Before Simon could respond, one of the side doors opened and a woman dressed in black with a crisp white bibbed apron stepped out. The doctor straightened. “Mr. Tucker, allow me to introduce my niece, Verity Leggett.”
Simon tipped his hat. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
“She and her daughter have recently moved in with us,” the doctor continued. “Verity is helping here at the clinic. Between her, my wife and me, someone will be with Miss Fredrick at all times.”
“Thank you. I appreciate all you’re doing for Miss Fredrick.” He scrubbed his jaw, trying to collect his thoughts. “The kids have been asking after her. Would it be okay if they came around to see her?”
The doctor hesitated before replying. “As long as they are prepared for what they will see. Unless something changes, she’ll be unconscious and unable to move or speak.”
“Mr. Tucker.” Mrs. Leggett’s tone was sympathetic but firm. “I hope you don’t mind my interference, but as a mother myself, I feel it would be unwise to bring the children here just yet. It would only serve to upset them further.”
Simon nodded. “I appreciate your advice, ma’am.”
He thanked them both again, then asked the whereabouts of the telegraph office and took his leave.
What was he going to do if Miss Fredrick didn’t make it? More to the point, what would become of the children? He’d given Miss Fredrick his word that he’d do everything in his power to get them all safely to their new home. But what was the use of getting them to Hatcherville if Miss Fredrick wasn’t there to look out for them? He certainly couldn’t step into that role himself, not alone at any rate. He’d take in his niece and nephew, Audrey and Albert, if there was no other choice but to separate the children. But he’d scour heaven and earth to keep them all together if he could.
Almighty God, please let this dear woman live. She’s doing Your work here and it doesn’t seem right to not let her finish it, especially now when she is in reach of her dream of giving these kids a new and better life. They need her—they have nowhere else to go, no one else to look out for them.
And I certainly didn’t sign on to become their full-time guardian. You, who know all things, know that I wouldn’t be the kind of caretaker they need—they need a mother’s touch.
Simon rubbed the back of his neck, remembering his own mother, aching a little that she’d been taken from him so young. Uncle Corbitt’s housekeeper had been a poor substitute. He didn’t intend to let that happen to these children.
Exactly two hours from the time he’d left the church, Simon led a parade of children to the front gate of Mrs. Pierce’s home. He was doing his best to keep up a cheerful facade, trying to paint this as an adventure, a temporary stopover on their journey to their new home, rather than a tragedy.
They’d just come from the sweet shop, which was located in the same space as a toy store, so the children had been chattering happily when they set out. But now they had quieted, and he sensed nervousness and some anxiety in the group.
Understandable. He’d tried to give them a hopeful report on Miss Fredrick’s condition, but he hadn’t wanted to lie, so he was sure the older ones, at least, had read between the lines. And now they were approaching a strange place, owned by a person they’d never met, to reside there for an unspecified amount of time. It would be a nerve-racking situation for many adults to walk into—how much more so for children?
“It’s a castle.” Molly’s eyes were wide as she stared at Mrs. Pierce’s home. “Just like in a fairy tale. Does a queen live here?”
Simon smiled down at her. “Not a queen, but a couple of very nice ladies.”
Molly stuck her thumb back in her mouth, appearing unconvinced.
With a mental sigh, Simon climbed the wide stone steps onto the porch and twisted the ornate brass doorbell. The ring echoed from inside the house. Then the silence stretched out for what seemed forever. Behind him the children shuffled restlessly. And he had a sudden stab of fear that Mrs. Pierce might have changed her mind. After all, it had been obvious she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of housing them.
He was just contemplating whether or not to give the bell another twist, when the door finally opened.
Simon was almost embarrassed by the wave of relief that flooded through him. He hoped he did a good job of hiding it. Then he saw who’d opened the door and had to hide his reaction all over again.
Why was Mrs. Pierce answering her own door? Didn’t she have a housekeeper? Surely the elegant widow didn’t care for this huge house herself? Perhaps her servant was otherwise occupied at the moment.
Mrs. Pierce stepped aside to let them enter. “Forgive me for keeping you waiting. Miss Jacobs and I were just finishing preparing the rooms for you.”
Again, no mention of a servant. It was beginning to look as if there truly were no servants after all. If that was true, then he was doubly in her debt for agreeing to take them in. And it made him rethink a few things about her, as well.
As he ushered his charges inside, Miss Jacobs bustled down the hall toward them. “Hello, Mr. Tucker. And here are the children. Welcome, welcome. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you ever since I heard you were coming.”
Simon wondered how two such different women could get along under the same roof. Miss Jacobs seemed as approachable as Mrs. Pierce was aloof.
As the last of the children entered, he stepped forward to make the introductions. “Kids, this is Mrs. Pierce, the nice lady who has opened her home to us. And this is her friend, Miss Jacobs, who also lives here.”
They all nodded and there were a few mumbled hellos. Simon quickly went down the line, introducing the children one by one.
When he was done, Mrs. Pierce gave them a reserved smile. “I’m pleased to meet you all. Welcome to my home.”
“Are you a queen?” Molly asked.
To give her credit, their hostess didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. “No, I’m not,” was her only response.
Joey, apparently emboldened by Molly’s question, turned to Miss Jacobs. “Why are you so short?” he asked.
“Joey!” Simon was caught off guard by the boy’s artlessly uttered and much-too-personal question. Would Miss Jacobs be insulted?
But the woman merely smiled at the young boy. “I reckon God made me this way because He knew how much I love being around young’uns. It makes me feel closer to kids than to grown-ups.”
Miss Jacobs shifted her gaze to include all the children in her next comment. “And I’d be right grateful if you children would call me Nana Dovie while you’re here. It’s what my own daughter calls me.”
Yep, these were definitely two very different women.
Joey wasn’t done with his questions, though. He turned to Mrs. Pierce. “Do you have a dog?”
This time the widow frowned slightly. “I do not.” There was definitely a tone of “and I don’t want one” in her voice. And there was also no offer to let the kids call her by an endearing name.
“When we get to Hatcherville,” the boy said proudly, “Gee-Gee says I can get a dog.”
“Gee-Gee?” Mrs. Pierce cast him a questioning glance.
“It’s what the children call Miss Fredrick,” Simon explained. “Her first name is Georgina.”
Mrs. Pierce nodded, then turned to Joey. “I’m sure that will be very nice.” Then she turned