27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jacquelyn was not going to admit defeat that easily. Standing outside the Mule, she weighed her options. She could return to the Sheridan Girls’ Home and admit Mary was right, or keep going and see if anyone else in this sad little village was willing to help her.
She walked to the edge of the building and turned down a side street. At the first house, she knocked and peered in the window, but no one answered. After a few moments, she gave up and continued on to the next house, thinking it couldn’t be worse.
As it turned out, it was worse. Since the front walkway hadn’t been shoveled, she was forced to trudge through snowdrifts to the dilapidated front porch. Getting closer, she noticed one of the windows was boarded up. She rapped on the door anyway, even though it quickly became clear no one had lived there in a long time. Why didn’t they tear the house down if it was such a wreck? So much of how people lived puzzled her .
She gave up and kept going.
At the end of the block, a narrow road ran parallel to the railroad tracks. Jacquelyn guessed that following it would take her back to the girls’ home. Not her desired destination, but sadly, if she didn’t find a driver soon, it might come to that. She wasn’t about to freeze to death wearing Jane Shaw’s dreadful coat and boots, not to mention the drab dress underneath.
She walked down the narrow road, which was thankfully clear of snow. When the tracks curved, so did the road. Following it, she got a whiff of campfire smoke and then saw the source off in the distance. A man stood near a rusty barrel, warming himself over flames flickering out of the top. “Hello, miss,” he said, giving her a friendly wave.
A hobo.
She’d often heard about hobos but had never seen one. This man fit the description, down to his disheveled appearance and the knapsack at his feet. He was welcoming, though, which was more than she’d encountered at the Mule. “Hello,” she responded.
“Get closer and warm up,” he said, beckoning to the fire. “Come on. I don’t bite.”
She considered the invitation, but it only took a second to decide she was cold and stopping for a moment couldn’t hurt. Joining him near the barrel, she held her mitten-clad hands a safe distance from the fire. “Why does it have to be so cold?” she wondered aloud.
He laughed. “I ask myself that quite a lot, actually. Except in summertime, when I complain that it’s too hot.” He smiled. It was a pleasant smile, even with the one missing tooth on the bottom. “Name’s Ezra, by the way.”
“Jacquelyn Sheridan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
If the Sheridan name meant anything to him, it didn’t show. “It’s real nice to meet you, young lady. And where might you be off to, on such a cold winter’s day right before Christmas?”
“I desperately need to get home.” She took off a mitten to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I’ve tried everything, but no one will help me.” Her voice was choked with emotion.
“That’s a shame,” he said, sympathy crossing his whiskered face. “Where is home?”
She sniffed. “Whitefish Bay. It’s near Milwaukee.”
“Why, I’m leaving for Milwaukee soon!” He fished out a pocket watch and flipped open the cover. “The train will be heading out in less than an hour. You can come along with me, if you like.”
“There’s a train that goes to Milwaukee?” Why had no one mentioned this?
“Yes, ma’am.” Ezra’s head bobbed an affirmative. “Stops at the switching yard down a ways and goes from there.”
“How much is a ticket? I only have thirty-seven cents.” She had no idea how much things cost. During shopping trips she’d have her purchases put on the family’s account, and the bookkeeper settled up when the invoices arrived. When traveling, that same bookkeeper arranged for all of her expenses. Before today, she’d considered carrying money to be common and dirty. Who knew how many people had handled the paper and coins? Now she’d give anything to have a wad of it in her pocket.
“I have a friend who gets me on for a quarter,” Ezra said. “I can get the same deal for you.”
“Really?” It sounded too good to be true, but it was worth a try. “I’d be so grateful if you would. I need to get home.” Now the tears were starting again.
“Of course. That’s what everyone wants at Christmastime.” He tilted his head. “You poor thing. I’m sorry for your troubles.”
At that moment, it seemed like Ezra was the only person in the world who understood her pain. “Yes, I’d love to take you up on your kind offer. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It will be nice to have the company.”
Jacquelyn had often heard that hobos would rob you blind given the chance, but she considered herself a good judge of character and this man seemed harmless. “I have had a terrible day.” The words came out, and as he nodded encouragingly, she kept going, spilling all the details of her time in Newtonville. She’d just finished talking when they heard a train horn farther down the tracks. Turning toward the noise, she saw the black locomotive coming to a stop alongside a platform with a roof over it. A truck was parked nearby.
“She’s here!” Ezra said, taking out his pocket watch again. “And right on time too.”
Such a relief. Soon she’d be home.
“Come along, and move quickly.” He gestured for her to follow him. “Stick with me and let me do the talking. ”
“Can we just leave the fire?” she asked, glancing backward as they walked away.
“It’s not going anywhere.” He shrugged. “It’ll put itself out.”
When they got closer to the train, he crossed the tracks to the other side and led her to the cars in the back. A younger man wearing a cap with ear flaps waved them over, a cross look on his face. “Hurry up,” he hissed. “My boss is here today.”
Ezra quickened his steps, and Jacquelyn followed suit. “I got my quarter ready,” he said, holding it out. “She’s coming with me.”
“She better be paying too. I’m not running a charity.”
“I have the money,” Jacquelyn said, offended. She fumbled with taking off her mittens, then reached into her pocket and pulled out Mary’s quarter.
“Took ya long enough,” the man grouched, plucking it out of her palm. He turned to the train door and yanked it open. “Get in quick.”
Jacquelyn took a step back. This was not the passenger train she’d been envisioning.
Ezra scrambled up into the train car, then extended a hand for Jacquelyn. For a split second, she considered staying behind, but she’d already paid and was out of options. She grabbed his hand and allowed him to pull her aboard. As soon as she was inside, the man who’d taken her money slid the door shut.
It closed with a firm and resounding clank.