Chapter Five

“Now Louise, you will sleep over here by Lila. You may place your belongings in the trunk at the foot of the bed, but never leave them out and about. Sister Catherine does not abide by messy little girls.”

Louise McCloud looked at the fleshy-faced nun and spoke in a voice that could hardly be heard. “Yes, Sister Bernadette.” She was scared and lonely, but she would not let the nuns or anyone at the orphanage know this. She promised her mother, on her deathbed, that she would take care of her little brother and sister and agreeing to be put in this orphanage was the only way she could see to keep her promise. At ten years old, she was unable to properly care for five year old Jeremiah and two year old Teresa, but in the orphanage, she could help them grow up.

“Louise! Are you listening to me?”

Louise also knew she would have to be on her best behavior. The mother superior, a no nonsense type, had made that perfectly clear when she had arrived. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Well then, what did I say?”

“You said that breakfast was at seven o’clock sharp and services promptly afterwards.”

“Good, good. Now, classes will fill the rest of your day with recess before dinner. Studies will continue until lights out.”

“When can I see my brother and sister?”

“Now, Sister Catherine explained that to you. They will live with the other children their age. You may see them at supper. Why don’t you run along and join the children in the yard until the bell.”

“Yes, Sister Bernadette.”

Louise entered the orphanage yard and searched for her siblings. Younger and more willing to adapt to their new home, she saw them playing with the other children and making new friends. Wanting to go to them, but not wanting to smother them, she chose to leave them be. She noticed some girls who appeared to be her age, gathered under the trees playing together and talking animatedly. It didn’t take long to figure out it was her who they were talking about when she saw a blonde-headed girl point and whisper behind her hand.

Her family had spent so much time moving around because of, or hiding from, her good-for-nothing, gun-running father that she rarely had time to form lasting friendships. Thrown into this lion’s den they called a play yard, she felt very ill at ease and acutely aware of the stares.

Deciding to postpone this first meeting with the “social club” she held her head up high and walked right past them to sit alone, against the cool, stone wall of the orphanage compound. So set on her path was she, she never saw the legs dangling from the ledge above her head. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the legs landed beside her, attached to the body of a smiling redheaded boy.

With a high pitched squeal, Louise jumped to her feet and nearly took off in a run until she got a better look at what scared her. The boy, slightly older than her, but a full head taller was laughing so hard he had tears in his emerald green eyes. Holding his sides to stop the ache, he doubled over and didn’t even flinch when she hit him several times on the back.

“Well, I’m glad you find me so amusing!”

“You should have seen yourself! You must have jumped at least three feet off the ground and your braids! They practically stood straight on end!”

“Do you make a regular practice of greetin’ people like this?”

“Only ones who look like they could use a good smile. I got you, didn’t I?”

Louise wanted to be angry with this boy who wouldn’t stop grinning at her, but she found his smile infectious and soon was laughing herself. “I feel so silly, I’m laughing at myself!”

“Well sometimes you have to do that. My Pa says a man who can’t laugh at himself has no right to laugh at others.”

Louise was confused by his statement and it showed on her face as she scrunched up her nose and pursed her lips.

“Careful, or your face will get stuck that way.”

“You’ve got a sayin’ for everything don’t you?”

“Just about. So, you’re new here.”

“How’d you guess?”

“My sisters told me. They know almost everything that goes on around here.”

Louise curled her lip and nodded her head towards the girls under the tree. “Then I guess they’re in that bunch over there?”

“Well, Kiley is, but Fallon wouldn’t dare. She finds them rude and immature.”

“I think I like Fallon already.”

“Kiley’s not too bad either. She just wants to fit in. It’s a little different for us.”

“Because you’re here as a family? I’m here with my little brother and sister.”

“No because…”

Before the boy could finish, the light hum in the yard was broken by a booming woman’s voice with a thick Irish accent. “Flynn Patrick Malone, you get over here this instant! Don’t make me come over there and drag you by your ears! Do you hear me, Flynn?”

“Well, I guess I better go, that’s my Ma. See you later, Louise!”

As Flynn Patrick Malone started to run off, Louise called out to him. “Hey! How did you know my name?”

“I said my sisters know almost everything that goes on around here. I know everything!”

Without another glance backwards, Flynn sprinted across the courtyard and out the side door of the orphanage compound.

Dinner, and the rest of the evening, passed slower than Christmas Eve for Louise. With no studies yet, she just had to sit quietly as the rest of her roommates read their books or worked their sums. It wasn’t until lights out that Lou met her bunkmate, Lila. To her horror, it was the very same blonde girl who whispered about her at recess. Could this day get any worse?

Lila made sure to step on Louise’s pillow on her way to the top bunk. She also made it clear that Louise was to stay away from Flynn Malone.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let Flynn be.”

“I didn’t do nothing.”

“He’s not like the rest of us and he’s going to be my way out.”

“What are you talking about? Is he going to help you escape from here?” Louise couldn’t believe that the happy-go-lucky boy, she’d met in the yard, was a criminal.

“No, stupid, His father’s the caretaker and when they move on one day, I plan to go with them. As Flynn’s wife.”

Louise was stunned. Now her conversation with Flynn made more sense, as well as the scene with his mother. She could never picture him with Lila, but figured – to each his own. Trying not to dream of the redheaded boy who’d made her smile for the first time in weeks, she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

As the days passed into weeks, Louise settled into a regular, but lonely routine. Lila’s immediate dislike for her made life within the orphanage less than tolerable. Lila took it upon herself to rally the other girls against Louise and for no other reason than her one conversation with Flynn Malone, she was the play yard outcast.

Supper was easier to bear, but only because she made a point of eating with her brother and sister and she was guaranteed some company. Excited about his new friends and the opportunity to finally go to school, Jeremiah was able to keep up the conversation for both of them. Teresa was too little for classes, but enjoyed her time with her new friends as well as ‘Sissy Josapeen’ as she called Sister Josephine, the nun who ran the nursery. In all their joy they never saw the dark circles that were forming under their sister’s eyes or noticed that she always sat alone at recess. The only one who noticed was Flynn Malone.

At twelve years old, Flynn Malone was already a strapping young man. Taller than boys two and three years his senior, he was athletic and among the smartest students at the orphanage school. Only on American soil for two years, he had come to love his new home in the ‘Wild West’ as much as his father and shared few of the longings for his native Ireland that his sisters and mother had. He wanted to learn all he could while at the school and eventually move on to California. One glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean, on the crossing to America and he knew he would have to one day sail the Pacific Ocean, as well.

The Malone’s were a well-respected family at the orphanage. Liam Malone was an excellent caretaker and in his spare time did odd jobs around their town, just outside St. Joseph, Missouri. Liam was also well known for his handcrafted toys and always made a point to make extras for the children at the orphanage. Liam’s wife, Shannon, was a serious, but loving woman. Everyone knew she ran the family with the same tight fist that she used in running the orphanage kitchen. Yet at the same time, everyone knew Auntie Shannon could be counted on to have a gingersnap in her pocket to soothe a crying child or a soft touch to heal a skinned knee. As a benefit to the Malone’s for their employment, the family was provided a cottage just beside the orphanage and their four children were allowed to attend the school.

At seventeen, Shane Malone was almost ready to leave St. Joe and become the first in their family to attend a university. His parents were astounded by their son’s success and continued to work backbreaking hours to make his future education as a doctor possible. At fourteen years old, Fallon Malone was a sight to behold, but her parents were proudest of her for the way she stepped forward and helped to run their family. Fallon could always be counted on to fill in as caretaker and supervisor when they were working. Flynn would always be a mystery to his mother and Shannon was convinced he never sat still for more than two minutes at a time. Liam recognized the daring nature his son had and took pride in knowing Flynn was cut from his very mold. Nine-year-old Kiley Malone was already a stunning beauty and Liam knew he would have to fight the suitors off his porch with a pitchfork. Less interested in her studies, she spent most of her days socializing with the other girls. Although all of the children were popular among the orphans, it was Flynn who shined like a bright star.

Louise wanted to keep herself out of trouble, and especially out of Sister Catherine’s office, so she did her best to avoid any contact with Flynn that might raise Lila’s ire. She was mostly successful and only saw him in passing until the afternoon that marked her third month in the orphanage.

“Why so down, Louise?”

“Hello, Flynn.”

“You’re not answering me so, it must be real bad. And since we’re on the subject of questions you’ll avoid answering, why have you been avoiding me?”

Louise felt her face flush at the same time as a smile started to form on her lips. What was it about this boy that made her so happy? “I’m just a little down. We’ve been here three months today.”

“I know it must be tough on you, especially with Jeremiah and Teresa having so much fun and you not having any.”

“I’m having fun!” Louise could not help but lie to cover the hurt.

Sitting down beside her, in the shade of the wall, he looked at her very seriously. He wore no smile, probably for the first time since they had met. “You don’t have to ever lie to me, Louise. I know the other girls have been awful to you and I’m sorry. I talked to Kiley about it, but she’s too young to understand. She just wants to be like Lila and her friends.”

At the mention of Lila, Louise’s skin prickled and she had an involuntary shiver. She could just imagine the things Lila would have to say that night. Louise knew the mean spirited girl could see her talking to Flynn and the fear must have shone in her eyes because without warning Flynn took her hand and patted it for reassurance.

“That’s the same reaction most of us have when we think about Lila.” Flynn let loose with his trademark laugh and his smile returned. “I don’t think we should let Lila have the satisfaction of keeping you from having friends, do you?”

“No, but no one will talk to me.”

“I’m talking to you and I would be honored if you’d let me be your friend.”

Louise knew Flynn was the most popular boy in the school and he was also two years older than she was. “Why would you want to be my friend?

“Anyone who can survive sleeping below that monster for three months must be worth being friends with!” Still holding her hand he pulled her to her feet and together they took off running across the yard. For the first time since she could remember, she had a friend.