Stephanie Grace Whitson - [Quilt Chronicles] by Key on the Quilt Read Free Book Online

But again, he had something else on his mind. “Normally, I’d assign a guard and the matron to accompany Miss Jackson and the doctor over to my house and be done with it. But I need Miss Dawson here right now to help me with this Pearl Brand business.” He paused. “So I’m asking: Will you do the job of a trustee even though you refused the title? Would you go with Miss Jackson and stay with her for the duration?”
    Jane wanted to say no with everything in her being, and the desire had nothing to do with Vestal or the birthing—and everything to do with Max Zimmer. What was he doing here? He didn’t seem to have let on that he knew her. Should she tell the warden? Vestal hollered again. The poor thing shouldn’t have to go through this alone—she just shouldn’t. Knowing that she would likely regret the decision, Jane nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m willing.”
    “Do I have your word that you won’t try to escape?”
    It was odd having a warden ask a woman serving time for manslaughter for her word. As if he could trust it. Why would he do that? She shrugged. “There wouldn’t be any point.” Would he still believe her when he found out about Max? The first visit had happened on the other warden’s watch, and Max hadn’t contacted her since. So unless one of them told him—and she wouldn’t—the warden would have no reason to know. For her part, she was going to pretend she’d never seen Max Zimmer.
    Apparently satisfied, the warden nodded. “All right, then.”
    Together, they went back into the dormitory where Miss Dawson reached out and squeezed her arm. “Thank you for your kindness to Vestal.”
    Jane shook her head. “I’m not—kind. I’m just not willfully cruel. Vestal’s frightened. She shouldn’t be alone. Even an animal deserves company when it’s suffering.” Was she out of her mind? What had she done? And why had Ian allowed it? Not half a minute after Ellen so confidently offered her home as a medical clinic, she began to have doubts. As she and Georgia headed out of the facility, Miss Dawson caught up with them.

    Glancing behind her toward the ward, the matron said, “It probably doesn’t seem like I know what I’m doing, what with one of the women missing and all.” She lowered her voice. “I expect I’ll lose my position over it, and I won’t blame your husband one bit.” She took a deep breath. “I just want you to know that I’ll be forever grateful for your help with Vestal. She’s—” She paused. Shook her head. “She’s brokenhearted over the idea of having to give that baby away. Your kindness means a great deal.”
    Ellen didn’t quite know what to say. “Don’t give me too much credit. It seemed the thing to do to help my husband.”
    Miss Dawson nodded. “The warden’s sending another woman along, and I wanted you to know that you don’t have to be concerned that she’ll doing anything… untoward. She’s been exemplary in every way since she’s been here. In fact, if I didn’t know better—” She broke off. “I just wanted you to know there’s nothing to fear from either Vestal or Jane.”
    Ellen glanced past her toward the space beyond turnkey. “And the one who’s missing? Pearl Brand, is it?”
    Miss Dawson hesitated. Pursed her lips. Cleared her throat. “She’d be a different story. But you’ve nothing to fear from her, either.” She gestured about her. “She’s here somewhere. Couldn’t have gone far. We’ll find her.”
    “Godspeed,” Ellen said, “and thank you for your… reassurance.” She made her way toward home, not certain whether hearing Miss Dawson’s appraisal of the two women who would soon be inside her house was comforting or not. Ian had nice things to say about both Miss Dawsons. Ellen had only seen Manerva at chapel services on Sunday. She had a dressmaking establishment in town and relieved her sister on weekends, but both women seemed nice enough. As to competence—well. How
did
one account for losing