“Lilah?” she asked in a lilting voice. Lilah nodded, seeming a little dazzled. The woman’s face lit with a relieved smile. She handed a sheaf of papers to the grim Mr. Lybrand. “Uncle Reuben, would you fetch Miss Pimsler, let her know we’ve found Lilah? Then you can start the car, if you don’t mind.” She returned her focus to Lilah. “Uncle and I prefer to be home before dark.”
As Mr. Lybrand left, I noticed a woman avert her eyes when he went by, and I would’ve sworn a farmer in a tattered hat spit a plug of tobacco in his direction. Still, I felt much better about our prospects knowing he lived with this genteel, kind lady.
The woman continued with a delicate Southern drawl, still speaking only to Lilah. “I’m Miss Maeve Donovan. I wrote to Miss Pimsler when we heard the train was coming to Wheeler, to ask for a girl of about your age. She said a smart young lady with strawberry-blond hair named Lilah would be coming. From the way she described you, I knew you’d be just right.” Miss Maeve’s nearly colorless eyes never wavered from my sister as she spoke. “Everything is arranged. I’m here to take you home.”
A slight dizziness came over me. For a hectic moment, I feared Miss Maeve intended to take Lilah and leave me behind. But no, Miss Pimsler knew our situation. She’d never allow such a thing. I was tired and overly anxious, sensing trouble where there was none.
Lifting my chin, I reached for a serenity I didn’t feel. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Maeve. I’m Verity, Lilah’s sister.”
The woman truly looked at me for the first time. I heard her sharp intake of breath as I adjusted my hat, wiping the back of my hand over my damp forehead. I must have looked a sight.
Embarrassment darkened my cheeks. “I hope you’ll forgive the state we’re in. Once we’re settled, we’ll both perk up.” I repositioned the carpetbag on my shoulder. “Is it far to your house?”
Miss Maeve pressed her rosebud lips together and motioned to someone. Following her line of sight, I spied Miss Pimsler bustling onto the platform, smiling with horrible cheerfulness. “I’m sorry to keep you all waiting. I’ve been helping another family. There’s always so much to do.… Verity, would you join me, please? I’d like a word.”
Unease slithered over my skin. We moved a few paces away, but I kept an eye on Lilah, who carried on a bashful conversation with Miss Maeve.
Miss Pimsler placed a hand on my shoulder. “I would’ve liked to prepare you both, but the board of directors asks us to wait until a family is ready to take custody of the child before we explain.” She took a bracing breath. “Please understand, this is the policy of the Children’s Benevolence Society, and we stand by our rules. Like all new parents, Miss Maeve is approved to adopt one child.”
I felt myself sliding toward a precipice, clutching for anything to stop the descent. Miss Pimsler fixed me with a determined stare. At her next words, I plummeted over the edge. “She’s taking Lilah. And you won’t be going with them.”
2
I rocked back on my heels, the words slamming into me like a physical blow. They couldn’t take Lilah from me. It was impossible. From the tumult of protests and arguments in my mind, a single question surfaced. “Why?”
“It’s for the best.” Miss Pimsler spoke each syllable with precision. “Adding only one child is less of a burden to new parents, both financially and emotionally. And starting with a clean slate is better for the children. No reminders of the past, you see.” She nodded, the feathers on her ridiculous hat trembling. “Now, if there had been relatives willing to take you both, that might be different, but since there were none—”
“Take us back to New York,” I demanded. Blood pulsed loud and wild in my ears. “I can take care of us. I always have.” Curious eyes turned in our direction. “You have no right to separate us!”
“Mr. Lybrand and Miss Donovan agreed with the policy, as did all parents who applied to take in a child,” Miss Pimsler said. “We typically don’t send siblings on the same train, but in your case … well, after all you’ve been through, we made an exception. Be grateful for this opportunity, Verity. Some people have a difficult time welcoming strangers, children or not. Finding homes, even separate ones, is a blessing indeed.”
I turned to Miss Maeve, who looked at me with sorrowful eyes. “Please, Miss Maeve. I can work to earn our keep. I’ll do anything. I’ll sleep in the stable if there isn’t room in the house. Speak with your uncle.” I looked around wildly for Mr. Lybrand. “Or let me talk to him.”
Miss Maeve backed away, looking unsettled by my agitation. She twisted her hands miserably. “Verity, I’m so sorry. I tried—”
“Then try harder!” I shouted, grabbing the woman’s sleeve. Beside us, Lilah’s face was pale under her freckles. Miss Maeve gasped, trying to pull away, but I held my ground.
A heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder. I lashed out, throwing an elbow without stopping to see who I might hit. The blow landed against something hard and sharp-edged. Whirling, I found myself facing a barrel-chested man with dark eyes.
He straightened the badge pinned to his chest. “That’s enough.” He set his feet with a jangle of spurs. “I’m Sheriff Loftis, head of the adoption committee. If you can’t behave yourself, young lady, I’ll have you back on that train and shipped off in two shakes.” His threat sent a wash of cold through my chest.
Lilah shook her head. “I don’t want you to leave me, Very.” Her voice hitched when she spoke.
Miss Maeve bent to Lilah’s eye level. “Shhhh.… Don’t fret. I’d be upset too, if I were in your place. But you’ll be happy at our home. I promise. And Verity can come visit us.”
As Miss Maeve comforted my sister, Sheriff Loftis leaned close, his breath smelling of snuff tobacco. “Miss Maeve’s kind to offer visits with your sister, but they won’t be allowed if you prove to be a troublemaker. This town isn’t a place for those who can’t follow the law and act respectable.”
Lilah’s eyes shone with unshed tears. I swallowed my own swelling panic, shooting a glance at the dwindling crowd of locals who might take me in. If I didn’t wrangle my emotions, I could easily find myself kept from seeing my sister. Or worse, living in another state altogether.
I plastered on a smile. “Miss Maeve will take good care of you; I just know it.” Miss Maeve shot me a grateful look. Being separated from Lilah shook me to the core, but in truth, I had no reason to believe she wouldn’t be looked after. “And I’ll see you soon.”
Lilah’s chin wobbled, just a little. At last she nodded, looking as stunned as I felt. Miss Maeve rubbed her back, easing her gently away from me. “You let us know where you’re staying, Verity. We’ll arrange a visit as soon as possible.”
The grumble of an engine announced Mr. Lybrand’s return. His dark green Model F Ford barely registered in my panicked mind as he pulled to a stop nearby. Miss Pimsler was talking at me now. “… and from what I’ve gathered, Miss Maeve Donovan is tremendously well liked. She’s the teacher at the local school, you know. Lilah is a lucky girl.…”