No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky

Author:Carrie Turansky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2019-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

13

Katie set her jaw and stared straight ahead as Dr. Richardson pulled the open carriage to a stop in front of the Belleville receiving home. She’d stayed there only one night, and she barely remembered the place.

The doctor climbed down without a word and started toward the front gate. When Katie didn’t follow, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Well, don’t just sit there like a stone statue. Climb down.”

She thought of refusing, but if she did, he’d just come and grab her and he wouldn’t be gentle about it. She hopped to the ground and trudged up the walk, toward the huge white house with black shutters and a wraparound porch.

What would they say when the doctor announced he was returning her to the home? What would happen to her then? Her stomach swirled, and she put her hand over her mouth and swallowed hard. Please, Lord, don’t let me lose my breakfast.

When they reached the front door, he turned and gripped her shoulder. “Keep your mouth closed, and don’t even think about telling any more of your lies. Do you hear me?”

Katie lifted her chin and looked away, the memory of his stinging slap silencing her. There was no point in arguing with him now.

He opened the door without knocking, stepped inside, and strode down the front hall. Katie followed him, glancing around and trying to remember what she could of her first and only night there.

A middle-aged woman in a black skirt and white blouse stepped into the hall from one of the rooms on the right. Her eyebrows rose as she saw them approach. “Good day, sir.”

“Are you the one in charge here?”

She nodded. “I am Mrs. Woodward. How can I help you?”

“I’m bringing this girl back.” He jerked his thumb toward Katie. “We don’t want her in our home any longer.” He turned away.

Mrs. Woodward’s eyes widened. “Wait, sir! What is your name?”

He stopped and looked back. “Dr. Thomas Richardson.”

“And the girl’s name?”

He shook his head. “I can’t recall. You’ll have to ask her.”

Mrs. Woodward shifted her concerned gaze to Katie. “Young lady, what is your name?”

“Katherine McAlister, ma’am.”

The woman nodded. “Dr. Richardson, please come into my office so we can discuss this matter.”

He lifted his hand. “I don’t have time for a discussion. I have patients to tend to this morning.”

“I’m only asking for a few minutes of your time. Certainly you can—”

“My mind is made up! The girl is obstinate, and she can’t do a decent day’s work. She was disrespectful to my wife, and she can’t care for the children. She’s no use to us.”

“Some children just need a little time to settle in and—”

His expression hardened into a scowl. “I never should’ve taken in a home child. They’re all tainted and set on sin. It’s in their blood.”

Mrs. Woodward pulled back. “Dr. Richardson, surely as a medical man you know a home child is no different than any other. They simply need instruction and discipline so they can become productive members of society.

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