Read Online Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson - Free Book Online Page A

hasn’t changed her mind about letting me take the baby.”
    “He’s still here. That’s all I know. You stay right here. I’ll get Mrs. Walker.”
    “I’d like to check on Amy.”
    Beulah glared at her through narrowed eyes. “You stay right here,” she repeated sternly.
    Sarah decided she’d best obey. She didn’t want to antagonize anyone and fail to get the baby away. While she waited, she listened for any sounds of activity, but she heard nothing. The stillness was almost eerie, as if the very house itself was sleeping.
    In a few moments, Beulah returned and told her Mrs. Walker wanted to see her.
    This morning, Mrs. Walker was in her nightdress and robe, with her hair still braided for sleep. Her heavy eyelids and creased face told Sarah that Beulah had awakened her.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I thought I should come before the other girls were awake.”
    “I wish you’d waited until I was awake,” Mrs. Walker said, “but you’re right. There’s no sense in getting everybody stirred up.”
    “I’d like to see Amy, to make sure she’s doing well.”
    “She’s doing fine, and if she sees you, she’ll know why you’re here. I don’t want her upset.”
    “She’ll be upset when she finds out the baby is gone.”
    “Yes, but it’ll be too late then, and she’ll get over it quick enough.”
    Sarah wondered if a woman could ever get over the loss of her baby, but she didn’t dare express her doubt to Mrs. Walker. She had to avoid antagonizing her at all costs. “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of. You can tell Amy that.”
    “I’ll tell her what I please,” Mrs. Walker said. “And I hope never to see your face again.”
    Sarah hoped the same thing.
    The office door opened, and Beulah came in, carrying a small bundle. “He’s sleeping like a lamb.”
    “What did you tell Amy?” Mrs. Walker asked.
    “Nothing. She’s sound asleep, too.”
    “Good.”
    Beulah handed the infant to Sarah. A wave of tenderness swept over her as she gazed down into his sweet face.
    “You can go now,” Mrs. Walker said. “And be quick.”
    Sarah had almost forgotten the most important part of her task. “Oh, dear, I was wondering, could your man Jake take me in the carriage? It’s a long walk to where I’m taking him, you see, and—”
    Mrs. Walker muttered something under her breath, but she said, “Beulah, go wake Jake up and have him take her wherever she wants to go. But take her with you. She can wait in the stable. I don’t want Amy to wake up and have the baby still in the house.”
    “Thank you very much, Mrs. Walker,” Sarah began, but the woman waved her off.
    “Get out of here.”
    Sarah obediently followed Beulah out, onto the back porch, through the yard, across the alley, and into the stable. She waited just inside the door, holding the tiny, almost weightless bundle, while Beulah went up the stairs to what was apparently Jake’s quarters over the stable. She heard some loud grumbling and a lot of thumping around, but in a few minutes, Beulah came down the stairs with a groggy and furious Jake behind her. He was still buttoning the jacket of his uniform, and he glared at Sarah.
    “I’m very sorry,” Sarah said, trying to sound sincere, “but you were the one who told me to come early in the day.”
    He made a rude noise, and silently went about the task of harnessing the matching horses to the carriage.
    Beulah came over to Sarah and, using one finger, pushed the blanket back from the baby’s face so she could take one last look. “Good luck to you, boy. You’ll need it.” She stepped back. “You really think somebody’ll adopt him?”
    “It’s possible.”
    Beulah shook her head. “But not likely. You’re doing a good thing, though, getting him away from here. That’s a start.”
    Sarah tried to think of an appropriate response, but before she could, Beulah turned and walked away. She didn’t look back.
    Jake wasted no time getting the horses hitched,