Charlene Sands by Lily Gets Her Man

than meager rations of food on the table. But her father had had other ideas. Disheartened by the devastation surrounding him, he’d set his mind on a new life; they’dmove off their farm and open Brody Mercantile, a small shop in the growing ranching town of Sweet Springs. It had been a good move. Her father had been happy until he’d lost his wife. Then came the gambling.
    But Jonah had abruptly changed his mind about his brother. Lily now believed her father had known he was dying months earlier and had made his peace with him. She remembered a letter coming from Chicago. Her father had never spoken of it, but since that time Jonah had mellowed on the subject and his deathbed plea for her to locate Jasper had come straight from her father’s heart.
    She choked back a sob. She missed her father. He was a sweet loving man, even if he did have a fondness for the gaming tables that had put her into this predicament. She’d made him a promise—one she’d sworn to keep. She had to continue her search for her uncle.
    A tapping at her door startled Lily. Folding the letter and tucking it safely into her pocket, she rose from the bed to open the door slowly. A pouting face stared up at her. “Come in, Bethann.”
    Bethann strolled in and plunked herself down on the bed. “Papa says I can’t leave the house.” The little girl dangled her legs off the edge. She swung them to and fro.
    “That’s right. Remember, we talked about it yesterday.”
    The girl hopped down from the bed. She wandered over to the dresser, touching everything. “I got nothin’ to do.”
    “Well—” Lily rubbed her chin “—I can think upa list of chores we can do. Dusting, washing, sweeping..”
    Lily stopped abruptly when the child’s face contorted in fear. “Or…” Lily reached into her reticule and brought out a rag doll. “I can give you your birthday present.” She held out the doll. “Happy birthday, Bethann.”
    “Th-that’s for me?” Bethann looked at the small rag doll as if she’d been given a fifty-dollar gold piece.
    Lily placed it into her hands. “I made this for you days ago. I’m sorry, I forgot to give it to you.”
    “She’s beautiful.” Bethann hugged the doll to her chest. “What’s her name?”
    Lily smoothed away several wayward strands of Bethann’s hair, wondering how the child managed to always look so disheveled. She’d bathed and dressed her just hours ago. “That’s for you to decide. She’s yours now.”
    “Thank you, Miss Lily. I love her!” Bethann plopped a wet kiss on Lily’s cheek.
    “Oh, Bethann, I hoped you would.”
    The scraps of calico sewed over cotton batting with button eyes and strands of yarn for hair, was nothing special, but Lily remembered how much her dolls had meant to her. Growing up without sisters and brothers was lonesome. Her dolls had always given her comfort.
    “She’s got funny hair.”
    Lily laughed. “I unraveled the yarn and brushed it with melted wax so the hair would stay curly.”
    “Can you do that with my hair?”
    “Dear heavens, no! But if you want curly hair, I do know a trick or two.”
    “You do?” Bethann looked at Lily in disbelief.
    “Yes.”
    “Can we curl your hair, too?”
    “I suppose.”
    She began an inspection of Lily’s hair. “How long’s your hair?”
    “Very long.”
    “Why’d you keep it trussed up all’s the time?”
    “To keep it out of my way.” To make her point, Lily pushed back a few more of Bethann’s strays. “Now, sweetie, are you gonna name her or do we call her Funny Hair?”
    Bethann giggled, then a frown stole over her face. “Can’t rightly think of a name.”
    “Play with her a while. Get to know her. A name will pop into your head. You’ll see.”
    Bethann smiled, giving Lily a big hug before leaving the room.
    Lily finished her chores early, read Bethann a bedtime story before tucking her in, and thought to check on Tyler one more time. He was improving, albeit slowly. It was hard to