“There are some people who are never going to better themselves. If you give ’em a piece of bread, they’ll stick their feet under your table three times a day and never offer to do a lick of work in return.”
“Yeah, but you can’t refuse to help everybody because of the few who’ll take advantage of you.”
While the men pondered this, Jake thought about Livy and Mrs. Brooks. They’d taken in every orphan who’d darkened their door, and he figured they’d take in every one that came their way until children spilled out of the orphanage like an overflowing ore cart. Livy roamed the streets at night trying to find more kids to save. They were doing their part to help those who couldn’t help themselves. Jake hung his head, suddenly ashamed. What had he done lately to help someone in need?
He’d been so focused on saving his town, he’d lost sight of the fact that saving the people came first.
* * *
Livy hurried down the boardwalk, avoiding the muddy splotches left by melting snow. The warmer weather brought out farmers by the dozens, and wagons and buggies filled the streets with people making last-minute preparations for Christmas. She hastened past the laundry and waved at Mr. Wong. He bobbed his head and smiled back. They’d exchanged no more than a dozen words in the couple of months since she’d met him, mainly because he didn’t know enough English to carry on a conversation, and she couldn’t afford to have any clothes laundered.
She spotted the sisters Huff in their hat shop, chatting with a couple of customers. Livy passed on by. She’d stop in later and check on Miss Janie, but right now she needed to find Jake. Mud covered the side street running between the hat shop and the butcher’s, but a couple of boards made passage easier. Livy lifted her heavy cloak and skirt and headed across the shaky walkway, making it to the other side without mishap.
From this distance, she could see the jail. She took a deep breath. Would Jake be there, or Sheriff Carter? She hadn’t spoken much with the sheriff. Maybe she should talk to him. That would be better than talking to Jake, wouldn’t it? Her steps faltered and her hands turned clammy as she eyed the jail. Maybe she should just go back to the orphanage. She clenched her jaw. She couldn’t. No matter what Jake thought of her, Luke and the other boys’ lives depended on her.
She found the jail empty. The cells mocked her. Livy pivoted, her heart pounding. She didn’t have to be afraid. She’d been forgiven of everything she’d done wrong. Her sins had been cast into the depths of the sea, just as God promised. If He had forgiven her, then why couldn’t she forgive herself?
She bowed her head. Lord, forgive me for doubting You. I know I’m forgiven, and I don’t intend to slip back into my old ways ever again. Thank You for sending Mrs. Brooks my way.
The door opened, and she whirled around. Jake stepped inside and removed his hat. A surprised glint lit his eyes when he saw her. Then his face hardened, and he turned away, taking his time placing his hat on a peg and shrugging out of his coat. “Morning, Livy.
She shivered at his cold, impassive tone. Whatever feelings he’d felt for her had died when he’d found out she’d roamed the streets of Chicago. Ice coated her heart, and she shrugged. She had nothing to lose now, so what did it matter what he thought about her? “Luke came to see me this morning.”
He faced her, his eyes narrowed. “He did? Is he ready to turn himself in?”
Livy glared at him. “Why should he turn himself in? He’s done nothing wrong. For your information, he brought another orphan to us. Then he told me—”
Jake took a step toward her. “What? What did he tell you?”
She plunged in. “You know what a sweatshop is, don’t you?”
“I’ve heard the term.”
“Well, according to Luke, there’s a sweatshop here.”
“In Chestnut?”
“Yes.”
Jake’s brow creased, and he sat on the edge of Sheriff Carter’s desk. His green eyes probed hers. “Why are you telling me this now? Last night you said you didn’t know anything about the robberies.”
“I still don’t know anything about the robberies, except that I don’t believe it’s Luke who’s doing it.” She met his gaze head-on, wishing she could’ve talked to Sheriff Carter instead. Suspicion about her motives seemed to