CHAPTER 12

After the upsetting telephone call, the morning hours seemed to pass with excruciating slowness. Julia eventually came downstairs and positioned herself in the front parlor, reading from Mrs. C.’s Bible to pass the time. Perhaps Quinn wouldn’t arrive until later in the day. If so, she should really find some chores to help with.

A loud knock on the front door startled her. What if Dr. Hawkins had ignored her wishes and had come to see her after all? Her first instinct was to hide in her room, but since Mrs. C. was upstairs, Julia shored up her courage and went to answer it.

Quinn stood on the porch, cap in hand. His features brightened the moment he saw her. “Julia. This is a nice surprise. I didn’t expect you to answer the door.”

She returned his smile, ignoring the swarm of dragonflies invading her stomach. “Mrs. C. said you might drop by. Please, come in. Shall I run upstairs and tell her you’re here?”

Quinn followed her into the parlor. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind a few minutes to talk to you, if that’s all right.”

Pleasant warmth spread through her chest. “I’d like that.” She took a seat on the sofa, while Quinn chose the armchair closest to her. “So, tell me how your trip went.” She didn’t let on that she knew about his brother. She’d let Quinn relay the details in his own time.

A shadow crossed his features. “Not as well as I’d hoped. Even though I found my brothers, Cecil barely gave me the time of day and refused to leave the farm. And Harry . . .” He paused, the muscles in his throat working. “Harry is in the hospital.”

“I’m so sorry. Is he ill?” It must be far worse than she imagined if they kept the boy.

“It’s not an illness.” Quinn raised his anguished gaze to her. “The man Harry worked for beat him after learning I’d been there. I didn’t think anyone saw us, but someone must have told the farmer Harry was talking to me.” He shook his head. “I came back the next day and found him barely able to stand from the blows he’d received. He has fractured ribs and a dislocated shoulder, among other injuries. The doctors want to run some tests to make sure there’s no internal damage.”

“Oh, Quinn. That’s truly awful.”

“Mrs. C. warned me their situations might not be pleasant, but it’s far worse than I could have imagined.” He dragged a hand across his jaw. “Harry’s so thin, I can count every rib and vertebra. They practically starved him. And he was living in one of the barn stalls with nothing more than a bit of straw for his bed.” He paused again, seeming to collect himself. “What I don’t understand is how the authorities could allow this sort of treatment. The superintendent at the Dr. Barnardo office said they sent inspectors only once a year, but even then, shouldn’t someone have noticed the condition he was in?”

Tears stung Julia’s eyes. Her heart ached for Quinn and his brother. She leaned forward to lay a hand on his arm. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Not as far as Harry is concerned. Other than pray for him.” He hesitated. “But I could use your help looking for Becky.”

Julia’s composure faltered. She gripped her hands together. “What can I do?”

“I was hoping you might accompany me to the receiving home where Becky was sent. I had a difficult time at the boys’ home. I can only imagine what type of reaction a man arriving at Hazelbrae looking for a young woman might receive.” His eyes softened, taking on a pleading look. “I figured if you were with me, I’d have a much better chance at gaining any sort of cooperation.”

Julia hesitated. “Is it far away?”

“Not very. We could be there and back by train the same day.”

She pondered the idea for a moment. If the trip took only one day, she’d be back in plenty of time for Mrs. Middleton. And how could she refuse Quinn’s request after everything he had done for her? She smiled at him. “I’d be happy to go with you.”

“Really?” Relief spread over his handsome face, easing the lines of tension on his brow.

“Of course. I owe you at least that much after all the help you’ve given me.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You’re welcome.” She leaned back against the cushions. “While you were gone, Reverend Burke found me a position as a live-in companion to one of his elderly parishioners. But I won’t be needed for about a week.”

“That’s good news.” He reached out for her hand and squeezed it. The warmth of his fingers contrasted sharply with her chilly ones.

Under his approving look, she found she couldn’t hold his gaze and gently pulled her hand free. She didn’t deserve such admiration. If he ever learned the truth of how far she’d fallen, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her.

“You’re pleased, aren’t you? Because if not, I’m sure Reverend Burke could find you something different.”

“I’m very pleased. Mrs. Middleton seems like a lovely person.”

“I’m glad.” Quinn leaned forward, his gray eyes radiating sincerity. “All I want is for you to be safe and happy.”

Julia’s throat tightened. Why couldn’t she have met such an honorable man before this? If she had, perhaps her life wouldn’t be in shambles now.

“Besides,” he continued, “I have a selfish reason for being pleased about this job. With your room and board paid for, you’ll be able to save enough for your passage home.” He winked at her.

Her pulse fluttered. She attempted a smile but failed miserably. Her secret sat like a lump of hard coal in her belly. He deserved to know she wouldn’t be going with them. At the very least, she owed him honesty.

“Quinn, there’s something you should know—”

“I thought I heard a male voice down here.” Mrs. Chamberlain came bustling into the parlor. “Quinten, how nice to see you again.”

Quinn shot to his feet, biting back his disappointment at the interruption. What had Julia been about to say? “And you, Mrs. Chamberlain. I hope you don’t mind me dropping by like this.”

“Not at all. Julia dear, did you offer our guest some refreshments?”

“N-no, I’m sorry. I didn’t think to.” Julia bit her lip, looking overly distressed for so simple a transgression.

“Please, don’t worry about that,” Quinn said. “I can’t stay long. I have to get back to the hospital to check on Harry.”

In truth, he’d worried about leaving the boy alone in the first place, but the urgent desire to see Julia again had won out. Besides, the doctor had told Quinn that with the amount of pain medication Harry had received, he’d likely sleep for a few hours.

“Is your brother ill?” Mrs. C. asked, concern shining in her pale eyes.

“No, ma’am.” Quinn relayed the story. But as he did, the color drained from the older woman’s face. “The doctor assures me Harry will recover. It will just take some time, especially in his weakened condition.”

Mrs. C. reached out to grasp the arm of the chair and lowered herself to the seat, as if her legs wouldn’t hold her.

Mentally Quinn berated himself for being so insensitive. Of course this would bring back memories of all the suffering she and her sister had endured. “Forgive me, Mrs. C. I shouldn’t be telling you all this. I don’t want to bring up unpleasant memories for you.”

She shook her head. “No, no. We must speak of such matters. They’ve been kept hidden for too long as it is.”

“I don’t understand.” Julia frowned. “What does Harry’s situation have to do with Mrs. C.?”

Quinn looked at the landlady for permission and when she nodded, he briefly explained her history.

Tears filled Julia’s brown eyes. “How could anyone be so cruel? Especially to orphaned children?”

“It’s beyond comprehension, really.” Mrs. C. straightened on her chair, a bit of color returning to her cheeks. “I’ve been fooling myself that our Newcomers Program at the church is doing enough to help immigrants, but in reality, we should be addressing this issue head on. It seems the abuse of children has been going on for decades.”

“What can we do about it?” Julia dabbed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes.

“I’m not sure. But I intend to raise the issue at our next meeting. Perhaps if we all put our heads together, we can come up with a plan.”

Quinn nodded. “That would be a good start. Unfortunately, it doesn’t solve my immediate problem.” Reluctantly he rose, his gaze straying to Julia. “I’d best get back to the hospital.”

It astounded him how much he hated to leave. Everything about Julia—her beauty both inside and out—drew him to her like a bee to nectar.

Mrs. C. got to her feet as well. “We’ll all be praying for Harry and for you, dear.”

“Thank you, Mrs. C.” He picked up his hat and turned to leave.

At the front door, he realized Julia had followed him.

She lifted her handbag from the hall table. “If you don’t mind,” she said, “I’d like to go with you.”

Quinn hesitated. He’d love nothing more than to spend additional time with Julia, but he had no idea what he was in for. “It’s kind of you to offer, but it could be a very long wait.”

“I’ll stay as long as I can. You shouldn’t be facing this alone.” She gave him a long look as she pinned on her hat. “You helped me at one of my worst times. I’d like to return the favor.”

His throat tightened, making speech impossible. He sent her a grateful look and then held the door open for her.

As they headed outside together, Quinn’s shoulders lifted, and for the first time in days, his burdens felt considerably lighter.

From the parlor window, Harriet watched Quinten and Julia make their way down the sidewalk, her unease only growing.

Lord, why have you brought this man and his problems to my doorstep? After all these years, I thought I’d paid my dues, done my best to help the newcomers to this country. But why is all the pain from the past coming back to haunt me now?

She sniffed and dabbed her cheeks with her handkerchief, the answer welling inside her. The atrocities against orphans coming here from their homeland had been going unchecked for far too long. Someone needed to speak out on behalf of the children and shine a light on this injustice. If she’d been braver, she would have done something before now. If only to right the wrong that had caused Annie’s death.

The uncomfortable truth made her wince. She’d eased her conscience over the years by letting her husband take the lead. They’d started the boardinghouse to provide affordable housing for immigrants, a noble venture in itself, but clearly not enough. And she’d also helped Geoffrey with the Newcomers Program. But it didn’t address the true problem and did nothing to solve the fact that children still suffered at the hands of unscrupulous people.

Lord, show me what to do. Show me where to begin. And please grant young Harry your healing grace.

With a last blow of her nose, she marched into the hall to get her purse. She needed to see Geoffrey right away. If anyone could help her determine her next course of action, he could.