Orphan Train Christmas

by Rachel Wesson

  “We got to go. Won’t be long until one of your brothers shows up,” Tommy said.

  “Too late. They’re here now,” Shane said, glancing out the window, his face a hard mask.

  Chapter 52

  Angel turned whiter than the blanket of snow on the rooftops. Shane moved to her side as she whimpered.

  Kathleen guessed the girl wasn’t even conscious she had made a noise, so great was her terror.

  “What are we going to do, Tommy?” Kathleen asked.

  “You stay inside with the girl. Shane, you better stay, too. If they catch sight of you it will only inflame things. Mike and I will deal with this. You keep her indoors.”

  Tommy gestured to Angel. Kathleen nodded. “Be careful.”

  Kathleen held her breath, as her two friends left the rooms and walked down the steps out onto the road. She watched as the brothers stopped dead in their tracks, catching sight of the boys coming out of their home. She felt Angel step up to the window beside her. The girl was trembling.

  “Axel and Haviv. I don’t know where Lucky is,” the girl murmured.

  Kathleen’s hopes raised. Out of the three brothers, Lucky was the worst. Maybe Tommy could reason with this pair. They watched the foursome for a few minutes. They appeared to be arguing but were too far away for them to hear anything.

  “Come on girls, out we go.” Shane gestured toward the back of the room. “We can’t sit here and just wait.”

  “Shane, you heard Tommy. He said to stay here,” Kathleen protested.

  “Tommy doesn’t tell me what to do. It’s too dangerous. Lucky will be here any minute. Come on, get out before it’s too late.”

  Kathleen wanted to hit her brother. He wasn’t helping at all. “I am not leaving. Tommy said to stay here. Angel is staying with me.”

  Shane rounded on her, his eyes wild.

  “Why are you always so stubborn? You have no idea how dangerous her brothers are. They don’t think twice about killing someone who gets in their way.”

  Kathleen stood straighter, squaring her shoulders back. She wasn’t scared of Shane. He would never strike her, she knew that.

  “I don’t care. Tommy knows what he is doing, and he said to stay here. You aren’t thinking straight. You are too close to this problem. Why didn’t you tell me you were involved with Angel?”

  Shane looked away from her. “You’re not my ma.”

  Kathleen’s temper finally broke.

  “Don’t you speak to me like that. I spent weeks crossing the country trying to find you, and this is how you repay me. Going behind my back and not giving any care to your safety. Getting mixed up in things you shouldn’t.” She wished she could put the words back in her mouth, as Angel turned on her.

  “I take it that means me. You don’t think I’m good enough for your brother?” Angel spat, fire coming out of her eyes.

  Kathleen reached out for the girl, but Angel stood back.

  “No, Angel, that isn’t it at all. I am not sure he is good enough for you, given his current occupation. He lives on the street, as you said. He is mixed up in goodness knows what.” She turned her attention back to Shane. “Michael sacrificed his freedom, so you could have yours, and this is what you do?”

  Shane gave her a look, which made her wonder what he’d been hiding.

  “You always thought you knew it all, didn’t you, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. You haven’t a clue what I have been doing since I got back.”

  “So, tell me,” Kathleen screamed at him, losing all control. She glared at Shane, with him returning her angry look. Angel’s intake of breath got both of their attentions.

  “What is it?” Shane asked.

  “Lucky.”

  Chapter 53

  The dread in Angel’s voice made Kathleen feel guilty. She shouldn't be fighting with Shane, when the girl beside her needed help. Shane and she could deal with their issues later. This girl’s safety was their reason for being here. Kathleen glanced out the window. The day in Macy’s, Lucky had been very tall and good looking, and it was easy to see how he charmed the women. But not today. He was scowling, and it twisted his face up. Maybe Shane was right, and they should leave through the back. But it was too late. Lucky was already halfway up the steps, his brothers, Tommy, and Mike following behind him. Shane pushed Angel and Kathleen behind him, standing in front of them as the door opened.

  “I should have known you had something to do with this. I thought we had got rid of you years ago,” Lucky snarled.

  “You touch her again, you piece of dirt, and it will be the last thing you do. She’s coming with me,” Shane said.

  “What are you going to do with her? Get married?” The sneer on Lucky’s face said it all.

  “In time. But for now, she is coming somewhere safe.”

  “You can’t take her anyway. She’s under my control,” Lucky said.

  “Actually, it’s my control. You forget I am the eldest”

  Kathleen watched another brother, who wasn’t as tall as Lucky but seemed to be more muscular. He had an ugly scar on his face, but for some reason she sensed he was more even-headed than his brother. Was this Axel? The one who wanted out of New York?

  “You all should be ashamed of yourselves for the way you treat your sister. Her arms are covered in bruises, and I guess there are others we can’t see. How big and brave you are to beat up a girl,” Kathleen said contemptuously to the brother who had just spoken.

  “I don’t know who you are, lady, but I ain’t put a hand on any woman.” Axel’s denial rang true.

  “You might not have, but he has. Show Axel your arms, Angel,” Shane instructed.

  “This true, Angel?” Axel asked quietly, his brown eyes glued to his sister’s face. Kathleen watched Angel. Would she tell the truth?

  “Show him, Angel.” Shane’s tone was gentle yet firm.

  Kathleen could tell that he really did care a lot for her, despite their youth. Shane was only a year younger than she was, but the life he had lived to date had made him grow up fast. She guessed Angel was the same. Although only fifteen, she looked older.

  Angel pushed the sleeves back slowly, her eyes on the floor. Axel’s disgusted reaction told Kathleen he hadn’t known of his brother’s abuse.

  “Shane, go and take Angel with you. Everyone out,” Axel ordered.

  “But…” Angel said.

  “Angel, I will find you. I know who to ask,” he glanced at Shane before fixing his stare back on Lucky. “I got unfinished business with our brother. Everyone out.”

  Axel’s tone meant business. Kathleen led the way, Shane grabbing Angel’s coat from the hook at the door and pushing her after Kathleen, with Tommy and Mike following behind.

  “Come on, let’s get a cab and get out of here before he changes his mind.” Tommy took charge of the situation.

  “What will he do to Lucky?” Kathleen asked Tommy, careful to keep her voice low, so Angel wouldn’t hear her.

  “I don’t think you want to know,” Tommy replied. “Let’s get you home.”

  Chapter 54

  Tommy hailed a cab and soon they were driving back to the sanctuary. On arrival, Richard came out to meet them, followed closely by Charlie and Carl. Kathleen was surprised to see her brother-in-law, as she thought he would be back at Lily’s looking after Bridget.

  “Where is Bridget?” Kathleen asked him.

  “She stayed behind with Lily,” Carl explained. “She said she was taking a nap, but I think Laurie and Teddy may have had other ideas. How did it go?”

  “Good now we are home. Come inside. I have to make a guest comfortable, but I will be down soon.”

  Carl and Charlie turned back to go inside, but Richard stood waiting, an uncomfortable expression on his face. She walked over to him.

  “Richard, I—”

  “Kathleen, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have presumed like that yesterday. I just wanted to keep you safe.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry, too. I guess I can be a bit st
ubborn at times.”

  “More than a bit, sis!” Shane said, as he walked by holding Angel’s hand.

  “Who is that?” Richard asked.

  “That’s Angel. She has some nasty bruises on her arms, and I suspect elsewhere.”

  “Does she need a doctor?”

  Kathleen looked at the man she loved. He really did care about people. “I don’t think so, but I’ll ask her. She is a pretty tough cookie.”

  “Is she going to stay here now?”

  “Yes, for Christmas, but I am not sure after that. One brother beat her, and the other just told us to leave while he dealt with him. I guess you could say their family is rather complicated right now.”

  “I am just glad you are safe. Young Kenny was very worried about you. He’s waiting for you inside.”

  Richard offered her his arm to escort her into the sanctuary. Cook had already made tea and gingerbread cookies. Kathleen asked Angel to come with her to find Kenny who was sitting in his bedroom with Jack.

  “I brought a friend back to see Jack and you,” Kathleen said.

  Kenny looked up, his sad little face lighting up when he saw Angel.

  “You came. They said you would, but I wasn’t sure. Thank you.”

  Jack nearly tripped Angel up, as he ran around her legs. Laughing, she sat on Kenny’s bed and let the dog sit on her knee, while she put her arm around Kenny. Kathleen saw that the action hurt her by the way the girl winced, but Angel didn’t let on to Kenny.

  “You look good, Mouse, better than you did when you came to my house.”

  “I got new clothes, and Cook feeds me. A lot! You should taste her pancakes. Who are you?” he demanded, when Shane walked in the door.

  “Shane is my friend and Kathleen’s brother,” Angel explained.

  “Oh. Well, don’t get any funny ideas. I’m marrying Angel when I grow up. She’s my friend.” Kenny’s tone told the others he was serious.

  Kathleen hid a smile, as Shane and Angel exchanged a loving look.

  “Sure thing, Kenny. But you have to grow into a good man,” Shane said. “She deserves a husband who treats her right.”

  “I know that.” Kenny looked down his nose at Shane, making Kathleen choke on a giggle.

  She withdrew from the room leaving the three of them to chat freely. Inspector Griffin had sent a note to say he would come by in the morning to speak to Angel. Kathleen wondered if the girl knew how much danger she was in.

  Shane followed her out.

  “Kathleen, I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “Angel has to leave New York. Are you really prepared to go with her? I thought you wanted to stay here.”

  “I came back for her. I met her years ago, but at first we were just friends. Being sent away made me realize I loved her.”

  “But you were…”

  “Don’t tell me we were kids. We stopped being children the day Mam died. I know how I feel, and Angel feels the same.”

  Kathleen laughed, making Shane scowl. “Don’t look at me like that Shane. You can’t tell me you are not a child one minute and sulk like one the next. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to belittle your feelings for Angel. Forgive me?”

  He nodded, but, as she continued to stare at him, he smiled.

  “Do you want to go back to Riverside Springs?” she asked.

  “Yes, I liked it there. I came back to New York for Angel and for something else.”

  Dying to know what else he was involved with, she waited for him to expand, but he stayed silent.

  “You seem to know what you are doing. Don’t look at me like that. You are my brother, and I care about you. I don’t like you being on the wrong side of Monk Eastman or anyone else.”

  “You leave Monk to me and the boys. Just promise me you will look after Angel,” Shane said. “She needs a friend.”

  “If you are going to marry her, she will get more than she bargained for. Have you told her what sisters are like?” Kathleen joked, giving her brother a quick hug. He hugged her back before dropping his hands, his face red with embarrassment.

  “I best get back, before Kenny grows up and marries my girl.”

  Laughing, Kathleen walked down the stairs to find Richard, but he had already left.

  Chapter 55

  The next morning Inspector Griffin arrived, and, as Kathleen had guessed, he did want to speak to Angel. Shane refused to leave her side, so he joined the meeting, as did Carl. Lily and Bridget were at home resting.

  “Thank you for seeing me,” Inspector Griffin began. “Angel, Lucky turned up in Bellevue last night.”

  The color drained from Angel’s face. Kathleen could understand her shock. No matter what he had done, he was still her flesh and blood.

  “Will he be alright?” Angel asked.

  “He’ll live. He got beaten up pretty bad. You wouldn’t happen to know who hit him, would you?” Inspector Griffin asked, his gaze landing on Shane.

  “Shane came back with us, when we brought Angel here, and he didn’t leave till late. He couldn’t have hurt Lucky,” Kathleen answered, then turned red as she realized she had made him sound guilty. Inspector Griffin hadn’t accused him of anything.

  “I wanted to hurt Lucky, Inspector. After what he did to Kenny and to Angel, but I didn’t touch him. I swear.”

  “But you know who did, don’t you, Shane?”

  Shane didn’t answer. Angel took his hand and moved closer to him. They stood together, their expressions telling everyone in that room they would never talk.

  Inspector Griffin turned to Kathleen. “I believe you were there when Lucky came back to their home.”

  “Yes, Inspector, but he looked fine and healthy when I left.” Kathleen wasn’t about to speculate, although she was certain it was Axel who had beaten up his brother. As far as she was concerned, the sanctuary didn’t need to get involved in a war between gang members, whether they were related or not.

  “So, nobody in this room can help with my investigation?”

  “Sorry, Inspector, but it would appear not. What does Lucky say?” Kathleen asked.

  “He says he didn’t see them,” Inspector Griffin said. “A group of men jumped him.”

  “Well, I guess you got to take his word for that,” Shane replied, a little too smugly for Kathleen’s liking. She saw the Inspector felt the same.

  “Can I get you tea and something to eat, Inspector?”

  “No, thank you, Kathleen, I have to get on. It’s been a busy weekend.”

  “Any sign of Kenny’s mother?” she asked.

  “None. What will you do with him?”

  “We think it would be better to get him out of New York. After the incident with Lucky, we feel he would be safer if he lived elsewhere. I guess you won’t have any objection to that?” she asked.

  “None at all. It’s a wonderful idea. I best get off. Shane, I’m sure I will be seeing you around.”

  Shane didn’t reply. Kathleen showed the inspector out and then came back into the room where Shane and Angel were arguing.

  “I have to see if he is all right. He’s my brother.”

  “You can’t. You know what will happen. You got to stay out of this and leave it to Axel,” Shane said, before turning to Kathleen. “Can you make sure she stays here? I got to go out for a while.”

  “Where are you going?” Kathleen asked, although she guessed it was something to do with Angel.

  “Out.”

  Kathleen knew he wouldn’t give her any details. “Be careful and don’t be long.”

  He smiled, but it was a tight smile and did nothing to mask the worry in his eyes. “I’ll do my best. Keep her here.”

  And then he was gone.

  Chapter 56

  The day dragged by, although Kathleen tried to keep herself and Angel busy. If she had a penny for every time the girl looked out the window, she would be rich. She eventually asked Angel to go into the office and wrap some more presents.

&nb
sp; Carl had gone home to check on Bridget and then returned, bringing Charlie with him.

  “Any news?” Charlie asked as he came in.

  “No, and I am going out of my mind. I will kill Shane myself when he gets back. What’s he thinking?” Kathleen asked.

  “I guess he knows what he is doing. He’s been working and living on the streets for a while now,” Charlie replied.

  “Has he joined Eastman’s gang?” she asked.

  “No, Kathleen, of course not. He isn’t in any gang. He’s been helping me, actually. He wanted to live alone. He didn’t tell me why, but now we all know the reason.”

  “But how has he been helping you, Charlie?” Carl asked.

  “He’s helped us clear up a few inquiries. He can go places I can’t. Don’t stare at me, Kathleen. It wasn’t my idea. It was his. He said he had to pay the community back for the bad stuff Michael and he had done. He’s part of the reason we got so many orphans in the last year. He works closely with Tommy and Mike.”

  Kathleen sat down, thinking of all the bad thoughts she’d had about Shane over the last few months. He had been doing good, and she’d assumed the worst.

  “Don’t look so guilty, Kathleen. It suited Shane’s work if you were annoyed with him. You didn’t exactly hide your reaction and neither did Bridget. It made what he was doing more credible.”

  “Does Bridget know now?” Kathleen asked.

  “Since last night, but she isn’t happy,” Charlie said. “In fact, she’s furious with me. I left her with Lily, who isn’t too happy with me either, but I swear Shane was going to do this anyway. At least by working with me, I could protect him where possible. At least that was the theory. This thing with Lucky has me worried.”

  “Charlie, please don’t take the blame. Shane has always followed his own path or Michael’s.” Kathleen smiled weakly, trying to hide just how worried she was. Charlie Doherty didn’t deserve to feel bad. The man had only done what he thought was best for everyone.