Read Online Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman - Free Book Online Page B

streets.”
    Seamus shook his head. “Well, I never. What’s this world coming to?”
    “I don’t know.”
    After a few minutes of silence, Seamus dozed off, rousing when Jake stood.
    “I’d better get going. I’ll see you next week, okay?”
    “All right. Take care, and tell your pa to come see me when his shift is over. He’s working too hard.”
    Jake’s throat constricted. Sometimes Seamus could carry on a conversation for hours without slipping into the past, but today didn’t seem to be one of those days. He’d learned to humor the old man rather than explain things.
    But inside, he felt not an ounce of humor.
    He placed a hand on the old man’s bony shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll do that, Seamus.”
     
* * *
     
    Church bells pealed throughout town, calling everyone to Sunday morning services. Livy bit back a grin as Mrs. Brooks marched down the street, the children following like a brood of little chicks. Livy brought up the rear, keeping an eye on Seth and Georgie. She’d promised them a treat if they stayed away from the iced-over mud puddles. So far, the promise of a sliver of carefully horded peppermint outweighed their desire to see if they could crack through the ice.
    They arrived at the small church to a flurry of townsfolk entering the front door. Reverend Warren smiled and shook hands with Mrs. Brooks. “I’m delighted you and the children could make it out today.”
    “We’re very happy to be here, Reverend.” Mrs. Brooks hurried her charges inside. “Come along, children; let’s find a seat.”
    Livy glanced at the children, making sure the boys hadn’t managed to splatter mud on their pants. She pulled Seth aside, extracted a moistened hankie from her reticule, and scrubbed a spot of mud off his pants. She gave him a quick hug and a smile. “There you go. You look very handsome this morning.”
    Seth squirmed away and joined the others. The girls looked as well as they could, considering their worn and threadbare clothes. The patched clothing didn’t concern Livy. Many of the townspeople didn’t have much better. But she did want the children to behave and represent Mrs. Brooks well.
    As they filed into the church, Livy caught a glimpse of a couple of matronly women standing with Miss MacKinnion, the teacher, eyeing them and whispering behind their gloved hands. She glanced at Mrs. Brooks, who didn’t seem to notice the women. Georgie glared at the teacher, and Livy stepped between them, giving him a frown.
    She sighed. Some people would always look down on destitute children who didn’t have much chance to better themselves. She’d learned that lesson firsthand. No matter. She and Mrs. Brooks would have to do everything they could to make sure the children earned the respect of the townspeople . . . starting with Georgie’s attitude toward Miss MacKinnion.
    If only she could do something about Miss MacKinnion’s attitude toward the children. More than once the orphans had spoken of how the teacher treated them in front of the other students.
    They settled on a bench close to the back as more people filed in, the men stomping snow off their boots, the women chattering among themselves about the past week, the cold, and the upcoming Christmas holiday.
    Georgie grinned before pointing. “Miss Livy, look. It’s Mr. Jake.”
    Livy’s face warmed even as she gently tugged his arm down. “It’s not nice to point, Georgie.”
    She gave Jake a timid smile.
    He shook Georgie’s hand. “Good morning, Georgie. How’re you today?”
    “I’m fine.” He pushed his shoes against the bench in front of him. “Look—I got new shoes.”
    Livy cringed. Georgie’s hand-me-down boots barely had enough remaining leather to protect the soles of his feet. But at least he wore shoes, polished to a high shine late last night.
    Jake eyed the boots. “And they’re very nice shoes too.”
    Livy noticed a middle-aged woman at his side, watching the exchange with a