"Gus, you can't really believe that Reverend Wright would hurt anyone, do you?"
"Physically? No. But, mentally or emotionally, absolutely. Besides, something else was going on in there. Didn't you see Kathy's face? I think someone said something to her."
It wasn't long before Kit and Kathy entered the restaurant, closely followed by Neil, carrying Jacob. As they sat down, Ann came over and asked, "Hello. I'm going to just bring pots of tea and coffee over, if that's all right. Then I'll come back to take your orders.
"So," Miranda said, "are you ready to tell us all what was going on in church?"
Kathy held out her arms for Jacob and once she had him again, she merely clutched the baby to her bosom, seemingly ignoring Miranda's question.
Kit on the other hand, scowled before she blurted out, "It was that man! That Sean Gallagher! He was staring at Kathy and the baby throughout the service."
"Isn't it possible you were imagining it?" Victoria asked. "I mean perhaps he hadn't been here the one time you were at church and was just noticing someone new?"
"No!" Kathy stated flatly. "He was there when we were. It's more than that. It's—"
Kit grabbed at Kathy's hand and hissed, "Not here. We can talk about it later."
Now Miranda was truly worried. But, Kit was probably right, and it would have to wait. So, she merely acquiesced and sipped on her tea... that and, of course, worry.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
She only lasted until they were in the wagon and well on their way out of town. "All right, what was going on?"
"It was that mean man. That Gallagher person."
"Yes," Miranda said, "I got that much. But what about him?"
Kathy remained mute as the color drained from her face. Suddenly, sobs burst from the young mother, as hot tears ran down her face.
"I want to know what is going on!" Miranda snapped. "Now!" Then, she immediately regretted her tone.
Colleen pried Jacob from Kathy's arms, while Kit handed her a handkerchief, before answering, "It's that awful Sean Gallagher. He was staring at her so hard, it's a wonder she didn't burst into flames."
"But, why is it upsetting to you, dear?" Miranda asked. "I'm sure several people were staring at all of us, not just you."
"No!" she cried out, between sobs. "He was staring at me... and at Jacob."
"Again, why is this so distressing?"
"He... he was... was one of those... those men."
"Those men," Miranda repeated. "I don't understand."
"One of the men who visited Harding's place." But when Miranda just looked at her, Kathy blurted out, "One of my men! He... he used me all the time. He used to talk about how he had nine daughters, and his wife was pregnant again. And, that he was sure she'd have another girl."
"Yes... so?"
Obviously frustrated by Miranda's inability to comprehend what Kathy was trying to tell her, Kit exclaimed, "He went to Harding's all the time! He used Kathy consistently! And, he wanted a son!
"Don't you understand? He wanted a son and Kathy has one."
Still Miranda asked, "So?"
But, as Colleen handed Jacob back to his mother, she let out a low, "Oh..."
"What?" Miranda asked clearly agitated, now.
"He wants a son. Kathy has one. And," Colleen repeated, in a low, but steady tone, "he was one of... one of Kathy's... well... regulars."
"Exactly!" Kit cried out. Then added, "And, I heard their new baby was a boy and he died several months ago."
"But, Victoria hasn't said anything about a child dying," Miranda insisted. Then she cringed, afraid she might have said something that would only worry the girls.
"That's because she didn't deliver the baby. And, she didn't treat it when got sick. Gallagher doesn't spend money on things like decent food, warm clothes, or doctors," Kit announced, the disdain dripping from her words.
"For drinking, playing poker, and visiting brothels, he has money for. But his family has to make do however they're able. That and be happy with whatever he kills, when he bothers to take time from his drinking, gambling, and carousing to hunt!"
"But, Victoria would have helped with this last birth, and even treated the infant without pay.
"Besides, a big family can't live on game alone," Miranda argued. "Not even if he was an excellent shot and hunted constantly. I doubt it would, even if he killed so much he was able to sell the excess."
"They don't. He doesn't go hunting unless he's got no money, at all.
"Moira, Mrs. Gallagher, makes bobbin lace and sells it. Only it takes a lot of time, so she hasn't really had enough to try to sell to Meg. She also has a huge kitchen garden.
"Agnes is the oldest, at nineteen. She's a good cook, but a great baker. And, she works in the hotel restaurant kitchen."
"Is she the one who bakes those delicious cakes and pies?" Miranda asked.
"Yes, but she's shy and would never come out to the dining room, not even if you all asked for her to, so you could tell her how wonderful her baked goods are.
"The twins, Maggie and Molly, are about seventeen and a half. They also work at the hotel, making up rooms and helping with the laundry," Kit continued.
"Bernadette is just sixteen. She will start working in the workshop, in the next few weeks. Gus wanted to talk to her father. And... and she tries to stay clear of him. We finally convinced him to just let her work.
"She'd rather earn a bit of money by working than stay home to help with the house and her sisters. There are enough girls to help at home. She'd much rather bring home money for things they can't grow or make. And, it's better if her father doesn't know how much money she actually earns.
"Sheila's not quite fifteen. She loves chickens, so she keeps a henhouse and sells the eggs to the restaurant and the mercantile," Kit went on.
And, when she didn't look as though she was finished, Miranda asked, "Goodness, Kit, how many children are there?"
"Nine living, all girls. There was a girl, Mary, who'd be next. Only she died as a toddler. Gillian is about nine, Eileen, seven, and Kathleen who's four. Then there was a boy, Sean, who died as an infant. And, Fiona is the baby, at two. Well, Patrick was the little boy that was born last winter, and died several months ago."
"How is it I've lived here all my life," Miranda asked, "and I don't know these people. That I don't know about any of this?"
"Because Gallagher doesn't like his business known. He doesn't want people to know about his family, or how he does practically nothing for them.
"As it was, it took Agnes some time to get enough money together to buy a decent dress so she could go into the hotel restaurant to apply for a job. Then she scrimped, so the twins had clothes to go to work in."
Kit had already spoken more in five minutes than she usually managed in a week. So, Miranda was amazed when after she paused for a few breaths, she continued on.
"Gallagher knows that Agnes and the twins work in the hotel. But he thinks she is only a scullery maid at the restaurant, and that Maggie and Molly just do laundry. That way he doesn't realize how much they actually earn. He thinks he's taking the lion's share of their wages for whiskey and card playing, but he isn't.
"That's why Bernadette didn't want Gus to speak to her father. If he doesn't know exactly what's she's doing or how much she's making, she'll be able to keep a part of what she earns from him."
"How do you know all this?" Colleen asked.
"I went to school with the older girls. But, as the babies just kept coming, and Mrs. Gallagher became weaker, they dropped out of school, and the younger girls never came to school."
"That's terrible," Miranda exclaimed. "These children have never been in school?"
"Well, between the older girls and Mrs. Gallagher, they all know how to read, and write, and do ciphers. And, Agnes might not go into the dining room, but she watches. So she's able to add to her mother's teaching about being out with people and about manners."
"Do you know if the children at home
are healthy?" Miranda asked.
"Yes. It's Mrs. Gallagher who's not well. This last pregnancy took a lot from her. And then, this last time, she finally had a boy—something her husband had been wanting, and then the baby died. Since then she's been slipping away."
"I think we should have the doctor go check on her." The older woman looked at Colleen and added, "Don't you think that would be a good idea?"
"Probably," the young woman agreed. "However, I think we should discuss this with Dr. Thorne first. And, perhaps, even Mr. Gus. We don't want to do anything to set Gallagher off. He's likely to take it out on Moira and the girls."
"Yes," Miranda responded, "as much as I hate the idea, you are probably right."
"Ma'am," Kathy interrupted, after a long silence where she'd clutched Jacob to her and rocked, "that man... he was one of 'Sir's' regular customers and he always wanted me. I think he believes Jacob is his. But, I don't want him to have him. Not even if he really is Jacob's father."
"He surely can't expect us to just give Jacob to him, can he? Even if he could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was the father. Which he can't!"
"The thing is," Kit began, "I've had Eva, who is in town all the time and goes to church every week, paying attention to 'things'. And, Gallagher started going to church right after Wright arrived in town and has spent a lot of time wagging in Wright's ear.
"So, I've been thinking on it, and I believe he's the one that Wright was going to give Jacob to."
"Oh, surely not!" Miranda exclaimed.
Vehemently nodding her agreement, Colleen added, "No, even that horrid man wouldn't hand an infant over to someone who doesn't take care of the children he has."
"I wouldn't put anything past that man!"
*****
Against her better judgment Miranda agreed they would all go to church every Sunday. She still wasn't certain this was a good idea, but a part of her secretly expected the congregation to wake up and see that her girls were fine young women doing their best to overcome the horrific things they'd endured.
Of course, she also believed that people would reach those conclusions a lot faster without the toxic influence of Reverend Wright. Sighing, she wondered if the girls' idea of just pretending that nothing was wrong wasn't the best idea after all.
So, everyone was dressed and ready, when Jake drove the wagon around. The girls quickly lined the wagon bed with quilts, to act as some padding, before they all scrambled up and settled down. Meanwhile, Miranda accepted Jake's hand, as he helped her up onto the seat beside him. And, although she'd chatted throughout breakfast, she spent the ride silently praying for their fellow churchgoers to at least be tolerant. That, and of course, her being able to control her temper.
Jake timed it so they arrived just before services were to begin and most people were already settled in their seats. This allowed the girls to worship before they were exposed to the slurs and insults. However, even as they slipped silently into the back pews, where Meg and Gus, and the doctor and Neil were already sitting, Miranda saw heads swivel around, scowl, and then make tsking sounds.
Today's readings, as well as the sermon, were once more centered around the values of purity and virtue, or the avoidance of sin, and, of course, the condemnation of the sinful. Throughout the service, Miranda could feel her anger building. So, it was lucky that Gus and Meg, and Victoria and Neil led the girls out just as soon as the service ended, with Jake encouraging them from behind.
However, Miranda's ire bubbled up and out—loudly. Blocking the exit, she began speaking her mind, "What is wrong with you all? I've grown up here. I've known most of you all my life. And, I never would have believed it if someone told me that you, any of you, would treat young girls with such cruelty and disdain.
"And why? Because of them!" she spat out, pointing to the minister and his wife, who had risen and moved, so she now stood close to them. "You allow people you've only known for two months to have such an impact on your thinking. People who are always willing to criticize and condemn, but are never willing to listen to anyone else unless they're parroting back what the good reverend and his wife have said.
"Look at them!" she continued. "Do any of you truly believe that a clergyman should express such harsh opinions about girls who've suffered so much? Do you think that Reverend Cleary would have spoken so? About anyone, let alone orphan girls who survived unbelievable hardships?"
And when no one answered her, or even looked sheepish and ashamed, she shook her head, and finished with, "And, you call yourselves Christians!" before she marched out.
*****
"Really, Miranda," Gus said, with a wry smile, "why don't you say how you really feel?"
"You all heard what I said?"
"I think they probably heard you in Dubuque," Neil chimed in, grinning.
Flushing scarlet, Miranda said, in a most ladylike voice, "Oh..."
"I think, perhaps," Meg said, "it might be a wise idea if you skipped church for a while. Or, you might actually cause a riot."
"I'd like that," Miranda announced, as they entered the hotel restaurant. "Causing a riot, I mean. Maybe something so extreme would make these sheep open their eyes." Then she noticed that the murmur of conversation in the dining room had grown quiet. She made a quick scan of the room, frowning before things went back to normal.
Once they were seated in an obscure corner, Gus said, "I know how you feel, Miranda. We all do. We feel the same. I'm just not sure how good an idea it is to go off on a tirade."
"I know," she groaned. "You're right. I know you're right. And, I've tried. I really have."
She expelled a deep sigh, before ending with, "However, I just can't sit by quietly and not say something. So, I suppose I'll be staying at home, at least for the next few weeks."
"Good," Gus said. "Now, what's everyone getting for lunch?"
Victoria looked over at Lynn and Kathy and announced, "I think perhaps I'll take Jacob and the girls upstairs for a few minutes. Just order us whatever the special is." As they all rose in unison, she finished with, "I promise, we won't be long."
Once they'd disappeared, Meg said, "I feel just as angry and frustrated as you do, Miranda. However, I haven't lived here two years, yet. So, perhaps, you are the best person to read people the riot act on occasion. That is, aside from you," she finished, looking at Gus.
"Well, as much as they do provoke me," Gus answered, "I believe in them. Sooner or later, they'll all see how uncharitable Wright and that harridan of a wife are. And, once they see that, I think they'll all come around to seeing the girls and their children as the victims in Harding's machinations, rather than the spawns of Satan Wright portrays them as."
"Perhaps," Meg answered, skepticism dripping from her voice. "But I certainly hope it's sooner rather than later. Because, honestly, I'm not sure how much more Miranda can take without truly blowing up."
"They'll come around," Gus reiterated. "I've known these people for a very long time. They're good people. They'll realize how hypocritical Wright is. Then the congregation will see the error of their ways. And, of course, they'll forgive Miranda as soon as that happens."
"I certainly hope so," Neil said. "Because, I'm not at all sure how much more of his claptrap I can abide before I take another punch at him. And, I've not even been here a year. So, I'm not sure if the populace in general will be so forgiving of me."
What Gus hadn't mentioned was that he'd noticed Sean Gallagher sitting at a prominent table, right beside Mr. and Mrs. Wright, oozing piety. In an attempt to divert attention from them, Gus asked, "Just when are you and the doctor getting married?"
Neil squirmed a bit, and then answered, "Ah... we don't know. We are hoping the judge will marry us. But, so far, he hasn't answered my letter."
"Well, just give us, and by that I mean, Ma, some notice. She's been counting on planning someone's wedding."
"But, I thought you two were going to have a ceremony."
Meg shook her head, saying, "No, we
decided we'd just have a wedding cake. However, we were hoping to share your reception... if that's all right with you two."
"I wouldn't dare answer for Victoria—"
"We wouldn't expect you to. And, of course, we'll understand if you two say 'no'," Meg burst out.
"You didn't give me a chance," Neil protested, "I was going to say that we had actually discussed the idea. But, we didn't want to step on your 'special day'."
Meg let out a sigh before she smiled. Clearly, married life agreed with her.
*****
After several weeks of her self-imposed exile from church, Miranda decided she needed to return to services. She felt that her presence in church would make more of a statement than her absence.
So, she attended church with the girls, but Jake now sat beside her, as if he would protect her from herself.
All in all, no one treated her badly. A few even gave her wan smiles when they caught her eye. And, no one glared at the girls any longer. However, no one was talking to them or cooing at Jacob, either.
Chapter Thirty
Several weeks after Miranda returned to church, Colleen and Kit took advantage of her being sick with a cold to visit Mrs. Gallagher. They implied they would stay home with Miranda while leading her to believe they would be going to church. But, their plan all along was to go visit Mrs. Gallagher and the younger girls.
Kit drove the buggy out to Miranda's the afternoon before. So, once they'd waved goodbye to Jake and the girls, and while Colleen saw Miranda safely tucked back in bed, Kit surreptitiously harnessed the buggy. And before very long, they were headed to the Gallagher place, such as it was.
It was a good distance from town, but not too far from Miranda's, so it didn’t take much time to get there. And, since they watched Gallagher sitting with Mrs. Wright, Sunday after Sunday, they felt fairly safe he wouldn't be home. Although, they couldn't dillydally, since they had no way to predict when he might come home.
As soon as they pulled into the yard near the porch of the house, a bevy of little girls spilled out, but they remained on the porch, the little ones hiding behind the older girls' dresses. They were all thin and shabbily dressed, but they were all smiling, even at Colleen, who was a stranger.
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