Orphan Train Escape

by Rachel Wesson

  Impulsively she put her sewing down and hugged the other woman. “I was lucky to meet you Mrs. Grayson but you are too kind. I, well, I think I would like to work as a placing agent to help the children.”

  “You want to help orphan children find homes?” Her incredulity made her voice squeak a little.

  Flustered Bridget tried her best to explain. “I’ve been having dreams every night about the children. After seeing what I saw, I think I can help. I hope that doesn’t sound prideful, but I know from experience how horrible it can be. I feel, quite strongly, the placing agents should have more authority than they do currently. I want to go back to New York and speak to Father Nelson. I want him to explain to the people in charge that these children need properly vetted homes. They’re not stray animals to be placed with just anyone.”

  Mrs. Grayson stared at her in silence before she smiled such a warm smile, Bridget was tempted to close her eyes.

  “I think that is a wonderful decision. You were born to help others, Bridget. It’s your calling. In time I hope you find a man worthy of you if you wish for a home of your own. Those children, God help them, need people just like you.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Grayson. I hope you are right. Liam and Annie may not understand.”

  “Not at first but they will in time. What of your other sisters?”

  “I wanted to ask you about that. Mrs. Grayson, do you think there would be enough money from sewing to make a living just for one person? I know I can’t support myself and the children, but I was thinking of my sister, Kathleen. She would be safe here. Away from the Oakses.”

  Bridget had found herself confiding in Mrs. Grayson. She’d told her the truth about her reasons to leave New York and her experiences on the orphan train.

  “Is your sister as willing and able as you are?” Mrs. Grayson asked.

  “Kathleen is much more able and has a much nicer personality, too. She is a real sweetheart but far too soft for New York.”

  “Do you think she would like to come and live here? I mean with me and Mr. Grayson. I like having someone to talk to. I am not talking about charity,” Mrs Grayson hastened to add as if she was afraid of offending Bridget. “If your sister is as good as you say, then perhaps we could work together. I could sell her the material from the store at a good price and she could then make dresses and shirts for the people of the town. In time I think she could have a nice little business. But at the start, she could help me in the store and around the house if she wasn’t busy sewing. What do you think?”

  “Oh, Mrs. Grayson, if you’re sure, Kathleen would love to come here. She was so brave staying with Lily at the sanctuary when we moved here. But I know she must be incredibly lonely for Annie and Liam. If she lived here, she could see the children at church.”

  “I am sure the Reeses would welcome her to their home for regular visits, given the circumstances. They are a fine Christian couple.”

  Bridget put down her sewing and moved to give the older woman a hug.

  “I think I was blessed the day I came to this town. I already have so many new friends. I almost wish I was staying here too.”

  “You have a calling, Bridget. Maybe in time, after a few more trips, you can come here and settle down. Who knows, maybe Riverside Springs will prosper and be able to provide a home for some of your orphans? But, I think God wants you to work with the children for now.”

  “Do you? That’s what I thought, but I didn’t know if that was my pride talking.”

  “Sweet girl, I don’t believe you have a prideful bone in your body.”

  The weeks passed quickly with the children settling in very well. She had started them at school, so they could make some friends. It also gave her some free time to write her letters to Father Nelson, Lily and also to Kathleen.

  She told them about the people she had met. Riverside Springs might be a small town, but it was a good one. The people were friendly and had gone out of their way to make her, Annie and Liam feel welcome.

  Mitch and Shannon had invited the three of them to tea in their house one afternoon. Shannon was a lovely woman and Bridget knew the two of them would have become close friends if she had been able to stay in Riverside. Brian had also joined them. He was like a new person now that he didn’t feel forced to wed. Bridget understood Shannon was lonely, but she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Brian when her new friend produced the mail order bride catalogue again.

  “I don’t need help from that,” he told her. “Bridget is going to find me a farmer’s wife.”

  “That’s right, there are plenty of them on the streets of New York just lining up wanting to come to Riverside,” Bridget joked, exchanging a glance of friendship with Brian. He had quickly become a dear friend, and she valued having him in her life.

  By the time Sunday came, Bridget’s stomach was so tied up in knots, she couldn’t eat or sleep. She attacked the dishes in the sink to the point where Mrs. Grayson appeared to be concerned for her china.

  “Fretting won’t do you any good at all,” Mrs. Grayson chided her.

  “I know. Brian keeps telling me everything will be fine but what if they changed their mind? What if I was wrong about their feelings?”

  “Goodness me, do you always ask so many questions?” Mrs. Grayson said. “You got to have trust Bridget. Haven’t you learned that yet? Things happen in their own good time and we can’t rush them. You will have more grey hairs than me if you keep this up.”

  Bridget scoured the pan, trying to take her impatience out on the scorch marks. Mrs. Grayson was right, but she couldn’t help questioning what she was considering. Was it the right thing asking the Reeses to adopt her siblings? They would want for nothing if her impressions of the Reeses’ financial situation were correct.

  “Come on Bridget, dry your hands and get ready. Reverend Franklin may be easy going but he is likely to take a dim view of you turning up at service in a dirty apron.”

  Bridget made sure the children looked presentable, promising Liam a penny candy if he refrained from kicking every stone and twig on their way to church. She brushed Annie’s blonde curls until they shone before tying her hair back with a pretty ribbon. Her siblings looked like little angels. They had no idea of her plans as she hadn’t wanted to say anything until she knew for certain, she couldn’t bear for them to be disappointed yet again.

  They arrived just as services were starting. Taking a seat, she looked around the busy church but couldn’t see the Reeses. Disappointed, she faced the front and sang the hymns. Reverend Franklin had a natural way of speaking and in the last few weeks, she had enjoyed listening to him, but today he could have been speaking in tongues. She didn’t hear a word.

  After service, everyone filed outside saying good morning to the reverend as they went.

  “Good morning, Bridget and children, how are you this morning? Liam you get taller every day and you, young lady, look as pretty as a picture,” the reverend said, smiling at Annie.

  “Bridget bought me a ribbon.”

  “You have a very good sister.”

  Bridget wasn’t too sure of that. She had been planning to ask strangers to take responsibility for her siblings. Who did that?

  “Bridget, can you stop by my office please?” the reverend asked. “Mrs. Grayson will take the children home.”

  Surprised, she nodded before telling Liam and Annie to be good for the Graysons.

  “You promised me candy,” Liam whined

  “I will give you two pieces, if Mrs. Grayson says you’ve been good. Now go on and look after your sister.”

  “Yes, Bridget,” he said.

  She watched as the two of them ran off, holding hands.

  “Don’t worry, dear,” Mrs. Grayson said before following the children. “Remember everything happens for a reason.”

  She accepted Mrs. Grayson’s advice with a forced smile before making her way to the office. Opening the door, she found Mr. Rees waiting for her.

  “Good morning, Mis
s Collins,” he said. “My wife sends her regrets, she hasn’t been feeling well.”

  “Oh no, I am sorry. I hope it is nothing serious.” Bridget felt horrible as her first thought was for the children’s future if Mrs. Rees was ill, rather than for the lady herself.

  “It will pass but she didn’t feel up to driving to church in the heat. Instead, she asked if you would come for dinner. Reverend Franklin will also be joining us.”

  “Oh, but I…” she started.

  “Mrs. Grayson said to tell you to take as much time as you need,” Reverend Franklin said. “Believe me, you are in for a treat. Mrs. Rees makes a splendid Sunday dinner. With Mrs. Franklin being away, I am rather looking forward to a hot meal.”

  Bridget couldn’t reply. It seemed as if everyone knew her plans but her.

  She drove out to the ranch with Reverend Franklin, their buggy following that of Mr. Rees. Reverend Franklin used the time to ask her about the sanctuary.

  “Father Nelson writes to me regularly. He is full of praise for Lily Doherty and what she has accomplished. She does wonderful work with the poor and the needy.”

  “She saved my life and quite possibly those of my sisters and brothers,” Bridget said.

  Reverend Franklin frowned at her story. “Bridget, have you given any thought to what may happen if this man finds out you are back in New York?”

  Bridget had thought about it, but she wasn’t prepared to let Stephen Oaks ruin her plans for the children.

  “Yes, Reverend, but I believe I cannot let fear rule my life. Then he will have won, and he’s already done enough damage. I may never see Michael and Shane again. Oaks may not be responsible for Maura’s problems, but his actions didn’t help. My lovely sister Kathleen was almost destroyed by his accusations. If it weren’t for Father Nelson and Lily, that evil man would have a lot more to answer for.”

  “You are a brave woman, but don’t take any chances. Do not underestimate this man or his reach.”

  Bridget didn’t reply. She didn’t want to think about Oaks.

  “That’s the Rees place just ahead.”

  Bridget stared at the large house in the distance. It was larger than any other she had visited in Riverside and the surrounding area. The whitewashed house stood surrounded by a maze of vividly-colored flower beds. The red barn stood some distance from the house, and she could see horses in the corral. There wasn’t a thing out of place, everything was as neat as a pin. Mrs. Rees was waiting at the front door when they pulled up. A man, she assumed a farmhand, came forward to hold their horse as Reverend Franklin got down before helping Bridget do the same.

  “Reverend Franklin, Miss Collins, how nice of you both to come. I’m sorry to miss your service this morning, Reverend.”

  “No apology needed, Carolyn. Something smells good.”

  Bridget agreed, the smells coming from the house made her mouth water despite her nerves.

  “Miss Collins, it is so nice to meet you again,” Mrs. Rees said. “Please let me show you around while my husband sees to a drink for Reverend Franklin.”

  Bridget had to keep her mouth forcibly closed as they took a tour of the house. Her eyes filled a little when she saw two of the four bedrooms were clearly designed for children. The beds were covered in quilts from which Mrs. Rees had picked out the most prominent colors and used them to paint the bedroom walls.

  “Your quilts are beautiful,” Bridget said.

  “Do you like them? This one is a family heirloom. My grandmother made it for my mother when she was a little girl and she gave it to me. I had hoped to give it my daughter…” The sadness in the other woman’s expression made Bridget choke up even more. “I’m sorry. Some days are better than others. Today would have been our son’s birthday. That’s the real reason I wasn’t at the service. I just couldn’t face it.”

  “I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Rees.”

  “Call me Carolyn, please. Now let me show you the rest of the house.”

  Carolyn showed Bridget the rest of the house, telling her stories of how she came to meet her husband and how they ended up living at the ranch.

  “I love it here,” Carolyn said with a sigh. “The scenery is so beautiful and peaceful, but sometimes it’s too quiet. I get lonely.”

  “I can’t imagine living somewhere like this. I mean, I don’t miss the smells and crowding of New York, but I like having a few people around me.”

  “That’s good as it’s part of the reason I wanted to speak to you and your husband.”

  Carolyn’s face lit up. “I hoped it was due to the children, but I didn’t want to impose. Let’s go and talk to Geoff.”

  When they came back downstairs, the two men were waiting for them.

  “Darling, dinner will burn if we don’t sit down.”

  “Oh yes, I’m sorry. I got carried away chatting. It is so nice to have another woman to talk to.”

  Bridget sat at the table, hoping she wouldn’t let anything drop. The china was as delicate as that she remembered from the big house in Ireland.

  “So, Bridget, have you and Carolyn spoken about your plans?” Mr. Rees asked.

  Bridget nearly choked. She coughed and spluttered, causing Mr. Rees to pour her water while Carolyn slapped her on the back.

  “My apologies,” she stammered, her face red both from embarrassment and the effort to breathe.

  “Don’t be, it was entirely my fault. My dear wife says I often open my mouth to change my feet.”

  “We love that about you, Geoff, so don’t worry. Miss Collins, I mean Bridget, didn’t have a chance to say anything as I monopolized the conversation. Why don’t we finish our meal and then discuss the matter with coffee in the drawing room?” Carolyn suggested although the look on her face said she would like to discuss it now.

  Bridget cast a grateful glance at her host. She tried but couldn’t eat anything more. Everything tasted like sawdust and made her cough more.

  She was glad when they retired to the other room.

  “Bridget, would you like to begin, or shall I?” Reverend Franklin asked.

  “No, please let me.”

  Bridget turned to where Mr. and Mrs. Rees sat on the sofa, noting they were holding hands. They looked nervous and, for some reason, knowing that helped her a little.

  She opened her mouth ready to give her practiced speech when her mind went completely blank. The silence lingered as she struggled to remember but she couldn’t. Panicking, she had to say something.

  “I hope I am not being too forward. I got the impression on the train, you both became quite fond of my siblings. I wondered if there was any chance you might be willing to offer Liam and Annie a home.” Her voice shook as much as her hands. “I have tried but failed to find a solution to our problem. I simply cannot afford to keep the children with me. To provide them with a stable secure life.” Bridget stopped speaking as she tried her best to keep a tight lid on her emotions.

  “Oh, Bridget, we hoped and prayed this was the reason you came to see us,” Carolyn said. “We would love to offer Liam and Annie a home if you would be kind enough to allow us the honor.”

  “You would?” Bridget asked, wiping her hands on her skirt. Heart racing, she looked from one to the other. They were both smiling as was Reverend Franklin.

  “You are right, we became very fond of them during the short train ride. We both wanted to say something to you, but you had your own plans and we knew you wanted to keep your family together.” Carolyn furrowed her brows and then sent a sympathetic look Bridget’s way. “But I gather it hasn’t worked out as you’d wished, has it?”

  Bridget shook her head.

  “Are you going to get married? I take it your husband to be didn’t want the children? Although I find it hard to understand why anyone couldn’t fall in love with both of them instantly.”

  “No, it wasn’t like that,” Bridget explained. “Brian, the man I told you about, he loves the children but well…things have been difficult lately. He…we agree
d it was best not to proceed with the wedding.” Bridget fumbled over her words, desperate not to show Brian in a poor light but also not to betray his confidence.

  “Brian Curran is an honorable young man who has fallen victim to some cattle rustlers,” Reverend Franklin explained further. “They only got a few head of cattle but with things being as they are, it has put Brian in a precarious financial position. He couldn’t afford to offer stability to Bridget and her siblings. I believe they have both made a wise choice.”

  Bridget gave Reverend Franklin a grateful look.

  “Oh, the poor man. Those cattle rustlers have a lot to answer for,” Geoff said. “We need a sheriff. I know Riverside is a small town, but we can’t afford not to have someone in charge.”

  “Geoffrey. The children,” Carolyn reminded him.

  “Sorry, Miss Collins, I get caught up easily. I apologize for our remarks about Mr. Curran. It is easy to judge when you are not wearing another person’s shoes. So, what, may I ask, are your plans now? Are you going to marry someone else?”

  “Geoffrey!”

  Bridget laughed as Carolyn gave her husband a loving tap on the arm, rolling her eyes at the same time.

  “Forgive my husband, he is more used to dealing with men. He didn’t mean it to sound like you would marry any given stranger,” Carolyn said.

  “No of course I didn’t. Oh, I think I best keep quiet,” Mr. Rees mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

  Bridget rushed to reassure the kind man. “I don’t blame you for thinking like that. After all, I did come across the country to marry a stranger. I learned a lot during my trip and in the process found a new calling. I want to work as a placing agent for the orphans on the orphan train. I believe the ideas behind the orphan train are good, but the actual workings fall a little short of the ideal.” Bridget told the horrified couple of her experiences with Jacob and Lizzie as well as almost losing Annie. She also told them the happy endings achieved for many of the children.

  “I believe we need to be more careful in vetting the families who come forward to take children. There are many challenges, but Mr. Watson, the man who accompanied me, is working very hard to overcome those. I would like to help him in any way I can.”