Maggie broke down as Sally pulled her into her arms. She hugged the older woman letting the storm of weeping pass.
“Maggie, dry your eyes. We can’t let the children see how upset we are.”
“I am so selfish. You are much stronger than me and you, with your Derek at war. I should be comforting you, not the other way around.”
“You support me every day of the week and twice on Sundays.” Sally smiled through her tears. “It’s true. Who taught me how to look after two youngsters? I couldn’t cook for them if it weren’t for you teaching me when I was younger. I owe you a lot, Maggie Ardle, and you know it. Derek will be fine, just as those amazing children will be too. At the end of the war, we’ll find their parents and reunite them. In the meantime, we just have to keep them fed and watered and give them lots of cuddles.”
“You make them sound like farm animals.” Maggie gulped some tea, burning her mouth in the process. After a glass of cold water, she recovered her composure. “Reverend Collins is worried about something else.”
“What?”
“Tomas’ older brother and the boys like him. He said he saw Heinz at the church on Sunday. The boy was barely civil to him. Not at all like the well-mannered young man Tomas is. He says he is very pale, with large, dark circles around his eyes. He looks thinner than he did when he arrived on the train. He implied he might be working too hard.”
“Working at what?” Sally’s legs wobbled. “Are you saying Reverend Collins thinks those boys are being mistreated on the farm?”
“He didn’t say that, as such.”
“But he implied it. We have to do something Maggie. We can’t let that horrible woman mistreat those boys. They’ve suffered enough.”
“But what can we do? I can’t offer Heinz or any of the boys a home, not when we have the girls living with us. It wouldn’t be proper, especially as the rectory isn’t big enough and they aren’t related by blood.”
Sally stirred her tea. She could see still see Tomas’ brother, as clearly as if he stood in front of her. So proud and brave, trying to hide his pain. Rachel had confided, in her, about Tomas meeting Heinz on the street.
“Did you know he’d changed his name. Told Tomas his new name was Harry. Heinz didn’t exist.”
“The poor lad, he must be trying to fit in. There is a fair bit of anti-German feeling around from the last war. It’s not going to get any better. We have to do something for them, Sally. One of us should take a trip out to the farm.”
“And do what? We can’t go trespassing. Constable Halton would have our guts for garters.”
Maggie picked up her cup, cradling it in her hands. “I remember Jack Halton when he was smaller than your Tomas. Leave him to me. Now, what reason do you have for visiting?”
“Me?”
“I can’t go. Reverend Collins wouldn’t like it.”
Sally choked on her tea, causing it to spurt out of her mouth, in a very unladylike manner. “Maggie Ardle, you never let that stop you before.”
Maggie wouldn’t look her in the eyes. She stared at her friend until Maggie gave in.
“Okay, you got me,” Maggie admitted. “I’m afraid if I go and find the boys mistreated, I will not be able to control my temper. You know Aggie Dalton winds me up just by looking at her. She’s a horrid, old bat.”
Sally knew the two had history and the comments the farmer’s wife had made about Maggie never having children were just one of many such snide remarks made over the years.
“Okay, I will go but can I take Rachel? I don’t know how much English Heinz or Harry, or whatever he wants to be called, can speak. I know he understands more than he lets on.”
“Yes, take Rachel. I’ll mind Liesl and Tomas. That’s settled. You can go tomorrow if it's dry.”
Sally glanced at Maggie but her face looked innocent enough. Yet, she was left with the feeling Maggie had planned this outcome before she’d even walked into Sally’s house.
17
The next morning, Sally dropped off Liesl and Tomas at the Rectory. Rachel and herself set out on the walk to the farm. Sally had planned on riding a bicycle but Rachel wasn’t keen. Still, it was a bright, dry day, so a walk would do them both good.
“So, how are you settling in? Are the children nice to you at school?”
“Yes, most are. The teachers too. It is some parents who find it hard to be pleasant. They do not smile.”
Rachel wasn’t smiling much either. Sally guessed she was worried about her mother.
“Maggie said you were waiting on news of your mother.”
“Yes. But the letter did not come. No telegram either. Now the borders are closed. She won’t get out. They will take her away. Like Papa.”
“It might be different for women, Rachel. Your mother is likely to have lots of friends. Maybe some will be able to help her. Don’t lose hope.”
“You are kind, but it is hard. I try to tell Ruth everything will be fine but I am old enough to understand. Mama and Mrs. Beck wouldn’t have sent us away if there was no danger. Trudi, Mrs. Beck, she knew some people. They warned her to leave but it cost money. She didn’t have enough for everyone, so she spent it on the children. Mama did the same.”
Sally didn’t know what to say to comfort the girl. She didn’t want to make false promises. Rachel was not a child. At her age, most English girls were out working. But for her need to learn English, Rachel could have found a job in a store or factory or something.
“What would you like to do, Rachel? When you are
