Page 4 of More Than Meets the Eye

“Nothing’s wrong with her eyes!” Hamilton rushed to Evie’s side and grabbed her hand. “She can see just fine. That’s all that matters, isn’t it? That they work. My sister’s smart, cheerful, and strong for her size. You’d be getting a deal if you take us both on. You wouldn’t even have to pay me any wages. I’ll work for free if you take Evie, too.”

“So her eyes won’t ever . . . fix themselves?” The lady in gray stood, backed up a step, then rubbed her arms against a shudder.

Miss Woodson’s familiar blue skirt came into view. “Hamilton is correct. Evangeline’s vision is not impaired, and she truly is a darling child.”

“But those eyes are so . . . peculiar.” The woman backed away another step. “They give me the shivers.”

“That decides it,” Mr. Potter said. “We’ll take the boy. Not the girl. One extra mouth to feed is all I can afford anyway.”

“Very well.” Miss Woodson sighed. “Mrs. Dougal can assist you with the paper—”

“No!” Hamilton stomped his foot. “I’ll not go without my sister.”

Evie stared at him. That fierce voice didn’t sound anything like the kind brother she knew.

“Don’t sass your betters, boy.” The man pointed a finger in Hamilton’s face.

“You’re not my better!” Hamilton shoved his nose in the air. “I’m a Pearson. My papa used to hire people like you to work in his factory. People too stupid to do anything more than simple tasks, like planting seeds and watching them grow.”

“Hamilton!” Miss Woodson’s shocked voice echoed Evie’s disbelief.

The man glowered, his face turning bright red. “You better watch your mouth, boy.”

“Or what?” Hamilton challenged. “You’ll whip me? Beat me? Chain me up in your barn? I’d expect nothing less from a man who probably can’t even read.”

Mr. Potter shook with rage, and Evie worried that her brother had gone too far.

“He doesn’t mean it.” Miss Woodson placed her hands on Hamilton’s shoulders and pulled him away from the man, who looked like he was about to strike. “He’s just afraid of being separated from his sister.”

“I do too mean it.” Hamilton jerked away from Miss Woodson’s grip and stepped straight up to the farmer and his wife. “And it’s not just him who’s ignorant. His wife is, too. Why else would she be scared of something as trifling as eyes that are two different colors?”

The man’s hand fisted.

Evie lunged for her brother and wrapped her arms around his middle. “Stop, Ham-ton. Stop!”

“He’s a child, John.” The lady in gray had stepped in front of her husband as well and stared up into his face as she placed a staying hand on his arm.

“I’ll not tolerate anyone speaking about you that way, Georgia. No matter his age.” He set his wife aside and jabbed his finger into Hamilton’s face. “If you ever speak ill of my wife again, I’ll—”

Hamilton lurched forward and bit down on the man’s pointed finger.

The farmer howled, then cuffed Hamilton across the head with his other hand. Hamilton toppled. Evie fell with him. Women screeched. Men yelled. And all Evie could do was hang on to her brother and pray that everything else would go away.

“Well, that was a disaster.” Lizard Lady’s pronouncement bounced around the interior of the railcar as it rattled down the tracks, taking them back the way they had come. There’d be no more stops. No more chances at finding families.

“That weren’t no disaster,” Zach said with a grin as he punched Hamilton lightly in the shoulder. “That was brilliant! Well done, Ham-bone. I’m impressed.”

Hamilton grinned as if he’d just been named king of the mountain. The boys had all chosen to sit together in the back of the railcar, Zach actually making room for Seth on the seat next to him as Hamilton and Evie sat in the rear-facing seat in front of them.

Evie thought them all crazy to be so proud of themselves for such awful behavior, but she and Hamilton were still together, so she wouldn’t scold them. Lizard Lady had done that enough already.

The boys recounted the event over and over until Evie grew bored. And sleepy. Being scared wore a girl out, and she’d been more scared today than any day she could remember. The rocking of the train made her eyelids heavy, and her head started to loll toward her chest.

“Here, Evie.” Hamilton set his back against the window like Zach had done earlier and made room for her to nestle up against his chest.

She curled up against her big brother and slept until a harsh jolt tossed her onto the floor. Her head bumped against someone’s bony knee, and she cried out as the terrifying sound of braking train wheels screeching against the rails pierced the air.

Luggage fell from the overhead racks. The sponsors screamed. Hamilton called Evie’s name before he dropped down over her and wrapped his body around hers.