Heloise was surprised Mrs. Sales had kept them so long. It was clear she didn't want to let the girls go but time was of the essence. If she insisted on another week, the sisters agreed to leave on foot. Fortunately she had not done so, and now they were once again on a southbound train; this time as passengers and not stowaways. They were to stay at the house of a family friend of Mrs. Sales who was also an advocate for human rights.

It took roughly seventeen hours to get down the coast and to Mississippi. The change in the weather was evident. A dusty white covered everything in the mid-January morning,  but winter hadn't sapped the pleasant awareness of life all around them.

"Mississippi!" Hannah shouted as they climbed down from the Banks' carriage. "I wonder what it looks like in the summer. Oh to see summer again! The birds all gay, magnolia in bloom, delicious berries! Oh I miss summer terribly!"

"Quiet with the theatrics, Hannah you'll draw attention to us," Alifair said looking around. There didn't seem to be any other homes in sight but still she remained cautious.

The Banks took them inside where the girls could wash up from their journey. Mrs. Banks fortunately was far less talkative than her friend Mrs. Sales. Night fell quickly and cold but by then the girls were already well settled in. Tomorrow they would search for their father. Mr. Banks had promised to help and for that they were grateful. None of them even knew how to search for a person who had been imprisoned.

"Papa will be so happy to see us," Hannah said as they lied in bed. "And Mama too. I'm gonna tell her all of what we saw. New York and dachshund sausages, the frozen lake in Maine. It's all so exciting isn't it?"

"Hannah, go to sleep," Alifair moaned. "Aren't you tired?"

"I'm too excited to sleep!" Hannah declared standing up on the bed. "Just think how they will laugh when they hear how we ice skated and jumped on a moving train. And what about how Heloise fell down the pig trap and was almost killed. I surely thought you were killed, Heloise."

Alifair sat up. "You make it sound like an adventure. This whole ordeal has been a nightmare. Will you tell them that we had to run for our lives, or that we were shot at or that Astrid is probably dead? What about all of that?"

"Alifair please," Heloise sat up. "We've come all this way and we've gotten along. Let's not fight now, not after we've come so far. What both of you say is true but neither changes where we are now nor what must be done next. I need you to think a little more positive, Alifair. I miss Astrid too but now we must find Papa and show him the will. That is what is important."

Alifair turned her back and Hannah sat down.

"Will you tell me one of your stories, Heloise?" she asked.

Heloise sighed. She was very tired and telling a story properly took a lot of energy. "All right," she said propping her pillow up. "Once upon a time in a far away land, there was a little girl named Mary..."

/

Mr. Banks preached about family that Sunday. As he spoke Heloise ran her fingers over the will tucked into the Bible. Nothing had been said about her parents thus far and she was beginning to worry they would not be found. After the sermon the congregation talked in the frosty churchyard. It seemed everyone looked forward to summer when they could have picnics and parties.

Hannah chased some other kids around the yard while Alifair sat on the fence by the carriage waiting to return to the Banks' home. When Heloise saw Mr. Banks had finished talking she approached him. "Mr. Banks, when can I see my father?" When the pleasant man got a sad look in his eyes Heloise stepped closer. "Has there been news of him or my mother?"

"Heloise," Mr. Banks said placing one hand on her blonde head. He looked to see where her sisters were then led her away. "Why don't you come with me." They walked down the hill that the church stood on keeping close to the fence. They walked for some time and Mr. Banks made small talk until they came upon a graveyard. They passed through the gate and walked among the headstones. "You know that I made inquires about your parents?"

"I understand you asked a few jailhouses," Heloise said careful not to step on any of the graves.

"Actually I made several," Mr. Banks said. "The truth is child what I did find out...well it isn't very pleasant."

Heloise had been looking at some dead flowers on a grave and now she turned to him. "Is my father sick? Is my mother well? Tell me, I beg you!"

Mr. Banks continued to lead her along. "I'm afraid that they are no longer part of this world."'

Heloise frowned at him. They had come out of the graveyard and now looked at the town below. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, I'm afraid they have passed."

"No!" Heloise shouted. "Both of them?"

"I'm afraid so." The girl tried to turn away but he grabbed her shoulders. "These things sometimes happen, Heloise, Heloise look at me. These things sometimes happen. Now I have made inquires to where they are buried so you might see the grave but—"

"No!" Heloise twisted free. "I didn't come all this way to see a grave. I came to see my father!"

"They are gone, child."

"How can you be sure? People make mistakes it could have been a mistake!"

"I am sorry," Mr. Banks said defeated. "If you like, we can try and find your sisters. If you'd rather stay hear you are welcome to as well."

"All I want is to go home!" Heloise turned and ran back through the graveyard jumping over graves and stumbling over dead branches. She ran away from the churchyard and rounded the hill until she was heading to town again. The naked trees looked down on her in envy of her warm colorful clothing as she wove between them distancing herself from the hill and all its people.

"Heloise!"

"Heloise!"

She could hear her name echoing though the trees but she didn't respond to it. She just kept running until she reached the town. Out of breath she collapsed behind an old building and drew her legs up to her chest. "I came this far to see you, you can't be dead, you just can't be."

/

As the day drew on Heloise slowly made her way back to the Banks' house. She greeted Mr. and Mrs. Banks as she came through the door then went onto the backroom she shared with her sisters.

"Mr. Banks said you would come back and not to worry," Hannah said from the floor.

"They told us about Mama and Papa," Alifair said as Heloise crossed the room and fell flat on the bed. She got up from being seated on the floor with Hannah and joined her. "Do you want to go to Miriam now?"

Heloise turned her wet face to her sister. "I just want to go home," she said. "I want everything to be as it was before."

"I do too," Alifair said. "But we have the will now. No one will be able to tell us that our home isn't ours."

"It's not home without Mama and Papa and Astrid, and Grandpa," Heloise said. "It's just an old house." She sat up suddenly. "That house! It's what caused all of this! If it wasn't for that house we'd all still be together."

"You don't mean that," Alifair contradicted. "You loved that house. It's our home and I say we get Miriam and Selene and Taitiann and we go fight for it. The other night you told me to be more positive and now I am. And I say we get our home back. I say we do it for our family!"

Heloise wiped her eyes. "You mean it."

Alifair nodded. "As sure as I'm a Fairchild and your sister."

/

The next two days the girls were made to attend school with other colored children but on the third day they did not return to the Banks home. They left a long thoughtful letter explaining everything though they were sure the Banks would come looking for them. They walked toward the school with the other children but did not go inside. Instead they passed the school on the road and ran all the way to town.

"We follow the tracks eastward," Heloise said. "We're a lot closer to home now so it won't be so bad." She looked at her sisters conflicting faces. "We're doing this, right?" They both nodded. Without one look back they headed out.

/

"I find it hard to believe that my father and mother both could have been misplaced." Taitiann said over the supper table. "How do you lose someone in prison? Do these things ever happen?"

Jessop was occupied reading off the information he had collected. "There have been cases, yes," he said without looking up.

"And what happened to them?"

Jessop looked up through the candlelight. "Well...sometimes people break into jailhouses and..."

"Goodness!" Taitiann exclaimed. "You mean lynching. You don't think—"

"I didn't say that was the case with your father and mother," Jessop said putting the papers back in his case. "Anything could have happened." He got up from the table and stretched. "We've got a long day tomorrow. Try and get some sleep." He left the room and Taitiann locked up behind him.

She undressed then blew out the candle. Bad thoughts plagued her mind. She couldn't bear losing another family member. She had just pulled her blankets up to her chin when she heard a commotion. Raised voices were coming from downstairs.

"Get out of here!" a man's voice said.

"Please we just want something to eat," a small voice said.

Taitiann got out of bed, putting her coat around her, and went over to the door. A second later there was a knock.

"Miss Fairchild?"

Taitiann opened the door quickly. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were here," Jessop said. "I'm going downstairs to see what the fuss is all about. I get the feeling someone is following us. You know the procedure?"

Taitiann nodded and as soon as he had gone she closed and locked the door again. Jessop walked partway downstairs until he could see the lobby. He saw the desk clerk handling a blonde girl roughly and pitching her into the snow. When the man came back inside he joined him downstairs.

"Was there a problem?" he asked the man.

"Ah, Just some colored children begging for food. I told them to go around back if they want to be served."

"Colored children?" Jessop questioned. "That child was as blonde as you."

"Yes," the clerk said. "But still colored."

Jessop didn't understand at all and decided to have a look for himself. He stepped outside into the cold but he didn't see anyone. He soon heard the clerk behind him and turned around. "She must have run mighty quickly."

"Sure she did," the clerk said. "I threatened to take a block upside her head."

"Is violence really necessary towards a child?"

"You have to teach them their place early or they will never learn."

Jessop decided not to argue further. After all he didn't fancy being turned out in the cold night. He instead bid the man goodnight and returned upstairs. He stopped by Taitiann's room to let her know everything was all right. "You don't have to open the door," he said. "It was just some...child begging for food."

Taitiann listened on the other side of the door. She had dressed again and was ready to flee. "The poor thing. Did you give her anything to eat?" She felt the door warp as he leaned his back against it.

"I would have," Jessop said. "But she was chased away."

"My," Taitiann said and leaned on her side against the door. "What a terrible thing to do to a child." She heard him sigh and lean off the door. "Goodnight sir," she called out but there was no reply.

/

Heloise blundered through the cold as she ran back to her sisters who waited for her in the road. They looked at her eagerly for an answer. "They wouldn't help," she said.

"Maybe we should go back to the Banks'," Hannah suggested.

Alifair breathed into her hands. "It's up to you, Heloise," she said.

Heloise looked up the road and noticed a wooden building. "We could stay the night in the stable," she said. "Odds are no one will look in on their horses in this weather." She started through the snow and her sisters followed her. Heaving the barn door opened they welcomed the shield from the wind.

Alifair closed the door behind them and they checked the stalls. "Looks like they are all full," Alifair said. "Do you think the horses will mind?"

Heloise walked the stalls until she came to a white horse. It turned to her quickly and looked her over with its big brown eyes. When it realized they were not a predator and pushed its muzzle at her to be stroked.

"Mr. Horse," Alifair said. "I hope you don't mind us three sharing a bed with you. We just want to get out from the cold for a spell." She opened the stall door and the horse bobbed its head at her. Taking it by that halter she let her sisters get inside then closed the door behind them.

When they were all settled on the ground Heloise wrapped her arms around Hannah. "I don't think he'll hurt us," she said. "You don't have to be afraid."

"I'm not scared," Hannah said. "Remember the angel on the train? Maybe he followed us here too."

Heloise rested her head against her youngest sister. Now was sure a time they could use a miracle.

/

The distinctive rays of the early sun stretched through the barn. The first thing Heloise saw when she opened her eyes was the white horse. She smiled at the animal for not stomping them during the night. The next thing her eyes saw as less pleasant. At the sight of the man she scooted deeper into the stall bumping onto her sisters who awoke immediately.

"Please don't hurt us, sir!" She begged with all her might. "We just needed a place to stay the night."

Jessop opened the stall and the girls shrieked. "Don't you know this animal could have crushed you while you were sleeping?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Heloise said. "Please don't tell the man in the house that we were here."

Jessop took hold of the horse's halter and put a lead rope on it. Once it was out of the stall he looked down at the three girls. "That was you here last night?" he asked and Heloise nodded. "Did you find yourselves anything to eat?" When he asked this the girl turned to her sisters. Jessop studied her. He could see that she was colored, at least that she was supposed to have been. "Get up from there and let me have a look at you."

Heloise squeezed Alifair's hand before rising to her feet, dusting the hay from her clothes. She kept her eyes cast down as he studied her. He seemed like an affluent man and here she was dirty and most likely smelly.

"What's your name?"

"Heloise."

"And are these your sisters, Heloise?" Jessop asked and she nodded. "It's ironic." He went on. "I hear tell that three little girls such as yourselves are dead. Their sister even calls one of them by Heloise."

"Poor them," Heloise said hanging her head.

"You hungry?" Jessop asked reaching into a bundle he had over his shoulder and pulling out a biscuit. He held it out to Heloise. "Go on take it, I won't cook you and eat you."

Heloise closed her stiff fingers around the biscuit then broke it in half, giving it to her sisters. "Say thanks and eat," she said when they hesitated. As they bit into the biscuits she wrapped her arms around herself as agony rose in her chest. She sniffled as her tears broke free and rolled down her face.

"What's wrong with you?" Jessop said. "Are you hurt?"

Heloise shook her head as her body rocked in sobs.

"Then why are you crying?" Jessop asked.

Heloise didn't answer. Instead she turned to him and cried on his hard chest. "Mama. Papa!"

Jessop refrained from touching her though his first thought was to push her away. "Little girl, I'm nor your mama or your papa."

The stable door opened, letting in a stream of sunlight "Is everything all right?" Taitiann asked as she entered.

Jessop didn't want to be seen with the child touching him she her pried her he away.

"Are you all right?" Taitiann asked as she walked down the corridor.

Heloise had to check her ears to make sure they were hearing right. She rushed out of the stall and stood in the corridor. "Taitiann?" She cleared the tears from her eyes to make sure what she was seeing was real.

Taitiann put one hand to her heart. "Heloise?" she whispered the name. "Is that you?" The little girl was nodding as she stepped forward. "No." She stopped in her tracks. "I am dreaming this, for surely you were killed."

Heloise shook her head. "I'm here," she smiled. "And so are Alifair and Hannah." She gestured for the younger girls to come out and three stood before their older sister.

"I can't believe it!" Taitiann screamed and ran toward them. She wrapped her arms around all three of them. "My sisters my sisters," she cried over and over again. "Thank you, God! You have brought my sisters back to me!"

Hannah looked up at her. "Astrid didn't make it."

"Astrid!" Taitiann was elated. "No, no you see Astrid is with us! She made it, she's fine she's with Selene and Miriam in Enid Oklahoma. At last we shall be together again." She hugged them again for good measure.

/

"I shall not let you out of my sight until we reach Enid," Taitiann said as they prepared to board the train.

"I can't wait to see them," Hannah said. "Oh won't Miriam faint when she hears what we have been through. And now that we know Mama and Papa may still be alive all is right with the world."

"We haven't gotten there yet," Alifair said.

Jessop walked behind them leading the horses. He had avoided getting in the way of the reunion but now he had no choice. "You do realize that you won't be able to ride in the coach with me," he said pointedly. "There will be no way to disguise them."

Taitiann took his hand which surprised him. "Mr. St. Cloud, can you not see? I have my sisters with me who I thought were dead. I could ride beneath the train if that's what it took to get us all together again."

He freed his hand from hers. "Very well, but mind it will be very uncomfortable and I won't be able to help you if something goes awry."

Taitiann smiled. "Thank you kindly, Mr. St. Cloud but I'm sure we will manage." She then turned giddily back to her sisters and boarded the train while Jessop tended the horses. He had posted a letter home about their coming not knowing if they would be delayed. Once they were seated Hannah began her story but Taitiann told her to wait until they saw Miriam, Astrid and Selene so she would only need to tell it once.

"After everything," Alifair said. "I can't believe this is happening. I was surely thinking we would never all meet again."

"And I get to tell you what everything is as soon as we reach Ended," Hannah proudly declared.

Taitiann laughed. "That's Enid, Hannah and yes you sure will."

Hannah rubbed her palms together. "Taitiann?" she said making a mess of one of the fresh braids the sister had put in her hair. "Who was that man?"

"Oh, Mr. St. Cloud," Taitiann explained. "We were traveling together. He's a lawyer and he's helping with Mama and Papa. If all goes well we shall be home again shortly."

At the mention of home Heloise remembered the will. "Taitiann there is something we must show you." She looked around the coach. It wasn't crowded but she knew it was better to revel it in private. "We have something that might help us.No it will help us. I know this for certain. Remind me when we get to Oklahoma Territory."

Taitiann nodded her head and soon the train was moving forward. "Why don't we all get some rest now," she said. "I know you must be tired."

"I'm afraid if I close my eyes all of this will go away," Hannah said. "Will you promise not to be a dream, Taitiann and that this train is not a dream and that we really shall see Miriam and Selene and Astrid."

"I promise," Taitiann said. "I don't think not even a dream can be this good." She whispered as her sisters settled.

/

Mrs. Natty St. Cloud's bakery was relatively popular in Enid. She owned one purely because it had always been a dream of hers as a child and her husband liked to see her happy. She baked goods from home to sale there but was seldom seen in the shop herself. It had been ran by a smiley young woman up until she had recently been married and Mrs. St. Cloud found herself in a spot for a short moment before the Fairchild sisters offered to run it for her.

They also used the shop to sell their quilts and other things they had sewn. Now women could stop for desserts and do a little shopping at the same time.

The back of the shop had once been a porch but was closed in after the St. Cloud's brought the building. They had painted it white and decorated it with soft rugs and three round tables where women often came for tea. As it was still early in the day none had arrived yet and Astrid used the room to do her lessons while her sisters ran the shop.

"I really dislike arithmetic," she said. "I've never been good at figuring. I don't see any good in learning more so long as I can add and subtract."

Jethro, seated at another table laughed. "You do fine."

Astrid looked down at all the scribbles on her paper. "I'm afraid not. I'm not very clever at such things." She put down her pencil and rested her chin on her palm. "What are you drawing?"

"Your sister asked me to draw another picture of Fairchild Place," Jethro said. "Since the other was ruined."

"I reckon that's my fault," Astrid said disheartened.

"Certainly not," Jethro said. "And it was only a drawing after all. I promise this one to be just as nice." He coughed suddenly and put his hand over his heart.

Astrid sat up in her chair. "Are you all right, sir?"

Miriam strolled out just then careful not to trip up on the high step that let down into the room. "Astrid, I hope you are doing your lessons," she said going over to a quilt rack in the corner. She took the green toned quilt and held it up for inspection. "You don't want to be dunce do you?"

"No, Miriam," Astrid said picking up her pencil.

Miriam nodded her head and left the room with the quilt just as Selene came skipping in. "She's getting better," she said to Astrid who kept her focus on her lessons. Selene then slid into a chair at Jethro's table. "Guess what I've got!" She reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a copy of Through the Looking Glass. "It's complete with pictures! I think we shall begin reading straight away!"

Jethro smiled. "After all, Alice would object to a book without pictures in it." They both had a laugh at this.

"I have a few minutes before I have to be back to help Miriam so let's began." She opened the book hastily.

/

Miriam smiled to herself as the quilt was sold. That was more money to put towards helping their father. Of course some costumers didn't like that Mrs. St. Cloud had let colored women run her shop but no one objected to the respected woman's face.

Miriam was wiping the counter when another customer entered. She was surprised to see Clem Jackson. He was usually working with his father. The Jacksons were respected in the colored community and normally Miriam would have been happy to see Clem but she had a feeling as to why he was calling.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"It's noon now, Miss Fairchild," Clem said removing his hat and not noticing that Miriam stole a quick glance at the clock. "Smells delicious in here today." He took a deep breath which Miriam somehow found annoying. "Say is your younger sister in?"

"Selene? Selene is busy at the moment," Miriam said. "Was there something you needed to tell her?"

"Oh." Clem smiled. "I just was wanting to invite her for supper at my parents' house."

Miriam busied herself with the shelf behind her. "That's rather odd. Inviting strange women to your house to dine." She looked over her shoulder. "I could see if you were courting but...come to think of it you don't know my sister well at all."

"Well I'd like to," Clem said. "Let her come by, not for supper just for a visit. She's sure to be impressed." He leaned on the counter. "Now, Miss Fairchild I don't take no for an answer. Girls 'round here would trip over themselves to step out with me."

Miriam turned around. "Can you be so sure?" she asked. "I saw several colored women in town just this morning and all of them were walking upright."

Clem laughed. "Girl, you sure are quick." He waved a finger at her. "But, come let me spend time with your sister. Your daddy ain't ever coming back and she'll need a man to support her. You will too. Yes sir, I think several of my friends would pay you mind if you'd just smile a little more."

Miriam shot him daggers. "You listen, Clem Jackson and you listen good. I don't know you from Adam and I don't care to get to know you or your friends. As for Selene, I'll support her. You walk in here like a barn yard cockerel expecting every little hen you pass to swoon in her petticoats for you all because your father has a little more money than the next man. But hear this. I wouldn't let you court my sister if you were the last colored man in Enid, no, on earth! I thought better of you before I knew you were so set on yourself. With that said I think it's time you took leave of this shop and have a good noon."

Clem ran his tongue over his teeth as he stepped back from the counter. He looked toward the back of the shop out the door where Selene was sitting at the table reading aloud to Jethro. "Indeed," he said and scoffed. "Seems your sister has already found all she needs." He fingered his hat and turned to Miriam. "You know it's ironic you got your sisters living with these here St. Clouds. It's no secret that they owned so many slaves before the war that you could block the sun with them."

 Miriam stood her ground until Clem left, tipping his hat to her as he did. When the door closed behind him she marched into the back room. "For heaven's sake, Selene be more careful," She said snatching the book from her. "This here ain't Old Town, you go getting close to Young Mr. St. Cloud here and folks are likely to spin all kinds of trouble."

Selene looked up at her sister. "Was that Clem Jackson just stop by?" she asked.

"It matters not," Miriam said. "He won't be stopping by here again." She returned the book to Selene. "Be finished here quickly. The shop will get busy in the next hour." She wiped her hands on her apron and went back inside.