Bring Me Home for Christmas (Virgin River #16)(67)

She let out a sigh of relief. Then she let go of his arm and gave it a pat. “That’s good,” she said. Then she turned away and began to pick through her care box. “I do look forward to this all year,” she repeated. “The dollar just doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.”

When they were back in the truck, Becca said, “That was a big promise.”

“I’ll find someone to pull together something or I’ll borrow this truck for a run to Target. They need to be fed and warm. I wonder if there’s formula and diapers…”

Becca gasped. “How dense am I? I never even thought of that!”

“I helped out last Christmas. Mel was the one who knew about the need for formula and diapers and which boxes should include them. She might be the one to talk to about this. But if she’s too busy, I’ll get to the store before we have more snow.”

“They have to be warm and full tonight, Denny,” Becca said.

“They will be warm and full, honey. I promise.”

Becca was back at the bar by three. With Denny close at her side, she explained about Nora Crane and her dire needs. Paige tried putting a call in to Mel at Valley Hospital, but she wasn’t answering her page, which meant she was probably on her way back to Virgin River.

“If Jack can manage without his truck awhile longer, I can go to Fortuna and pick up some things—diapers, formula, maybe a space heater. That baby’s real little, Paige. Can you write down what I’ll need?” Denny asked.

“You don’t have to go to Fortuna,” Paige said. “There’s formula and diapers at the clinic and we have an emergency closet here in town—used clothing, blankets, jackets, that sort of thing, though they do tend to run a little low during the holidays. Does she have a fireplace?”

Denny shook his head.

“Hmm. Maybe one of the guys can do something about the doors and windows. I’ll call Paul—he might be able to send over one of his crew who can nail down a proper strip for a seal. At this stage, even some good duct tape would help around the windows. And we can loan her a cooler with ice for her perishables—she shouldn’t be opening and closing the back door in the dead of winter. I’ll go dig out some of Dana’s old bottles and sippy cups. You know what? I bet I have some clothes just ready to be given to the shelter—how big is the toddler?”

“A little smaller than Dana,” Becca said. “But it’s the baby I’m worried about most. That woman doesn’t have the means to wash clothes, and it’s cold in that house. If you had any infant wear that’s nice and warm…”

“Oh, I have lots. Denny, mind the bar while I gather up some things. And for the woman?” she asked.

Becca shrugged. “I have no idea what she has. She was wearing jeans and had a scratchy old Army blanket around her shoulders, covering herself and the baby with it.”

“We can’t have that,” Paige said, wandering off toward the kitchen.

A feeling of satisfaction grew in Becca’s chest. She thought how much like a successful day with a struggling second grader it felt. One stop at one unfortunate house and an opportunity to find some help for them… It almost felt as though her whole journey to this little town had been justified.

She followed Paige back to the kitchen, ready to finish the meal she’d begun. She found the sink was full of dishes. While Paige talked to Paul Haggerty on the phone about emergency repairs on a poor woman’s house, Becca went about the business of cleaning up. Leaning against the counter and with the dishwasher opened, she began to rinse and load the lunch dishes. She heard Paige give Paul the address and thank him—it brought a smile to Becca’s lips. Then she turned the oven back on and pulled out everything she had stored in the refrigerator.

Becca had no experience cooking for a large crowd but she noticed that Preacher’s meat loaf recipe was four loaves for forty people. She put more potatoes in the pot to boil, increasing her potato casserole recipe. She filled a colander with frozen green beans and thawed them under cold water. By the time she’d patted four meat loaves into shape, Paige came back into the kitchen, her arms heavily laden with clothes, towels and a couple of blankets. She was smiling.

“I think this will do, at least for a few days. I found an old space heater, too. It hasn’t been used in forever—I don’t need it back. We’ll have to get Mel to take over formula and diapers, of course. And if Mel takes them, she’ll have a chance to make sure they’re all right at the same time. And Mel has supplements for adults on hand, as well—Ensure and that sort of thing. Something fortifying for Mommy.”

“Thank you,” Becca said gratefully.

“No, thank you! We can’t be everywhere at once!”

“Paige, what time should this meat loaf be ready?” she asked.

Paige glanced over her big pile of clothing at her watch. “Put it in now, Becca. We should be ready for an early crowd at five, though I can’t imagine who will brave the elements tonight. The rest of us will eat much later. Keep what we don’t serve in the warmer.”

As Paige left, Denny came into the kitchen. “Need me for anything, babe?” he asked.

“I don’t think so. I have it handled.”

“Good for you. I’m going with one of Paul’s men over to the Crane house to seal some doors and windows. I’ll put a note on the clinic door for Mel about what we need and the address.”