TBR10

The next two weeks for the weary yet defiant red head were hard and dangerous ones. She learned that Gerard was actively looking for her and had even put forth an offer of a small reward should anyone spot her and give him her location. She'd not signed a contract with him, and she didn't owe him money, but she knew that mattered little. He had word that she'd made money off of her employment with him and he wanted it and her.

Kitty's return home wasn't as triumphant as she'd expected and it was time for her to leave. Of course, that was proving to be easier said than done. Gerard had quite a bit of influence and there were people watching the train and stage stations and even the stables, should she try and buy a horse to make good her escape. People who might ordinarily help her, wouldn't if they knew they'd be going against Gerard Beaumont. And people that would help her, despite Gerard, she wouldn't turn to, for fear they would get hurt.

Though the money she'd amassed helped to keep her safe and hidden, she knew it wouldn't last long. She had to find a way out. That was when fate, in the form of a tiny little woman in a black habit wearing a serene smile stepped in and gave her just that.

Sister Ilene, 45 years of age, was small in stature but there was steel in her spine and she seldom brooked resistance of any kind when she felt she was right in a matter. She and Kitty met in a small café on the outskirts of New Orleans where Kitty was sitting slumped at a small back table, head down and sipping a cup of coffee. Though she usually avoided any public place, for fear that one of Gerard's minions would spot her, hunger and sheer frustration had driven her to that small place that morning for breakfast. The service had been extremely slow, but the food had been wonderful.

"Good morning." Sister Ilene smiled brightly at the pretty auburn haired girl.

Kitty looked up at the diminutive sister and gave her a slightly confused nod. "Good morning."

"Might I share a table with you?" The sister asked as she pulled out a chair and seated herself opposite the young woman without waiting for acceptance.

"Uh, sure." Kitty shrugged. "I was just getting ready to leave anyway."

"Oh, no." The dark haired little woman shook her head as she reached across the table and placed her warm hand atop Kitty's rather cold one. "Please, stay. It's rare I get a chance to share food and conversation with such a lovely young person as yourself. Besides, I have a feeling; I might be able to help you."

Kitty gave her a puzzled look. "Help me?" She arched a brow and swiftly glanced around the café.

"There's no one watching you, Kathleen." Sister Ilene smiled serenely at her. "Not right now. But should you refuse to let me help you and you help me, there might be."

The color drained from Kitty's face at the woman's use of her real name and again, she quickly scanned the interior of the eatery before looking back at the sister. "Ho_ how did you know my name?"

"We have a mutual friend." The little nun whispered confidentially. "He wrote to me and told me you were here and asked me to look out for you. He didn't tell me though where you were. I've been searching for you ever since."

Kitty was truly puzzled now. She didn't know anyone who would know a nun except perhaps the Crit's and she hadn't dared told Lucy, in their infrequently exchanged letters, anything about her life style.

"I believe you know him as Slim Drake?" Sister Ilene clarified when she saw the confusion on the young woman's lovely face.

Kitty gasped and she looked at the little woman across from her more closely, seeing something she hadn't before. "You're related to him, aren't you?"

A beautiful smile graced the sister's face and she nodded. "He's my brother. He was very concerned for your well-being and contacted me when he knew you were coming here. He wanted me to help you in any way that I could. But, as I told you, I had no idea where you were until I heard some gossip about a beautiful young woman with red hair who'd fallen out of favor with a certain river boat captain. After that, it was a simple matter of putting my own word out and keeping my eyes peeled. Francois, that man that owns this café, sent for me this morning when you came in."

"Is that why the service was slow?" Kitty looked behind her at the smiling, mustachioed man behind the counter.

Sister Ilene nodded. "He was stalling you to give me time to get here." Suddenly, the nun leaned in closer to Kitty and took her hand in a tighter grip. "I would say; I got here just in time. Do you see the man who just entered?"

Kitty looked up to see a swarthy looking man in a pair of dirty dungarees and a dirty red stocking cap coming into the restaurant and moving towards the front counter. She recognized him from the River Princess. Quickly she ducked her head, covertly looking for a way out. She had to look no further than the lady seated across from her.

"Come with me, Kathleen." Sister Ilene said quietly.

Nodding, Kitty rose from her seat and walked out following the tiny little woman as she led her down one alley after another, finally leading her into a long yet narrow building adjacent to a large church.

"You'll be safe in here." The sister smiled graciously at her. "We aren't at all fancy but we're quiet and peaceful, and anyone who enters can be guaranteed safety."

Kitty dropped her head, swallowing hard. She didn't quite know what to make of the little lady who'd probably just saved her life and was clearly offering her sanctuary. She wasn't used to such generosity. "I_ I don't know what to say." She finally met the sister's appraising gaze. "I mean, you_ you don't have to do this, ya know."

"Of course, I do." Sister Ilene said as though it were obvious. "My mission in life is to help others, child. Besides, as I told you at the café, I could use your help as well."

"My help?" Kitty studied the plain gray walls of the building she was in, seeing nothing that a saloon girl could be useful in doing.

"Come with me, Kathleen." Ilene took her hand again and led her forward. "I'll explain it to you."

That was how Kitty came to learn a little about nursing and a lot about generosity.

Sister Ilene realized that the girl had a kind heart and a willingness to work not often seen in women of her station. But she also recognized a girl with intelligence and strength and pure raw courage, something even rarer. Though the good sister would have eagerly welcomed the young gril into the fold as a novice, she could tell that was not to be the girl's destiny. She had a feeling there was something more this young woman was meant for and she was not about to go against God's will for her. Instead, in return for protection and shelter, she accepted Kitty's help with the convent's books and taught her nursing in the charity hospital run by the church. For the four weeks, Kitty was there, she learned much about nursing and even more about kindness and she was grateful for the experience.

Sister Ilene was grateful as well for Kitty. But she knew Kitty had a different destiny than that of a poor nun. And when a contingent of nuns, moved out of the city, headed for a small convent in Texas, Sister Ilene disguised the young woman in a habit and sent her out with them, ensuring her safe departure from the city of her birth. Once safely out of the city, Kitty boarded the first stage leaving. It was going north, but Kitty didn't care. It was going and that was all that mattered.

It was her nineteenth birthday, the day she set out, and instead of accepting gifts to honor the occasion, she had given one. After the amount of money she'd spent to keep herself hidden and the money she'd spent on the stage ticket, she only had a little over seven dollars left. But she felt that despite hardships she was certain to face, she needed to put most of her remaining funds in a place where it would do the most good as well as repay a kindness. So shortly before taking her leave of her benefactor and friend, Kitty placed an envelope in Sister Ilene's hand, asking her not to open it until she was gone.

Later, as Kitty sat on the north bound stage, Ilene opened the envelope to find $600 and a note, thanking her for all she'd done and imploring her to use some of the money to repay Slim and the rest to help others. Smiling, the nun nodded and sealed the envelope with a kiss. "I will do that in your honor, Kathleen." She murmured. "And the Lord will bless you beyond measure for it."

TBC