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“Thank you.”
“After breakfast in the morning, I’m going to visit the orphanage to talk to Sister Mary about fund-raising. Would you like to come along?”
“I would.”
Sylvia nodded and left Eddy alone. Still buoyed by her success, she stepped outside into the fresh air and drew in a deep breath. She’d start her preparations for breakfast in a moment. Off to the west the sun was slowly sliding towards the horizon, tinting the sky with the reds and grays of evening. After all she’d been through in the past few weeks, she finally felt like her world had settled. She had a nice place to live, a landlady she adored, and most importantly she was earning a wage with her cooking. Now all she had to do was save up enough to restart her journey to California. Meeting Zeke was also something positive. Even though she had no plans to stay in Virginia City, it might be nice to spend time with a gentleman whose interest was more easily encouraged than Rhine Fontaine’s. The thought instantly brought the face of the handsome saloon owner to mind. Determined not to dwell on him, she went back inside and began the preparations for breakfast.
Friday morning, after breakfast with Jim, Rhine drove to the orphanage. He hadn’t visited since returning from San Francisco and he wanted to see how his favorite set of twins were doing. As soon as he parked they tore down the front steps to greet him.
“MissMary has some crates at the freight office,” Christian told him excitedly. “She said it’s okay if we ride with you to go get them. Can we go?”
The earnest plea on his face made Rhine chuckle. “Why aren’t you in school today?”
Micah explained. “Mr.Reinhart is sick so there’s nobody to teach us.”
Reinhart was the school’s only teacher. “How about I go in and speak with MissMary first. I don’t want to find out later that you’re pulling my leg.”
Micah looked surprised. “We wouldn’t do that.”
Rhine was fairly sure the boy was right, but who would’ve thought he and his brother would pay a visit to Lady Ruby’s chicken coop in the middle of the night? “Are you off punishment now?” he asked as they accompanied him up the steps.
“Yes,” Christian replied proudly. “We get dessert today.”
“Congratulations.”
“But MissWilla Grace went to visit her sister, so we have to wait until she gets back.”
Rhine found Mary in her large book-lined office and she corroborated the boys’ story about the crates. “The orphanage has been adopted by a Methodist church in Sacramento and the crate contains donations of some kind. I’d really appreciate it if you’d pick it up and bring it back.”
“Is it okay if the twins go, too?”
“Please. Mr.Reinhart’s been ill since the day you left for San Francisco, and with Willa Grace away, I’m at my wit’s end trying to keep up with them.”
“No pranks?”
“None.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“The day’s still young, Mr.Fontaine. I’m taking them to see Vera at ten for fittings.”
He laughed and left the office to collect the twins.
“When was the orphanage founded?” Eddy asked as Sylvia drove them through the streets to the orphanage.
“About three years ago.” She went on to tell Eddy about Mary’s battle with her Order.
“I like Mary already,” Eddy said. “Standing up to bigotry is an admirable thing.”
“Yes it is. It’s my understanding that the Mother Superior was very surprised by her challenge though.”
“I’m surprised, too. I always assumed nuns to be meek little things.”
“Not the nuns that taught me back home in Baltimore.”
“You were taught by nuns?”
“Yes, at St.Francis Academy. It was founded by a woman from Haiti named Mother Elizabeth Lange. She started the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first order of Black Catholic nuns in the country.”
