Chapter 7

"What took you so long? I've been waiting for hours, you know." Tracy said to Colin, settling onto the back seat of the car.

"I guess you're going to want to take care of that," I said to Tracy, taking the bundle of paperwork for the placement from her hands.

"Not before he explains how he got here so late," Tracy growled, dropping her backpack on to the seat. "I set my focus on filling out the paperwork for the orphanage, and now, I'm totally wrung out."

The weight of worry that had settled on me became a heavy knot in the pit of my stomach as I stared out the window to see people already gathering into the orphanage to look the children over. I prayed that they would be gentle and kind as they examined the orphans. I had heard stories of little ones being treated like livestock at auction at these events. I would hate to see any of those darlings handled that way.

"Lydia. A fine day for placing out some orphans and doing our Christian duty, eh?"

I nodded, trying to