All three of us went into the sitting room. I breathed easier just being here. The shelves were lined with books. Cozy reading nooks and chairs gave the room a comfortable and inviting environment. I could pretend for as long as I had to that I belonged here in this finery. Fiona’s piano caught my eye. Its black surface reflected the sun that streamed in through the windows.
Seconds later, I was seated on one of the sofas facing Quinn and Fiona. June weather being warm, the stone fireplace was unlit today and had been brushed of all remnants of wood or ash. Quinn poured me a cup of tea and then sat back to look over at me. Fiona had taken the seat next to her mother. I was likely keeping her from her piano practice. Where were the little girls? School was out for the summer. They were probably playing outside or reading somewhere.
“What seems to be the trouble?” Quinn asked. “And how can we help?”
I told her bluntly that Father had been fired and that we needed to find a place to live as soon as possible.
Quinn’s eyes went wide as she leaned closer, as if she hadn’t heard me. “Why on earth would they do that?” Even after giving birth to two children, Quinn Barnes was as slender and petite as she’d been when she first arrived in Emerson Pass as a young woman. She’d been the same age then as I was now, I realized. How brave she’d been to come out to the frontier and teach school. I must be like her now. I’d grown soft living with the Linds. Now was the time to step up and be strong. I must save my family. The only family I’d ever known.
I told them about Mrs. Poe. How she’d come from Chicago and taken over the church board. “She had a pastor in mind from her old church in Chicago. Slowly but surely, she’s been undermining Father and convincing the others that he’s no good.”
“How do you know this?” Quinn asked.
“She said as much when she gave him the news that they’d already found his replacement.” Afraid I might burst into tears, I set aside my tea. “We have to be out of the house very soon. We’ll have to leave Emerson Pass. Father will be forced to start over somewhere. Unless I can find work and a house for us. They’re getting frail. Both are in poor health. I don’t think they could survive a move, even if he could find another church.”
“How could they do this after Pastor Lind’s years of service?” Fiona asked. “Can’t Papa do something?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Quinn said. “The way the bylaws are set up at the church, the board does have the power to dismiss a pastor. Alexander wanted it that way so that he didn’t have ultimate power simply because he’d helped to found the church.”
“If only he’d put himself in charge. This Mrs. Poe is a stranger to us.” Fiona rose to her feet and went to the window, clearly upset. “What can we do, Mama?”
Before she could answer, I jumped in to ask the question I’d come here for. “Would you have any work for me?”
Quinn’s forehead creased. “Do you mean here with us?”
“Yes, as a maid or anything else you’d have.” My voice quivered.
The helpless sensation I remembered as a child rattled me. I hesitated as Fiona returned to us. “I could learn whatever it is you need done. I’m a decent cook. Does Lizzie need any help?”
“Having been in your position,” Quinn said, “I do understand your desire to help your family. But working for us is not the answer. You’re our friend, almost like family. In addition, a maid’s salary can’t keep an entire family afloat, not to mention your parents’ need for a place to live.”
“What can I do, then?” I asked, unable to keep the desperation from my voice.
“You and your parents will move into our guest cottage,” Quinn said matter-of-factly.
“I don’t know if Father would do that,” I said. “He’s proud.”
“We can propose the idea to him as a temporary solution.” Quinn folded her hands in her lap. “Most men are proud. However, he and Alexander have been friends for a long time. My hope is that he’ll accept help from us, especially considering you and your mother.”
A sense of relief took hold. Quinn was right. Father would have to accept help. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing else needs to be said.” Quinn stood. “What if I were to come out later with Alexander? We can propose the idea to them?”
“Yes, it would be better coming from you,” I said as I got to my feet.
Fiona, who had risen from the sofa, threw her arms around me. “Don’t worry, Louisa. Everything will be all right in the end.”
I hoped she was right. At the moment, I couldn’t imagine a time when my parents would ever feel right again.
5
Theo
* * *
Dr. Neal’s nurse, Mrs. Kelley, greeted me as I came through the door. “Dr. Barnes, welcome.” She stood, smoothing her skirts as she came around the desk. “You’re looking dapper.” Her husband, Thomas, had opened a feed store when they’d moved here a few years back. Kathleen Kelley was a handsome, broad-shouldered woman in her late forties. Silver hair framed a wide face, and her green eyes sparkled with intelligence. From my interactions with her on the telephone, she’d been startlingly frank. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t much she wouldn’t share, including that she hadn’t had any children and, by God, preferred it that way. “I like to work and have my own life,” she’d told me. “I already raised a gaggle of siblings, thank you very much, and don’t need to do that again.”
“Here at long last,” Nurse Kelley said. “I can’t tell you how we’ve looked forward to having you here to help poor Dr. Neal. Most days he’s dead on his feet. This town needs more than one doctor.”