by E A Lake
She nodded at his words. “Land’s sake. Let me grab Rebecca and come with you then. What are those men thinking? They aren’t thinking, that’s what.” Mrs. Mueller stormed off to get her eldest daughter for help. She was back quickly. Her daughter wore much the same outfit as her mother and appeared to be slightly older than the oldest of Theresa’s girls.
“Henry, Rebecca and I will be back in a bit. Be sure to keep track of those younger ones inside. Lord knows they’ll tear the place apart while I’m gone. So don’t dawdle outside all morning.”
No one spoke as the three walked back to Theresa’s new home. Their farmhouse looked bigger from the rear and in the fresh light of morning. As they entered the back porch door, they could hear the crying of multiple babies.
Ruth Mueller looked at Rebecca with a frown. “Check their drawers when you get in there. Sounds like we have some dirty little ones, Rebecca.” The older daughter dutifully went to work.
The four teens assembled with their five crying babies in the living room. They were all taken aback seeing their new, rather plain, guests. This was their help? Mrs. Mueller’s frown grew severe.
“It’s colder than the dickens in here, Sister. Why aren’t the fires going?” Ruth studied Theresa’s face, but screaming babies captured her immediate attention. She spun and looked at the girls. “When was the last time any of these children were changed?” She asked no one in particular, but everyone was to be included in this conversation. Four blank faces stared at her. “You know they have to be changed whenever they’re dirty. Not just on some willy-nilly schedule you set.” Mrs. Mueller seemed to be pointing her wrath toward Sister Theresa. For her part, the good Sister displayed no offense.
Sara came forward holding Virginia at the end of her reach. Mrs. Mueller took the tiny one from the petrified girl. “She’s been screaming the entire time you were gone, Sister. Just screaming at the top of her lungs. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Ruth took one whiff of the back end of Virginia and instantly knew the problem. “Child, she has a dirty rear end. You need to change her before she gets a rash. What is wrong with you girl?” Tears leaked down Sara’s face. Mrs. Mueller shook her head and laid Virginia on the couch. “Go get me a diaper, young lady, and let’s get at this.” She took one look inside the diaper and saw red. “And grab some ointment, she already has a rash.” Mrs. Mueller shook her head at Theresa. Theresa glanced at the older woman; she was doing exactly what Theresa hoped for.
Glancing around the living room, Ruth counted babies and teens. Something was wrong with the math. The Sister had told her there were five teens, but only four were present.
“Where’s the other girl?” Ruth asked Theresa in an accusatory tone.
Theresa flinched. She had forgotten about Sheila and her issues. “She’s upstairs right now, Mrs. Mueller. She doesn’t feel very motherly this morning, I’m afraid.” Theresa tried to sidestep the problem as best she could. This only hardened Ruth’s resolve.
Sheila lay quietly on her bed, asleep. A small sound invaded her dreams and she opened her eyes to see a plain, stern, middle-aged woman staring at her from above. Sheila bolted upright quickly.
“Can I help you?” she asked. She watched as the older woman studied her from head to toe, tipping her head slightly when she came back to her scared face.
“So you’re special, I am to assume. Is that right?” Ruth asked without emotion.
Sheila’s head shook quickly. “What are you talking about?” She rose from the bed and stood away from the cross woman. “Who are you?”
The corners of Ruth’s mouth rose ever so little. “I’ve been asked to come over and help out,” Ruth started coldly. “Since none of you have a lick of common sense, including that Theresa woman, I can see just what a mess you have created here. Quite disappointing, quite.”
A slight laugh escaped Sheila’s lips. She shook her head at Ruth. “If she sent you up here to try and convince me to come back down and take care of that baby, save your breath. I’m not doing it anymore. I’ll be out of here in a couple weeks, and they can all worry about themselves.” Sheila’s eyes narrowed as she finished.
Ruth’s face broke out in a large smile. “Oh, so you’re the clever one. The one who has this all figured out.” She shook her head along with her words. “I see. There’s no fooling you, is there?” Ruth turned and made her way back to the doorway. At the last moment she stopped and addressed Sheila one last time. “You should come down and eat something. No need in going on a hunger strike just to prove your stubbornness. I’ll talk to the Sister about this.” Ruth nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
Sheila pondered Ruth’s words. She was certain that woman was up to something; some kind of plan. But it wouldn’t work. Sheila already had a plan of her own. And it didn’t involve living here any longer than necessary. And it certainly didn’t involve a little leech named Virginia.
Downstairs, Rebecca quickly had the situation well in hand. Within ten minutes, they again had either happy or sleeping babies. Karen approached Rebecca timidly.
“How old are you, Rebecca?” Karen asked.
“Seventeen,” Rebecca replied.
“How do you know so much about babies already? I mean you’re only two years older than me.”
Rebecca beamed proudly to the group. “I’ve helped raised six younger brothers and sisters; all of them. It was my job to help mother.” Her answer was strong and proud.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Rebecca?” Sara asked, holding a very happy Matty.
“I have a husband, but he’s off fighting down south. I hope and pray he returns soon. Then we can start a family. Until then, my duty is with my parents.” Rebecca spoke proudly of her husband. Now she had the girl’s full attention. So young and already married.
“Okay,” Mrs. Mueller went to her next task, “where’s your diaper supply?” Theresa took the woman into her room and showed her the box of unused diapers. Perhaps two-dozen remained. Mrs. Mueller glared at the Sister. “That’s not enough, you know. With five little ones, you won’t make it through tomorrow. You’ll need to wash them every other day I believe.” Theresa nodded at the woman’s practical advice. “What do you have for soap?”
Theresa held up the box of powdered detergent. Mrs. Mueller’s eyes showed her displeasure.
“No, that’s too harsh. I’ll have Rebecca bring you over a supply of something better this afternoon. I have plenty, and I’m done with diapers, so you can have it. I’ll make some more as you need it.” Ruth dug deeper in the boxes as she finished speaking.
“Thank you, Mrs. Mueller. Just one question, though. How are we supposed to wash them? I didn’t see any sort of hand washer or even a clothes line out back.” Theresa needed help.
Mrs. Mueller raised her eyebrows and frowned at the nun. “By hand, dear. You wash everything by hand from this point on. No other way. And you have to hang it out to dry out back in the breeze. On lines that you’ll hang from your supplies I suppose.” The older woman took the Sister’s hands in hers. “You have a lot to learn, child. It’s a good thing you came and got me finally.” Mrs. Mueller patted Theresa’s hands. “Let’s find you a wash tub.”
Chapter Seven
Rebecca and Ruth returned later in the afternoon with gentler soap as promised. Ruth jumped right in and began to teach the girls and Sister Theresa how to wash by hand. First she did all the diapers. She carefully showed them how to remove the waste first and dispose of it. Next she showed them a basic presoak so the diapers wouldn’t be stained. Finally, the washboard was put to use and clothes were hung on the line to dry. She made each teen take a turn at washing. Ruth proved to be a tough taskmaster for the girls.
Next, she showed them the basics of getting their own clothes clean. This process was similar to the final steps of doing diapers. She urged the teens to be gentler with their personal clothing.
Lastly, Rebecca gave a quick lesson on making bread, from mixing all the way through baking
and cooling. Finally, after dinner, Ruth and Rebecca readied themselves to leave. Sister Theresa spoke to them as they prepared to depart.
“Ladies, thank you so much for all of your help and patience today. You’ve been more than generous. Hopefully we can repay your kindness soon.” Rebecca tipped her head at the nun, an elder in her mind. Theresa continued. “Can you tell me anything you might know about the man who is supposed to help us?”
Rebecca frowned. “Well, he’s not much, but there isn’t a lot to choose from around here, I suppose. Most of the able-bodied men are off fighting down south, so it was probably him by default. All the Amish men are busy with their own farms. He’s not much, though.” Rebecca seemed to be dodging the question. “I’ll go find him if he doesn’t show up tomorrow. He should have been here days ago. But I’m sure he’s been drunk the whole time.” Rebecca watched Theresa’s face fall. “Don’t get your hopes up, Sister. He’ll help a little, but he isn’t very dependable. My only advice is to stay on him if you need something done. Bribe him with food. That’s the best way.”
This news caused Sister Theresa’s face to tighten. The last thing she needed around a group of young teens was a drunk. How much help was that? The militia had left a lot of holes for a group of six inexperienced females to fill. And large gaping holes.
After making her final rounds to be sure everything was set for the night, Ruth hustled back into the dining room frowning. “You all need to try much harder, you realize,” she said to girls and Theresa. “Those babies need your full attention from this point forward.” Ruth tossed her plain, dark blue wrap across her shoulders. Catching a glance from Sheila, she spoke to Rebecca.
“Rebecca, please go wrap Virginia up tight in several receiving blankets,” she said, spreading a heavier wool blanket on the dining room table. As ordered, Rebecca went for the baby in the other room.
Concerned, Sister Theresa stepped forward. “What are you doing, Ruth?”
Ruth turned and patted the Sister’s hand as she looked carefully into her face. “Can’t leave her here if that young lady isn’t going to care for her,” she replied tossing a glance in Sheila’s direction. “We’ll just have to have Rebecca raise her as her own.”
Theresa’s face tensed as Rebecca laid the squirming happy baby on the table and began the process of bundling her up against the cooler evening air. She shook her head at the plan. “I thought maybe I would just take over those duties until Sheila changed her mind.” She caught Ruth’s eyes and continued. “It’s really not a bother, Mrs. Mueller.”
Stepping away from the crowd, Sheila addressed the nun. “First of all, I’m not changing my mind. That won’t be happening.” She smiled briefly as she let Virginia play with the fingers on her right hand. “Secondly, I’ll be leaving when the militia comes back in a couple of weeks.” She turned to address her friends, hearing their gasps. “You see, once they find out I don’t have the baby any more, they’ll take me back to the city. Maybe even DeepHaven eventually.” She shrugged. “Milwaukee would be fine with me. Anywhere but here.” Circling the table she stopped, seeing the corners of Ruth’s mouth slightly raised.
Ruth nodded at her. “Yes, the girl with the plan. And quite a plan it is.” She turned and took Virginia from her daughter. “There’s just one flaw, young lady.” Ruth played with the cooing baby before letting her satisfied eyes settle back on Sheila. “What makes you think they’re ever coming back?” Ruth scowled at Sheila’s shocked, open-mouthed face.
“That corporal told Sister Theresa he’d be back in a month or so when he dropped us off – I heard him,” Sheila replied. She checked the faces of her friends and saw most heads nodding. They had all heard the same words.
Ruth’s eyebrows rose. Carefully, she considered her next crushing words. Finally she looked at her daughter, now dressed in her jacket holding Virginia tightly. “Dear,” she began, “how many places are there like this over by Portage?”
“Three, mother,” Rebecca replied.
“And aren’t there several more over by Baraboo?”
Rebecca nodded, but then changed her mind. “No mother, only one now. According to Mr. Feltram, they never put anyone in that second home. Don’t you remember? He told us that at meeting during the winter.”
Ruth snorted and looked back at Theresa. “So, there’s four more of these places. All within 20 miles or thereabouts. All new families established with the help of the militia out of Milwaukee.” She looked away from Theresa and back at Sheila. “We have relatives by both those towns. Henry’s sister lives by Baraboo, and one of my younger brothers is down by Portage.” Her eyes narrowed to deliver the punch line. “And in the past two years, since the first of those orphanages were established, the militia has never come back.” Her voice deepened as she delivered Sheila the final blow. “Ever.”
Sheila’s head shook rapidly. “She’s just trying to scare us. I’m not falling for that.”
Theresa turned and focused on Sheila. “Why would Ruth lie to us, to you? She has no motivation.”
Sheila let out a snort. “She wants to trick me into taking Virginia back, that’s all.” She grinned at Mrs. Mueller. “But it’s not going to work. I can see right through her little trick.”
She waited for Ruth’s reply, only Ruth had none. She simply stepped forward and took the teen’s hands in hers.
It was Rebecca’s words that cut Sheila to the bone next. “You’re right, Sheila. That would be a good trick. Except, of course, for the fact that everything we just told you is true.” Rebecca’s voice rang sad and somber. Sheila eyed the pair suspiciously.
“Now there’s a larger issue, dear,” Ruth picked up where Rebecca left off. “You only have so much food here. It will start getting tight in the next two or three weeks.” Pity came from Ruth’s older eyes. “And you’ll need to be part of the solution, instead of the problem.” Ruth shook Sheila’s hands twice and stepped away. “You see, the good Sister here will only let you remain until things get tight. I mean real tight. Like one meal a day. And then she’ll have to turn you out I’m afraid.” Ruth turned, staring at Theresa and sighed. “I mean you don’t look healthy enough to be much help in farming. So your usefulness will be limited.” Her eyes came back to the ever more frightened teen. “I’m afraid word will get around pretty quick that you don’t care for children. And that you didn’t help here at all.” Ruth’s head shook. “No decent man will take you in at that point. Certainly no family in this area will want someone as lazy and conniving as you.” Ruth studied the girl from head to toe. “You may do okay on the road I suppose. You’re attractive enough, so some group of men will take you in.” She stared intensely into Sheila’s misty eyes. “But that will cost you your virtue, of course.”
Quickly, Sheila approached Rebecca and pried Virginia from her arms. “I think Virginia needs to stay with us, Sister.” She leered back at Ruth. “These people are liars. It’s not right for her to be raised by their type.” Sheila ran toward the living room, unwrapping the tiny girl as she went.
Ruth’s keen eyes went from face to face in the dining room, finally settling on Theresa. A small coy smile crossed her lips. Nodding briefly at the nun, she signaled for her daughter it was time to leave.
“I’ll check in on you tomorrow again.” Rebecca bid everyone a good night as she and her mother walked through the kitchen and out the back door. Outside it was dark already. Most of the babies were fed and sleeping. Within a half hour, so were most of the new mothers. Sheila spent the next two hours pondering the demise of her escape plan, watching as tiny Virginia slept safely next to her in bed.
Early the following morning, Theresa woke to the sounds of Sara singing to Matty while she fed him a bottle in the kitchen. The rest of the girls were still sleeping, so the house was quiet except for Sara’s small voice in song. Theresa greeted her quietly; it looked like Matty might fall back asleep. Sara sat Matty in his infant seat and left him sleeping in the living room. Sara returned to the kitchen to give
Theresa some company.
“Did you sleep well, Sister?” Sara asked. This was by far the happiest teen of the group. Theresa returned Sara’s joy.
“Yes. Much better. I got up once to help Emily with Cal. But that was brief, and he seemed to eat a small amount before falling back to sleep.” Theresa gave Sara a hug. “How about you, Sara? Did you sleep well?” Both moved into the more spacious dining room.
“Oh yes, Sister. Matty was only up once last night, and I snuck down and got him a…” Sara’s words trailed off as she stared out the front window. “Sister. Two men are coming up the drive. Do you think they’re our helpers?”
Theresa turned and examined the pair. “I thought there was only one man coming, Sara,” she replied. “Perhaps he’s brought a friend with him.” Sara took a chair to feed her baby. Theresa’s attention wandered as she watched Matty devouring his bottle. After only a moment she searched for the pair coming up the drive.
Leaning forward, Theresa took a closer look at the two men. They had stopped momentarily about 50 yards from the house. Perhaps they weren’t perfect, she thought, but if they were help, who was she to argue. They certainly appeared dirty enough, but she supposed that was what you got for help out in the country. Both wore short beards, something she wasn’t used to back at the church. But as long as they earned their keep, she didn’t really care.
Just as Theresa was about to turn back to Sara, something caught her attention. Both men looked at the old farmhouse and reached into their belts. Suspiciously, she watched as they pulled something from their sides. That’s when she saw it, a quick flash of morning sun off the cold steel blades.
Theresa tensed and straightened up. “Oh no,” she gasped, almost out of breath. Spinning, she reached and prodded Sara from her seat. “Upstairs, now,” she said to her. “Emily,” she called from the doorway between the dining and living rooms. “Quickly, grab Calvin. Upstairs…now!”
