words might be absorbed, Mr. Smith studied Delaney's unreadable expression.
"You do realize how very fortunate you were, Delaney, that two men of superior reputation and circumstances offered to take you into their homes. Two, mind youtwo ! It is doubly impressive that both these men saw fit to put aside all thought of your history. And for that generosity of spirit, you rewarded both of them with a refusal to accept their offers. Delaney, I am incredulous at your lack of foresight as well as your ingratitude!"
Delaney's dark brows drew into a familiar frown.
"I refused, and they took someone else. What difference does it make?"
Mr. Smith's expression tightened.
"The difference is that you might have had reason to turn down one of those men, but to turn down both without even a word of appreciation or regret to either? Just what are you looking for, Delaney? I doubt you will find circumstances at any of the stops farther along the line that are any better than those you refused today."
Observing the boy closely, Mr. Smith noted the almost indiscernible tightening of Delaney's lips.
"The decision was mine, Mr. Smith. And I'll pay the consequences, won't I?"
"Yes, but" The sobriety of Delaney Marsh's
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