Gertrude Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Gertrude

  Orlan Orphans Book 9

  Kirsten Osbourne

  Unlimited Dreams

  Copyright © 2017 by Kirsten Osbourne

  Unlimited Dreams Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Erin Dameron Hill/ EDH Graphics

  Book design by Sara Benedict

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Kirsten Osbourne

  Visit my website at www.kirstenandmorganna.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Kirsten Osbourne

  Chapter 1

  Gertrude Sanders sighed as she stared at several books scattered across a table. She walked over and picked each of them up, returning them to their rightful positions on the shelves. As she passed by, a few of the children at the next table whispered and giggled.

  “Shh!” Gertrude hissed. She pointed to the sign she’d lettered in perfect cursive script: “Quiet in the Library.” She didn’t understand what was so hard about keeping your voice low in a place where people read and studied.

  Still, she had to admit that her job was perfect. She kept a tight ship, posting all rules and regulations and enforcing them daily. She helped children do their homework after school or find new adventures in the stacks.

  At the beginning of each month, she sent away for a shipment of new books, and today was the day that they’d arrived in a wooden crate. She walked back to her desk and opened the package. She took out the first book, checking it thoroughly to ensure there was no damage in the shipping process. Next, she pulled out her bronze-handled stamp, pressed it onto an inkpad, and carefully applied it to the inside of each book, “Property of the Nowhere Library.” In careful letters, she printed the title of the book—The Emerald City of Oz, author, L. Frank Baum—onto a card. She walked over to the card catalog, opened the correct drawer, and slipped the card into the appropriate place.

  Before she had closed the drawer, she heard a loud creaking noise outside. A few of the children rushed to the window of the small, single-room library. Loud strums of music drifted through the window, and the children began to laugh and point outside.

  “If you aren’t quiet, I’ll have to ask you to leave!” Gertrude strode over to the children. It was almost the end of the day, too late for more packages or visitors. She had no idea who would be outside the library, let alone playing music. The nerve of it all!

  Gertrude peered out the window. Just in front of the library was a large wagon covered in colorful ribbons. A good-looking man dressed in brown slacks and a white shirt was holding a banjo and singing. One horse munched on an apple while another one strained at its harness, both attached to a post outside the library. Painted on the side of the wagon was a single word: Books.

  Gertrude marched outside of the library, hands on her hips, and approached the intruder. “This is a library!”

  The stranger simply smiled and kept strumming his banjo.

  Gertrude couldn’t believe how rude the man was. “You cannot play music here! We need quiet so people can read and study!”

  Finally, the stranger stopped playing the banjo and stared deep into Gertrude’s eyes. “What’s your name?”

  Gertrude was shocked at the question. She didn’t see why it mattered. “I’m Gertrude Sanders.”

  The stranger grinned, and Gertrude found herself being distracted by his beautiful eyes. They were open and honest, and Gertrude got the feeling he was a close friend, although they’d never met before. He did a little bow for her. “Jedediah Thorn at your service, Miss Sanders. You can call me Jed.”

  Gertrude frowned. She had no tolerance for whatever foolery this man was up to. She heard a few giggles behind her and swirled her head. A few of the children had followed her outside and were watching the adults carefully. “Go back inside and get back to work! Mr. Thorn will be on his way soon!”

  The children quieted and looked at each other before scurrying back into the library. They knew Gertrude was serious. Gertrude turned her gaze back to Jed Thorn.

  “Gertrude—a lovely name for a lovely woman. I am only here to make you happy.” Jed touched a hand to Gertrude’s arm, and she stiffened.

  “What do you mean by that?” Gertrude felt her stomach flutter with excitement and her pulse quicken. She tried to keep her tone sharp.

  “Many people like to hear music while they read. It relaxes them. Or they can stop by and read one of the books I’ve picked up on my travels.”

  Gertrude could feel red creeping into her face. Who did this man think he was? “They don’t need one of your books. They have a perfectly good library right here. I get books in every month.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of interfering with that. Gertrude, tell me…what’s your story?”

  Gertrude was now fully taken aback. “I must ask you to move your wagon immediately, sir.”

  “Just a few words, and I’ll be out of your hair. What brought you here to Nowhere?” Jed stared directly into Gertrude’s eyes.

  “I don’t see how that’s pertinent.” Gertrude smoothed a hand through her hair, feeling extremely self-conscious.

  “Please. I promise, I’ll stop bothering you.” Jed’s eyes shimmered. He was enjoying himself.

  “I moved here from New York with my sisters a few years back. We were adopted by Cletus Sanders and his wife, Edna Petunia.”

  Jed nodded and whistled. “So you know what it’s like to go to a new place and be taken in by kindness and hospitality.”

  Gertrude opened her mouth to protest, but she couldn’t think of a good retort. “Okay. I’ve told you about myself. Now will you leave?”

  “Why the library?” Jed loved watching Gertrude’s face. It displayed her impatience and anger. She was beautiful when she frowned, her hair framing her face and making Jed dream about a day when he could make her smile. He’d never met anyone quite like her before. He was pretty sure women as saucy as Gertrude didn’t exist.

  Gertrude drew herself up to her full height, standing as tall as she could, even though Jed had several inches on her. “Mr. Thorn, I have a job to do. A responsibility and obligation to the time. Please move along with your little cart.”

  Jed nearly laughed out loud. “How about I take you for a ride on this cart after you finish up here for the day?” He gestured at his horses, who were happily grazing at the post.

  Gertrude looked horrified. “Absolutely not.”

  “A man can try, can’t he?” Jed grinned. The woman was certainly going to be a challenge for him, but he was up to the task.

  “I need to get back inside. But a promise is a promise. You said you’d move your wagon.�
� Gertrude stared at him with her sternest expression, usually reserved for only the most mischievous of children.

  “One more question before I leave.”

  Gertrude didn’t like it, but felt she had no choice. “What?”

  “Why did you choose to become a librarian?”

  Gertrude thought for a moment. “It’s because I like rules and structure and order. And in my library, we have all of those things. And that’s why you need to leave.”

  Jed simply smiled. “Thank you, Gertrude. I hope you have a nice evening, now.” He picked up one of her hands and brought his lips to it, lingering a moment longer than he needed to.

  As Jed touched his lips to her skin, Gertrude felt something she’d never experienced before, a tingling that started in her stomach and seemed to catch every inch of her on fire. Startled, she snapped her hand back and hurried into the library. She didn’t look back until she was safely inside. Jed hitched his horses to the wagon and took off with a silly wave to the children inside.

  The children were abuzz with excitement. A few of the adults in the library also seemed amused.

  “Who was that?”

  “I like his hair!”

  “I like his music!”

  “He seems nice.”

  “I wonder what books he has!”

  “Quiet!” Gertrude stomped her foot, and the library went silent. She glared reproachfully at each library patron. “We have a half hour until closing. Please see me if you need to borrow any books.” Gertrude walked back to her desk and sank down wearily. She was exhausted from dealing with the mysterious stranger. At least he was gone now…hopefully, she’d never have to deal with him again.

  The remaining half hour passed uneventfully. Gertrude helped the patrons borrow books, then closed and locked the door when she left. She set off for the Sanders’ house, a twenty-minute walk from the library, and enjoyed the cool day, typical of a Nowhere winter. Unlike New York, where they’d had to deal with the freezing cold and snow, Nowhere’s climate was warmer. Gertrude no longer had to worry about the bone-chilling days when she’d felt she would never be warm again. She admired the stillness of the early evening as the residents of Nowhere went back to their homes and ate dinner with their families. Everything was just as it should be.

  When she returned home, the Sanders’ house was bustling as usual. Gertrude didn’t mind it. Though she could be strict and stern with her sisters, she really did love them—all of them—even when they were driving her crazy. When things got too hectic in the large household, she was almost always able to slip away with a book and take some time for herself.

  Theresa and Hattie, two of the youngest girls the Sanders had adopted, greeted her at the front door. “Edna Petunia’s making chicken-fried steak tonight!” Theresa called out happily.

  “That sounds delicious.” Gertrude smiled. She appreciated the schedule the family had worked out. Although there were many mouths to feed, each orphan was assigned a turn to help Edna Petunia in the kitchen, which meant dinner was always ready on time and no one went hungry. There had been times in the orphanage in New York when some of the older girls had to go without because of food shortages and crises. Gertrude was happy that those days were gone.

  Although it was Katie’s turn to help with cooking, Gertrude set the table. She liked making sure that all of the silverware was set just right. Not all of her sisters had her sharp eye for detail.

  Gertrude set ten places at the table because there were no other expected dinner guests. Though there were fifteen orphans, seven of her sisters had married, starting families and households of their own.

  Ruby and Opal were twins who both had young ones of their own, as well as children they’d adopted. Evelyn, Betsy, Penny, Sarah Jane, and Dorothy had also married and moved away from the Sanders’ home. They all saw each other each Sunday at the local church, where Sarah Jane’s husband, Micah, presided. They also got together for many occasions. It seemed that with so many family members, someone was almost always giving birth or adopting another child, and they enjoyed spending time with the growing brood.

  Edna Petunia stirred the pieces of chicken-fried steak in the pan, creating a sizzling sound. She was responsible for taking the orphans in. A spunky, spirited woman in her seventies, she’d lost her first love decades ago and thought she’d end up alone. Then, in her golden years, she’d met offbeat, intelligent Cletus Sanders and he’d swept her off her feet.

  The two had married, and though Cletus had thought they’d be childless, Edna Petunia had insisted upon adopting the fifteen bastard orphans as soon as she’d heard their plight. Removed from their only home, they’d been sent to Nowhere to start a new life, but plans had fallen through and they’d been left with nothing. Their matron, Cassie Hayes, had searched desperately to find a home for the girls. But Edna Petunia had saved the day, opening her and Cletus’s home to all of the girls at once. Gertrude and her sisters were still eternally grateful to the Sanders for allowing them not to be split up.

  Cletus came in now, carrying a folded up newspaper. He licked his lips. “That smells heavenly. I’m a lucky man.” He swatted Edna Petunia on the bottom with the newspaper and she giggled. Gertrude shook her head. Cletus and Edna Petunia still acted like newlyweds and weren’t embarrassed about it.

  Gertrude’s tastes were more restrained. While she enjoyed reading stories of romance and true love, she felt those things were best left for books and fairy tales. She’d never met a man in real life who made her feel any of those things. She found her mind drifting to Jed Thorn and quickly tried to think of something else—anything else.

  Though many of her sisters had married, and surely even more would marry in the future, she was content to continue her life as a single woman. She had a wonderful home and a supportive family. Her work at the library was fulfilling to her. Each week, she had faith and worship at her church. All in all, she had a wonderful life. She didn’t need a man to complicate or ruin it. Especially not a man with a banjo.

  Gertrude’s face wore a pained expression as she realized she was thinking of Jed Thorn again.

  “Are you all right, Gertie?” Hope put a concerned hand to Gertie’s head.

  “I’m fine. I was just thinking of a nuisance today at the library.”

  Everyone took their places at the dinner table, and Katie portioned out servings of the chicken fried steak. Edna Petunia scooped out creamy mashed potatoes to go along with it.

  “What happened? One of those kids giving you trouble?” Cletus asked.

  “Worse. It was a grown man.”

  Everyone’s eyes swiveled to Gertrude. A man misbehaving at the library was unusual.

  “Someone named Jedediah Thorn showed up with a traveling book wagon. Have you ever heard of such a thing?” Gertrude spoke her words crossly.

  “I saw him!” Katie shouted excitedly. “I was rushing to the mercantile to pick up some potatoes for dinner, and there was a wagon covered in ribbons rolling along Main Street. He was quite handsome.”

  Gertrude bit her lip. “That has nothing to do with anything, Katie. He’s a very rude man.”

  “What’d he try?” Cletus went into overprotective father mode. Though he hadn’t been with the girls since their births, he fiercely defended them as if they were his biological children. Everyone in town knew that no one treated the Sanders girls badly, because they’d have Cletus to answer to.

  “Nothing like that, though he did ask me to go for a ride on his wagon.”

  Hattie looked at Theresa and giggled. Grumpy Gertie, riding on a colorful book wagon? It was almost too much to bear.

  Gertrude continued with a stern look at her younger sisters. “He was causing a big commotion outside of the library. He was playing some terrible song on a banjo. Thankfully, he left. Hopefully I won’t have to see him again.”

  Edna Petunia frowned. “A man with a traveling book wagon. Now, that’s certainly something you don’t see every day. I wonder where he sleeps at night
!

  “Maybe in the forest.” Cletus looked at Edna Petunia and grinned. Gertrude couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She loved her parents, but sometimes, they were positively unbearable.

  Chapter 2

  Gertrude unlocked the library doors at a quarter to eight in the morning. She kept a strict routine; waking early for breakfast and morning chores, reading her latest book for a few minutes in the formal parlor, then walking the few blocks to the library. She liked to be there early so she could prepare for the day.

  Gertrude busied herself with dusting the bookshelves. It was unbelievable how dirty they could get from day to day. As she straightened the spines of each book and polished the shelves, she heard the unmistakable sound of a banjo outside the window.

  Still holding the duster, she flew out of the library in a rage. Jed Thorn and his wagon were stationed a few yards further away from the library than they had been the day before. Already, a crowd of children was clustered around him.

  “Sing more, Uncle Jed!”

  “The one about the monkey!”

  “Will you read us a book next?”

  Gertrude was horrified. “I asked you to move your wagon away from the library.”

  Jed stopped playing the banjo, winked at the children, and turned his attention to Gertrude. “My, my, Miss Sanders…you look mighty nice today.”

  Gertrude blushed despite herself, then got even more angry. “This is a quiet place, Mr. Thorn. I see that you can’t understand that, but I won’t allow you to ruin it for everyone else.”

  Jed didn’t look upset in the slightest. “Why don’t you join us? I’m sure you have a lovely singing voice. Don’t you want her to join us, kids?”