Uncertain Alliance

by Davis, Mary

  “I need someone I can depend on.”

  “You can depend on me.”

  “That’s what you promised last time.” Miss Morgan held out her hand. “Here is your pay minus what I had to pay Irma for finishing your work.”

  “I promise it won’t happen again.”

  Ian’s heart ached as Alice begged for her job.

  “I’m sorry.” Miss Morgan turned up Alice’s hand and placed the money in it, then walked inside her shop.

  Miss Dempsey stared at the shop door then turned to leave but stopped short when she saw him.

  He took a step forward. “I’m so sorry.”

  She just stared at him with tears gathering in her eyes.

  He held out a hand to her. “Please come inside.”

  She shook her head, and a single tear trickled down her cheek. Then she put her feet in motion and strode past him.

  He wanted to reach out to her but instead said, “Please, Miss Dempsey. I’ll give you the money.”

  She quickened her step and scurried around the corner like a frightened mouse.

  He went back inside his store, shaking his head. “That was about the stupidest thing you could have said.” He kicked the edge of the counter.

  “Hey, my boss won’t like it too well if you go tearing up his shop.” Conner came from the back room with his brown hair tousled and still damp, but he was dressed in a three-piece suit. “What has your bat’s-wing in a wad?”

  He pulled at the thin bowtie at his neck. “Miss Morgan just let Miss Dempsey go because she had to leave work yesterday over that whole business down at the docks.”

  “That’s not your fault.”

  “What I said is.” He rubbed his face. “Now she probably thinks I’m a gutter rat.”

  “It can’t be all that bad.”

  “I offered her money. There is only one possible conclusion why an older man, at lest ten years her senior, would offer money to a beautiful young lady in need.”

  “Is that what you were offering?”

  He jerked his gaze to Conner. “Of course not!”

  Conner raised one eyebrow. “Then apparently there are at least two possible conclusions.”

  “But which will she come to? I have no way of finding her to let her know my real intent. She won’t be coming back to work next door, and I don’t know where she lives.” He sighed. “She’s lost to me.” An ache rose in him as if his heart were crying.

  Conner clasped him on the shoulder with one hand and slapped his chest with the other. “God put her in your heart. He’ll bring her back. I’ll pray He brings her through your door.”

  Yes, prayer. He would get down on his knees and pray for her. Pray the Lord would comfort her in her time of trouble and provide her with a new job. A job that was close by so he might see her again.

  ❧

  Alice spent the rest of the day inquiring about jobs and confirmed that bad news indeed traveled faster than greased lightning. Several business owners had heard about her brother’s troublesome behavior and declined to employ her. They didn’t want her brother vandalizing their property. She really couldn’t blame them. She didn’t know what Burl would do next. He seemed to be cutting more and more didoes. Maybe she should leave him home with Grandpa. She just feared it would be too much on Grandpa’s weak heart.

  When she stepped inside her apartment, relief washed over her to see Burl seated at the table and not out causing trouble. He and Miles were playing a stacking tower disk game her Grandpa had whittled for her ma before he lost his arm. Burl was explaining how to move the disks one at a time from one of the three towers to the other, never putting a larger disk on top of a smaller one. The game became more difficult the more disks that were used. Burl was showing Miles with just three disks. By the time Burl was five, he had mastered all eight disks.

  Grandpa lay sleeping on the straw mattress he shared with Burl in the corner.

  Miles turned to her. “Ma!” he yelled and ran to her.

  She scooped him up into her arms. “Shh. Grandpa’s sleeping.”

  “I’m awake. I was just resting my eyes.” Grandpa rolled to a sitting position and pulled out his pocket watch. “You’re home early.”

  “I’m tired. I spent all day searching for a job.”

  “What happened with Miss Morgan?” Grandpa struggled, trying to get to his feet.

  She went and put an arm around him to help. “She let me go because I left early yesterday to keep Burl from sailing with a bunch of surly seamen.”

  Burl dipped his head, trying to appear contrite. . .and succeeding. But she wouldn’t let his sorrowful look quench her anger. They had very little money or food. And with no one willing to give her a job, she didn’t know what they were going to do.

  Grandpa stood with his hands clasped behind his back next to Burl. “What do you have to say for yourself, son?”

  “I’m sorry, Alice. I didn’t mean no harm. We was just cuttin’ shines.”

  “Your fun has cost Alice her job. Your sister works very hard to put food on the table for all of us.” Grandpa struggled not to cough.

  She knew he was suffering. She was hoping to have enough money to get him medicine, but now. . . Lord, protect his health.

  Grandpa pointed toward the stove. “You fix supper tonight.”

  Burl’s eyes enlarged, and he stared at Grandpa. “Cookin’s woman’s work.”

  “Tonight it’s your work.”

  “But I don’t know how.” Burl stood and held out his hands.

  “If you’re too smart for school, then you’re smart enough to figure it out.”

  Burl could tell Grandpa was serious. Grandpa had evidently had enough of Burl’s shenanigans, as well. Burl shuffled toward the stove.

  Grandpa held out a chair for her. “Sit.”

  She did, setting Miles on her lap. “I should go help him.”

  “You’ll do no such thing. Woman’s work indeed. I did all the cookin’ for your ma and me until she was old enough to do it.”

  “But he—”

  “He’ll make do. You shouldn’t have to do everything. I’ll go tell him how to start, and he can figure out the rest.” Grandpa bent over in a coughing fit.

  She stood. “Let me.”

  “Sit. I’m fine.” Grandpa took a few labored breaths and headed for the stove.

  They had enough for supper tonight, but what about tomorrow? The money Miss Tilly had paid her would need to be given off the reel to Mr. Henderson for rent. He wouldn’t wait any longer. She heard Grandpa directing Burl. “Only use one potato and one carrot,” she called. With the can of beans, that should be enough. It would have to be. That left only two potatoes and a carrot for supper tomorrow night. The last of the oatmeal would be eaten for breakfast, but that would give her another day to find work and buy food.

  Lord, find me work tomorrow. Don’t let my family go hungry. You said in the Bible You would take care of Your own. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” The verse from the book of Psalms comforted her, quelling the fear that had been rising in her since morning.

  Grandpa came back and sat at the table. “He’s going to make soup.”

  That would be good. It would go farther and seem like they were eating more than was really there. Miles played with disks, not caring what size rested on what.

  Grandpa patted her hand. “The good Lord will provide another job.”

  “I hope it’s soon.” She recalled the look on Mr. MacGregor’s face when she was fired. Why did he have to bear witness to her humility? “He stood there listening.”

  “Who, child?”

  Had she said something aloud? “What?”

  “You said, ‘He stood there listening.’ Who was listening to what?”

  There was no sense in trying to evade his question. “Mr. MacGregor had the audacity to stand in the doorway of his store while Miss Morgan terminated my employment.”

  “
Who is this MacGregor?”

  “The store owner next door. We’ve spoken from time to time as I arrive at work or when I’m leaving.”

  “Did he say something to you?”

  At the thought of Mr. MacGregor’s words, her humiliation burned anew. “He offered me money. I’m not some strumpet.” She’d thought him a better man than that.

  “Do you think his offer was less than honorable? Did he ask for anything in return?”

  “I didn’t give him the chance. I ran off. I always thought him a nice man.” She put her face in her hands.

  “Hmm.”

  As she lay in bed that night wondering how she would feed her family, a verse in James came to mind. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” Yes, the church. They had to help her. She tithed faithfully, and now God was showing her how to get through this. He was providing for her until she could get another job. Tomorrow she would go and ask the minister for provisions.

  ❧

  The following morning, Finn, a man about fifty with clothes more worn than her own, sat at Alice’s table drinking a cup of coffee with Grandpa when she came out of her bedroom ready to search again for a job. Where had it come from? They hadn’t been able to afford coffee in a very long time.

  Grandpa raised his cup. “Finn brought it. Only enough for one pot, but it sure tastes good.”

  How long had it been? She poured a cup and savored the aroma.

  “It’s better if you drink it,” Grandpa said.

  She wrapped her hands around the warm cup. “I want to enjoy everything about it.”

  “Can I have some?” Burl asked.

  She was about to refuse him when Grandpa nodded. “On one condition, young man. You be in school all day and pretend like you’re learnin’ somethin’ and come home straightaway afterward. No dawdlin’, no cuttin’ shines with your friends.”

  Burl nodded. “I will.” He turned to her. “I won’t get in no more trouble. I promise. I learnt my lesson.”

  She poured Burl the last of the coffee, barely half a cup. He seemed earnest in his promise. Maybe the trouble with the ship’s captain was worth losing her job if it straightened Burl out for good. Lord, please help Burl hold fast to his conviction.

  Burl took a sip and grimaced. She hadn’t liked coffee when she’d first tasted it, either, but it grew on her as it would Burl.

  Grandpa pointed to Burl’s cup. “Even if you don’t finish that, you still have to keep our bargain.”

  Burl nodded and drank it down, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “That was good.” He tried to sound grown-up.

  “Off to school with you now.” She smiled at his back. He was growing up, turning into a little man. A little man who would likely be taller than she was come summer.

  She took a drink of her coffee and let the warm liquid sit in her mouth for a moment before swallowing it. Thank You, Lord, for this treat. “Finn, thank you for the coffee.”

  They didn’t know much about Finn. He seemed to be a drifter. He wouldn’t give any more name than Finn and wouldn’t tell them where he lived. Probably in the train yard like so many bummers. He was a good friend to Grandpa, brought him the paper and kept him company a couple of days a week. Grandpa was sharing the Lord with him. Finn showed up when Finn wanted to, but always for Sunday dinner, and always with something to offer for the table—bread, biscuits, milk, potatoes. How he got the food, she couldn’t imagine, and no one ever asked him. He and Grandpa had a deal. If Finn showed up for Sunday church service, he was welcome to Sunday dinner. Finn was faithfully at Sunday dinner.

  She drank down her coffee, avoiding the grounds at the bottom. “I should be going. I have to move past Second and Third Streets, maybe all the way up to Sixth, searching.”

  “Hotel on Seventh might be needing a cleaning girl.” Finn took a swig of his coffee. “If you want to go so far as the mill, the cook up there might be needing help. She cooks for a whole passel of men.”

  “Thank you, Finn.” She hoped she didn’t have to go that far and swung on her shawl.

  “I think it was wrong for Miss Morgan to fire you.” Finn turned his pale blue eyes on her.

  “She has a business to run.”

  “Not very charitable for someone who sits in church every Sunday. She should know how important family is.” He dipped his head down and mumbled. “Shouldn’t have to learn the hard way.”

  What did Finn know about family? Maybe more than he let on. She sighed and headed out into the drizzle, dreading having to trudge through the muddy streets all day.

  Four

  Alice sat by the fire of the stove late Friday night, finishing the mending she’d acquired that day. She strained to see where to make her stitches to keep them even. It wasn’t steady employment, but it would feed them for a few days. If she finished and returned the garments in the morning, she could get paid and buy food. Her minister had given them half a dozen eggs, a small sack of flour, and a jar of canned tomatoes. She’d thanked him and God over and over for both the food and the mending job. Her minister was the one who had told her about the work.

  Grandpa stepped into the pool of light. “You’ve done enough for tonight.”

  “I’m sorry for keeping you up. I’ll be done soon.”

  “You work too hard.”

  “I have to.”

  Grandpa stood over her. “Even our heavenly Father rested. Not because He needed to but as an example to us all.”

  “As you know, He rested on the seventh day. It’s not Sunday yet.” She took another small stitch.

  “I’m just saying you’ve worked hard today. You’ve earned your rest.” Grandpa stifled a couple of coughs. He was not getting better.

  She could not be idle for one minute if she was going to get him some better medicine. “‘In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether thou shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.’ I can’t give up.”

  “It’s not giving up to rest. Go to bed. You’re going to wear yourself out.”

  “We only have enough food for tomorrow even with the charity. I need this work. ‘If any would not work, neither should he eat.’”

  “Don’t you be spouting scripture to me, young lady.” Grandpa shook his finger at her. “I taught you those verses.”

  “You taught me well.”

  Grandpa grumbled. “‘Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?’”

  She set the mending in her lap. “Are you insinuating that I’m not trusting God?”

  Grandpa wagged his head back and forth. “All I’m saying is that you have worked hard, harder than most. You’ve done your part; now let God do His. Your hands have not been idle for one waking minute. God will reward you for your diligence. We will not go hungry.”

  She just wished there was food enough for more than one day and turned her focus back to her work. “I’ll be done soon.”

  Grandpa stood in silence for a moment. “I think I’ll go out tomorrow and get me a job.”

  She jerked her gaze up to him. “You’ll do no such thing.” His heart couldn’t take the physical jobs available to an old man of his education.

  “You won’t be around to stop me. ‘If any would not work, neither should he eat.’ ”

  She’d meant that verse for herself. “Grandpa, please.”

  “I’d rather die doing something useful than sitting around here all day.”

  “Taking care of Miles for me is useful. I couldn’t work if I didn’t know you were here with him. I daresay Miles likely affords you little time to sit.”

  “Burl could care for him. He’s old enough.”

  She lowered her voice. “What if he goes off on one of his troublemaking schemes and
leaves Miles here alone? Or worse yet, takes him with him?” She didn’t need Miles trained in cutting shines and making mischief before he even started school.

  “He wouldn’t do that. He only gets in trouble because he doesn’t want to be in school.”

  “Maybe so, but I’d feel better with you here with Miles.”

  A cough rattled inside Grandpa’s chest. “There’s going to come a time when I won’t be around anymore and the task will fall to Burl.”

  “Don’t say that.” She looked away from him.

  “We’ve both been thinking it. One less mouth to feed would be easier on you.”

  “No.” Tears clouded her vision.

  “What man lives well into his seventies and sees his great-grandchild born? I’ve had a good life, but it’s comin’ to an end. You need to face that.”

  She didn’t want to think about it. “We’re managing. We have the food from the minister, and I’ll get money for this mending. We’ll make do. I just wish we had a small garden; then at least we’d always have a few vegetables.”

  Grandpa coughed. “Maybe I could build you a potting box. Put it here under the window and grow a couple of tomato plants.”

  She held the mending to her thighs as she stood and hugged Grandpa. “That would be wonderful.” She knew he wouldn’t be able to with having only one hand and his joints hurting him so, but he never complained about his hardships. And neither would she complain about hers.

  “I’ll only do it if you go to bed right now.”

  She set her mending aside—she could finish it first thing in the morning—and gave Grandpa a kiss on the cheek. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Now scoot.”

  She closed herself in her room and leaned against the door. Lord, I know he is old, but don’t take him from me yet. I wouldn’t be able to bear up under it.

  ❧

  As Ian was giving Mr. Baker instructions on his medicine, two elderly men entered his store. The pair had their heads together, whispering, and pointed toward him and Conner. He tapped Conner on the arm and inclined his head toward them. Conner immediately went over, leaving him to finish up with Mr. Baker.

  “No, thank you. My business is with Mr. MacGregor,” the older of the two men said then issued a chest-rattling cough.