Orphan Train Trials Page 6

  “Sort of.”

  At Bella’s puzzled glance, Kathleen looked around to make sure nobody was listening to them.

  “I want to find my brothers, Shane and Michael. I spoke to Loring Brace and he will help me get to Iowa. He is sending a group of orphans out there and said they need another helper.”

  “Oh, Kathleen, I am going to miss you so much. Are you sure you know what you are doing?”

  Kathleen gave Bella a quick hug ignoring her friend’s resistance. “I will miss you as well, but I have to do this. A voice inside my head is telling me to find them. Or at least try. But I need your help.”

  “I will do whatever I can,” Bella said immediately.

  “I still want us to set up our dressmaking shop like we discussed. I want you to go ahead of me and set everything up.” She took a deep breath, “Bridget and Carl are heading back there next week, and they are happy for you to go with them. Mrs. Grayson—she owns the store—has offered to give me a discount on materials as she says I can only help increase store profits. People will come into the store looking for new dresses and buy ribbons and other items. What do you think?”

  “Why are you so keen on getting me out of New York?” Bella asked.

  “What do you mean, why? After what happened with Maura and before that. You deserve a better life. You and I are friends and I don’t want to lose that. Also, you are a wonderful seamstress. We could have a nice business. We wouldn’t be dependent on anyone, at least not after a while. Isn’t it exciting?”

  Bella stared at Kathleen, not able to digest what she was saying. She couldn’t believe anyone would want her to be their business partner. She was so overcome, she couldn’t say a word.

  “Bella, please say yes,” Kathleen begged. “You know Lily won’t throw you out on the street, but you might have to find a job. Especially with the baby on the way, Lily’s husband might stop her from working at the sanctuary. Maura and her friends didn’t help make it look like a safe place.”

  “Are you sure?” Bella asked. “I thought Bridget might have plans for you.”

  Kathleen turned bright red. “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “Yes, you do,” Bella insisted. “You said she might want to marry you off.”

  “All the more reason you need to come. I’m not ready to marry anyone. I am far too young.”

  “Don’t you want to have a family? I’d love to find someone special,” Bella confided in a whisper, not wanting Mike to hear.

  “Yes, someday, but not now. I want to find my brothers and work with you then… well, we’ll see. I want to make sure you are taken care of. I don’t want to leave you behind in New York.”

  Bella looked away.

  “Bella?” Kathleen’s tone faltered.

  “I’m not sure I can, Kathleen. I went on the orphan train before. It was horrible.”

  “Yes, I know but that was a long time ago. This time it’s different. You will have people you know, and you will have a job to go to. You don’t have to live with anyone. Well, you will have to live in Mrs. Grayson’s, but Bridget says she is an old dear.”

  Bella couldn’t argue with Kathleen, but her friend didn’t know her history. Nobody could want someone like her living with them. Lily was different. She understood, but most people wouldn’t. Bella knew that from experience.

  “Please say yes, Bella. I couldn’t bear to leave you in New York.”

  Despite her misgivings, Bella nodded her head. She loved Kathleen like a sister. If she had been lucky enough to have a sibling, she would have wanted her to be like the girl beside her.

  “If you won’t do it for yourself or for me, do it for the children on the train. You know they are scared of leaving New York. You can relate to them as you traveled on an orphan train yourself” Kathleen urged.

  “You are not playing fair, Kathleen Collins,” she protested.

  “So, will you go?” Kathleen asked her, not acknowledging what she had said. “Go on, what do you have to lose?”

  Nothing. She had nothing to lose if she went and, maybe, she would find a happy ever after in a new town.

  “Yes, I will go if Bridget and Carl are sure they don’t mind me tagging along.”

  “They are sure.” Kathleen squealed as she hugged her close. This time, Bella hugged her friend back. She loved this girl like a sister.

  “I hope you find your brothers, Kathleen. But…”

  “But what?” Kathleen queried. “Go on, speak your mind.”

  “Just be prepared. There might be a good reason why they haven’t made any effort to stay in touch.” Bella hated the hurt in Kathleen’s eyes, but she had to warn her. Not everyone’s journey on the orphan train ended like a fairy tale.

  Chapter 18

  New York

  When they arrived back from the circus, Kathleen saw Lily waiting for them. She looked distressed. There was no sign of Bridget and Carl.

  “Sorry, Kathleen, Bella, I didn’t mean to ruin your afternoon, but I had a visit this morning. Mr. Doyle came to see me.”

  “Who?” Bella asked.

  “Megan and Eileen’s father,” Kathleen explained.

  “The poor man returned to the Flemings to visit his children. He had been away trying to find work,” Lily explained. “Seems he had heard of a lady called Helen Keller who herself is blind. She has set up The Industrial Home for the Blind in Brooklyn. It offers blind men shelter and work. He hoped to make enough money to give it to Mrs. Fleming to support his girls, but it didn’t work out that way. At least not yet. The home will train him, but he can’t see himself caring for the girls for a few years. Then he heard the news about Mrs. Fleming. He’s asked us to put the twins on the orphan train. He wants them to find a good home, preferably together, although he knows that may not be possible.”

  “Oh no, poor Megan and Eileen,” Kathleen said. “They desperately wanted him to come back. Have they seen him?”

  “No, he thought it would be too upsetting and I guess I agree with him. They lost him then Mrs. Fleming, and now to see him again but not be able to live with him? It would be too hard,” Lily explained.

  “Oh, the poor family.” Kathleen’s heart went out to both Mr. Doyle and his children. Life could be very unfair sometimes.

  “He cried. I didn’t know what to do. It’s not like I could put my arms around him,” Lily said, indicating her belly. “I asked Mini Mike to take him back to the home. At least he will be safe there.”

  “Who is Helen Keller?” Bella asked.

  “A remarkable lady,” Lily answered. “She is both blind and deaf, yet she learned how to talk and read. She is one determined lady. I think she will make a big difference to those men.”

  “But not in time for the girls,” Bella added.

  Kathleen waited for her friend to tell Lily their news. She hoped the fact the twins were going too would distract Bella from her own worries about the trip.

  “It will be hard for the girls, but they are young and hopefully they will find a good home. I will ask Bridget to keep a close eye on them,” Lily said.

  “I am going to Riverside Springs. I will look after them until they find new parents,” Bella said, causing Lily to look at her. Her shocked expression gave way to a large smile.

  “You are? Oh, I am so happy for you, Bella. I think leaving New York will do you the world of good. Plenty of fresh air and nice people in Riverside Springs from what Bridget says,” Lily said excitedly as she patted the chair beside her.

  Kathleen hung back and let Bella tell Lily about their plans. She noted the excitement creeping into Bella’s face. Maybe her friend would be able to face her fears after all.

  Chapter 19

  Kathleen

  Kathleen walked into the sanctuary kitchen where Bridget and Carl were helping pack some food baskets for the train.

  “Bridget, Carl, I have something to tell you,” she said, waiting for them to look at her. “Bridget, I am going to find Shane and Michael.”

 
“Yes, I know, you told us your plans already,” Bridget said, looking confused.

  “No, I mean, I am going tomorrow. Before you argue with me, I have secured a position with the Children’s Aid Society. I am to accompany a Miss Screed and a group of orphans looking for new homes. Loring Brace was kind enough to listen to my quest and is fairly confident I will be able to find the boys.”

  “Oh, Kathleen, tomorrow? Are you sure you know what you are doing? Carl and I discussed going looking for them, but we have so many orphans who need our help…” Bridget looked so distressed, Kathleen was almost sorry she had decided on this course of action. She hugged her close.

  “I have to go, Bridget. Maura leaving and Mrs. Fleming dying showed me just how short life is. Before I can settle down and make a life of my own, I want to be sure the boys are happy. I think Mam would have wanted me to do this.”

  “I am sure she would. You are a wonderful young lady. She would be very proud of you,” Carl commented as Bridget seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

  “Thank you, Carl. Please look after both Bridget and Bella for me. I will write to you care of Mrs. Grayson’s mercantile.”

  “Make sure you do, or I just might follow you to Iowa.” Bridget threatened before adding, “Don’t do anything reckless, Kathleen.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  Kathleen was almost regretting her decision to try to find her brothers. Miss Screed was fifty if she was a day, had never married and, what was worse, she seemed to hate children. All of them, not just those in her care. Her hard-pinched face never showed any emotion other than disapproval. She looked older than her years with her greying hair screwed up in a tight bun, possibly fashionable sometime before the Civil War era, Kathleen thought uncharitably. She seemed to consider the orphans in her care a burden. When the passengers on the train complained about the noise some of the younger children were making, she took the side of the passengers. She threatened the children with severe punishment if they didn’t stop crying and carrying on as she called it.

  “I don’t know why you entertain their tears,” Miss Screed said to Kathleen. “They’re little brats, each and every one of them. They should be thankful we are taking them to live elsewhere.”

  Kathleen counted to ten in her head before she answered. It wouldn’t help anyone if she were to fall out with this woman.

  “They’re children. It’s only normal they would miss their families.”

  Miss Screed adjusted her black traveling dress, the voluminous material covering most of the seat. “Miss the people who beat them or sold them on the streets? Miss Collins, your youth may account for your innocence but don’t let these children fool you. They would murder you in your bed if you gave them half a chance. That group over there came direct from New York prison.”

  Kathleen wanted to scream at her that the children weren’t deaf, they heard every comment the woman said.

  “Yes, but only because that was the only home available for them,” Kathleen said. “These children haven’t committed any crime other than that of being poor. What possessed you to want to work with orphans with your views?”

  “You are impertinent and rude,” Miss Screed shot back. “It is a good thing your parents are dead. They would be ashamed to call you their daughter.”

  Kathleen refused to let the horrid woman see how much her words hurt. Instead, she vowed to ignore her. She wouldn’t change the woman’s opinion, so it was pointless trying.

  “Right old battleaxe, ain’t she?” A boy of about twelve said to her as she soothed a young child to sleep.

  “Show some respect, Patrick Hayes” Kathleen whispered, glancing at the older woman to see if she had heard.

  “Why? Just because she’s older and has more money than me? Someday, just you wait and see, I’ll make my fortune and have people like her bow down to me.”

  Kathleen had to fight back a smile. He was a right cheeky young man but, having worked on the streets of New York, one had to be quick-witted to survive.

  “I hope things work out very well for you, Patrick, but your dream shouldn’t be to make other people subservient. What do you hope to do when you are older?” she asked him.

  “I want to be a reporter. To tell the world the truth about what happens in our country. I had a good job in New York, but they rounded me up and threw me in jail. Judge gave me the choice of going to the Tombs or going out West.”

  “What job did you have?” Kathleen asked. It wasn’t unusual for innocent children to get caught up in a mass arrest, but it wasn’t that common either. Miss Screed had told her Patrick had been arrested several times for pickpocketing and other illegal activities.

  “I was a newspaper boy. I was good at it too as I can read. My ma taught me before she ran off with me baby brother.” He looked at her as if daring her not to believe him.

  Kathleen wondered why the mother had taken one child and not the other, but she didn’t want to hurt him by asking.

  “Maybe you’ll get a job at a newspaper office,” she suggested. “I’ll see if I can do anything.”

  “Nobody will want me, not when Lady Muck over there tells them her version of what I did. I swear to you, miss, I never took nothing from no one.”

  “I will do my best, Patrick, I promise. But for now, try to get along with Miss Screed. She is in charge after all.”

  She had to suppress a giggle as he stuck his tongue out at the older woman.

  Chapter 20

  Kathleen

  Kathleen did her best to make the journey pleasant for the children. When the train stopped to take on fuel and water, she took them outside to run around and burn up some of their energy. On the train, she taught them different games to try to pass the time. Nothing she did earned her any praise from Miss Screed, but at least the older woman left her and the children alone.

  The first town they came to, Miss Screed led the children out of the train, telling them to smile and be quiet. “There are some people here who might want to adopt you.”

  Kathleen smiled at the children, hoping to instill some confidence in them. They walked a little way into town to find someone had set up a picnic on the green. There was a band to play music and banners flying overhead.

  “What do they say?”

  “They say ‘Orphans welcome here,’ Susie. These people want to welcome us to their town.”

  Susie smiled, as did many of the children. The townsfolk were friendly and handed out plates of food and glasses of water and lemonade. Kathleen watched as the children gravitated toward different couples. She burst out laughing as one of the men grabbed one of the younger boys and twirled him up in the air. The child squealed with laughter. Miss Screed looked on in disapproval, but thankfully nobody paid her any notice. The afternoon passed quickly and by the time they returned to the train, they had found homes for over ten orphans.

  “That was a nice place, wasn’t it?” Patrick asked Kathleen as he helped her climb back onto the train.

  “Yes, it was. I’m sorry you didn’t meet a family,” she replied, giving his hair a quick rub.

  “Who would take that ragamuffin?” Miss Screed said as she brushed past.

  Patrick stuck his tongue out at her retreating back. Kathleen couldn’t blame him, she was tempted to do the same.

  The next couple of towns, whilst not as welcoming as the first one, also accepted orphans so the numbers in their care dwindled as they traveled farther. At every town, Kathleen made enquiries, but nobody seemed to have met her brothers. She was beginning to believe she had gone on a wild goose chase. That night she couldn’t sleep properly, an ominous feeling keeping her awake.

  Chapter 21

  Bella

  Bella couldn’t believe she was leaving New York on another orphan train. She tried to hide her nervousness so as to not scare the younger children.

  “This time it will be different, Bella, I promise,” Bridget reassured her. “Mrs. Grayson is a wonderful woman. She will help you find
plenty of customers as a seamstress, as it will benefit her store if you are able to sell dresses. Grayson’s is the only store in the area to carry material.”

  Bella didn’t respond. Bridget looked at her closely, “You have a real gift with design. Those dresses you made for the twins are wonderful. The grey-blue material is practical, and those hats are just to die for.”

  Bella smiled as she looked over at the twins. Megan and Eileen had been thrilled with their new clothes. They had told her it was the first time they ever had a new dress. She’d bought the material on impulse and when she saw the hats on a secondhand good’s stall, she had to have them. By adding a piece of the dress material, they looked like new.

  “I thought it might help them find a family together,” Bella confided in a whisper to Bridget.

  “You are so thoughtful, Bella, but you hide those feelings by pretending to be cold and indifferent. Let people in Riverside Springs see the real you. Especially Mrs. Grayson.”

  Bella bit her lip, wondering how much Bridget remembered about their conversation when she’d tried to persuade Bridget not to let Annie go on the orphan train.

  “But what if she doesn’t approve of me?” Bella asked. “You know, with my history?”

  “Bella, your story is yours to tell. Nobody else knows any details. I haven’t shared anything with anyone, except Carl. I don’t keep secrets from my husband but, trust me, he will not tell a soul.”

  Bella saw Bridget was sincere, but she found it hard to believe people didn’t know what she was just by looking at her.

  “Bella, you need to put the past behind you if you can. Try to think of everyone in Riverside Springs as being like Kathleen. You showed my sister a different, nicer side. Put that on display and you will have no problems at all.”