A half hour later the sky opened in a deluge and forced Ella under the depot roof. The crowd thinned with no sign of a short, aproned girl with brownish-reddish braids wrapped in a kerchief. Fear gripped Ella’s throat. What could have gone wrong?
A strange woman approached. She spoke in Polski, “Are you waiting on two women?”
Two? Ella tucked a windblown strand behind her ear. Perhaps Mother had asked another immigrant to chaperone Ina. “Maybe. My family name is Lipski.”
“Mmm. Yes. One of them sickly.”
Prickles crawled over Ella’s shoulders and nested in the pit of her stomach. “That’s my sister, Ina.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I met them on the boat.” The woman’s face wrinkled up before Ella’s vision blurred her out.
Lord, please. “What happened?”
Old chin atremble, the woman grabbed her wrist with a bony hand. “She didn’t make it, lamb.”
“No.” Hot tears plopped onto Ella’s cheeks. It couldn’t be.
But Ina should have arrived by now.
The woman patted her hand and mumbled something in a sad tone before limping off to join a young couple in a carriage.
When Ella could no longer bear up under their sympathetic stares, she sloshed away from the station. Numbness overtook her as the frigid downpour washed away her tears. She put one foot in front of the other until she entered Woody’s quarters and shut the door behind her.
“Dear God, why?” she whispered into her trembling palm. She and Ina had such plans. Talked of raising their families together. “I thought You said You’d never forsake your own. Ina’s always trusted You. Where is Your plan in this?”
Choking back a sob, Ella tossed her belongings in a crate. She’d failed her family. But then, she’d always been helpless to fix things.
Knowing that, she should never have involved Woody. She’d used him to learn the skills she needed to get Jamieson’s attention. Woody deserved better. Her family deserved better than a failure for a daughter, a sister. She pressed her hand to her mouth and wept.
There was nothing left but to throw herself on Jamieson’s mercy. Drunkard or not, she would propose to the man for the rest of her family’s sake and never look back. Lord in heaven, I can’t do this without You. Show me what to do.
Scavenging the room for items she’d missed, her eyes burned with new tears—everything bore traces of Woody. After smoothing the bedcovers, she wormed Ina’s kerchief from under the pillow. Tracing the Polski words, she whispered them. “Walk by faith, not by sight. The just shall live by faith.” Numerous scripture references followed. If God recorded the command so many times, He must have meant His children to take heed. Did—
“Where’s Woody?”
Ella spun, wiping her face.
Freckles stood in the doorway, Newsie and Shoe Shine behind him supporting Musty, who glistened with tears and shuddered between hiccups. Freckles scanned her with a harried glance. “Musty broke his shoulder, I think. Why’re you crying?”
Stuffing aside her grief, she brushed past him and set Musty upon the bed. “Let me see.”
The lantern’s glow revealed the odd tilt of the boy’s shoulder. Ella gently probed the area, noticing he didn’t cry out. “Woody’s not here. He’s living at the shelter you boys made by the canal—in case you came back. I’m … taking care of his house while he’s gone.”
Having grown up with three rough and tumble brothers, Ella easily diagnosed Musty’s arm. “It’s out of joint, not broken. Relax for me, and I’ll put it back in place, all right?”
With a whine, Musty shook his head, inching away from her.
Freckles shook the boy’s leg. “She’s trying to help. You want to be better, don’t you?”
Wiping his eyes, Musty nodded.
“Here, squeeze my hand.” Freckles offered a dirty palm, and the little fellow gripped it with all his might.
Ella counted to two in her head, then shoved the bone into its joint.
Musty panted and whimpered, then his face cleared as he moved his little arm this way and that, as one might move a doll’s arm. He hugged his tummy and smiled at her around the finger he stuck in his mouth. “Dziękuję.”
“You’re welcome, sweet one.”
“Now, what’s your problem?” Freckles put his hands on his hips. “You helped Musty. Maybe we can help you.”
She sat down beside Musty with a sigh, a fresh wave of tears threatening. No one could help. But the need to share her burden with another human being overwhelmed her. She explained Ina’s absence at the train station.
“But she might not be dead.” Newsie scratched underneath his oversized cap, and for the first time she glimpsed more than his wide mouth. His eyes were blue.
“Yeah, that old lady could be wrong.” Freckles said. “There’s lots of people that don’t show up at the trains ’cause they get held behind at Castle Garden. ’Specially if they’re sick like your sister, ’cause then they send ’em to the hospital to get well before they find jobs.”
“Yeah,” Newsie chimed in.
“Yeah.” Musty, too.
Ella held her breath against rising hope. Could Ina simply be delayed? Could the old mother with failing ears have gotten the name wrong?
“We could pray for her.” All eyes turned to Shoe Shine, with his impossibly long lashes and button-sized ears. It was the first he’d spoken since she met him. He blushed. “That’s what Woody would do.”
Ella exhaled, reached out to him, and brought him into the circle where he knelt beside the bed. “You’re right.” With Musty’s little paw in one palm and Shoe Shine’s rough one in the other, she closed her eyes, but struggled for a place to begin.
After a peek at each bowed head, warmth filled her heart. Though orphaned and unrelated, they still had faith for tomorrow. Had their own special brand of family, right here. And they were at peace. Something riches couldn’t buy. Certainly not with Jamieson Leech.
Her own discontent over the last two months … How ugly and selfish it shone in the light of their behavior. She hadn’t sought to please the Lord or know His will on how to find help for her family, but rather asked Him to bless her own plans. I’m so sorry, Lord. I’ve been unwilling to put my trust in You to work. Even before Mama tasked me with marrying money, I’ve always wanted more than what You’ve given. I should be grateful You’ve allowed me to come to America at all.
When Shoe Shine peeped at her, she prayed.
“Dear Father in heaven, thank You for these sweet boys. Thank You that they are safe and that You know where my sister is. Get her safely to me, Lord … if—if that’s Your plan. If not, I know I’ll see her in heaven one day.” Her throat swelled to aching. “And the lady who died, please comfort her family. No matter what comes of this, help me obey You and trust You with the outcome. Thank You. Help Musty’s arm, I pray. Amen.”
“You said thank you a lot,” Newsie observed.
Ella gave up restraining her smile. For the first time, her burden lightened. “I did, didn’t I?” One by one, she hugged them, from Musty, who snuggled close, to Shoe Shine, who patted her shoulder and stepped away. “Thank you for suggesting we pray.”
“Boys?” Woody stepped through the open doorway and approached. Caution, disbelief, then affection, lightened his gaze to molasses brown. He mussed Freckles’s hair and left his hand there, taking in the vestiges of hers and Musty’s tears. “What’s going on?”
Freckles spoke up. “Ella fixed Musty’s shoulder, and we told her her sister’s not dead. Then we prayed.”
“Oh?” Woody’s dark eyes met hers, peaceful with tempered hope. The world slowed for a moment, warmed. As if she’d been wrapped in a blanket.
When Shoe Shine pressed the corners into her hands, she realized she had. In her grief, she’d forgotten her soggy state. “Thank you.”
Woody came to kneel before her. “Ina wasn’t at the station?”
“No,” she whispered, eyes filling once more.
&nb
sp; “Oh, Ella. I’m sorry.” The grip of his hand conformed to hers like the most comfortable pair of shoes.
Drinking in his presence, she managed a nod, unwilling to release the connection though tears poured down her face. “I’ve given the situation to God.” Woody, too, Lord. You’ve given me a great gift in this man. If he asked again, she’d be hard tempted not to say yes.
“I’ve given the situation to God.”
As Woody erased Ella’s tears with his thumbs, his heart pounded at her words. She meant her sister’s situation, of course, but what if she’d also given her marriage plans to God?
His gaze dropped to her full lips, and he swallowed the question slugging his ribcage. Selfish of him to think of his own heart when she didn’t know if her sister was safe.
“God is a present help in times of trouble, Ella,” Woody said, appreciating her smooth skin and the complete trust resting in her green eyes. “He’s faithful. Remember that.”
Covering his hand with her palm, she closed her eyes.
When something brushed his shoulder, he startled to find Musty leaning into him. Woody pulled the boy close, his heart still raw at seeing them all here, hale and whole. “I missed you boys. Every one.”
“Sorry we ran off,” Freckles said. “We thought Miss Ella would make you put us in a orphanage. Lots of ladies talk such, and we don’t wanna go someplace we won’t feel like family.”
Ella finger-combed Freckles’s hair. “I never want to make you go where you’re scared or mistreated.”
Amazed at the love creasing her brow, Woody addressed the boys. “I think you should get an education, though, so you can get good jobs when you become men. The place I want to build would help with that. Plus, you’d have beds and hot meals and someone to care for you if you got sick. I thought, too, we could hire folks from your home countries to help in the project.”
The little ragamuffins perked up, and Woody’s heart swelled. Ella’s, too, judging by the way she watched him. “Miss Ella and I want you safe and well cared for.”
“We know now, since she fixed Musty’s arm.” Newsie’s proclamation brought nods all around and a twitch to Ella’s lips.
“Good.” Woody winked. “I’m working on a plan, fellas. All this is up to God, so help me pray hard, but don’t get disappointed if He says no, right?”
“Right.” A big nod from Musty. “He love and care of us.”
The lisped words, sincerely spoken, made Woody’s tear ducts burn. “You got it.”
“Woody!” Ella breathed.
“What?” He jerked to his feet, wobbled, and grabbed Ella’s arms. At her wide-eyed stare, he checked behind him, made sure the boys were safe, then looked back at her. “What’s wrong?” She was obviously fine—or gone stark mad. That slow smile, however, could drive any red-blooded man mad along with her. Such a smile would fit his perfectly if he tilted his head just so. He blinked and dragged his thoughts to the matter at hand.
Ella gripped his elbows. “Woody, I have an idea.”
Chapter Six
One month later
Ella licked her pencil point and scratched items off her list while she rocked down the street in the Pierce family carriage.
Have Woody ask Mr. Pierce to consider hosting a charity ball for the orphanage.
Check.
Woody had assured her Mr. Pierce would not support the orphanage until Pastor Bridges did. But on faith, Woody went to his friend anyway and found him in conversation with the pastor. The pastor mentioned the Harrison’s butler, Steele, had told him how Woody visited the Harrison House several times a week now, reaching out to his family in love though never allowed entrance. The pastor and Pierce agreed then to help Woody with the orphanage project. Mrs. Pierce, after hiring Ella as part-time nanny, took over planning for the ball, which held every indication of becoming a smashing success.
Have tickets printed with “Elwood Harrison” as the guest of honor.
Call on New York City’s richest gossipmongers to sell them ball tickets (dressed as a fine lady, of course!).
Woody achieved permanent hero status in Ella’s heart when he volunteered to expose himself and resurrect his family scandal for the orphans’ sakes. Intrigued as to why Mr. Pierce would honor such a “rogue” at his charity ball, the gossips bought tickets by the hundreds.
Convince the most influential to buy name spaces on a monument to donors.
Reserve twenty prominent name spaces for ball guests to bid upon during festivities.
The monument was her idea. And what a success! With Mr. Pierce handling the orphanage funds and his good name driving the event, status-seekers purchased name spaces at exorbitant prices.
Ella closed her eyes. Besides saving orphans from unmentionable dooms, this orphanage would secure her and Ina a future as staff members—Ella had to believe they’d find her sister soon.
Next item?
Organize boys’ practice times so Woody won’t find out.
After her fateful refusal of his proposal, she’d wanted to bless him somehow. The boys snapped up the idea. She just needed to keep the secret tucked away a few more hours.
“Have we forgotten anything?” Woody asked from the opposite seat.
Ella slapped her tiny notebook shut and laid a hand over her heart. “No, I think everything is accounted for.”
“Sorry, I startled you.” He took her hand.
At his continued perusal, she grew fidgety. Was her hair still in place? She smoothed her skirts—probably wrinkling horribly sitting this way. Did she appear the pretentious fool she felt?
“You look beautiful.” In the glow of the carriage lamps, Woody’s eyes shone warm and inviting. Entering the carriage on his arm earlier, it was all too easy to imagine herself as his wife and he as a millionaire, though she’d love him no matter his financial status.
“Thank you, Woody.” Her cheeks radiated as she touched her borrowed pearls. Mrs. Pierce insisted Ella wear a new gown and lent her hairdresser.
Releasing her hand, he stretched his arm along the carriage cushion behind him. Not for the first time this evening, his slicked hair and tailored suit drew her eye. With that brooding gaze, square jaw, and kingly air, he must have broken many hearts during his reign as Elwood Harrison the Rake.
Each day she fell for him a little more. The way he loved the Pierce children with the same affection as the orphans melted her heart into mushy little bits and spiked her respect for the man he was.
She’d vowed to let God handle their future and not interfere, but nobody said faith came easy. Over the last weeks, Woody had limited himself to friendliness and hadn’t mentioned his proposal again. Had he made up his mind to move on?
“Something wrong?” Woody asked.
She schooled her features. “No, just hoping tonight goes well.”
Had she given the boys the right instructions about which entrance to use? Lord willing, the staff would let them in. House servants could be snobbier than the elite—especially to their own kind. And children seemed to reap the worst of any circumstance.
Woody toyed with the cushion seam. “Me too. Thank you for all you’ve done to make this possible.”
Surely he knew she’d worked not only for herself but for his sake. “I would do it all over again if it would help you … help the boys.”
His keen look intensified. Then he blinked and adjusted his lapel. “I know we’ve prayed for success all along, but … shall we pray together now?”
As Ella rested her hands in his and the unique tones of his voice flowed around them, she prayed for grace to accept the outcome of this night, whatever God chose to do. And He’d do it without hindrance from her, of this she was determined.
As the orchestra hummed, Woody meandered through the ballroom, schmoozing potential donors. Ladies tittered behind their fans as he passed, no doubt giddy to see a former rogue in the flesh.
What he wouldn’t give to wear Ella on his arm, showing her off to New York society. She should
be sharing in the glory of the evening—her plan was working splendidly so far. But she’d disappeared five minutes ago—to the ladies’ refreshment rooms perhaps?
Pierce proved selfless once again, renting Oration Hall to hold the massive number of people. Upon introducing Woody at the beginning of the ball, Pierce explained Woody’s absence from polite society, reasoning he’d spent years living among the children, gaining their trust. Good ole Pierce simply left out the disinheritance part. Amazing how forgiving society became when someone of status and wealth endorsed you.
The chuckle rumbling his chest brought a curious glance from one matron drizzled with diamonds and lace.
Gasps quieted the room behind him.
He turned as Ella ushered in twenty or so street children, lining them up on the stage that held the orphanage monument.
No. Lord, please. Ella couldn’t know the harm this would cause.
Already, judgment creased the donors’ faces. It was bad enough society incriminated all street orphans as pickpockets. If the children paraded in front of these people, whose slander could destroy them beyond hope of good futures …
He had to help Ella get them out of here.
Halfway to the front he halted as his boys—and the new girls—harmonized the American national anthem in perfect choir formation.
Spellbound, he listened as the expressions of his peers became enraptured. Ella led the children through several foreign songs, French, German, Polish, then ended with the redemptive hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Tears gathered in his eyes when they reached the lyrics, “I once was lost, but now am found.”
Lord, let it be true of them. Physically and spiritually.
Several ladies—and gentlemen—dabbed their noses with embroidered handkerchiefs.
With a wink in his direction, Ella filed the children through the same door they’d entered.
When had this come about? The little sneak. He dabbed his eyes and wiped a hand over his mouth to cover his smile. What a woman.
If only … In his experience, charity balls performed well enough but wouldn’t completely underwrite the orphanage cost. He’d wait to invite Ella to share his life until he could afford to hand her her dreams. He wouldn’t have her wondering “what if” she’d married wealth. But earning enough to bring all her family to America could take years at the livery.
Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection Page 26