Tempy wanted to remind her niece that she was about to do many things she’d never done before, but thought better of it. She didn’t want Faith to be ill again. “It will be all right, my dear.” She patted Faith’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Everything will turn out fine.” Tempy gave Faith a reassuring smile.
The train whistled sounded. Tempy pulled away from Faith. “I wish I could stay,” she admitted, “I wish I were going with you.” Tears brimmed in the corners of her eyes.
Reese tapped at the washroom door. “The train will be pulling out in a few minutes.”
Tempy opened the door. Faith looked past Reese and suddenly recalled where she was. Her gaze darted around the interior of the railroad car, without focusing on the furnishings. “Where’s Joy?” She stepped into the room, and headed for the outer door, intent on finding her sister.
Reese blocked her path. “Easy now.” His voice was gentle. “She’s outside with David. She wanted to watch them loading the horses. They’ll be here in a minute.”
Seconds later, the door of the car opened and Joy rushed in, full of exciting news. She ran toward Faith, but Reese intercepted her.
“Easy, Joy, your mother isn’t feeling well. She’s still a little shaky on her feet.” He took Joy’s hand and led her to the sofa. “Why don’t we sit here where you can keep an eye on her while you tell me all your news? Say goodbye to your aunt Temperance.” He gave the instruction to Joy, but meant it for Faith as well.
Joy ran to Tempy and hugged her around the waist. Tempy leaned down and Joy planted a sloppy kiss on her aunt’s cheek before turning back to Reese. “Where is Aunt Tempy goin’, Weese?”
“She’s going home to Richmond. But we’re going on a long train ride,” Reese explained.
“You and me?” Joy was torn between excitement and hesitation.
Reese nodded.
“Is Faith goin’, too?”
“Yes, sprite, your mother is going with us.” The pet name rolled off his tongue.
He had awarded the tag to Joy the instant he heard her call Faith by her given name. He knew it was an unusual form of address for a child, especially in the South. Reese had never heard southern mothers called anything except Mother or Mama, and to his way of thinking, Joy was unique. A child with an independent spirit like an elf or a fairy. A sprite.
Joy looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face. She opened her mouth to say something.
Faith drew in her breath and held it.
“Well, goodbye, Faith,” Tempy said, a little too loudly. She hugged Faith quickly, then hurried over to Reese and Joy, determined to save the day. “Joy, be a good girl for Faith and Mr. Jordan, and remember what we talked about.” She waited for Joy to blurt out the truth, but Joy surprised her.
“Yes, ma’am, Aunt Tempy, I won’t forget.” She smiled at Tempy, proud of herself.
The careful coaching of the night before had paid off. Joy would keep their secret a little while longer.
Faith let out a sigh of relief.
The train whistle blasted a second time and David came to the doorway. “We have to go, Miss Hamilton. They won’t hold the train any longer.”
“Yes, I understand.” Tempy inclined her head in David’s direction, before turning back to Reese. “Take care of my girls,” she ordered.
“I will.”
Temperance was taken back by his quick promise. “If Faith gets ill again…”
“I’ll take care of her,” Reese said firmly.
“But?”
“I’ll wire you from the next stop and let you know how she’s feeling.” The telegram would probably arrive in Richmond before Temperance did, but it was the least he could do to allay the woman’s fears.
Temperance looked up at Reese, her gray eyes locked with his brown ones. “I expect to be kept informed of…things.”
“Fine.” Reese didn’t flinch from the look in her eyes, but he didn’t commit himself further.
“Very well.” Temperance knew he had promised all he intended to promise. “Goodbye.” She blew kisses to Faith and to Joy, then preceded David out the door and down the steps to the platform, where she stood waving, tears rolling down her cheeks as the train chugged away.