“And you believed him?”
“I didn’t have any reason not to.”
“You had plenty of reason. You saw the way he treated those girls in his house. The way he treated Laura. I'm guessing your captain didn't treat you as kindly as you implied in the story. What happened to him anyway, did he survive the war?”
Wilma nodded.
“Where did you end up?”
“Boston.”
“So how did you meet Laura's husband? She said you worked for him for a long time.”
“He was the captain’s son.”
Chapter 17
Gary walked toward the boarding house wondering how he should phrase his apology and request. Every time he thought of Miss Templeton, he saw her wide brown eyes filled with tears and her stricken face as she stood listening to the men gossiping about her. He wished for the thousandth time he hadn’t decided to go to the store. He could have waited till later in the day.
Should he ask Mrs. Sullivan to formerly introduce them and then apologize? He’d been reading some books set in England, and they seemed very set on correct manners. He couldn’t remember enough of his time in London, and it wasn’t as if they rubbed shoulders with the type of people Miss Templeton was used to.
He didn’t notice her sitting on the porch, a shawl wrapped around her legs, until he was practically standing beside her. She was holding a book, although she didn’t seem to be reading it.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Barrett. How can I help you?”
Gary stood gazing at her, his tongue getting so twisted he couldn’t form a sentence. He swallowed hard but still nothing.
She closed the book to stare at him, probably wondering if he had been struck dumb.
“Yes?”
“Miss Templeton, I just wanted to apologize for what you heard outside the store. I am sure you aren’t used to people gossiping about you. I don’t think anyone meant any harm, only beautiful, single women are rare in Clover Springs and…”
“Please don’t apologize again. You already did that at the store. I should be the one apologizing. I was upset. I appreciate the fact you told them all women should be treated with respect.”
He smiled at her. “Mum told me over and over again to make sure I never forgot. I am glad you don’t hold a grudge.” He stood there staring at her, trying to get the confidence to ask her.
“Was there something else?”
“Miss Templeton, I was wondering…em what I mean to ask…do you have an escort for the Easter dance?” Easter? It was only February. She was going to think he was an idiot. “I know it’s early, the dance was supposed to be this weekend but it was postponed due to Doc Erin and the others going to New York.” He was talking too much.
“No, I don’t,” she said, “but I won’t be going so it is of no matter.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have to answer to you, Mr. Barrett.”
“No, you don’t, of course not. I just wondered why you wouldn’t be going. It’s a great way to get to know people from the community.”
“I teach the children. They are the only people I am interested in getting to know any better.”
“Well, of all the high and mighty attitudes I have come across, yours takes the biscuit. What is wrong with you? Are we not good enough to associate with the daughter of a lord or earl or whatever title your father holds?”
She laughed, a harsh rather than pleasant sound, but it was the tears in her eyes that cut him to the core.
“Gossip sure flies fast around this town. I don’t know what you have been told, Mr. Barrett, but I am not the daughter of a title. Nor am I in anyway snobbish. I just happen to have learned quite recently it is better not to open yourself up to more heartbreak. Making friends leaves one vulnerable.”
She stood up and walked away without a single backward glance. He had been well and truly dismissed, not to mention put in his place and he thoroughly deserved it. What sort of idiot was he to mention gossip to a lady? He’d accused Murph of judging her when he had done the exact same thing. He’d hurt her, too, which was unforgiveable.
Why did she always get flustered whenever he was around? If her nanny could see her now, she would be on bread and water for a week. Young ladies were brought up to be pleasant. Not warm necessarily but always polite. She had been nearly rude. All he had done was ask her to accompany him to a dance.
“Would you like some coffee, Miss Templeton, I just made a fresh pot. Oh, are you all right, dear, you look rather flushed.”
“I am fine, thank you. I think I may have sat out a little too long. Its colder than I thought.”
Mrs. Sullivan looked at her, disbelief written all over her face but at least she didn’t pry.
“I heard there is an Easter dance. Do you always celebrate Easter like that?” she asked.
“No, not usually. Father Molloy hoped to have it this weekend but he had to postpone it. Good job too really. A couple of years back, the Orphanage, or Hope House to give it it’s proper name, was built. But as you can see from school, we have a lot of orphans. They need more space but as usual there is a shortage of funds. Wilma and Father Molloy thought we could do something similar to a barn raising. Do they have them in England?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“It’s where the community gets together to build a house or a barn. The men, there are enough of them, can get a building up in a day. The dance in the evening is a reward where they can share some fine food and dancing.”
“Where will it be held?”
“Well, to be honest, I don’t think they have thought it through properly. In the summer a barn raising, is held outdoors. The weather is warm and sunny. Hopefully, Easter will be warm. There isn’t anywhere big enough in town to hold it indoors.”
“What type of dances do they do?” Eleanor couldn’t resist asking. She’d loved parties back home. Her dancing was one of the few things her grandmother ever complimented her on.
“Irish reels and some set dances and maybe the odd waltz. Not the type of dances you would be used to, I imagine. But it’s good fun to learn the new steps. If you have time, I can teach you a couple.”
Although tempted, Eleanor refused. She had just told Mr. Barrett she wasn’t going dancing. She was a woman of her word.
Chapter 18
Erin was the last on the platform. She was still torn about going to New York.
“Get on the train, Doc, your family is waiting,” Mrs. Grey said kindly.
“I will send a telegram as soon as we arrive. It will have my contact details. If you need me, send for me.”
“Erin, will you please go. I am going to take Wilma away for a few days. A change of scene will do her good.”
Erin frowned. “Where are you going? Who will look after the clinic?” she asked. “Oh, that sounded selfish. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Erin Quinn, we survived before you arrived in Clover Springs. We will be fine for two weeks. Doc and Emer Shipley can cope. Now please get on the train before it leaves without you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Grey. I am being silly.”
“Not silly, just too caring about everyone but yourself. Please have a good time and don’t worry about Wilma. She will be fine.”
“Goodbye.”
Mrs. Grey stood on the platform waving as the train pulled out of the station. Her face hurt, as she forced herself to smile.
“You can stop pretending now,” Father Molloy said gently. “She can’t see you anymore.”
“I have no idea…” Mrs. Grey stopped at the look in his eye. “All right, yes I am worried. I think Denver is a good place for Wilma to go, but I am scared it will be too much for her.”
He offered her his arm, which she took, as they walked back toward town.
“What’s in Denver?”
Mrs. Grey hesitated. She didn’t want to break Wilma’s confidence but at the same time she needed some reassurance she was doing the right thing. “There is a lady called Eli
za Jane Brown. Her mother was Clara Brown. Have you heard of her?”
“No, should I have?”
“Guess not. Clara was an ex-slave who spent the last years of her life trying to reunite slave families. You know how often slaves were sold at auction and whole families could be separated. Then the war came and even more were torn from their loved ones. This lady felt very strongly someone should try to help people locate their loved ones. She was looking for her family. She found her daughter Eliza Jane.”
“You want to introduce Wilma to Clara to help her find her parents and siblings?”
Mrs. Grey bit her lip uncertain how to answer as she didn’t want to lie.
“Clara is dead now but her daughter, Eliza Jane, has retained her mother’s contacts. There might be someone who knew Wilma when she was a slave and can help piece together her family history.”
“You are a wonderful lady, Mrs. Grey. When I think how scared I was of you when I first arrived in Clover Springs.”
“You! Scared of me? I don’t believe it.”
“Whether or not you believe it, it’s true. I was absolutely terrified of you, and make no mistake, you were and still are a force to be reckoned with in this town. You hide it well under that crusty exterior but you have a heart of gold.”
“Father Molloy, you are embarrassing both of us,” she retorted despite being very pleased at his compliment. “I best go and tell Wilma she is going to Denver.”
“You mean ask her, don’t you?”
“I most certainly do not. She is going to Denver whether she wants to or not. I am not letting her stay in bed a minute longer.”
Father Molloy let out a roar of laughter causing people in the street to turn and look at them curiously. “That’s the true Mrs. Grey in action.”
She blushed scarlet as people continued to stare. “Good day, Father.”
She marched up to the orphanage door, knocked and let herself in. She threw a quick hello in Samuel’s direction before making her way to Wilma’s bedroom.
“Wilma, get up. We are going to Denver.”
“Why? I don’t want to leave Clover Springs. I is happy here.”
“It’s not forever. We are going on vacation. Come along now. I have the tickets booked. We leave tomorrow.”
“Vacation. I ain’t going.”
“Yes, you are. There is an ex-slave in Denver named Eliza Jane, her mother Clara Brown died three years ago. Have you ever heard of her?”
“No.”
Mrs. Grey ignored Wilma’s attempt to appear disinterested. “You should have. She spent her whole free life trying to reunite ex-slaves with their families. There are lots of people like you, who were separated from their parents, siblings, or children.”
“But you said she done died.”
“Yes, but her daughter is alive and well. She may have some contacts. It’s worth a try. You have a choice my friend, stay here and sulk in bed all day or get up and do something about finding your daughter.”
Mrs. Grey hoped her no-nonsense tone would make Wilma angry. She wanted her old friend back. The one who would have hopped out of bed and stood opposite her with her hands on her hips while giving her a piece of her mind. She was disappointed. Wilma simply turned in the bed presenting Mrs. Grey with her back.
“Don’t you dare ignore me. I am not going anywhere until you get out of that bed.”
“You’ll be waiting.”
“I haven’t got anything else to do apart from meet with Ma Kelley. She had some ideas about what to do with the orphans.”
Wilma shot up in the bed. “Don’t you let that old crow near my babies…” Wilma stopped mid-sentence. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Mrs. Grey nodded, eyes twinkling. “I knew something had to get your attention. Always count on your love for other people.” Mrs. Grey took Wilma’s hand in hers. “I know you are scared. I know it could be painful. But isn’t it worth a try?”
Wilma nodded slowly.
“I will be with you every step of the way. You are not alone. I promise.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Mrs. Grey didn’t wipe the tear away as it rolled down her cheek. “I need to help you find your daughter. I can still see the faces of those families my father sold at auction.”
“You wasn’t responsible for that.”
“No, but I could have done more. I should have tried to stop him. Instead, I was too busy thinking of myself.” Mrs. Grey grasped Wilma’s hand tighter. “Please let me help you find your family.”
Wilma took her time to answer. “We will go to Denver and meet with this lady. What will I tell everyone?”
“What do you want to say? We can tell them we are taking a small vacation. Nobody needs to know anything else. But it’s up to you.”
Wilma packed in silence while thoughts raced around her head. Would this Eliza Jane woman be able to help? Could Solace be alive? Would she recognize her if she was? Would her daughter want to know her, especially given the life she had lived?
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Can I come in, please, Miss Wilma?”
“Course you can, Rosa. I’ve missed your smile.”
Rosa threw her arms around Wilma nearly knocking her to the ground.
“I thought you were going to die. I am so glad you didn’t.”
“Me too, Rosa. I am sorry you were so worried, but I ain’t going nowhere.”
Rosa looked confused. “Mrs. Grey said you was going on vacation. You are going to bring me back a present.”
Wilma sat on the bed indicating Rosa should sit beside her.
“Yes, I’m going to Denver for a couple of days, but I will be back.”
“I’ll miss you but I like the idea of a present.”
Wilma laughed. “I’ll get you something special. Now tell me how is school?”
“We ain’t got our new teacher yet. I met her outside the store. She seems nice but she talks funny. She doesn’t talk like you or me. Not like Mrs. Grey either. She sounds like she has something in her mouth when she’s speaking. And her clothes, you ain’t never seen nothing like them.”
Wilma smiled at the child. Rosa was obsessed with clothes and planned to be a dressmaker when she grew up. She had talent too. Wilma wondered what her parents had worked as. She guessed, given the circumstances, they were unlikely to ever find out.
Chapter 19
Eleanor came downstairs to find Martha fixing something to eat.
“I just bumped into Ellen at the store, she asked can you wait to start school until Monday? I am not sure why.”
“I can wait. I am sure she has her reasons.” Eleanor tried to sound confident but she was worried her past may have caught up with her. Should she seek Ellen out and ask her? But that would look suspicious if the delay had nothing to do with her. She was so preoccupied she took a few minutes to realize Martha was upset.
“What’s wrong? Please tell me.”
“My grandchildren are ill, the ones who live outside town.”
“Oh no, poor things. Are you going to see them?” Eleanor asked.
“I hate to leave you alone, especially when you are new in town but my daughter needs me. She is pregnant and cannot cope with her sick children. If I had any other—”
“Please, Mrs. Sullivan, I mean Martha. I will be fine. Go be with your daughter. Take as long as you need.”
“Katie, the lady at the store, is my daughter-in-law. You can always ask her if you need anything.”
“I will. But I am sure I will be fine.” Eleanor tried her best to convince both of them.
“Thank you. You are such a kind person. Clover Springs has been lucky again.” Martha went off to pack a bag leaving Eleanor behind. She looked around the room. She couldn’t help wishing she’d had a mother who would drop everything to help her. How she could do with someone now. But there was nobody. Her mother had died long ago, her father was dead now and her relations, she still considered them her f
amily despite what they did, weren’t interested. She could be dead for all they cared. In fact, it would probably suit them better if she was. No chance of any further scandal encroaching on their social lives.
Eleanor choked back a sob. She couldn’t give in to tears. Not today. Mrs. Sullivan would think it was over her leaving and then she might not go. Today, it was time for the stiff upper lip the British were so famous for. Except she wasn’t British not really. Not anymore.
Eleanor screamed as the back door burst open admitting Gary Barrett. “Oh, it’s you. Sorry, Mrs. Sullivan didn’t tell me she was expecting callers.”
“She wasn’t. I happened to walk by and saw the smoke and thought you might need some help.” He moved past her quickly to remove the remains of the dish from the stove.
“Thank you, but it’s not necessary. I can manage.”
“Looks like it,” he commented as his gaze took in the mess in the usually pristine kitchen.
Her nostrils flared at his sarcasm. He took a deep breath before saying in a much nicer voice. “It’s obvious something went wrong. What can I do?”
“You can leave. I will be fine once I get the hang of the stove. It’s different to the one I used back ho…in England.”
He noticed the slip and the pain in her eyes.
“Miss Templeton, I know we got off on the wrong foot. It was totally my fault. I also know you have never used a stove before.”
“How can you tell that?”
“Well, you usually put the wood on top of the paper for a start with the coal added after when the fire has caught.”
“Oh,” she whispered and confirmed everything.
“I guess you have never prepared your own meals before, have you?”
“No. Before you jump to conclusions I wasn’t spoilt but my fam…relatives had servants. They did everything and made it look so easy too. I am useless.” She sat down at the table.
“What were you trying to do?”
“I thought I could cook some dinner. I can’t find a café in town and there is no hotel.”
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