Circle of Love(29)
The robber’s clothes had been different, too—Confederate jacket and cap.… “Police were hunting …”
Letting the newspaper fall into her lap, Frances stifled a moan. She thought about Eddie’s suspicions that Seth wasn’t really a preacher, that he was too young to have studied divinity and also served time in the Confederate army. These were concerns she should have examined but had put out of her mind because … With a shiver she tried to face the truth. Could it have been because she’d grown fond of Seth?
Frances didn’t need to read the rest of the story. Apparently more than enough money had been stolen to enable Oscar Seth Diller—or whoever he was—to pay for a train ticket, a shave and haircut, and the preacher’s clothing he was wearing.
As a traveling preacher he’d be above suspicion, Frances knew. It had been a lucky break for him that while the police had been searching the train depot for him a group of children from a religious institution had been traveling on the train and he’d been able to blend in with them.
Hurt and angry, Frances scowled. How could a grown man hide behind children? she wondered. How could he use them—and me—to save himself?
But her heart told her, Be fair. You have no proof that Seth was the robber. He may actually be a preacher. He may be perfectly innocent.
Do you really believe that he’s innocent? she asked her heart accusingly. Do you believe he’s a preacher? Eddie read this news story and marked it. He tied it to the police officers who searched the train before we left. Eddie thinks Seth is the robber. And you do, too.
Her heart said, No. I don’t want to think it. In a way he’s much like Johnny. He’s young and hurt and doesn’t know what he’s going to do with his life.
Oh, yes, he does, her mind responded. He’s traveling to Missouri with a purpose. He’s made his plans.
What plans? I’m not sure he has any.
Find out what they are.
How? her heart asked.
Ask him, her mind told her.
But if I know, then I’ll become a part of them. I’ll have to do something about them.
What should I do? Frances asked herself at last. But there was no one with whom she could discuss the problem. The decision was hers alone.
She glanced at her pocket watch: one hour until they’d arrive in Harwood. Her heart gave a jump. One hour until the children would meet the people who had come to see them.
Jessie’s solemn little face came to mind along with the unbidden thought, If anyone comes.
What was wrong with her? Frances wondered. Of course they’ll come. They must come. Please let them come!
She put the journal and newspaper inside her carpetbag and pulled out a hairbrush and a handful of wide white ribbons.
As she prepared to begin tidying the girls and making them look as presentable as possible, Seth joined her. “There’s not much time,” he said.
“I know,” Frances answered. “I keep thinking about how it was when I was an orphan train rider. I wish I could give the children extra courage to help them through the selection process. If only—”
“Don’t talk about the children,” Seth said. “Talk about us.”
Frances was taken aback. “W-What?” she stammered.
“I wish you could come with me,” Seth said.
“I—I can’t. You know that.”
“At least not for now, Frances Kelly.” Seth smiled. “But, as I said, I know how to find you and that little schoolteacher’s house of yours near Maxville, Kansas.”
Frances put a hand on his arm. “Seth, please don’t.”
A yell rang through the railway car. Sam ran from Marcus, who tackled him at Frances’s feet. Seth jerked the boys up and pulled them apart, but they continued to struggle.
“He called me a name!” Marcus shouted.
“He said I was a liar!” Sam yelled.
The struggles and complaints continued until Eddie wiggled through the knot of onlookers. “C’mon, chums,” he said. “We’re goin’ to be in Harwood soon. You gotta settle down and get ready.”
Instantly the fighting stopped. Both Sam and Marcus turned apologetic faces to Frances.
“Sony we were scrappin’,” Sam said.
“Yeah. We’re sorry,” Marcus added.
Frances studied Eddie. His eyes gleamed with a secret excitement as his gaze met hers, and he quickly looked away. The fight had stopped too suddenly to be real. Had Sam and Marcus staged a distracting fight to take attention away from Eddie? All she could hope was that Eddie would soon tell her what had happened and why.
Frances didn’t have long to wait. She finished tying a hair bow that sat on top of Mary Beth’s hair like a large white butterfly. “You look beautiful,” Frances told Mary Beth.