In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

"And the girls?"

The children exchanged looks. "We aren't sure," Katrina said. "They get taken away and no one ever sees them anymore."

"Do you have anyone to stay with when we reach Azure City?"

When the children shook their heads, she asked "Would you like to stay with us?" Jeanne asked.

"Why," Katrina asked suspiciously. "What do you want us for?"

"Because my family would never forgive me if I didn't help you," Jeanne answered. "We would be adopting you. You will have to go to school, but you'll be fed and have a place to stay. There will be chores, but nothing major and you would need to obey us the way you would a parent."

"I've been watching these two," the attendant offered. "They seem like good folks. You could do worse."

The two children exchanged glances. "Alright," Katrina said, "we can try it, but if it isn't as you say we'll leave, understand."

"Yes, we understand," Jeanne said, smiling.

"After all, you don't know us."

The young attendant left the train that evening. An older, sour-faced woman took his place. Before bedtime, Jeanne took the children along with her to the lavatory and helped them clean up. She couldn't do much about the state of their clothes, but clean faces and brushed hair gave them a more presentable appearance. It took another two days to reach Azure City.

Azure City was a seashore town with a good Harbor. The Port and the small coastal towns in the surrounding area were run by or owed allegiance to the powerful Sullivan family. Fishing boats sailed the waters offshore, and a brisk trade in dried and canned fish was done. As she stepped down off the train onto the sandy soil, Jeanne realized Azure City was enormous compared to River Crossing and even larger than Junction City.

From the depot, Jeanne could see a long wharf filled with boats and other craft and more ships coming into the bay. A warm breeze from the ocean wafted the scents of blooming algae and canning factories.

"I'm going to check on our stuff, and see if I can find some transportation," Samuel told her.

Jeanne nodded, looking around. "It's certainly different here," she said.

Most of the passengers had left the platform when Jeanne was approached by a tall, dark-skinned man in neat work clothes. "Excuse me, Ma'am," he said, "But are you Jeanne Clancy?"

Jeanne looked him over. "Yes, that's my name."

The man looked relived. "I wasn't sure; Mother didn't tell me you had children. I'm Larry Nguyn. My Mom Marie is Lisette's sister. I was sent to meet you and your husband and take you to Mother's house. Where is your husband?"

"Samuel went to find us a wagon," Jeanne said. As she spoke, she saw Samuel coming toward them leading the four fidgety tricorns. "There he is."

"Every time I turn my back on you, you pick up someone," Samuel complained, laughing. "Who is this?"

"It's a talent," his wife retorted. "This is Lisette's nephew Larry. His mother Marie sent him to help us."

Her husband looked relived. "That's a good thing because I just discovered we need to store our stuff until tomorrow morning when a wagon will be available to take us out to the farm."

"No need for that, Samuel, is it?" Larry assured him. "I brought ours. Let's get your stuff loaded. Ma'am, why don't you and the children wait in the shade under the station porch? They have benches if you want to sit down."

"I've been sitting for three days," Jeanne told him. "But I think we will wait in the shade. Come on, Kids."

From the depot, they drove into the main street. Dusk was beginning to settle, but most of the stores were open, and from the saloons and eating houses catering to sailors down by the wharf came the sounds of music, laughter and the occasional bang from a gunshot.

Marie's family lived above a large, general merchandise store in the center of town. When they arrived at her house, Larry and Samuel took the tricorns and the loaded wagon through the alley to the back of the house where the Nguyn's kept a small stable and a large vegetable and fruit garden.

Marie looked so much like her sister Lisette that Jeanne would have known her anywhere. Jeanne and the children were greeted with hugs and led upstairs to the large, comfortable family quarters.

"I'm so glad you got here safely," Marie exclaimed. "I'm sure you'll want to freshen up. I'm afraid the children will have to sleep on a trundle bed tonight. I have a houseful; Larry's wife's family is here for the birth of their child, and Chloe is here tonight too."

She opened the door to a large, well appointed bedroom overlooking the back of the house, and bustled away to get bedding for the trundle.

Jeanne and the children were making up the trundle bed when Samuel arrived. He made a face when he saw the sleeping arrangements.

"I can wait one more night," he said, kissing his wife, "but when we get to the farm, they need their own rooms."

Jeanne laughed and rubbed his scruffy chin. "You need a shave," she remarked.

Samuel looked in the mirror. "I was thinking of growing a beard," he said. "Would you mind?"

Reminded of their need for disguise, Jeanne frowned. "It will be okay if it's a neat one," she allowed. "But not if it makes you look like a berry bush."

Downstairs, Marie made it a point to introduce the family to Chloe, a young, fresh-faced girl about sixteen.

"I thought she could stay with you for a few days and help you get things set up the way you like them," Marie said. "When Giselle's runner told us you were coming, we tried to get things out there ready for you, but I didn't know how much household supplies you would bring. The rack of Bluestones is full, the cold cellar is stocked with food and we spent yesterday cleaning it as best we could. We put a newly stuffed mattress on the bed