The little girl narrowed her brown eyes, then looked at the box, then back up at them. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Josie silently cursed Maddie. Her cousin had done such a good job reforming these children that they viewed everything as a trick to get them to misbehave.
“This isn’t a trick,” Josie said patiently. “I know Miss Maddie told you not to pick locks and pockets anymore, but we really do own this box, and we really need to get it open. Can you please help?”
Johnny looked at her, then Westman. Westman shifted, and the chair suddenly looked too small for him.
“This is your box?” the little girl asked.
He glanced at Josie, and she stared right back at him. Answer.
“Ah, yes.” He shifted again. “It was my grandfather’s box. Now it’s mine.”
Josie kicked him.
“Ours.”
“So it’s not really your box?” Johnny said.
Westman rubbed his brow. “It’s mine now that my grandfather is gone.”
The girl looked uncertain.
“Look,” Westman said, leaning forward. Josie prayed he wasn’t too intimidating. “Can you help us or not? If you don’t open the box, I’ll have to break it open. Miss Hale would hate it if I broke her pretty box.” He winked at the little girl. “Please help?”
Josie rolled her eyes. Now the man was flirting with orphans. But she couldn’t complain when his attempt worked. The little girl took the box from the table and peered at it intently. Josie was aware that she held her breath, that all of them did, as the girl studied the lock.
Finally, Johnny looked up. “I need a hairpin.”
Josie fumbled in her curls, but Ashley was faster. “Here, use mine.”
The little girl took it, inserted it in the lock, and fumbled. The room was so silent that Josie could hear the ticking of the clock and the little girl’s breathing. Johnny bit her lip and kept working.
“I have to catch the lock,” she said, through her teeth clenched in concentration. “It doesn’t usually take this long.” She gave them an apologetic peek. “I don’t practice anymore.”
“That’s okay,” Josie said.
Johnny glanced up at them, then looked at the door, probably worried Miss Maddie would find her and scold her. Josie spoke to distract her.
“Johnny is an interesting name for a little girl. Is that your real name?”
The girl went back to the lock and the hairpin. “No.”
“What’s your real name?” Ashley asked.
The little girl clamped down on her lip again. “Joanna.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
Johnny wrinkled her nose. “It’s a baby name. I like Johnny. There!”
Even Josie heard the click as the lock turned. Johnny handed the box back to Josie, and she eased the top open. Three heads peered over her shoulder.
“Dinner is served!” Maddie called from the dining room. There was the thunder of feet on the stairs as a herd of orphans charged toward the food.
“Oh, drat!” Ashley said. “This always happens when something good is taking place.”
Josie lowered the lid again. “Maybe it’s better for right now. I’ll tell you if we find anything interesting.”
