Rory's Promise

by Michaela MacColl

  “Mrs. Gatti definitely knew I was the wrong Fitzpatrick girl, but the sheriff wouldn't listen,” Rory answered. “She would have made a fuss, but then her husband told her he only wants one child, and a boy at that.” With a quick glance at Elena, Rory finished, “They took William.”

  Rory could see from Elena's face that this wasn't unexpected. “The good news is that she won't make trouble about Violet for fear she'd lose William,” Elena said heavily.

  “A judge is coming today,” Rory said. “Sister Anna is counting on him to tell Sheriff Simpson to bring the children back.”

  Ramon shook his head. “Do you know where Sheriff Simpson is right now?”

  “No,” Rory said.

  “Reporting to Mr. Mills, who manages the mine and smelters for Arizona Copper. He lives in the hotel. The law reports to him first, then the courts. And most of those children were taken by the managers’ wives. The judge will do very little and the sheriff will do less.”

  “But what about the law?” Rory protested. Ramon was only confirming her worst fears.

  “Copper is king in Clifton, not the law,” he said. “Your Sisters don't know it yet, but they have already lost. The children will not be returned.”

  “What's going to happen to Vi?” Rory asked.

  “If we're going to keep her, we need to leave right away,” he said. “Before anyone realizes that a Mexicano family still has a white child.”

  Rory seized on the most important word. “If?”

  “It depends on you,” Elena said in her gentle voice. “The Foundling Hospital gave her to us, but you are her family.” Elena glanced down at Violet then back to Rory. “We couldn't leave without talking to you.”

  A hundred images of the Foundling floated through Rory's mind—a nicely run orphanage with kind Sisters and a beautiful chapel. But it was an orphanage nonetheless. Ramon and Elena were offering Violet a home. A family.

  “In Mexico?” Rory asked, just to be sure she understood the offer.

  Ramon nodded. “It's the safest place we can go.”

  In a small voice, Rory asked, “What about me?”

  The moment it took Ramon to answer felt like hours to Rory. Everything depended on what happened next.

  “If you will come,” Ramon said, “we'd like you to be our daughter too.”

  Rory felt joy she hadn't felt since her mother was alive. She was floating and her only tether to the ground was Violet's hand. “You want me?” she asked, fighting for breath.

  “We want both of you,” Ramon said.

  For years Rory had dreamed of hearing those words. Now that they were spoken she was almost afraid to believe in them.

  “Both of us?” she whispered.

  “You were so brave last night, taking Violet's place; how could we leave you behind?” Elena said.

  Rory looked at Violet. Her sister was sneaking her hand into Rory's pocket, searching for the necklace. “Can I speak with Vi alone?”

  Ramon nodded and Rory guided Vi back into the alcove and drew the velvet curtain. She sat on the floor and put Violet on her lap.

  “Rory, you have dark circles,” Vi said, tracing her finger around Rory's eyes.

  “I didn't sleep much,” Rory said.

  “I did,” Vi chirped. “Then I had eggs for breakfast, except that Elena called them huevos.” She rubbed her stomach. “Yummy.”

  “Do you like Ramon and Elena?” Rory asked, praying for the right answer.

  “Silly!” Violet laughed—a happy, carefree five-year-old laugh. “Of course I like them. They're nice.”

  “They want us all to be a family,” Rory said.

  Violet nodded. “Me too. Rory, you kept your promise.” Violet held up her hand. The chain of the necklace was looped around her finger. “I'll give this back now.”

  Solemnly Rory took it and fastened it around her neck. “The thing is, we'll have to leave this town and go to Mexico.”

  Violet shrugged. “I don't like this place anyway.”

  Rory thought how simple it was to be five years old. “We'll never see the Foundling again—or Sister Anna or the other kids,” she warned. “We'll have to learn a new language too, Vi. And there won't be any American kids to play with. We'll always be different.”

  “Special?” Vi asked, her blue eyes shining with pleasure.

  “I guess so,” Rory said ruefully.

  She put her fingers to her lips and thought harder than she ever had in her life. Clearly Vi would be all right in Mexico. Better than all right. Elena and Ramon would cherish her and teach her everything she needed to know. But what about Violet's older sister? Rory didn't like Mexican food and the language was gibberish to her. She was a New Yorker, born and bred. If Rory stayed with Violet she would probably never return to New York.

  Suddenly she heard Sister Anna's voice in her head, offering her a job with the Foundling. Rory hadn't given the matter a second thought before. But now she thought: who could possibly do this work better than she? Finding new families for orphans was an important job—one she had been training for her whole life. Was Rory willing to give up her own future for Vi's sake?

  Violet tugged on Rory's sleeve. “Rory, you promised we would always be together.”

  Rory nodded wordlessly.

  “Then that's all that matters.” Violet gave a sharp nod as if that decided everything. Well, why not, Rory thought. We've made our choice.

  They hurried back to Elena and Ramon. Rory didn't waste a second. “We want to go with you,” she said. “We want you to be our parents!”

  Elena held out her arms and enveloped Violet and Rory in an enormous hug. She smelled of waxy candles, chili, and cookies. Rory had never experienced a perfume so delicious.

  “Good,” Ramon said, rubbing his hands. “We must go at once. Can you get your things without the Sisters seeing?”

  “Now?” Rory asked, dismayed. “But the Sisters are neck-deep in trouble. We can't leave them.”

  Elena touched Rory's arm gently. “Rory, Mrs. Gatti may be distracted for now, but we cannot hide two red-haired daughters for long.”

  Ramon said, “Rory, there is nothing you can do to help. The most important thing is to get you and Violet to safety.”

  “Is it?” Rory asked.

  “Of course,” Ramon said. “That is what parents do. They protect their children.”

  “The Sisters do too.” Rory nodded slowly. “They've protected me for three years. I didn't always agree with them. I broke their rules. I did anything to trick them into letting me stay with Violet. But they never gave up on me.”

  Ramon leaned toward Rory. “That's all very well, but it is not your job to protect them.”

  “Maybe not, but I can't abandon them.” She faced Ramon. “I won't leave Sister Anna and the others in danger.”

  “It is more dangerous for you to stay!” Ramon said loudly, staring down at her. “We could lose both of you.”

  “Just until the Sisters are safe,” Rory pleaded. “The judge—”

  “Won't do anything, Rory,” Ramon finished.

  Outside the barbershop Ramon and Rory heard a sudden crash and shouting, but they couldn't make out the words. “Elena, stay here with Violet,” Ramon said as he ran out of the barbershop, Rory less than a step behind him.

  Men poured into the hotel lobby. Others crowded the wooden sidewalk in front of the hotel's big double doors or climbed in through the broken front window. It was the start of a brawl. Rory had seen it before in Hell's Kitchen.

  “People, you have no business here!” the sheriff roared.

  “Where's the priest?” someone shouted.

  A person in the mob called out, “And that agent! They're selling white babies and we're going to stop them!”

  He was answered by another angry voice. “There are more kids, my wife told me so. We'll take them too!”

  Sheriff Simpson held up his hands. “We went through this last night. The children aren't going anywhere. Now turn around and go home!
”

  “They gave the babies to the Mexicans and the Indians— they'd do anything! We can't trust those big-city folks.”

  Another man shouted, “We're not budging without the priest and the agent! I'd like to see the nuns try and stop us.”

  Ramon stepped back into the barbershop, pulling Rory with him.“Your Sisters are out of time.” He paused. “And so are we.”

  CHAPTER Thirty-Four

  VIOLET PERCHED IN ONE OF THE BARBER CHAIRS WHILE ELENA braided her hair. Elena's hands shook as she folded one length of hair across the other. She looked up when they returned. “What's happening?”

  “Another Anglo mob—they want the priest and the agent,” Ramon said, his ear to the door.

  “And the kids. All of them,” Rory added.

  Elena went pale and stumbled. Ramon hurried to Elena's side to steady her. She let him help her to one of the barber chairs. “Ramon,” she implored. “You can't let them take Father Mandin!”

  “Elena, it's not safe for us either,” Ramon reasoned. “We have to go now.”

  “No!” Rory cried. “The Sisters need our help.”

  “Ramon, it's our duty to watch over the Father,” Elena added.

  “There's nothing we can do,” Ramon pleaded with both of them.

  Rory looked from one to the other. There was one thing that she knew would make Ramon help them, but it was desperate and unfair. Did she have a choice? She lifted Vi out of the chair and clutched her sister to her chest. “Then Violet and I have to go back to Sister Anna.”

  “Rory!” Elena gasped. “You can't do that!”

  “I don't want to leave Elena,” Violet whimpered. “Rory, you said we could stay with them.”

  Rory kept her attention on Ramon. “I'll do it if I have to,” she said.

  “It's not safe,” he repeated.

  “Help me help the Sisters,” Rory cried. “Once they are all right, we can leave for Mexico.”

  Ramon scowled. “Rory, you're as stubborn as—”

  “You, Ramon,” Elena finished. “She's as stubborn as you. We don't have a choice. We must do the right thing and help them.”

  Ramon held his hands up in surrender. “What do you two ladies want me to do?” he asked.

  “If the judge can't tell the townspeople what to do, who can?” Rory asked.

  “Mr. Mills is the only one,” Ramon said.

  “Yes, Ramon, go to Mr. Mills!” Elena turned to Rory and said proudly, “He's powerful. But when the workers were on strike, he listened to Ramon bargain for the miners.”

  “Can we tell him what's happened?” Rory asked.

  “I'm sure he knows everything already,” Ramon said. “He has spies everywhere.”

  “Is he a good man? Will he help the Sisters?” Rory wanted to know.

  Ramon lifted his shoulders. “If we make it worth his while.”

  Rory wasn't sure she liked the sound of that.

  Before they knocked on Mr. Mills's door, Rory turned to Ramon and touched his arm. “Thank you, Ramon. I know you didn't want to get involved.”

  “You and Elena were right. Someone has to protect the foolish priest and your Sisters. I only hesitated because I wanted to protect my family.”

  Mouthing the word “family,” Rory banged on the door.

  A tall man with dark hair, graying at the temples, opened the door. He wore a suit but his black cowboy boots made him look like a Westerner. “Ramon Martinez!” he said, with a tight smile that seemed painted on his face.

  “Señor.” Ramon was polite but not friendly. He gestured to Rory. “This is Rory. She's with the Sisters from New York.” Mr. Mills smiled and nodded. “What can I do for you?”

  “We're here about the orphans,” Ramon said.

  “That's none of my concern,” Mr. Mills said, starting to close the door.

  Ramon's grin showed all his teeth; it was as false as Mr. Mills's smile. “Keeping peace in Clifton is your concern. Men who are rioting are not mining copper.”

  Mr. Mills reluctantly waved Ramon and Rory into the room. “But I hear a judge has been sent for.”

  “The judge will be useless. We both know that,” Ramon said. “The priest arranged it all, but it is the Mexicanos who will be blamed.”

  “Then let the priest work this out with the judge—” Mr. Mills said.

  “You know he cannot. The priest is completely discredited,” Ramon interrupted. “I hear that there was talk of lynching him last night.”

  “That bad?” Mr. Mills sounded surprised, but Rory couldn't believe he didn't already know.

  Ramon nodded. “And also talk of tarring Father Mandin and the agent. Worse, the children were seized by armed men.”

  Mr. Mills stared out the window. His face was like granite, impossible to read. Rory figured it was time for her to make the most of being an orphan and a girl. She let her voice tremble, “They pointed their guns at me too.”

  His head jerked to look at her. “That's not right,” Mr. Mills said. “You're just a kid.”

  “It's true. Sheriff Simpson led the posse.” Ramon paused. “We are devout, you know. That is why the Sisters gave us the babies. If the Catholic nuns or the priest are harmed, I guarantee the Mexicano community will explode. Have you forgotten the violence last year?”

  “The situation is already out of my control,” Mr. Mills said irritably. “I can hear the crowd in the lobby from here. What do you expect me to do about it?”

  Ramon raised an eyebrow. “It is the Anglo women who have caused all the trouble,” he said meaningfully. “They wanted the children so they took them. They've pushed their men to go after the priest and agent. If the priest and Mr. Swayne leave town, the mob will lose interest and go back to work.”

  Mr. Mills went to a side table and poured himself a cup of coffee. Without offering any to Ramon and Rory he drained his cup in one gulp. “I can't just snap my fingers and send a mob on its way.”

  “Señor,” Ramon said silkily. “You can get the men out of town. It will have the same effect.”

  “I don't think I should get involved,” Mr. Mills said, shaking his head. “Sorry, Ramon.”

  “Ramon, did I tell you how many powerful friends the Sisters have?” Rory asked.

  As if they had practiced it, Ramon replied on cue. “No, Rory, you didn't.”

  “Governors and Senators and editors at newspapers,” Rory added casually. “The papers love stories about orphans.”

  “How embarrassing for the Arizona Copper Company,” Ramon said. “And for their representative in Clifton.”

  Mr. Mills carefully placed his cup on the table and paced around the room. Finally he turned to them and said, “Maybe I can help the priest and this Swayne man. But I draw the line at the children who were taken. It's more than my life is worth to tackle those women.”

  Ramon shrugged. “Señor, we mere men must be practical. Let the Foundling fight for the children in their own courts.”

  Mr. Mills sat down in a large upholstered armchair next to the stove and stretched out his feet to enjoy the warmth. “The Sisters won't kick up a fuss?” Mills asked.

  “It's the only way. They'll see reason.”

  “Ramon!” Rory said leaning in so only he could hear her. “We can't leave the kids here.”

  “I'll have to think about it,” Mr. Mills said. He got up and held the door. “Good afternoon, Ramon, Miss Rory.”

  “It wasn't enough, Ramon,” Rory whispered. “Do something, please.”

  “I have an idea, but you won't like it,” he replied. Rory gulped. “Do whatever you have to.”

  Ramon took a deep breath. “Señor Thompson is your superior, is he not?”

  Mr. Mills watched Ramon carefully. “That's not a secret.”

  “His wife lost a second child last year.”

  Mr. Mills frowned. “I didn't know that. How did you?”

  “My wife's friend is Señora Thompson's seamstress. We all pitied her. We know what it is like to want a baby and not be
able to have one.”

  Mr. Mills checked to see if the hall was empty. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

  “Señora Thompson is light-skinned with yellow hair. Rory, are there any such children with the Sisters?”

  Rory stared at Ramon with horror. “Ramon—you can't!”

  “Rory, is there such a child?” Ramon insisted.

  Rory faced the fact that he was only doing what she asked. Reluctantly, she nodded. “There are two, a brother and a sister. Both are fair and blond.”

  “That would do very well.” Mr. Mills looked pleased. “I'd be willing to arrange safe passage for Father Mandin and the agent in exchange for two children.”

  Rory closed her eyes and prayed for the strength to face Sister Anna when she found out about this unholy bargain.

  But Mr. Mills wasn't finished trading yet. “Tell me,” he said. “Are there any boys with dark brown hair and eyes?”

  “Why?” Rory asked suspiciously.

  “I have a friend, a doctor, visiting from San Francisco. His wife can't have children. I could get him a baby too.”

  Rory jabbed her finger in the direction of both men. “You're both treating these children like livestock that you can buy and sell.”

  “Your Sisters are in the adoption business, aren't they?” Mr. Mills said reasonably.

  “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly.

  “My friend is well-to-do. The boy will have a fine life and a good education.”

  “And in exchange?” Rory said weakly.

  “I'll get your Sisters and the kids they have left out of Clifton and back to New York.” Mr. Mills rubbed his hands. “You can't ask for anything fairer than that!”

  “Rory, it's the best chance to get them home,” Ramon said.

  Mr. Mills and Ramon stared at her, until she nodded slowly.

  Ramon clapped her on the shoulder. “Good.” Turning to Mr. Mills, he said, “So, Señor, we have a deal?”

  “Yes,” Mr. Mills said. “Two children to get Mandin and the agent out of town. And another kid for putting the Sisters and the orphans who are left safely on their train.”

  “Agreed,” Ramon said, pulling an unwilling Rory out of the room. “We'll need to convince them. Come to the Sisters’ room in one hour.”