Mysterious Ways

Chapter 1

The neighbors called in a domestic dispute, the dispatcher told the paramedics they were worried about young woman, Sally and her two year old daughter named Marianna. The house was dark, toys scattered in the living room floor. The dishes were still on the table from supper. They checked each room. The house was empty. No one was home. Finally, they found Sally on the back porch laying in a heap of blood and barely breathing. Jim, the first paramedic on the scene, found her and quickly checked her pulse.  It was weak, but she was alive. Jim silently prayed over Sally's limp body while they were bringing the stretcher. Something he always did with every person that he and his partner took to the hospital. Seven years later...
Sara Greer stared straight ahead. She needed rest, but she had another hour to go before the next pit stop. She looked in her rearview mirror and saw little Becca Lynn fast asleep on the small bed in the cab. She changed her name to hide from her ex husband. She wondered if being on the road was a good life for her little girl. She hadn't told him about being pregnant when she left. The road ahead was long and winding. It began to rain, and the wind was whipping along the highway. She began to doze a little and then she opened her eyes wide again. She decided to open the window a tiny bit to help her stay awake. She turned on her radio. She loved listening to gospel songs. She didn't go to church very often, but believed in walking with God and knew that He was watching over her and her little girl. She prayed for others out on the road as well as herself. She had been married a few years before. Then she became a truck driver. She had two girls, but one was taken away. She thanked God still had little Becca Lynn. Her Mama was a praying woman and taught all her children to pray and read God's word even if they didn't go to church. She called Mama whenever she could to let her know that they were doing well. When they were in a rock and a hard place, Sara would waitress and bartender wherever she could for extra money. Sometimes she was allowed to let her daughter sit at a table while she worked. Sometimes the bar had a band and they would ask her to sing for them. She always chose an old song that everyone knew and liked. Mama wanted to send money from time to time, but Sara wouldn't let her mother risk letting her ex-husband find her and Becca Lynn. She knew that if he found her that he would take away Becca Lynn too. Most times it was easier to just drink coffee and give her meals to Becca Lynn. She did eat more when there was enough money though. A few times there were times when people stared and she didn't always get good tips, but they were surviving without being harassed. Becca Lynn would be seven years old soon and Sara wanted to get her something special. She wasn't sure what she was going to get yet, but she had almost saved $10 for her birthday present. The wind howled through the cracked window and the truck bumped along the highway.

                            Chapter 2

Four children ran through the thick fog. They made it to the edge of the dark forest. Greg, the eldest boy, urged them onward. He wrapped the bag of food in the wool blanket that he managed to get and toss it over his shoulder and trudged behind the others. He had planned this escape for weeks. Everything was going according to the plan. He was the oldest and his siblings depended on him even though he was only twelve years old. His brother Billy was ten, his sister Kallie was seven and Little Elyse was four and just out of diapers. Kallie was a mother hen and it was a big help tending to Little Elyse.
They walked all night through the deep, dark forest. He knew that Mr. Bennet, Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Tomlinson would be sending a search party out as soon as they discovered they were missing. It was cold and the ground was covered with the first frost of the season. All the children's teeth chattered as they made their way through. Finally, a few hours before daybreak, Greg allowed the younger ones to lay down and rest. He pulled the wool blanket up a little higher around them. He hoped that they would make it across the border safely.
At daybreak he woke them to continue their journey. They had miles to go and they had only just begun. Hours of walking through the forest made them tired and hungry. The sun filtering through the foliage looked like tiny stars in the night sky. They stopped for a moment to rest and eat a bite of food before continuing.
Greg rationed each portion. He knew it would only last a few days. They were used to that at the Tomlinson House. They had been there for 3 years and no one wanted to adopt them altogether. Greg fought for them to stay together. The head master, Mr. Tomlinson was a fair man. And His wife was very generous as well. They gave each child what they could provide. Sometimes they even went without food so the children could have decent meals. Work was scarce, staff was bare minimum, funding for the orphanage house was limited and clothes were expensive to provide for all of the children.
Mrs. Tomlinson was stern but kind. They didn't have any children of their own and that may have prompted them to open their home as an orphanage to under privileged children all those years ago. Through the years, they lost a few due to sickness and moving on with their own lives. But there were a few that stayed on to help manage the orphanage. Partly because they didn't want to leave the only home they had ever known.
When it was time to wake the children for washup and chores before breakfast Mrs. Tomlinson sent Ms. Randel and Ms. Barrett to help the girls washup and dress for the day. Mr. Tomlinson sent Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Bennet to wake up the boys and start tending the animals.