Orphan Train Escape

by Rachel Wesson

  “Oh, God love them, the poor children. Where are they? Of course, we will take them.” Lily looked around as if expecting the children to materialize.

  Mrs. Fleming led them to a room further inside the tenement, it was smaller than the one they had lived in.

  A young boy with a hard stare stood at the door, his face marked by an ugly red scar running from the outer corner of his eye to his mouth. Bridget couldn’t contain the gasp of horror, but Lily didn’t show any reaction. She walked toward the boy who stepped back, walking backward until he came to a pile of rags on the floor. He lashed out catching Lily unawares, his leg connecting with her skirts. Bridget winced on her new friend’s behalf as Lily paled.

  “Jacob stop it, this lady is here to help ya. She is an angel. Have you not heard of Lily Doherty?” Mrs. Fleming hissed.

  The boy’s eyes widened but he made no move to stand down. The pile of rags moved, a whimpering sound announcing it was a small child.

  Lily crouched down so she was smaller than the boy. “Jacob, I am not going to hurt you. I want to help you and Lizzie. I am sorry about your Ma and the baby.”

  “Who says you won’t give us back to him?” the boy demanded, his body stiff.

  “Him?” Lily queried softly.

  “Pa. He told me he’d kill us sooner than let us go.”

  “Oh, child, your Pa can’t touch you now. The police have him, and from what Mrs. Fleming told me, he will be staying in jail for a very long time.” Lily inched closer to him, but he continued to watch her warily. Mrs. Fleming looked at Bridget, she could see the tears in the older woman’s eyes.

  “Will you come with me? I have a house full of women and children. Bridget, the lady with me, her brother and sister live there. Don’t they, Bridget?”

  Bridget didn’t get a chance to respond. Mrs. Fleming moved toward the boy instead.

  “Yes, they do, Jacob. I know Bridget well, she used to live beside me. Maybe you remember her brother Liam and young Annie with the head of blonde curls on her. She looks like a little angel.”

  Jacob shook his head.

  “Mrs. Fleming wouldn’t let you come with us unless she trusted me, would she?” Lily asked.

  Jacob looked to Mrs. Fleming quickly before staring back at Lily. It took him a few minutes but finally he shook his head. Bridget watched Lily closely, not wanting to say anything in case it upset the boy.

  “Will you introduce us to Lizzie?”

  Jacob’s eyes didn’t leave Lily’s face as he bent down to pull the young girl to her feet. His touch was so gentle. Bridget had been expecting him to drag her to her feet, but he didn’t. He showed more patience than most adults would have in a similar situation. Lizzie, a very pretty little girl, clung to Jacob’s side, her thumb in her mouth, eyes wide, darting from Bridget to Lily to Mrs. Fleming and back again.

  “Nice to meet you Lizzie. My name is Lily, and this is Bridget. Would you like to come with us? The sanctuary is safe and there are children who would love to play with you.”

  The girl blinked rapidly, indecision written all over her face. Her eyes darted to her brother’s face and then back to Lily.

  “Can Jacob stay with me?”

  “Of course, he can. The both of you are welcome.”

  Lizzie gazed up at her brother, the look of adoration on her face bringing a tear to Bridget’s eye. She blinked rapidly, not wanting to upset anyone by bursting into tears. At least Annie and Liam had been spared the cruelty inflicted on these poor children.

  “We’ll come, but I don’t know if we will be staying. We got family outside New York. We were planning on heading out to their place.” Jacob’s tone sounded confident but his eyes darting from one side of the room to the other gave him away.

  Bridget caught Mrs. Flemings slight shake of her head. She guessed Lily knew the boy was lying too but she didn’t let on. Instead Lily went along with what he had said. “That’s fine, Jacob. When you both have had a good meal and a hot bath, we can discuss your plans. Maybe we can help you reach your family.”

  The children were filthy and so thin, their skin was almost translucent.

  “Jacob, is there anything you need to bring with you?”

  “No. I have everything right here.” He pointed to Lizzie. She was still holding onto his hand as if expecting him to disappear.

  “Right, shall we go? Thank you so much Mrs. Fleming. We will be in contact soon. This way children.”

  Lily led the way out of the building with Bridget and Mrs. Fleming bringing up the rear behind the children. Bridget told her quickly about her plans to leave New York as a mail order bride.

  “Promise me you will write to me, Bridget. I want to hear from your own mouth you are happy.”

  “I will Mrs. Fleming. Thank you for everything you did for my family.”

  “Our kind must stick together. It’s the only way any of us survive.” Mrs. Fleming looked at the children as she spoke.

  “What happened to Jacob’s face?” Bridget asked in a whisper, so the child wouldn’t hear her.

  “He stopped his Pa from beating Lizzie. Fred didn’t like it. No adult ever stood up to Fred never mind a ten-year-old boy. He took his belt off and battered the child with it. Nearly killed him.”

  “Oh, the poor boy. Didn’t anyone help him?”

  “Nobody wanted to interfere, did they? I didn’t know the family back then. I would have sent my boys around to give that Fred a taste of his own medicine. He murdered his other children, so they say. His wife too.”

  “I thought she died in childbirth.”

  “That’s what they told young Jacob. It’s kinder than telling him the truth. The child has been through enough.” Mrs. Fleming hugged Bridget close again before turning away and walking quickly back toward the tenement. Bridget watched her go, thinking the woman had the biggest heart. Not that many got to see it with her gruff exterior.

  “Don’t fall behind Miss Bridget, stay up front with Lily. That way we know we haven’t lost you.” Tommy gave her a reassuring look but after his reminder, she’d be glad to be back inside the sanctuary.

  Chapter 14

  “Bridget, could I leave you to settle Lizzie and Jacob? I have to get home to speak to Charlie about something.”

  “Of course, Lily. See you in the morning. Come on children, you must be hungry.”

  The children didn’t answer but followed her, their eyes widening as they looked around the building. Lizzie moved closer to Jacob. Annie came running down the stairs, closely followed by Liam.

  “Bridget, thank goodness you are back. Maura is in a foul mood again.” Liam slid to a halt. “Who are you?” he asked Jacob.

  “Liam Collins, is that any way to greet our new guests?” Bridget reprimanded her brother gently. “This is Jacob and his sister Lizzie. They are friends of Mrs. Fleming but have come to stay with us here at the sanctuary for a little while.”

  “It’s great here. Well, they make you take baths and stuff, but the food is good.” Liam spoke to Jacob, but the boy stared right through him.

  Annie moved toward Lizzie. “Would you like to hold my doll? Bridget made it for me?” she asked the little girl. Lizzie put her hand out hesitantly but at a sharp look from Jacob let it fall to her side.

  “We don’t need nothing from no one,” Jacob replied on his sister’s behalf. “Leave us be.”

  Bridget wanted to hug Annie as the little girl’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Don’t you speak to my sister like that. She was only trying to be nice. Come on Lizzie, let’s go back to Kathleen. She said she will tell us a story until Bridget comes up.”

  Bridget hid her pride in her brother’s concern for his sister. He was such a lovely young boy with a huge heart. His unkindness to Jacob was a cover for his own hurt.

  “Come on Lizzie, Jacob. Let’s see what Cook has to eat.” Bridget forced her voice to sound cheerful, leading the children through to the kitchen. Cook had the evening off but there was plenty of food to make up
two cold plates. While the children ate, Bridget told them she would take them upstairs to have a bath and then show them where they would sleep.

  “Lizzie, you will sleep in the girl’s room and Jacob will be in the boy’s room right next door.”

  “We sleep together.”

  Bridget met the boy’s eyes. “I don’t think that is possible Jacob, but I promise you Lizzie will be well looked after. You are both safe here. Nobody is going to hurt you.”

  He didn’t believe her, it was evident from his expression. She busied herself around the kitchen as they finished their meal pretending not to notice as he filled his pockets with the leftovers.

  “Come on both of you. I am tired and need my bed. I am sure you are too. Lizzie, will you have the first bath?”

  Lizzie shrunk away from her, her little hand reaching for her brother.

  “Jacob can’t come in with you to the bathroom, but he can stand right outside. Is that all right?”

  Lizzie looked terrified. To her surprise Jacob bent down and spoke to the little girl in such a kind voice, Bridget couldn’t believe it was the same boy.

  “I will be right outside. You scream if you are scared and I will burst right in. I won’t leave, I promise.”

  Lizzie didn’t reply but stared at him, her large blue eyes swimming in tears. She continued to stare at him even when the door closed, and she could no longer see her brother.

  “Lizzie, let me take your clothes. They need to be burned,” Bridget said softly as she slowly undressed the little girl, biting her lip not to cry out at the numerous marks on the child’s body. Not only was she way too thin but some of the injuries she had received had left scars.

  “Is the water all right? Not too hot?”

  Lizzie didn’t reply. She just sat miserably in the middle of the tub. Bridget chatted casually as she washed years of grime from the little girl’s body, careful not to hurt her. She then washed her hair twice. She used the evil smelling concoction Mrs. Wilson swore by for dealing with lice. She should really cut the child’s hair, but she figured that was one trauma too many for the little one to deal with.

  “Your hair is beautiful Lizzie, such a lovely color. Did your ma have hair like it?”

  Lizzie didn’t answer but continued to stare into the water. If she hadn’t heard her speak to Jacob, she would think she was mute.

  Once the child was clean and the water filthy, Bridget wrapped her in a towel and proceeded to dry her.

  “You all right, Lizzie?” Jacob’s voice came from behind the door. Bridget hurried to dress the little girl before she opened the door to reassure him his sister was fine. His eyes searched past her and widened as he stared at the child.

  “Lizzie, is that you?”

  Lizzie smiled before she nodded. She held her hands out for a hug, but he took a step back. “I will only get you dirty again.”

  “Jacob, I have run your bath and will come back in a few minutes to do your hair. I will put Lizzie to bed in the girl’s dormitory.” At the mulish expression on his face, she insisted. “you can go visit her when you are washed. Now go on, the water is getting cold.”

  Bridget led Lizzie to the girl’s room where Kathleen was waiting with Annie. There was no sign of Liam.

  “Annie thought Lizzie might be a little scared, so she wanted to come to say goodnight.”

  Bridget picked up her little sister and cuddled her close

  “That was nice of you Annie.”

  “I thought I could tell her a story like you tell me.”

  Bridget nodded, her throat clogging as Annie reached for Lizzie’s hand. “Come up here onto this bed. I will read you a story, so you don’t have to be afraid.”

  Lizzie took Annie’s hand and with a little help from Kathleen climbed onto the bed. Bridget left her sisters with Lizzie as she headed back to the bathroom to deal with Jacob.

  He complained as she walked in.

  “You shouldn’t be in here.”

  “Whist will you? You will scare the children. I have three brothers of my own Jacob. Now let me do your hair.” Having decided she needed to show the child who was in charge, Bridget adopted a firm tone. It took all her concentration especially when she saw the state of his body. He made Lizzie look well cared for. She was glad she hadn’t met his father as if he was responsible for the weals and scars crisscrossing the child’s body, she would find it difficult to restrain herself.

  “Jacob, I need to shave your head. It will help get rid of the itching and will grow back quickly.”

  He didn’t argue with her but shrank away as she came closer. “I promise I won’t hurt you, but you have to be still.”

  He shook a little when she started but soon seemed to realize she wasn’t going to torture him. Soon he was finished. Unlike Lizzie he looked worse than when he had first arrived. The dirt had managed to hide some of the physical scars inflicted on his body, the shaved head highlighted the wound on his face. She wondered if a doctor could do anything to help and resolved to speak to Lily first thing in the morning.

  “I will leave you to get dressed. There are clean clothes right here.”

  “Where are you taking my stuff?”

  “They will have to be burnt.”

  As his face fell, her heart nearly broke. “Jacob, the new clothes are yours to keep. No matter how long you stay here. There is plenty of food too. I know you find it difficult to believe but nobody here is going to harm you. I promise.”

  She wanted to hug him close but sensed he wouldn’t like it. Taking his pathetic pile of belongings, she left the room and headed down to the furnace wishing she could add all the adults who had mistreated the child so badly to the same pile.

  When she came back, Jacob was standing outside the bathroom, his wary expression watching her every move.

  “Sorry Jacob, couldn’t you find the boy’s room? I thought I showed it to you before you took your bath?”

  “Where is Lizzie?”

  “She is in the girl’s room.”

  “I want to see her.”

  Bridget knew it was against the rules but sometimes rules were meant to be broken.

  “You will have to be very quiet. Come with me.” She led the way into the girl’s dormitory to Lizzie’s bed. Smiling, she saw the child was fast asleep, Annie’s rag doll clutched tightly to her chest.

  “See, she is sleeping. She is perfectly safe. Now let me show you again where your bed is.”

  Jacob opened his mouth but shut it again. Maybe he had decided there wasn’t any point in arguing. He leaned over and brushed the hair from Lizzie’s face then followed Bridget. She led the way in silence to his room.

  “You can sleep here. The two boys sleeping are Eddie and his friend Danny. They arrived yesterday. Would you like the door closed?”

  He shook his head and for a split second she saw his fear-filled eyes.

  “Jacob, I will leave the light on. I sleep on the next floor. If you need me for anything, come knock on my door.”

  He didn’t respond but sat on the bed staring at his hands. She wondered what else she could say to reassure him but, in the end, decided it was best if she proved he was safe.

  She woke early the next morning and went to check on Jacob. His bed was empty causing her heart to hammer faster. Had he run away? She quickly went to check on Lizzie and there on the floor by his sister’s bed was Jacob curled into a ball, sleeping soundly despite the obviously uncomfortable sleeping arrangement. She pulled the door closed, not wanting to wake him or the other children. Let them enjoy their dreams for a little while longer.

  Chapter 15

  Bridget straightened up a bit in her chair. Her shoulders ached from the hours over the sewing machine, but it was so much easier than the work she had done back in the laundry. Kathleen had turned into something of a teacher’s pet with Mrs. Wilson continuously praising her work. Bridget was glad to see her younger sister regaining her confidence. It was a good thing Kathleen was so sweet-natured or the other wome
n might have picked on her. But she was so nice to everyone, the other women didn’t mind the constant praise.

  Maura, on the other hand, was not fitting in well at the sanctuary at all. Her continuous criticism and finding fault with everything was wearing thin even for her sisters. She was supposed to be helping by teaching the children and keeping them occupied while the others worked but it didn’t seem to appeal to Maura.

  Bridget had walked in on her shouting at Jacob saying he had to make more of an effort on his letters. The boy’s surly face suggested Maura was wasting her voice. When Bridget got a chance later to ask the boy how his school work was going, she found out he had never attended school so barely knew how to write his own name.

  “Pa said there was no need for a muttonhead like me to learn letters. Reading and writing isn’t for the likes of us.”

  “Oh Jacob, you couldn’t be more wrong. Learning to read and write will help you to find better work and be able to provide a good living for your family.” Bridget nearly fell over as the child reared on her.

  “What family? You are going to take Lizzie away from me. I know you are, and you can’t deny it.”

  “Jacob calm down. Nobody is going to take Lizzie anywhere. Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “Your sister. She said we were going on a train and they would give us to different people. Lizzie would have a new Ma and Pa. Nobody would want me.”

  Thankful Maura had decided to walk to the store for Cook, Bridget took a deep breath. She couldn’t lie to the child, but she had to do something to lessen the damage her sister’s uncaring comments had caused.

  “Jacob, sit down and talk to me. I promise to tell you the truth but only if we discuss it properly. I won’t let you shout at me. That is not how we communicate.”

  Jacob glared at her, but she just stared back at him until he took a seat.

  “It’s true that the plan is to put you and Lizzie on the so-called orphan train but…” Bridget held up her hand, “our hope is to find a home for both of you. We don’t want to separate you and Lizzie, but you can’t go on living here. This place was designed to provide shelter to young women rather than children. Anyway, wouldn’t you like to have a new home in the country? With fresh air and good food?”