Kizzie pinched her grin into a frown and nodded. “Well, that's mighty good to hear, because if I can't trust you, there's no way I can give you another job to do.”
She blinked those big eyes. “You can trust me. I promise. There ain't no way I'm gonna find me no husband if I can't earn enough money to dress like a lady.”
“The right men like smart and kind women too, Molly.”
Her face fell. “Well, I ain't got no schoolin’ worth talkin’ ’bout, Miss Kizzie.”
“Smart comes in all shapes and sizes. Just like we've been learning in lessons.”
“Well, I'm sure glad to be reminded.” Molly laughed and gave Charlie a little bounce. “But maybe you can teach me how to talk more ladylike too?”
“Well, I'm not too sure about the talking part, but if we keep up on our reading and writing lessons, it may carry over some into your talk.”
“Well, howdy do!” Molly exclaimed into Charlie's face, causing the little boy to giggle all over again. “I'm gonna become a lady, Charlie.”
“Or smarter, at any rate.” Kizzie chuckled, coaxing Charlie back into her arms and giving Molly the linens. “But about the extra money.”
“Whatever you need, Miss Kizzie.”
It still felt strange having this girl who was only a year younger than her call her Miss Kizzie. “I have a lot of work to do for the store business, and I could use an extra hand with Charlie, especially as he gets bigger.”
Her eyes popped wide again.
“And since you're in need of some extra work, I wondered if you'd help watch him on the days I'm tending the store and Mrs. Carter's running errands?”
“You can count on me, Miss Kizzie.”
Kizzie raised a brow. “Which means you have to keep on the straight and narrow, Molly. Little eyes are gonna be watching what you do.”
Molly dipped her chin with a few deep nods as if she felt the weight of the request. “Like I done said, Miss Kizzie, I promised Mrs. Carter and the Lord.” Her smile brimmed. “Besides, if you're gonna teach me to be a lady, then I better start learning how to think like one.”
As Molly bounded off with the linens, Kizzie released a laugh with Charlie joining in.
“You think she's going to be a good one to watch that boy?” Gayle came around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron as she approached.
“I think she will be. She just needs something to do to keep her out of trouble.”
Gayle glanced out the window in the direction Molly disappeared. “She's grown a lot since she came to live here, but there's still so much of that little girl seeking someone to love her.”
“Ain't we all lookin’ for that?” Kizzie kissed Charlie's cheek. “Until we know how much Jesus loves us, I reckon we're all seekin’ for the same thing.”
Gayle nodded and sighed. “It's so hard for them to keep jobs. They work hard at first, trying to prove their place, but something always happens. Folks aren't as gracious with the fallen ones. It's almost like they're waiting for the girls to make a mistake so they can dock their pay or cast them out.”
“And you can only offer so much work before you're losing more money than taking in.” Having seen the ledgers, Kizzie knew the cost.
“But they need someone to give them a chance, some hope.” She crossed her arms over her chest, the hardened facade she sometimes announced to the world softening in the lines of her face. “None of them have ever been able to get a job that would raise their status. People only hire them for kitchen help or washerwomen. A few I've had even dressed up as boys to work on the trains.”
“Then we need to pray we think of somethin’.” There had to be more options for these girls. Some kind of consistent work to give them a step up. To place them in the way of good men who wouldn't turn their noses up at their backgrounds. “But in the meantime …” Kizzie reached into her pocket, pulled out a few bills, and pressed them into Gayle's palm. “Use that to cover some of Mary's expenses until she finds another position.”
Gayle looked down at the money, and her lips tightened. “Those girls don't want or need handouts.”
“I don't want to give them handouts.” She raised a challenging brow to Gayle, her lips tempting to crook. “I want to give them hope. So give her some extra chores to do around the shop and count that toward her pay.”
Gayle's eyes narrowed despite the hint of humor in her expression. “You may be more softhearted than me, Kizzie McAdams, and that ain't good for us keeping a strong front.”
“I'll try my best to keep my soft heart warned, Gayle Carter. But I'm as determined as you to help these girls.”
Girls like her.
