Circle of Love(19)

“Oh, you needn’t fear, miss,” Sam told her. “Eddie’s always been one for takin’ care of himself.”

“Tell me,” Frances said firmly. “Right now. Where is Eddie?”

Marcus gulped. “I wasn’t lyin’ when I told you I don’t know. He just said to us, ‘I’m off for a while, chums. I’m goin’ explorin’.’ ”

“Exploring? On a train filled with strangers?”

Frances glanced in desperation at Reverend Diller’s sleeping form. He had offered to help, hadn’t he? He’d insisted that she call on him if she needed any kind of assistance. She couldn’t desert the group of children to go in search of one straying child, so—much as she hesitated to wake Reverend Diller—she decided there was nothing else she could do.

Frances bent over him, saying softly, “Reverend Diller. Please wake up, Reverend Diller.”

He didn’t move, so Frances touched his shoulder, lightly shaking it. “Reverend Diller—” she began.

Suddenly he let out a low, guttural cry, threw himself forward, and grasped Frances’s wrist so hard that she yelped in pain. She was shocked at the dark terror and anger in his eyes.

“Sir! You’re hurting me!” Frances said, and tried to pull away.

Breathing hard, as though waking from a nightmare, he let go so abruptly that Frances staggered back, off balance.

His face twisted in concern. “I—I’m sorry, Miss Kelly,” he said. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t realize …”

Frances rubbed the wrist that still felt the pain of his grip. “It’s all right. I shouldn’t have awakened you. I hoped you would … that is, you said …” She blurted out, “I need your help. One of my children is missing.”





8





FRANCES PERCHED ON the edge of her seat, waiting and wondering. Would Reverend Diller be able to find Eddie? There was no doubt in Frances’s mind that Eddie was used to taking care of himself. What if he was hiding somewhere on the train? What if he got off at the next stop and ran off on his own? How could she even hope to find him and bring him back? Frances keenly felt the heavy responsibility she had taken on. It was up to her to deliver these children safely.

Her wrist ached, and she absently rubbed it. She couldn’t help wondering why Reverend Diller had awakened so frightened. Well, she had no time to worry about that now. Where was Eddie?

Finally, just as the train began to slow for the stop at the depot, the reverend returned with Eddie in tow.

Frances hoped that Eddie had been firmly spoken to, but she doubted it because the boy was still jaunty and greeted her with a wide smile.

“I’m sorry, miss, that you was worried about me,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d be missed. I had to go explorin’. I like to see where I am and what’s going on around me.”

“I understand your curiosity, Eddie, but you must not leave the car,” Frances told him.

“According to the conductors, Eddie explored the train from one end to the other,” Reverend Diller said. Frances caught a twinkle of merriment in the reverend’s eyes.

“And a mighty fine train it is, too,” Eddie put in. “Oh, miss, can you believe it? There’s a car that’s got velvet curtains with gold fringe and thick paddin’ on the seats that would make you think you were sittin’ on somethin’ as soft as a duck’s bottom.”

“A private car?” Reverend Diller asked.

“Yeah. Private. That’s what they said before they threw me out,” Eddie answered.

“Threw you out?” Frances was indignant.

“It’s okay with me, miss,” Eddie said cheerfully. “I had a right to go explorin’, and they had a right to throw me out. It’s nobody’s loss. Give me half a chance, and I’d do it again.”

“How many people were travelin’ in this car?” Reverend Diller asked.

Eddie shrugged. “All I could see was a man and his wife—oh, and the feller workin’ for them.”

The train was slowing, and Frances had no more time to spend on idle chatter. “Thank you, Reverend Diller, for your help,” she said, and led Eddie to join the other children, who were already bouncing in their seats, waiting for the train to come to a complete stop.

From the car’s windows Frances could see the small wooden depot next to the tracks. She knew from her experience as an orphan train rider that the large water tank next to the depot would be used to replenish the train’s water supply. Some of the firewood, in the huge pile near the water tank, would be transferred to the train. Only sparse, dusty clumps of grass grew in the yellowed dirt around the depot, and there were no passengers in sight, but a row of privies stood back by a small grove of trees.