"Sure, I could."

"Good, that's really good. Okay, so listen. I want you to promise me, if anything happens, or if you just need to talk to someone, that you'll go to her, or even to Bruce, or Otto."

"Don't worry, Emily, I will."

"You know that Otto and Bruce have been around for a while, and they care about you."

"They came with the house."

"Yeah, and thankfully your father kept them on."

Emily took Maria's hands. "Sooo, I'm going now. But I'll be back."

"Before Christmas? It's only two weeks off."

"That's right. Well, don't worry, I'll see you before then." She said this with such confidence that it even made her feel better.

She waited until the children were sleeping, and then stepped out onto the back patio. She stopped for a moment, looking around, feeling a strange calm in the air, hearing only a distant buzz of mosquitoes.

Even Harold's dogs were quiet as she dashed across the lawn. A few feet from the fence, something caught the corner of her eye and she ducked behind a pine tree. She peeked around the trunk, listening. Then just as she was ready to continue on, a piercing cry sent her scrambling across the yard, along the fence and through the gate. When it came again from a distance, this time she realized it was the owl she heard on occasion, most likely angered by her intrusion.

The road to the highway was long and dark, the moon only a cold sliver behind tree branches as her feet crunched up the pavement, heavy at times, as her thoughts drifted back to the children and to the daunting task that lay before her.

About a quarter of a mile up the road, she thought she heard something come up behind her. She stopped to listen, but couldn't force herself to turn around. The sound came again, and she began to run, faster and faster, until she was too tired and out of breath to go on.

She stopped to listen again, her sweat turning to chills, waiting for someone to pounce on her. But there wasn't a sound except for the distant coo of the owl. She started up the road again, slower now, not quite as anxious to be going off by herself in the middle of the night. What had she been thinking anyway?

She thought of Maria and Nathan back at the house, depending on her. She wondered if Harold was out there watching her and if he'd give her a break if she turned back.

A knock on the door brought her out of her sleep the next morning. Pearl poked her head in the doorway. "Mr. Schillings wants to see you in the library. I wouldn't make him wait too long."

Emily crawled out of bed, trying not to think about what her boss might want. She had a sick feeling she knew, but her plan was to make the best of it. She splashed cold water on her face, dressed in a hurry, and then headed out into the hallway. She was surprised to see Gabriel waiting for her. "What, are you on guard duty or something?" she asked, half-joking.

Gabriel glanced up, nodding. "You might say that."

Emily saw a spark in her eyes and expected something more, but the girl just turned away. She tried to work up enough nerve to ask her about the guy named Erwin. "How's everything going?" she said instead.

"Fine."

The chill in the air must be Mr. Schillings' don't chum with the help notion, Emily decided. She didn't believe Gabriel was fine, and she knew if she could just get her to relax and open up a little, they could be friends. "Let's get together and visit sometime."

"No time for that," Gabriel said, almost snapping.

Emily didn't believe that either. A few months back, she snooped in the basement and found Gabriel behind the furnace sleeping against the wall. She had left her to slumber and crept back upstairs. Now as they reached the library, she put a hand on the doorknob and turned to watch the troubled maid hurry back up the hallway.

She gave a quick knock and stepped inside.

Donald was pacing the rug in front of the fireplace. He leaned over the coffee table to put out a cigarette, motioning her to sit, and then took a seat across from her.

He didn't seem like the wild angry man from yesterday. He looked rather like he must've felt, important, dressed up in a fancy suit and tie with his face scrubbed and his hair fashionably in place.

Then it struck her that with him in a better frame of mind, maybe now they would have a talk. It seemed that's what he wanted.

"I thought we'd come to an understanding."

She wasn't sure if he was still referring to the water incident, or if it was about her late night walk.

"Here, just when I thought I had you..." A look of chagrin unbalanced him. "Well," he continued, leaning to shuffle papers around the coffee table, "what I meant was, feeling I could count on you to do what was expected. Instead, you blatantly disobey my rules and go off where you don't belong. Maybe you don't realize the kind of a bind you're in. The implications you'll face for going out and shooting off your mouth."

It seemed to her that his anger the previous day had a lot to do with fear, not only to put the fear in her, but fear that he might lose control of her. She wondered what he was trying to hide. It was obvious it had something to do with the scene at the kitchen door.

"Mr. Schillings, I'm not in cahoots with Gabriel and Erwin if that's what you're referring to. I have no idea what they were talking about. And if I did, I have no one to shoot my mouth off to."

"But, you see, I don't know that. Especially after that letter you tried to send off." He fumbled for another cigarette and lit up. "Although, I suppose I should inform you that either the guy moved or you had the wrong address to begin with. I happen to have a close friend who works at the Post Office, and the address you used belongs to a Siscolly. So, young lady, I hope you finally realize that you really don't have anyone else you can count on, but me."

She watched him puff on his cigarette, blowing out smoke and reaching to tap off loose ashes. It was curious how he could act so normal one minute, and then so coldhearted and calculating the next, so impossible to predict.

"Oh, and by the way, young lady, I've been putting aside the one twenty-five a month for taking care of the children. You'll get it when you've successfully completed your assignment here."

She had already resigned herself to the fact he was holding the money to keep from losing control over her, and it just seemed wrong to acknowledge him. Yet, she had to play along. "Thank you, Mr. Schillings."

Something struck him and he chuckled. "Here I thought you were just this poor homeless orphan. But it turns out this poor homeless orphan was in the midst of quite some pickle." He chuckled again, and then gave her one of those icy stares. "You must feel such a sense of relief that I'm keeping you here even after everything I've come to learn about you."

She thought there was something oddly rotten about him for relishing the idea that she was a criminal on the run, practically making fun of her for it.

Maybe now was the time to wage a war; war in a sense that if she was going to be stuck here because he wouldn't give her money to leave, then she was going to search every clue, and use every possible means to help the children. She wasn't done searching for Samuel Dimsmoore yet, far from it, but for now, she had a plan. She smiled, seeing herself in one of Nancy Drew's mystery novels. It made her feel tingly all of a sudden, made her feel brave and want to throw caution to the wind.

She would start by adopting some of her boss's techniques and set the groundwork that had already begun in her mind weeks ago. She would start with just a touch of sweetness, yet to the point.

"I see what you've done for the children. Really they have... they have a lot more than most kids would ever even hope for."

His mouth turned slightly.

"And don't think I'm not grateful to have a home." She motioned, looking around the room. "And such a beauty at that... especially after that incident back in Illinois. I mean, we both know what I did. But, did you know that I had to protect myself from him?"

"That's not what the police say."

"Well, it's true Mr. Schillings, it's true."

He looked at her strangely as if he might believe her. Although she couldn't tell for sure.

"Listen, Emily, if it became public knowledge that I'm harboring a fugitive, I could be in a world of trouble. So you must understand why I have to be so cautious."

She wanted to ask him if he knew so much about her, why she was taking care of his children. But her objective was to make him trust her. "I see what you're saying, Mr. Schillings, and I agree with you. But... do you remember the night you offered me this job? You said you wanted me to keep the children content? Well, I want you to know, that's always been my goal. Actually I've been planning to have a talk with you about them."

"Oh? About what?"

"Things that... I don't think should be ignored. See, I'm aware of how busy you are trying to provide for your family. Your free time is limited, I know that. I mean, that's why I'm here, right?" She hurried on before he could stop her. "But I'm seeing a problem. I've heard them talk, I've noticed signs, and I've witnessed enough things that have me very concerned. My point is that the children are missing something in their lives and..."

"Missing? What could they possibly be missing?"

"They miss their mother for one, and they miss their friends. But it's not just that. Maybe this doesn't alarm you at the moment, but they're growing up, they're changing. And soon, well, even now, they're starting to look for new ground to conquer. If something doesn't change, they're going to start... well, you know what happens when children start going through different stages in their lives."

She could see he was pondering her statement, and gave it time to sink in. "You see, I'm trying to do my job in the best way possible. And, uhm, I'm sorry for taking Nathan down to the water, but I promise nothing like that will ever happen again."

"...I guess only time will tell if you're being straight with me." He thought a moment longer, narrowing his eyes. "But don't ever think you can fool me."

He stood and went to the fireplace, tapping his fingers on the mantel, seeming frustrated.

"Pearl's anxious to leave," he said. "I've already got a cook lined up. But the important thing is that since I travel so much I need someone here at all times. Otto is fine in his place, but the children unnerve him." He lifted a cigarette from a box and tapped it out. "I need someone that'll keep the rascals content, so they won't... Well, like you said, you know how kids are." He lit up and took a puff, leaning back against the mantle. "The point is to have someone here that I can trust."

If he meant trust her to make sure the children were safe, yes he really could count on her. But if he meant trust her to never go against his wishes, she didn't think so.

It seemed he wasn't so sure about her either. "Well, we'll see," he said. Then he looked at her long and hard until she was completely intimidated. That seemed to please him.

There wasn't much else to say after that and she stood to leave. "So, uhm... guess I'll be on my way, then."

He nodded, and she headed across the room, feeling his eyes on her as she left the library.

She wanted to let the children know that she was back, and popped her head in the classroom.

"I thought you left," Maria whispered.

"Sorry for bothering you, Miss Hutchen, but do you mind if I have a minute with the children?"

"Oh. Well... I guess a quick minute won't hurt."

The children rushed out into the hallway, nearly knocking her over in their excitement.

"I'm so happy you're here," Maria said. "We missed you already. But... how come you're back? Are you staying?"

"Yes, yes I'm staying, for a while anyway. And listen to this. I had a talk with your father and I think you might see some changes around here."

Maria looked skeptical. "Are you sure? How'd this happen so fast anyway?"

"It's a little complicated, but I believe it'll happen. Hey, he listened to me-sort of. You know how he is."

"Yeah, we know," Maria said, still a little cynical. "So what did you talk about?"

"Mostly me trying to convince him that you guys need some excitement." Emily smiled. "I more or less told him that if you don't get some attention and a little change around here, that you're going to rebel. Not in those words, but he knew what I meant."

Maria giggled. "I can't believe this."

"Do you know what rebel means?" Emily asked Nathan.

"Mmm. Do something we're not supposed to?"

"Close enough. Anyway, he seemed interested in what I had to say. He's not even holding the water thing against me. And I think maybe some good will come out of that whole fiasco."

Now they both looked skeptical, brows lifting, eyes twirling.

"Really, kids, something'll happen, I'm sure of it." She looked up as Miss Hutchens popped her head out the door and motioned to the children.

Emily left them to their studies, knowing that things weren't exactly ideal yet, but now at least there was some hope.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.

It was only four days before Christmas and Emily had been trying to catch up with Bruce to see when he would chop down the tree. Pearl had already left for the holidays and Otto said he hadn't seen Bruce. So, when she went to the library, she was surprised to find three gifts and a note from him.

He didn't say where he was going, but she assumed it was home for Christmas. She had noticed a replacement driver, although he wasn't exactly the friendly sort she felt comfortable asking favors from. Now it was up to her to make sure the children got their tree. It had been cool out the last few days, and so she gathered up the children's jackets and waited outside their classroom.

"What's this for?" Maria asked.

Nathan grabbed his jacket, digging his arms into the sleeves. "A walk doe-doe, whaddaya think."

"Not just a walk, kids. We're going to chop down a Christmas tree."

Nathan squealed and headed up the hallway full speed. "I'll show you where the axe is."

"We'll have to keep an eye on him," Maria said, sounding so mature Emily had to laugh.

She grabbed the little girl's hand and they started after him. "Nathan, don't you dare touch that axe!"

After they found the perfect tree, they set it up in the family room, hung the decorations, and then went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate and cookies.

The woman taking over for Pearl was making pies.

"Hi, Helen," Emily said. "Mind if we make some cookies and hot chocolate?"

"Oh... well, sure. That'll save me some time. Gabriel, that poor girl, was helping out, but she wasn't feeling well so I sent her home. Say, Emily, I was wondering where you want me to set up Christmas dinner?"

"Where we always have it," Maria said, pointing in the direction of the formal dining room. She lowered her eyes. "At least, we used to when... Mommy was here."

Emily didn't have the best memories of that room, but it seemed to be a special place for the children. "What a great idea, Maria," she said in spite of wishing to never step in there again.

Helen was much better to work with than Pearl, and Emily kept a conversation going, trying to figure out how far she could trust her. Yet, as soon as she started getting too personal, the woman quickly changed her tune and nearly stopped talking all together.

When Christmas Eve arrived, Emily and the children decided to change into warm pajamas, bring down blankets and spend the night in front of the fireplace. They were sitting on the floor, listening to a radio station that carried Christmas music when Donald walked in. They hadn't known he was home and were all equally surprised.