Witemeyer - More than meets the eye Patchwork Family Series, Book 1

1879Fannin County, TX

Dont lose heart, children. We have several strong families lined up in Bonham. Im sure well find good homes for each of you.

Four-year-old Evangeline Pearson smiled at the sponsor from the Childrens Aid Society as the lady made her way down the train car aisle, bracing her hand for balance against one empty seat after another. Seats that had been filled with children when theyd left New York.

Miss Woodson always made Evie feel better. Even after seven... eight.... Evie scrunched her nose and unfolded her fingers one at a time as she tried to count. How many stops had they made? When she ran out of fingers, she gave up, huffed out a breath, and flopped back against the wooden bench seat. It didnt matter. No one had wanted her at any of them. But Miss Woodson had promised to find her and Hamilton a home, and Evie believed her. She was such a nice person, after all. Nothing like the lizard lady sitting stiff and straight at the front of the train car.

As if Mrs. Dougal had heard Evies thoughts, she twisted her neck around and scowled, her bulging eyes and pursed lips making Evie shudder. She buried her face in her brothers shoulder.

Dont let her scare you, Hamilton whispered as he gently lifted his arm and wrapped it around her. At nine, Hamilton was ever so much bigger and stronger, and not afraid of anything. Even when Mama and Papa died. Or when Childrens Haven had decided the Pearson siblings would be riding the orphan train west. Never once did he cry or fret. He just hugged her tight and promised that everything would be all right. He was the bravest boy who ever lived.

She doesnt like me. Evie snuck a peek at the lizard lady, found her still scowling at her, and burrowed deeper into her brothers side. Its cause of my eyes, isnt it?

Hamilton slid his hands under her arms and lifted her onto his lap. He tipped her chin up and looked straight into her face. There is nothing wrong with your eyes, Evie. Theyre beautiful. Gods gift. Remember what Mama used to say?

Evies chin trembled slightly. Thinking of Mama always made her sad. Made her wish everything would go back to the way it had been. Mama holding her in the rocking chair and singing lullabies. Papa swinging her high into the air and laughing with that deep belly laugh that always made her giggle. Her room with rose paper on the wall. Her bed with the pink quilt and soft pillow. But it was gone. They were gone. Forever.

What did Mama say? Hamilton insisted.

That only special little girls get eyes with two colors, Evie mumbled. She wanted to believe it was true. She really did. But if having two different eyes made her so special, why did no one want her?

Hamilton nodded. Thats right. And you know what?

Evie glanced at her brother, envying his normal, matching brown eyes. What?

I wish my eyes were the same.

As mine? Evie leaned back, her forehead wrinkling. Why? Then no one would want you, either.

Hamilton smiled and bopped a finger on the tip of her nose. Every time you look in a mirror, you see both Mama and Papa looking back at you. Mama from your blue eye, and Papa from your brown one. And you know how much they both loved you. Its kind of like getting one of those hugs where they sandwiched us between them. Remember those?

Evie nodded slowly. Oh yes, she remembered. So warm. So safe. Her in her nightdress in Mamas arms, her legs wrapped around Mamas middle. Mama smelling sweet, her long braid tickling Evies bare toes. Papa growling like a hungry bear, saying he needed an Evie sandwich, before he grabbed Mama and squished Evie between them. Their three heads jostled together. And their eyes... Mamas bright blue ones to Evies left and Papas twinkling brown ones on her right. Just like hers!

A smile broke out across Evies face. Oh, Ham-ton, youre right! I have the bestest eyes ever!

He folded her into a hugnot quite as bearish as Papas, but still warm and safe and full of love. Dont ever forget it, he said as he squeezed her tight.

As Evie rested in her brothers arms, voices drifted to her from the front of the railcar.

Bonhams the last stop, Lizard Lady grumbled as Miss Woodson slid into the seat next to her, though I dont know why we should bother with it. No ones going to take these misfits. Zacharias scares the women and angers the men with his hostile, defiant manner. Seth is so sickly, most families assume hell not make it through the winter. And Evangeline. She behaves well enough, but those unnatural eyes of hers unsettle decent folk. Heavens. They unsettle me.

Lower your voice, Delphinia, Miss Woodson urged. The children can hear you. She twisted in her seat to smile an apology at Evie. The smile didnt take away the sting of Lizard Ladys mean comment, but it gave Evie just enough gumption to ignore it while considering for the first time what the other leftover children must be feeling.

Evie straightened away from her brother and turned around in her seat to look at the two boys behind her. Three rows back sat a boy close to Hamiltons age. He looked nothing like her brother, though. He was so pale and skinny. The new coat the Childrens Aid Society had given him hung on him like it would a scarecrow. He stared out the window, his shoulders slumped, chest caved. And every time a puff of soot found its way into the railcar, he coughed.

The other boy sat in the very back of the car on the opposite side. His back was pressed sideways into the corner, one long leg drawn up onto the bench, his hat pulled low on his face. Not so low she couldnt see his eyes, though. They were dark, just like the rest of him. Dark clothes. Dark hair. Darkly tanned skin. He even had dark whiskers growing on his cheeks. But those dark blue eyes made her shiver. Especially when he stared straight at her. Like he was doing now.