He pulled himself from the water, sucking cold air into his lungs, and shivered while trying to find his feet. Stumbling on the dock he coughed, hacking water from his lungs before vomiting. A strong hand at his back ejected the water while almost tumbling him to the ground.
"You used to be better on your feet after a swim there John."
John looked over his shoulder at the woman, still wheezing through the burn in his throat to continue coughing. "I haven't held my breath like that in a long time."
"Not many chances for swimming while working for that woman?" The woman snorted, "I could've told you that. Along with all the warnings we gave you."
"I know." John stood, stretching a moment before his whole body shivered. "And, like an idiot, I didn't listen."
"We all have times we choose not to listen John." The woman pulled at his sleeve, "But you'd better come with me before you freeze in these clothes."
"Is Mr. Carson around?"
"He's off at his stall."
John kept pace with the smaller woman, "And how've you been Mrs. Hughes?"
Mrs. Hughes barked out her laugh, "You haven't called me 'Mrs. Hughes' since we first had you at our table when you were just a boy."
"I feel about that foolish now." John shook his head, "She'll get word I'm still alive and come for me so I can't stay."
"Her kind doesn't come here." Mrs. Hughes motioned around them at the shantytown built with ramshackle huts and tin siding acting the part of wall or roof. "She knows they'd never get out alive."
"What if she comes and burns the place to the ground?"
"Then we rebuild." Mrs. Hughes pulled into a small lean-to, "It's what kind like ours does."
"River people?"
"Immigrants." She held up a shirt and pair of trousers. "These should fit you. Might be a little tight in the shirt and long in the leg but Mr. Carson's been needing to get rid of them for an age and now I've got an excuse."
"Thank you Mrs. Hughes." John went to change, pulling his wet shirt over his head as Mrs. Hughes kept her back to him. "You're always too kind to me."
"Maybe I should've take the strap to you a few more times and you wouldn't have fallen under the spell of that viper." John cringed at the tone in Mrs. Hughes's voice, "She's the devil incarnate that woman."
"If I remember your reading of the Bible then we're all liable to be tempted by the devil." John snarked, pausing while buttoning his trousers, "Though I thought the Devil was a man."
"Don't sass me John Bates."
"Yes ma'am." John grinned at her, "You can turn around now."
Mrs. Hughes eyed him up and down, "You fill those out alright."
"Better than I did the last time I was here." John pointed to a chair and Mrs. Hughes nodded. "I need to get out of town."
"Where would you go?"
"Maybe Baltimore or even as far south as Florida."
Mrs. Hughes took her own chair, "It is warmer down there."
"So I've heard but I've never even left this city." John waited a beat, "Do you think I should?"
"I think you should do what's best for you."
"Would you miss me if I left?"
"I missed you when you were only a neighborhood away in this city." Mrs. Hughes pursed her lips, "How're you going to get yourself south of the city when've you got no money?"
"I could get there. I'm resourceful."
"You are that but you couldn't get enough money with your she-devil breathing down your neck here."
"Any suggestions?"
"I'm not one who recommends you do what you're good at when it's not legal," Mrs. Hughes flexed her jaw, "But I tend to believe in different levels of sin and your smaller sins to stay alive are definitely allowed by me."
"You're not the one risking it all if you get nabbed by any of the coppers."
"No but then maybe you should consider the safety of a cell."
"With the friends she has?" John clicked his tongue against his teeth, "I wouldn't survive a week in any prison."
"Then don't get yourself caught John." Mrs. Hughes winked, "You were always a good boy and I wish you live long enough to see that in yourself."
Anna looked up as the door opened, smiling at the outline in the sheets as she put her book down. A hand pulled it aside and Anna waved the young woman forward. "Are you going to join me or not?"
"I didn't want to wake you. Papa says you need your sleep." The young woman climbed onto the bed and Anna adjusted the girl's fur hat over her head.
"It's too cold out here for you, Gwen."
"But not you." Gwen sniffed and Anna pulled a handkerchief up to dry her eyes. "Dad says you mentioned death again today."
"It's how it's all going Gwen." Anna stroked Gwen's red hair. "We both know that what I have is going to take me."
"You don't have to be so glib about it." Gwen wiped at her eyes, "I don't want you to die Anna."
"I don't want to die."
"You will though."
"We're all going to die Gwen. Life is death." Anna urged Gwen to join her at the head of the bed and they both lay back. "All those stars up there are lights that twinkle out when they die. But then we'll just see new ones that spring up in their place."
Gwen laid her head on Anna's shoulder, "No one will spring up in your place."
"Probably not but that doesn't mean you won't find something that make you smile again." Anna ran a finger down Gwen's cheek, managing a grin at her. "One day you'll meet a man who'll love you to pieces and you'll have beautiful, red-headed children to run around your legs and give you worries and gray hairs until they get gray hairs of their own when they give you grandchildren."
"They still won't replace you."
"Of course not. But the light they bring to you'll make you feel better in the moments you feel a bit sad." Anna snuggled with Gwen, "And you'll name one of them Anna and she'll be your new light. All of them will."
"Exactly how many children do you think I'll have?" Gwen tickled at Anna and she fought back.
"Ten, definitely."
The two of them giggled and tickled one another until Gwen's nose turned red and Anna interrupted their game, "You've got to get inside before you freeze."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
Gwen kissed her cheek, "You're still coming to the lake with us?"
"Day after tomorrow."
Gwen nodded, "Once Papa gets your tent on the roof all managed."
"Once I've got a place to be cold enough, yes." Anna pushed her off the bed, "Go on, before you freeze up here."
"I could cuddle with you and be warm all night."
"We'll not risk it since you're going to the lake tomorrow. What will the poor Crawley's do if you're not there to boss around all those boys?"
Gwen giggled, hugging Anna tightly again, "Probably get themselves into more trouble."
"Go on then or else they'll be absolutely distraught." Anna grinned with Gwen as she vanished back inside the house. Anna lay back on her pillows, sighing to herself. "I know I'd be absolutely distraught."
John retied his bag strings and slipped it over his head before climbing out the window. He hung on the ledge a moment before releasing his fingers. Dropping to the ground below he rolled with the motion, using his shoulder to direct his landing. He dusted himself off, saluting to the house, "Thank you for your donations to the cause."
Shoving his hands in his pockets he walked up the street, craning his head back to try and see the tops of the large houses. The early morning light caught on one of the windows and he stumbled. He held up his hand to block the light, blinking against the glare.
Taking a step back he surveyed the house, nodding to himself. His head darted about, looking at the street, before he leapt the fence to land in the garden around the house. A quick peek around the house gave him no easy exit but a step backward had him unfurling his rope with a grapple on the end.
Swinging it a few times, the whooshing sound filling the quiet of the guard, he released and watched the grapple catch on the roof. He pulled it tight, gripping it solidly before he started climbing his way upward. Just before the top his foot slipped a moment and his knuckles whitened on the rope.
John let out a breath, regaining his footing and continued onto the roof. He slipped over the edge, leaning on it as he regained his breath, and frowned at the billowing sheets. With a duck of his head he noted the empty bed and the other paraphernalia one only ever saw in bedrooms.
Humming his confusion at the scene John turned to the door and walked toward it. Pulling on it he noted it opened without any resistance. Given the guards on the rest of the house John frowned before looking down. He bent, taking the piece of cloth in his hand, and snorted before making his way into the house while tucking the cloth into his pocket.
Carpeted floors muffled his shoes as he descended down the levels with quick looks in the rooms. Eventually he reached the ground floor, locating the study with a push of his hand against a door. John smiled to himself, pulling his bag from over his head, and pressed his ear to the safe.
His hand carefully settled on the door and then pressed momentarily to feel the possible security to it. With his other hand he settled his fingers on the dial. He closed his eyes, mind focusing entirely on the sound of the tumblers clicking, and sighed when it opened.
Before he could reach in something caught his eye. He turned to it, blinking away a sudden glare, and tried to get the spots from his eyes. Just as he turned back to the safe the furious beauty of a piano filled the air. John stopped, stepping back to the center of the study before going to the door. The music drew him down the hall to the parlor and what he saw there took his breath away.
An angelic beauty, with flying blonde hair, captivated the keys and John. He stepped forward, almost as if unconsciously pulled toward the woman. His foot came down on an exposed board and the squeak echoed over the room.
She turned in her seat, gasping at the sight of him. "Who are you?"
He held up his hands, "Don't be alarmed, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Aren't you?" She pointed to him, "How'd you break into the house?"
"The door on the roof was open." John dug the piece of cloth out of his pocket, "This was caught in the door."
"Oh," She breathed a little laugh, "I guess I let you in."
"Unintentionally." John walked forward slowly, putting the cloth on the piano. "But, if you did, then I've betrayed your hospitality."
"How'd you mean?"
"I came here to rob the place."
"Ah," She stood, pointing to him as she drew her finger from his head to his feet and back. "And is that still your intention?"
"What?"
"To rob the place?"
"Well," John shrugged, jerking his thumb behind him, "I left the safe in the study open but I didn't take anything so I guess I got distracted."
"Should I let you get back to your work?"
"You're much better company I think so I'll just close the safe and then be gone."
"Why not stay for tea?"
John laughed, scratching his head, "That's not what I expected you to say."
"Did you expect me to throw you out?"
"You'd be within your rights to shoot me."
"I don't own a gun. My father does but he's upstate with my sister."
"I had thought the place was deserted." John fumbled with his hands, "I wouldn't have come in if there was anyone here."
"That's kind of you, for a burglar."
"I'm a bit desperate but not that desperate." John went to walk away, "I'll get the safe and be on my way."
"No tea then?"
John stopped, "You're serious, about the tea?"
"I could use the company." She held out her hand to him, "I'm Anna, by the way, Anna Smith."
"John Bates, burglar."
"Not anymore, now you're my guest."
John snorted, following her into the kitchen.
