Orphan Train Trials Read online

  “Don’t listen to her, Maura. She took Kathleen away from you and left you with nothing.” Patricia looked at her scornfully, “Just because no man would ever touch a cold-hearted witch like you, you can’t bear for the rest of us to be happy. You stay here with your saintly Lily. Nobody else would want ya.”

  They pushed past her, Maura holding the bag.

  “Come on, he won’t wait forever,” Patricia ordered as she shoved Bella to one side. Bella lost her footing and fell to her knees. It took a couple of seconds for her to untangle her skirts and get to her feet. She took off after them.

  Spotting Maura in the gardens, Bella moved quicker than she thought possible. She grabbed the bag from Maura and threw it to the ground making the contents spill everywhere. Why had Lily not got someone to go to the bank? It was silly to keep so much money here. But she’d been distracted by Bridget’s arrival. Everyone had. Sarah and Maura rushed to pick up the money, but the third woman turned her attention and hate on to Bella.

  “Get her.” Patricia lunged at her, she turned to run and came up against a hard chest. A man. Every inch of her body screamed as she realized a strange man was in front of her. She opened her mouth to scream but he had his hand there. He smelled disgusting, she didn’t want to taste his vile skin. Her stomach roiled and she almost vomited.

  “Get out of here now. Someone is bound to have heard and might have called the cops,” he ordered.

  “What about her?” Patricia asked.

  “She won’t tell anyone, will ya?” he leered at her, she tried to shake her head, but she couldn’t move. Grinning, he released her so quickly she went falling back. She hit her head on something and the world turned black. Her last thought was she’d failed Kathleen. All their hard work had disappeared with that bag, and Kathleen had lost her sister too.

  Chapter 14

  New York

  Kathleen returned to find the sanctuary in uproar. Mrs. Wilson was crying, something Kathleen had never seen the woman do. Stunned, she wished she hadn’t told Mike to drop her at the gate. He was good to have around in times of trouble.

  “What’s going on? Why are you so upset, Mrs. Wilson?” she asked.

  “Kathleen, I’ve failed Lily. I can’t believe I didn’t see what was going on right under my nose.”

  Kathleen drew the woman to a seat in the hall and almost pushed her into the chair. Cook stood a little to one side, her hands flapping as much as her apron.

  “Cook, perhaps you could get Mrs. Wilson a cup of tea with some sugar? Could you find Maura or Bella too and send them to us? Please.”

  Cook looked relieved to have someone take charge. “Can’t find Maura, but I’ll look for Bella, she was around here a few minutes ago.” Cook’s voice shook as much as Mrs. Wilson’s.

  Where was Maura? Her elder sister was never around when she was needed.

  Kathleen rubbed Mrs. Wilson’s shoulder until her sobs subsided. She couldn’t make out what the woman was muttering about. Bella appeared, holding a stained cloth against the side of her head. Kathleen jumped to her feet.

  “Let me look at your head,” Kathleen said as she examined the other girl. She flinched at the size of the wound and the amount of blood. “You need the doctor. I’ll send someone for Mike and Bridget. We have to leave Lily be.” Kathleen left Bella sitting with Mrs. Wilson as she ran to the door. She walked down to the gate and peered out onto the street looking up and down until she saw a couple of street urchins. She whistled to get their attention. Under any other circumstances she would have smiled at their surprise to see a woman dressed nicely whistling like a street rat.

  “I need two runners. One to go for the doctor and the other to go to this address to get Mini Mike. You know him?”

  The boys nodded.

  “Here’s a penny each and another one when you return. Please hurry.”

  The boys took off and she returned inside hoping her sister would come quickly.

  Cook arrived back with tea. Running to the sewing room, she grabbed some white cloth and returned to Bella.

  “Cook, I need some hot water,” Kathleen ordered Cook who stared at the blood, looking whiter than her apron. “Cook, please hurry.”

  She hurried back to the hall, then checked quickly on Mrs. Wilson before turning her attention to Bella, changing the stained cloth with a new one. She applied pressure to the wound, wishing she could remember what else she was supposed to do.

  “Where were you? You know you’re not supposed to go outside all alone.” Kathleen took her anger out on the other girl.

  “I tried to find a cop but there was no one around,” Bella answered.

  The police? What on earth had happened? Everything was fine when she’d left the sanctuary at noon.

  “I was going to go to Miss Lily’s house, but I couldn’t remember where she lived,” Bella explained. “I waited for you, but then I must have passed out as I woke up on the pavement.”

  Bella hiccupped which scared Kathleen almost as much as the wound. Bella never cried or showed much emotion over anything.

  “Bella, what happened? Where’s Maura?”

  “I tried to warn her, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “Bella, calm down. You tried to warn who about what?” Kathleen wished Lily or Bridget were here.

  “Your sister has gone. Patricia too. They took the money in the safe. Sarah went with them.”

  Kathleen sat back. “What?”

  Bella held the cloth to her head, her eyes roving around the room, landing everywhere but on Kathleen’s face. She wasn’t lying, Kathleen could see. She was embarrassed.

  “I don’t blame you, Bella, I know my sister is extremely strong-willed. Now, what happened?”

  Bella looked her in the eye. “They’ve gone. Patricia had a friend, a man. He told them they would make more money working for him than they would sewing, so they all left. They said the money was owed to them even though Patricia does less work than Maura. I tried to stop them, but they pushed me out of the way.” Bella took a deep breath. “I hit my head on something. Next thing I knew, I woke up on the pavement. I tried to stop them, I swear.”

  Kathleen drew the other girl close. “I know you did. I believe you.”

  The door opened as Bridget, Mike, Tommy, and the doctor all arrived at the same time. The doctor took over looking after Bella.

  “Kathleen, what on earth is going on?” Bridget asked.

  “Maura’s gone with some of the other girls. Mrs. Wilson isn’t making any sense. I think she must be in shock.”

  “But where have they gone?” Bridget asked as her husband followed her into the house.

  “I don’t know, Bridget. Bella said they went with some friend of Patricia’s.”

  “Who is Patricia?” Carl asked.

  “A horrible woman who came to the sanctuary a short time after Bridget left. She and Maura became very close. None of the rest of us liked her. She tells awful stories, and her and Maura used to sneak out at night. Maura always smelled funny the next day like she had been drinking."

  The disgust on her sister’s face made Kathleen take a step back.

  “Kathleen Collins, you can’t say things like that.”

  Annoyed, she retorted, “I can, if they’re true. The money is missing too, Bridget. Bella says they took it and told her it was their wages.”

  “Maura wouldn’t do something like that,” Bridget said, her voice almost pleading. “Would she?”

  Kathleen nodded grimly. “She’s changed a lot. It began when David died and got worse when you left. I think Lily has been a saint, not throwing Maura out long ago. She has been so difficult to live with.”

  “Oh, this is bad. We’ll have to involve the police,” Bridget said, taking a seat.

  “Doesn’t Father Nelson have a friend who is a policeman? Maybe he can help us,” Carl suggested. “I’ll go and get him.”

  Chapter 15

  New York

  Carl left with Mini Mike. Bridget took charge of M
rs. Wilson, leading her into Lily’s small sitting room and making sure she drank her tea. She seemed to be recovering from her shock. Bella’s head wound wasn’t dangerous, despite the amount of blood. The doctor said scalp wounds always bled a lot. He stitched the wound and showed them how to look after Bella.

  “If you see any signs of infection, send for me at once,” he said before Bridget paid him.

  By the time the doctor left, Mrs. Wilson had recovered enough to give a coherent account of what had happened. She had stayed later than usual as Lily had told her they were expecting a group of orphans who would stay at the sanctuary until the next train left. She was getting their rooms ready when she heard Patricia and Bella fighting. By the time she got downstairs, everyone had gone but she saw the safe was open and the money missing.

  “I am so sorry, Bella,” Mrs. Wilson said. “I thought you had left with them. I didn’t think to go outside to check on you.”

  Bella didn’t respond, but Kathleen ached for her friend.

  “You were so brave, Bella. Who hit you?” Kathleen asked, hoping it wasn’t Maura. It was bad enough stealing from Lily but to hit another woman, that was going too far.

  “It was the man. He pushed me, and I fell and hit my head. They got away with everything. There was a lot more money in the safe due to our arrangement with the store owner. Mr. Hershel called today with payment and a bonus as well as an increased order. I was the one who told Maura. I was so excited. I guess pride does come before a fall.”

  Bridget looked totally confused. “Who is Mr. Hershel and why is he paying you money?”

  “Bella and I found out that Mr. Hershel, a local store owner, was paying a middle man, Mr. Smithson, for the shirts the sanctuary produced. We asked him if we could supply him direct and he agreed. We split the money he was paying to Mr. Smithson between us and the store so both parties got a better deal.”

  Bridget’s eyes filled with approval, making Kathleen feel better for a few minutes before she decided to come clean.

  “Don’t look at me, Bridget, it was Bella’s idea. She has some brilliant plans to make money. None of which involve stealing,” Kathleen hastily added as Bella looked crushed.

  “Bella, none of this was your fault. You did your best to save the money and Sarah. What were Maura and Patricia thinking of? Sarah is barely thirteen years old.” Kathleen saw the glance Bella and Bridget exchanged. She couldn’t help feeling she was missing something. But Father Nelson’s arrival with a policeman stopped all further conversation. Kathleen said she would go and settle the few children they had staying upstairs. Cook had taken them into the kitchen and was feeding them milk and cookies. Carl and Mini Mike had returned and joined Bridget and the others. Everyone had left Lily to sleep. It was bad enough she would hear the news the next day.

  Chapter 16

  New York

  The next few days passed quickly. There was no sign of Maura or the other women. They had disappeared. Lily told Bella over and over it was not her fault. She reassured the younger girl that she had done her best, but Bella didn’t believe her. Kathleen worried about her friend who was becoming increasingly down spirited.

  She called to Lily’s house to see Bridget. She and Carl were busy getting ready to take another group of orphans on the train. They planned on visiting Riverside Springs. Carl left to ask Cook for something so Kathleen seized her chance to speak to Bridget in private.

  “Take Bella with you, please, Bridget. She needs to get away from New York.”

  “I was hoping you would come too, Kathleen.”

  “I have something else I need to do,” Kathleen hedged, but she should have known Bridget wouldn’t let the matter drop. Her sister stared at her and the silence lingered until it became uncomfortable.

  “I want to find Shane and Michael. Before you say anything, I am old enough to travel alone. I’m nearly eighteen.”

  “You have just turned seventeen,” Bridget corrected as Carl walked back into the room

  “I am still old enough. In some places, women my age are married with children. Don’t try to stop me, please, Bridget. I have to find the boys. With Maura gone, the feeling that I need to see them has only intensified.”

  Bridget exchanged a look with Carl before turning her attention back to Kathleen.

  “Please, Bridget, I miss them so much. Especially Shane. We were always close, you know that.”

  “I know,” Bridget answered. “But where will you look? If the boys wanted to stay in touch, they would have written.”

  Kathleen knew that was true but maybe they couldn’t. She had to see for herself that Shane and Michael were doing well.

  “I know they went to Iowa,” she told Bridget.

  “That’s a large state. What if you wrote to various towns first? See if anyone knows of your brothers?” Carl asked her.

  “No, that will take too long. I already spoke to Father Nelson. He is happy for me to accompany a Miss Gemma Screed, she is an experienced outplacement agent. I can help her with her charges while looking for the boys. Please don’t stop me from going. I’ve saved enough for my ticket. I know you want to make sure they are happy too, Bridget.”

  Bridget sighed, telling Kathleen she was right.

  “Please, Bridget, tell Father Nelson you don’t object to my going. I will come to Riverside Springs once I have found Michael and Shane.”

  Kathleen saw Carl look at her, the understanding in his eyes making her feel like crying.

  “And what if you don’t find them?” he asked. “Have you thought about that?”

  “Yes, but at least then I’ll know I’ve tried,” Kathleen said. “Mam wanted our family to stay together and look at us. Maura has run off, Annie and Liam are happy but are living with someone else, you’re traveling all the time, Bridget. And the boys are off in Iowa.”

  “I won’t stand in your way,” Bridget conceded. “But promise me you will send for us or Charlie Doherty if you encounter any problems. I don’t want any more heroics. Bella could have been seriously injured.”

  “Speaking of Bella, please look after her, Bridget. She has been a good friend to me since you left. That hard act you see is just that, an act. Underneath she has a loving heart.”

  Bridget didn’t look convinced, but Kathleen knew her sister would do as she asked. She could trust her. “Bella is a wonderful seamstress, I thought she could take the position with Mrs. Grayson. Given what you said in your letters about the growing town and the lack of dressmaking skills, by the time I arrive in Riverside Springs there should be enough work for both of us. Assuming Mrs. Grayson agrees to our plan.” Kathleen crossed her fingers, hoping her sister wouldn’t question her assumptions. She had no idea whether there would be enough work for both her and Bella, but she knew she had to find her brothers. And Bella had to get out of New York. Her friend would thrive among people who treated her as she deserved to be treated, of that Kathleen was sure.

  “Mrs. Grayson will be happy to help. She likes taking in those who are in need. She has a big heart and a mothering instinct. Doesn’t she, Carl?”

  Carl nodded.

  “What will happen with Maura?” Kathleen asked quietly.

  “Maura is a grown woman who made her own choices. It seems she has been keeping company with a man known to Mike and Tommy for a while now. They didn’t know Maura was involved with him or they would have told Lily. They both feel bad about that.”

  Kathleen guessed Mike and Tommy didn’t know the man because of his good deeds. Her heart was torn between anger at Maura and fear over what had happened to her and Sarah, the innocent in all of this.

  “They shouldn’t feel guilty,” Kathleen said, her anger taking over. “I bet Maura doesn’t. She didn’t even try to help Bella.”

  “Mike and Tommy will work to find Sarah and get her back to Lily. Maybe we will be able to bring her to Riverside Springs at some point. But in the meantime, they may also find Maura. They can’t force her to come back to the sanctuary as she i
s of age and thus…” Bridget shrugged her shoulders.

  “They don’t think Mr. Oaks is behind this, do they?” Kathleen voiced her fear aloud.

  “No, Kathleen. That threat seems to have disappeared. He probably found something else to occupy him.”

  “How long do you think your trip will take?” Carl asked, perhaps purposely changing the subject. Kathleen smiled at him. Bridget had picked a good man.

  “Father Nelson thinks it will be about three months in total. He’s coming here later to collect me to go see a friend of his. You two should come as well. He is going to introduce me to Loring Brace, Charles Brace’s son, who has taken over the Children’s Aid Society. Father Nelson said Mr. Brace has some good ideas on how to make the orphan trains work better.” She saw the glance the couple exchanged. “You two should come with me and meet Mr. Brace. You might find a willing ear for your ideas.”

  Chapter 17

  New York

  The meeting with Loring Brace went so well, Carl gave a delighted Kathleen tickets for Barnum’s Circus. She decided to invite Bella. Her friend needed cheering up and anyway she wanted to talk to her about going to Riverside Springs. Lily insisted Mini Mike accompany the girls, she didn’t want any more misadventures. Mike seemed to enjoy himself and took their good-natured teasing about how he could get a job in the circus, given his size, in his stride. They had a lovely day, and, on the way home, Kathleen decided it was a good time to ask Bella.

  “You know I had an idea for us working together, Bella.”

  “Yes, you wanted us to go to Riversides Springs. Have you changed your mind?”