“Not her.” Reese barely glanced at the girl. “The other one. The one in the center of the corridor a moment ago.”
David looked around the crowded hall, then back at his cousin and employer. At least a hundred women were milling about in the room and at least forty of them stood in line in the center of the hallway. “Could you be a little more specific, Reese? Which of the multitude has caught your discerning eye?”
Reese Jordan scanned the crowd, searching. “She was here a moment ago. Dammit, she couldn’t have just disappeared. Where is she? I don’t see her.” He looked at David. “Send the next one in, but keep an eye out for her—petite, black hair, dark eyes, very pretty.”
David shot a glance at his cousin. Dark haired, dark-eyed, petites were not Reese’s preference. Big, buxom redheads and hard-edged blondes were his normal choice. “Are you sure you want to continue? It’s late and you must be tired. I know I am.”
Reese fingered the gold chain danglin
g across the side of his waistcoat and removed his watch from its pocket. He flipped it open. “I have time for one more. Send her in.”
David gestured at the girl in front of him. “Mary Stephens.” He handed Reese the sheet of paper outlining the applicant’s history.
Reese looked closely at the young woman for the first time and shook his head. “She won’t do.”
“Why not?” David was puzzled. “She meets all the requirements.”
“Look at her, David,” Reese instructed.
David gave the girl a cursory glance. “What about her?”
“She’s obviously in the family way, David. She meets the requirements too well. She won’t do,” Reese said with finality.
David shook his head at the young woman. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Stephens, but—”
“I heard him,” she said dully. “I won’t do. But you coulda said something earlier. I been waitin’ here all day just to see him. If you’d looked at me, you woulda seen I’m expectin’.”
“I realize that. I just didn’t realize…I mean…” David Alexander faltered.
“I’ll pay her off and let her be on her way. We don’t have time to waste arguing,” Reese interrupted, reaching inside the breast pocket of his jacket to remove his wallet.
The woman shook her head. “I came for an honest job. I don’t take charity from nobody.”
“It isn’t charity.” Reese made an effort to curb his annoyance. “I’m reimbursing you for your time. I should’ve had Mr. Alexander inquire as to whether any of you were expectant mothers before we began. A woman in your condition…”
“A woman in my condition can get along fine without your charity.” She informed him angrily. “You said I wouldn’t do and I won’t, but I won’t take no reimbursing or charity or whatever you call it from you neither.” She turned on her heel and addressed the crowd. “All you other women in my condition can just forget about this job. He don’t take expectant mothers. Ain’t no sense waitin’ around.” She picked up her belongings and made her way through the crowd. Several other women followed in her footsteps.
“Well, that lets me out,” the brassy blonde in front of Faith announced. “I’m not showin’ yet, but I will be soon enough. What about you, honey?” She turned to Faith.
“Oh, no, I’m not…I mean my husband died in the war. I couldn’t be…” Faith stammered, blushing furiously.
“What’s that got to do with it?” The woman laughed. “Mine died in the war, too.”
Faith’s jaw dropped open and the woman chuckled even harder. “A girl does what she can to survive and feed her family, don’t you know that, yet?” She shrugged. “Oh, well, good luck, honey. Maybe you’ll get the job.”
She waved goodbye to Faith and followed the departing women down the hall.
Faith looked around her. The crowd had thinned considerably. She wouldn’t have believed there were so many expectant mothers in the room if she hadn’t seen for herself. Nor, would she have believed they would calmly walk away from a job they all wanted after waiting in line all day. Her sense of fair play was offended. They should have been given an opportunity to interview. The job involved providing for an infant. Surely, a woman about to have a child of her own was well qualified to care for someone else’s. But this new development did increase her chances. All she had to do was wait for her turn to talk to Mr. Alexander and gain access to the man in the other room. She could wait a little longer. The last train back to Richmond departed the station at nine in the evening. Surely, she would get in to see the man before then.
* * *
Some hours later, Reese Jordan looked down at his cousin and took pity on him. David had done a tremendous job under trying circumstances, and he was tired. Lines were etched around the corners of his mouth and his dark eyes were lackluster. The usual sparkle had disappeared from their depths hours ago. He needed dinner and a good night’s sleep. “Let’s stop for the night, David. We’re both tired. I never dreamed we’d have to wade through so many women to find what I want.”
“I warned you about a newspaper ad,” David reminded him. “I was afraid this would happen. These are desperate times, Reese. You should have used a more conventional method. Dozens of young women of your acquaintance would be willing to go along with this scheme.”
“And dozens of fathers and brothers would hunt me down when it’s all over. No, thank you. I’ll take my chances with the newspaper and my own instincts.”
“Are you absolutely certain you want to go through with this insanity?”