sitting position, gasping with the effort. He looked toward the boy who’d answered. “Last thing I remember, two big guys were getting the best of me. What happened?”
“You knocked Grady out; I got in a pretty solid lick to Butch’s head.” The boy grinned. “Shook the ground when he fell.”
Jake returned the grin, but it quickly turned into a grimace of pain.
A fit of coughing took his breath away, and he hugged his torso with one hand, groaning with the effort to keep from coughing up his lungs. The boys watched silently until he regained his breath.
“Where’s Luke?”
“He said something about going for help.”
A thump sounded, then two more. A boy pushed aside a crate and crawled through an opening into the makeshift living quarters, stopping when he saw that Jake was awake. “Luke’s coming.”
Luke crawled inside, followed by a woman. She stood and shook out the mud-spattered cloak she wore, the hem covered in filth. Then she threw back her hood, revealing a mass of reddish-brown curls.
Jake’s heart pounded. “Livy?” he rasped.
Her blue gaze collided with his and a smile flew across her face. She hurried to his side, knelt, and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re alive.”
Jake almost passed out from the pain when she hugged him, but he didn’t want the boys to think he couldn’t take it. He winked at them. Several grinned.
He’d broken the ice with them. Ignoring the throbbing in his ribs, he wrapped an arm around Livy and pulled her close, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair, reveling in having her next to him.
Thank You, Lord.
She pulled away, her hands fluttering over him. She touched his face, her fingers gentle. “Are you hurt?”
“I’ll live. I think.”
Luke hunkered in front of the fire, holding out his hands for warmth. “I think you’ve got some broken ribs.”
Tears filled Livy’s eyes. “Oh.”
“I’m fine. Really. There’s nothing that won’t heal with time.” He let himself drown in her eyes. “I’m glad you’re all right. I was worried about you.”
“Not as worried as I’ve been.”
Jake struggled to stand, his aching body protesting. “Luke, I’ve got to get back to the jail. Sheriff Carter will need me. No telling what Gibbons’s men might do.”
“Think you can make it?”
“Pretty sure.”
Jake led Livy to the opening, but she turned back.
“I wish you’d come to the orphanage.” Her plea included all the boys. “You’re all welcome. You know that. I’ve told Luke part of my story, but you boys need to hear it as well. I lived on the streets of Chicago for years. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of, but when I met Mrs. Brooks, my life changed. She led me to Jesus and taught me that stealing was wrong. She’s not like the others. She’s good and kind and loving.”
“We’ll talk about it, Miss Livy, but we can’t promise anything.” Luke poked at the fire.
Livy touched his shoulder. “We’ll be there when you decide to come, day or night.”
Luke nodded and turned to Jake. “I need to ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“Did . . .” His lips trembled. “Did any kids die in the fire?”
“No, thank the Lord. Why do you ask?”
“My little brother was there. The boss, the one you call Gibbons, shipped him here in one of those crates.”
Fingers of pain that had nothing to do with his bruised ribs and tortured lungs clutched Jake’s chest as he recalled Gibbons’s railcar and precious machinery. Had children been in those crates?
Dear Lord, no.
He cleared his throat and gripped Luke’s shoulder. “They weren’t there, but we’re going to find them.”
* * *
Jake left Livy at the orphanage before heading back to the jail.
He limped to the doorway leading to the cells in the back and leaned against the doorjamb, trying not to wince. “Well, Gibbons, your men didn’t finish the job this time either. I’m going to find a way to nail your hide to the wall.”
Gibbons gave him a bored look. “You can try, Deputy. But like I said, you don’t have any proof.”
Jake turned away, and the prisoner called out, “Hey, Sheriff, you sent for my lawyer, didn’t you? A man’s entitled to legal counsel.”
“Yeah, I sent for him,” Sheriff Carter hollered, then muttered under his breath. “Not that it’ll do any good, you good-for-nothing snake.”
Abner McIver skidded into the jail. “Hey, Mr. Jake, Mr. Stillman asked if you could come see him.”
Jake flipped the boy a nickel. “Thanks, Abner.”
The boy grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Jake made his way to the bank, where he approached