Chapter 7 #2
“Oh, no,” Lillian replied. “There’s Bernard Williams, the caretaker of the property, the fix-it man, the one who makes sure everyone is safe and everything is working.
He takes the children fishing once in a while, even tries to teach some of the boys how to make repairs on things.
” Yet another woman emerged and she pointed.
“That’s Melanie Gibson. She watches over the children too and sometimes helps Bethany with the teaching. ”
“Bethany Sanderson is a school teacher?”
Lillian shook her head. “No. She doesn’t have her certificate but she’s very smart and well-read.” She sighed. “There’s not enough money to hire a full-time school teacher,” she explained. “As it is, the others live here and work for free room and board, plus a small monthly earning.”
“Oh am I glad to see you this morning, Lillian,” Melanie exclaimed, reaching for the horse halter. “The children are quite rambunctious today.” She gazed curiously at Chloe. “Hello, I’m Melanie.”
Before Chloe could respond, Lillian spoke up. “This is Chloe Whitfield,” she said. “She’s staying with us at the boarding house for a while and helping us with the housekeeping.”
“Pleased to meet you, Chloe,” Melanie smiled. “If you ever have any spare time, feel free to come over.” She smiled at Lillian. “Lillian volunteers several days a week here.”
A squeal from the yard prompted Melanie to glance over her shoulder and laugh at the rambunctious group of children before turning back. “Sometimes they keep us busy from the brink of dawn until they go to bed.”
Chloe forced a small smile. “I can see that.” She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “They appear happy.”
She wasn’t sure how to broach the most important question on her mind at the moment. Was Eliza here or had she been sent somewhere else? Had she been adopted? How could she ask without confessing her sins to one and all?
Lillian took charge. “Melanie, if you’ll excuse us for a moment, I need to introduce Chloe to Bethany. Then I’ll help you out here, all right?”
Melanie glanced at Chloe with an eyebrow lifted with curiosity as she nodded. “Of course.”
Her heart pounding, Chloe stepped from the buggy and Lillian did likewise.
They both approached the older woman, still standing on the steps of the orphanage.
Lillian made the introductions. Just as Chloe was about to ask the woman her first hesitant question, a burst of laughter from two young girls dashing down the steps from inside caught her attention.
The duo passed in a blur and she glanced over her shoulder.
Her eyes widened and her heart gave a thump as she saw a young girl with a color of hair and features that might be similar to hers.
The child was laughing. Chloe lifted a hand to her bosom and gaped.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed with such abandon.
Beside the little girl was another, with darker hair and a slightly pointed chin that vaguely reminded her of Everett.
Lillian seemed to notice her focused attention and glanced between Chloe and Bethany. “Bethany, this is Chloe Whitfield. She’s staying at the boarding house with us.”
Chloe noticed that Lillian left out the details regarding her presence in town and appreciated that.
“Chloe needs to ask you something.”
“Of course,” Bethany said, turning toward Chloe. “What is it, dear?”
Chloe glanced at Bethany and then the two girls once more, watching as the two raced around the yard, her eyes focused on the blond girl, her hair flying behind her and laughter floating in the air as they chased each other around the yard.
“Chloe?”
Chloe glanced at Lillian and received an encouraging nod.
She then turned to the matron and took a deep breath.
Her voice shook. “I’m looking for a child,” she began.
“A friend’s child that she left at an orphanage in Nebraska six years ago.
I was told by the woman there that the child had been sent to an orphanage in this region. ”
Bethany frowned. “Why in the world would they send a child so far away from Nebraska? Did a family adopt her and move here?”
“No,” Chloe said. “Or at least I don’t think so.” She hesitated. “She said the child was … difficult and after two attempts, failed to be adopted in the area. They thought she might have a better chance of placement in a more … rural setting.”
Bethany’s eyes widened and her eyebrows rose. “So they sent her to an orphanage in Texas? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she exclaimed. “And you think this child is here?”
“She might be,” Lillian said. “Chloe needs to find out if the child has a family now or if she’s still here, or was here in the past.”
Bethany turned to Chloe. “What’s the child’s name?”
Chloe barely got the words out. “My friend named her Eliza. She’s six years old now.”
“Oh my goodness,” Bethany murmured. “We do happen to have a young girl by that name here now, but—”
It was at that moment Chloe felt her knees buckle.
She sagged, her heart pounding and her head spinning and her thoughts whirling as so many emotions surged through her she couldn’t even speak.
She’d found Eliza. This was the right orphanage.
Lillian quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, preventing her from falling to the ground,
“Oh my goodness,” Bethany exclaimed, reaching down to help Lillian. “Come on inside, Chloe, and sit down. We’ll get you some tea.”
Though saddened to learn that her daughter had yet to find a family, a surprising and nameless joy accompanied a surge of hope. Had she truly found her daughter? Was it possible that her endless questions would be answered? Could she reunite with her daughter after all these years?
At that moment she knew she had to find a way to earn her daughter’s trust, and perhaps someday in the near future, her love and affection. She had a second chance. She would take it, no matter what. She would never let her daughter go again.
She knew she would have to tell the truth and confess her sins to Lillian, Dalia, and Nathaniel when they returned to town. The thought filled her with dread as well as shame and sorrow. She had always feared her past would catch up with her. She would be ostracized.
She might even be charged with conspiracy due to her previous association with outlaws even though she hadn’t known it then. An image of Nathaniel flashed in her mind, bringing with it a blend of admiration, attraction, and fear.
All those emotions were pushed aside by an overwhelming surge of relief. She’d found Eliza! Now what? Where would she go? Even more importantly, how could she provide for her daughter? She had no home of her own, no money saved to provide clothing or food.
“Where is she?” she managed to choke out, eyes searching the yard. “Where is Eliza?”