"Jack, can you help me with this suspender?"
Katharine fiddled with the strap, walking into the parlour, where Jack and a few of the newsies were waiting. Jack's eyebrows went straight up as his wife walked in, outfitted in black boots, brown argyle socks, grey trousers and a pink checkered collared shirt that she was trying to wrestle the suspender over. Jack chuckled, standing up to help her.
"I don't know how you all manage each morning," Katharine muttered as Jack fixed the suspender on her shoulder. She looked up into his eyes. "Never mind, I take that back. A corset is much more trouble than this."
"I 'ope I won't ever have to try that on," Jack laughed. Katherine smiled mischievously. "You never know." She winked at him, and walked over to the boys. "You all know the plan?"
"Go about our business as usual," Davey stated. "And if anyone asks us about Katherine, we say…"
"She's gone to visit her cousin on the other side of the city," Race finished.
Katherine grimaced. "And even though I hate to even think of that, that's the lie I'll be giving my father as well. Thank you, boys."
"Ya sure ya don't want me along?" Jack asked, and Katherine smiled at him nervously. "I'll be back before you know it, Jack. Don't worry about me. Or Crutchie."
"But what if you gotta carry 'im out or somethin'—" Jack tried to say, but Katherine stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. "He'll be fine. Don't worry."
She turned away, heading out the door. "Bye, Jack. Goodbye, boys."
Katherine closed the door behind her, and breathed deeply in preparation for her journey. She was ready as she'd ever be, and needed to be, too. Katherine ran over to her bicycle, overjoyed at the prospect of running without being held up by her skirts. She wheeled it out from the wall, and set out through the city streets, finally free of that nagging doubt that had always accompanied her on her rides. No longer would she pay attention to the accusing stares of passerby. She couldn't, not on this journey. Katharine had a mission, and she was determined to complete it. It took little more than an hour to arrive at the harbor, from which she boarded a boat, taking the bicycle with her and ignoring all the looks from the other passengers. Katharine made her way to an empty seat and sat down, dead tired. Never had she ridden her bicycle so far, and without stopping. Katharine bowed her head, nearly going to sleep as the rocking of the boat lulled her to sleep.
"Ex—excuse me?" asked a timid voice in front of her. Katharine glanced up to see a young black girl with pigtails approach her shyly. "Is that your wheeler?" the little girl asked.
Katharine nodded with a small smile.
"I like it," the young girl said, and went to sit next to Katharine on the bench. "I like it very much."
"Thank you," Katharine said, and they sat in silence for a moment, the young girl staring at her boots.
"Why did you bring it on a boat?" the girl asked.
"I'm—I'm going to rescue someone," Katharine said, deciding to lay all her cards out on the table. "And I can do it faster if I have my bicycle."
"You're going to rescue someone?" the little girl asked, her admiration for the strange young woman going up a notch. Katharine nodded. "Is it a good someone?" the girl asked.
"Yes," Katharine said. "Yes, he is."
"Does he like your wheeler?"
Katharine chuckled. "Yes. He does."
"Does he know you're going to rescue him?"
"No, I'm afraid he doesn't."
"Does he want to be rescued?"
Katharine glanced over to the little girl, who was still staring down at her boots. "He does want to be rescued," Katharine answered. "Very much so."
"Anita!"
The little girl glanced up and quickly hopped off the bench. She turned to Katharine. "Thank you, miss. I hope your friend's okay." With that, she pranced off to a couple who could be none other than her father and mother. The woman peered at Katharine in suspicion, but seemed relieved as her little girl jumped up to sit next to her, hugging her. Katharine smiled back gently, thankful for the distraction. But she really needed to sleep.