Did she really believe that? He tucked her comment away to analyze later. For now, he had to use his persuasive powers to sway Seamus to come with them. “I know almost everyone in the Kerry Patch.” Most likely the children had been stayingin the Irish district of the city since new immigrants headed there because of the cheap housing.
“Do you know Seamus O’Reilly?” The hope in the boy’s tone again told more of his story, that his da had come ahead of the family to St. Louis and the children with their mam hadn’t connected with him. It was possible he’d already died of cholera, and they just hadn’t been able to uncover that information.
“Seamus O’Reilly?” Bellamy searched through the many names of men who had come in and out of the pub over recent months. He’d met some O’Reillys, but none who went by Seamus.
“From Galway.” The boy was still holding tightly to his sister, but she was no longer trying to get away.
“Seamus O’Reilly from Galway.” Bellamy recognized the Connacht dialect spoken by those from County Galway, different from the dialect he’d grown up speaking in County Wicklow. “I can’t recall anyone by Seamus, but I can promise that if he’s in St. Louis, I can track him down.”
“You can promise?”
“Oh aye.”
Zaira had reached the children and now gently touched the little girl’s head. The child peered up at Zaira with interest.
The lad didn’t back away this time, which hopefully meant he didn’t see Zaira as a threat either.
How long had the two been trying to survive on their own? Bellamy could see enough in the darkness to know they were both thin and dirty. They might have arrived in St. Louis that way. It was also possible they’d grown more ragged from living on the streets.
“Would you like to come home with me for the night?” Zaira asked. “I have a nice home—”
“No.” Seamus pulled his sister away, his voice filling with a note of fear.
“How about the shed behind the pub?” Bellamy asked quickly.
The lad shook his head.
Bellamy continued before the child could turn him down too. “It has a latch on the inside of the door. You can lock it, and no one can get in unless you unlatch it.”
Seamus didn’t immediately speak, which was a good sign that he was considering Bellamy’s offer.
“I’ve got some Dublin Coddle leftovers.” It wouldn’t be hot but would be better than anything the two had eaten in a while.
“I’ll eat it,” Moya said eagerly.
“Just for tonight.” Seamus’s voice rang with a warning to his sister.
Bellamy wasn’t sure how he’d get the children to stay longer than one night. Because he would need more than a day to get information on their da. But at least they were safe for the time being. And Zaira looked relieved, even pleased, and that made him feel as though he’d accomplished something great.
11
“Hurry, Kiernan!” Zaira leaned out of the barouche that was ready and waiting on the gravel drive at the back of the Shanahan home near the coach house.
Past the balcony with its white columns that ran the width of the second-floor exterior, Kiernan was standing near one of the many open windows that allowed in the river breezes. He was kissing Alannah again.
Zaira sighed. She was happy for the newlyweds. She truly was. But she was eager to return to Oscar’s Pub and check on how little Seamus and Moya had done last night. The children had walked with her and Bellamy the short distance back to the shed.
Seamus had spoken very little, but Moya had been more talkative. She’d told them their ages: They were six and three—almost four. She missed their mam, who had recently gone to heaven. They had no other family in the area except their da, but they hadn’t seen him in a long time, and Moya couldn’t remember what he looked like because he’d taken a ship away from home before they did.
Bellamy had whispered that it sounded like the father had come ahead of the family to America in order to find employment and housing. He also believed their mother had died of cholera—or perhaps of another disease she’d caught on the ship over. Now the two children were stuck in a strange city with no idea how to find their father.
Once they’d reached the shed, Zaira had ushered the children inside while Bellamy had gone to get them a meal. He’d returned with not only food and drink but blankets and pillows. While the children ate, Zaira had made beds on the floor.
The lantern light had revealed that both children were filthy, their clothes in tatters, and they had no shoes. They were also emaciated, so tiny and thin that she could see their bones poking through their clothing.
It was a heartbreaking situation, and Zaira had hardly been able to sleep with worry over the two, hadn’t wanted them to stay in a shed like they were animals. Neither had Bellamy. He’d tried again to convince them to go inside his apartment, but Seamus had been wary about remaining there at all, even after Bellamy had shown him how to latch the door.
At least the children had been willing to eat the food Bellamy had provided. They’d devoured every morsel, and Bellamy had left more for them to have later, if they needed it. Finally, after making sure the children were content and settled in, Bellamy had walked her home. They’d talked about the children the whole way back, speculating where their father was and how to locate him.
