The orderly returned carrying another message. He handed it to Perry without interest and resumed his seat. He propped his feet back up, dismissing her as he closed his eyes.
Perry walked back to the kitchen, slowly unfolding the note. Written in a neat hand was simply, 'Have address. Will come for you tomorrow night. Hunter is resting but must see Lowe at dawn.'
Perry smiled as she pulled open the kitchen door. 'I'm ready, Molly.' She couldn't miss the joy in the old woman's eyes as she straightened slightly and led the way out of the hospital.
They walked out together and moved down the street, now silent, with even the wind asleep. The night air hung in icy stillness around them. Perry thought the hospital steps would have been very uncomfortable by this time. She smiled and slowed her pace slightly to match the old woman's step. Molly seemed in high spirits to have company.
'I think you'll like my house.' Molly linked her arm with Perry's. 'But to start off with, I believe in being honest. You should know who and what I am before you walk with me. I may have been called a great many things, but dishonest ain't one of them. So to be straight with you, I'm a retired lady of the streets. Worked for over thirty years, I did. Two years ago, one of my oldest and best… ah'-she hesitated, choosing her words carefully-'men friends died and left me his big house. I think he probably drank all his money away. Ever'one knows a huge old house won't sell during the war. I had a little money saved away, so I retired and have been living there ever since.'
Perry was careful to reveal no shock at Molly's occupation. She had to fight to keep the laughter from bubbling from her. How could a Southerner deep in Union country, who was wanted for treason, ever judge another's past life?
As they passed another block Perry noticed they were in an older part of town. Many of the homes had been left vacant or utilized as storage buildings. At one time this must have been an affluent neighborhood. Now trees and shrubs circled in junglelike thickness around boarded-up houses.
Molly continued talking, as if Perry were asking questions. 'Henry-that was my… ah… man friend-had no family that cared about him. After I moved in, up shows these two nephews of his, claiming they should have the house. Well, I ran them off, no mistake about that. But lately things been happenin'. I know it's those two.
'Last month I found a dead cat on my steps. A week ago someone rode through my garden, trampling down half my plants. Tonight I went out to dump my mop water. This slimy scum jumped out of nowhere. Tried to slit my throat, he did.' She chuckled. 'Guess he didn't plan on my still carrying the mop. I hit him so hard between the legs, he's probably still holding his breath.'
Perry laughed at Molly's free, open talk. Part of her found it shocking, but mostly she found the honesty refreshing.
Molly laughed with her. 'Oh, you think that's funny, missy? Well, I hope your mom told you about where to hit a man you didn't want gettin' too close.'
Perry froze in mid-step. 'You know I'm a girl?' she whispered.
'Of course.' Molly patted Perry's arm. 'I may be old, but I'm no fool. I never would have lived long at what I did if I hadn't been able to tell what gender folks were.' She chuckled with a snorting sound. 'Now, honey, you don't have to explain nothin' to me, nothin' at all. I know all I need to know about you. You're a kind soul and welcome in my house for as long as you wanta stay. No questions asked.'
Tears sparkled in Perry's eyes, not for herself but for Molly. She thought of how starved this old woman must be for simple kindness. 'Thank you,' Perry whispered.
'Wait till you taste me cookin'.' Molly lifted her chin proudly. 'I could have been a cook but couldn't see standing on my feet all day.'' A jolly, rolling laugh bubbled from her, the kind of laugh that makes all those it touches smile.
They walked another half block, thick with eerie shadows, before Molly turned and stepped over a broken-down fence gate. Perry followed, amazed at the size of the house they were moving toward. It was a large old brick home with ivy growing up all the sides. The house stood two stories, with a long wide porch running the length of its front. Once rich latticework trimmed all the windows, and massive oak doors guarded the front entrance, but now a wilderness of green embraced the aging brick.
Molly moved along a path at the side of the house. 'I don't have no use for all these rooms. I live in the kitchen out back. It's big enough for me.'
They walked through a small breezeway to the kitchen. As Molly opened the door Perry saw a welcoming fire. Molly motioned Perry in and followed, locking the door behind her.
The kitchen was huge and spotlessly clean. A bed stood in one corner, a wardrobe beside it. A long table divided the room in half. As Perry's eyes adjusted to the light she saw a rocker pulled close to the hearth and the table set for one. Molly must have very little company. A sewing basket and a few paintings were the room's only decorations. A huge black cat stretched and rose to greet them.
Molly removed her shawl and motioned Perry to be seated in the rocker. 'You rest yourself and I'll draw the water for your bath. It's nice to have someone to talk with besides Herschel there.' She tilted her head to indicate the cat. 'He's not too friendly. Sometimes I wonder if he even likes me. He kind of come with the house.'
Molly pulled a large tin tub from a corner and put water on to heat while Perry removed her hat and relaxed. Molly hummed as she worked, happy to have company. In a few minutes she returned to Perry with her sewing scissors. Perry silently held out her bandaged hand and allowed Molly to cut off the dirty dressing. The cut was healing nicely, and Perry doubted if she would need to bandage it again. Molly smiled at her without asking how the cut had happened. 'While you bathe here by the fire I'll fix up a little snack.'
In sudden haste Perry stripped off the rough boy's clothes and climbed into the tub. Molly poured steaming water into the half-filled tub, then moved away to another part of the kitchen. Perry felt she must be in heaven as she soaked. Breathing in the steam rising from the bathwater, she allowed the tension of the week to pass from her.
They ate, Perry wrapped in a blanket and Molly talking continually. She explained how she had a garden and a small henhouse out back that provided all her needs. The food was, as Molly promised, quite good. Perry's spirits rose as a feeling of being warm, clean, and full slowed her blood like wine.
After the meal Molly produced a worn but clean cotton nightgown for Perry. Its size swallowed her, but Perry didn't mind. The feeling of soft cloth touching her body was wonderful after so many days in the rough boy's clothing.
Perry curled in front of the fire and listened to Molly's chatter. Molly told of the fear she'd felt here alone in her huge house. She produced an old, dust-covered box. 'I found this when I was rummaging in the attic the other day. I wouldn't know how to use them, but they were so nice, I brought them down, anyway.'
She opened the box to reveal a beautiful pair of dueling pistols. Perry examined the guns resting on Molly's ample lap. 'My father used to have a pair almost like them. The handles were not so fine, though.'
Perry lifted one from the case. 'I know how to load and fire them. I could show you tomorrow if you like.'
Molly smiled. 'That would be grand. I wouldn't want to shoot anyone, but I bet I could scare those vultures away with these.' Molly held one in the air and pretended to shoot. 'Come on, nephews, I'll shoot your ears off if you come around here bothering me again.'
Both women laughed. Molly put the guns away, touching her bandaged cheek gingerly as she returned to her rocking.
'Does it hurt much, Molly?' Perry asked.
'Now, don't you worry about this little cut. I've been cut and beat up many times over the years. Kind of a hazard of the business. I ain't complainin' none. I had some bad times, but looking back, it was an interestin' life. Never got the clap, thank God.' Molly rocked as she talked. 'Went to a doctor once to be checked. He said I never got it because I must've had some natural immunity. Well, I don't know about that, but I've had a great many men. Maybe I had a few of them natural immunities some time or another.''
Perry laughed into her mug of coffee. Molly may have been a whore, but Perry couldn't help but like her. Perry wondered how the polite ladies who came to tea would have reacted to Molly's topic of conversation.
'Guess we'd better get some sleep. I could stay up all night. I used to all the time. But you look tired. Help me lift one of my mattresses off the bed and we'll move it close to the fire for you.'
After making Perry a bed they put all of Molly's bloody clothes and Perry's dirty ones in a pot of water to soak. The aging hands gently rubbed the scarf, as though if this one item of clothing were ruined, it would be a great loss to her.
