20

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This is the finest omnibus ever created,” Mrs. Madison declared.

Wade stood back, quite proud of his accomplishment. “One of the city councilmen saw it and told me he was going to suggest I be hired to build the new trolley cars. That kind of job would give me enough money to relocate. I’ve already set aside a good bit for such a thing.”

“That would be a wonderful thing indeed.” Mrs. Madison ran her hand down the side of the painted sign.

The Madison Bridal School had been painted in burgundy letters against an ivory background. The wagon itself had been painted a muted yellow on the bottom and burgundy on the top and the driver’s seat. It sported three windows on either side. Mrs. Gibson had wanted more, but Mrs. Madison feared it would look too garish.

“Well, come inside, Wade, and I will give you the balance on this magnificent carriage. Mr. Cunningham, would you unhitch the horses while we tend to business?”

“Happily.”

Wade looked over his shoulder. “I’m staying the night, so if you want to just put them in the carriage house, I can return them to the livery tomorrow.”

Cunningham nodded and began to lead the team away. “I’ll secure the omnibus in the carriage house, as well.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cunningham,” Mrs. Madison called from the porch.

Wade followed her into the house. Glancing around, he wondered where everyone had gotten off to. “Seems awfully quiet in here. I’ve never known that to happen too often.”

“Oh, the girls are out in back decorating the gardens and tables. We are ahead of schedule, I’m happy to say. Having Mr. Cunningham around has proven quite useful.”

“How is Abrianna adjusting to the idea of having her father here?”

They entered the tiny room that Mrs. Madison used for an office. “She seems happy enough. Of course, only time will tell. Mr. Cunningham seems to be the good sort, and I haven’t any complaint except for his lack of proper clothing. Sister suggested we take him shopping, but I find it an uncomfortable situation.”

“I could take him if you fear he’ll run off with the money or not buy something appropriate.”

“That might be a wise way of handling it. After all, you would have better knowledge of the shops that might carry the appropriate clothing. That way he need never know there was any mistrust.” She sat down to her desk and drew out her cashbox. “I had thought to give you a draft, but since we were out to the bank yesterday, I decided to get the money for you.”

“That was very considerate, Mrs. Madison, though I’ve never known any of you ladies to be otherwise.”

She counted out a large sum in twenty-dollar bills. “This is the balance of our agreed-upon price.”

Wade didn’t tell her that he’d quoted her a price nearly half of what most people would pay. He knew the old ladies had no idea what the cost of such things would be, and he liked sharing his talents with them. They had been good to him over the years, especially after his parents moved to California. Even so, with all they had given and done for him, they wouldn’t like thinking he was giving them charity.

“Thank you. Could I impose upon you to hold the money for me in your safe for the time being? I really have never trusted banks.”

“But of course.” She wrote him out a receipt and then put the money in an envelope and sealed it. She added his name to the envelope and then stood. “It will be here whenever you need it.” Moving to a small safe in the corner of the room, she quickly maneuvered the lock and opened the door. “As safe as the bank but not as large. Although Abrianna said it is a great risk to have one these days.”

“I hadn’t considered it, but I suppose she’s right. Should anyone learn that you have a safe, they might be compelled to steal it.”

“I had thought of that.” Mrs. Madison closed the safe. “Abrianna said if we were to have one, we should install one of those wall units so that a thief couldn’t just load it up and take it away. I suppose I should have you build me one.”

Wade considered it a for moment. “It wouldn’t be that hard to do. It would require I cut into the wall, but I think we could manage it. Speaking of Abrianna, did she and Militine get back safely?”

“Goodness, I’d all but forgotten about them. I’ve been so busy. My guess is that they would be in the garden with the others.” She paused a moment. “You care very much for Abrianna, don’t you?”

Wade knew there was no use denying it. “I do.”

“I would even venture to say that you . . . love her.”

He nodded. “I do. I suppose I should have realized it sooner. I guess it just seemed she was always there and underfoot like an annoying little sister. But now . . .”

“Now you’re in love with her and consider her in a completely different light.”

“Yes,” Wade admitted. “Am I that obvious?”

She smiled. “Not to everyone, but I’ve seen it coming for some time. I knew, however, that if it were meant to be, God would bring it about.”

“But now she’s courting Welby.”

Mrs. Madison laughed heartily. “And you intend to sit by and just let that happen? If so, you’re not half the man I believe you to be.”

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Matt slid down the chute without trouble. “I’m here, Miss Abrianna, but we’re gonna have to hurry. There’s some big fire going on around here. The air is smoky, and bells are ringing out all over town.”

“I know. It won’t take you but a moment,” Abrianna said, leading him to the locked room. “I’ll keep watch.” She leaned against the door and spoke to the girls. “We’re back and we’re going to get you out. Don’t make any noise.”

“We be quiet” came the same voice from earlier.

Abrianna maneuvered herself so she could watch the basement door. The stairs were clear across the large basement, and there was plenty to hide behind should someone start down. Even so, her heart raced.

Matt had no trouble with the lock. It popped open, and he hurried to free it from the door. Abrianna left her perch and came to help the victims. To her amazement there were several small Chinese women—very young and obviously terrified—all stuffed into the tiny enclosure. The smell of urine almost overwhelmed her. She motioned to them to come out and asked who could speak English.

“Please to be sorry, I speak very bad,” a girl who looked to be maybe as old as fifteen answered.

“That’s all right. How many of you are in here?”

“Ten.”

“Ten? Oh my goodness.” She took a brief moment to gather her thoughts.

“Tell the others that we’re going to get them out, and they need to follow us and be very quiet.” The others barely moved from their places.

“We not eat. We not drink but sometimes, and then it taste very bad and make us sleep.”

They had been drugged. No doubt to keep them quiet, but why were they here? Her rage began to burn at the injustice. Was this Priam Welby’s doing or that of his man, Carl? She would get to the bottom of it, no matter what.

“Matt, they’re going to need our help. You take one and I’ll take another. Let’s get them all to the boiler room, and then we can help them outside.”

“We’re gonna need help, Miss Abrianna. They’re little enough, but I don’t know that we can get them up that chute.”

She nodded. “I’ll have Militine go fetch Thane and Wade.”

Abrianna hurried to the boiler room and called out for her friend. “You must get Wade and Thane. There are ten Chinese girls down here, and they are too weak to move on their own. We’ll have to have help to get them out.”

“Thane may be busy with the fire,” Militine said. “There must be a big blaze nearby, because the air is getting thick with smoke.”

She hadn’t considered that they might be in peril from the fire until that moment. “You have to hurry then. If the fire spreads, we might be trapped.”

“I’ll run,” Militine promised. “I’m good at running.”

Abrianna turned as Matt brought the first of the girls into the boiler room. It was the one who could speak a little English. Abrianna went to her and pulled her over to the chute. “Stay here. We have help coming, but there’s a fire outside, and we don’t know how close it is.”

“Fire here?” the girl questioned, her eyes growing wide.

“I hope not.” Abrianna didn’t want to frighten the poor child any more than she had. She smiled. “Stay right here. Do you understand?” The girl nodded.

Matt and Abrianna worked together to get all the girls into the boiler room. She had no idea when Militine might return or how bad things might be outside, but Abrianna knew they couldn’t wait. Even if the fire proved to be no threat, they could still be discovered.

“Matt, I think I will be better at pushing than pulling. You climb back out, and then lie on your belly. I’ll help each girl get up to the chute flap and then you pull them out. Agreed?”

“Sure, Miss Abrianna. I can do that.” He scurried up the pile of coal and then the metal chute as if it were no more difficult than climbing over a chair. Once he was in position he called back. “Miss Abrianna, I think the fire must be close. I can’t even see down the alley if someone is coming.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get out of here quick enough.” She looked at the ten souls who were watching her and waiting for their salvation. No matter what it took, she would see these girls to safety.

“Has Militine returned?”

“I don’t see her,” Matt replied. “Come on, hurry up. We gotta get out of here.”

Abrianna motioned to the smallest girl. “We’ll start with you.” The girl looked at her with large black eyes. She had no idea what she was to do, so Abrianna took hold of her hand and smiled. She pointed to the chute and Matt. “You go up there. I will help.” She looked at the girl who had acted as interpreter. “Can you tell them what we’re doing?”

“Some I can talk for. Some I cannot.”

Abrianna frowned. She hadn’t thought about all the different dialects of Chinese. She knew a little of Liang’s language and tried it on for size.

“We will go now,” she said, hoping that the words were correct. Three of the girls perked up and nodded. They understood. At least it was a start.

She pulled the small girl up from the floor and all but carried her up the coal and to the slide. Abrianna put her hands together and motioned the girl to step into them. The girl did so, though it seemed to take forever because of her weakness. Abrianna began to hoist her up, and the girl finally seemed to understand and took hold of the metal to pull herself upward. At the top, Matt took hold of her and quickly pulled her through to freedom.

Abrianna sighed. Only nine more to go.

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Wade grew worried when he saw that Abrianna and Militine weren’t back. It was clear there was a major fire somewhere in town. He climbed to the top floor of the bridal school and could see great billows of smoke. It looked to be in the area of his shop.

“I’m going to go back to my shop and see what’s going on,” he told Mrs. Madison. He didn’t want to mention that he would also look for Abrianna and Militine.

He didn’t need to. “Will you find the girls? I’m sure they’re delayed due to the trolley, but I would rather they be safe at home.”

“I will,” he promised. He made a run for the carriage house, where Mr. Cunningham was still currying one of the horses.

“There’s a fire downtown, and Abrianna and Militine haven’t returned. I don’t like the looks of it.” He took up the rope that Cunningham had used to tie up the horse and jumped on the gelding’s bare back.

“I’ll come, too,” the older man declared.

“No. Stay here. The ladies here may need you. I’m sure it’s not all that bad of a situation, but you know Abrianna. She’s probably standing with the bucket brigade to help douse the flames.”

Cunningham laughed. “I’m sure she is.”

But Wade didn’t laugh. Instead, he shook his head and urged the horse toward the road. “Oh, Abrianna, where are you and what have you gotten yourself into now?”