Chapter 52
"That Emily Johnson is downright cruel!" A woman in the crowd had barely finished her shrill accusation when Mary Stone's sharp glare silenced her. The woman shrank back and quickly disappeared into the throng.
"I think Emily did the right thing!"
"But those poor girls kneeling there—it's just not right..."
"I'll go get the captain's wife!"
It was Robert Stone's cousin who spoke, hurrying off toward the Stone family home.
Mary was in the yard, airing out quilts, when she heard the news. The bamboo pole in her hands clattered to the ground.
"Grace, watch your brother!" Mary grabbed a broom and stormed out.
Grace took little Jack's hand, her eyes bright. "Grandma, we're coming too!" She remembered the delicious cookies at Aunt Emily's house.
By the time Mary arrived, two thin figures knelt at Emily's doorstep, surrounded by a crowd of nosy women.
"Disgraceful!" Mary yanked the girls to their feet. "That old hag Margaret Wilson is too cowardly to come herself, so she sends her granddaughters to kneel here? If you don't leave now, I'll march straight to the police station and report the Wilsons for harassing a soldier's family again—let’s see if Peter gets extra jail time for that!"
The threat sent Sarah Wilson trembling. She knew her grandmother’s temper all too well—if they caused Uncle Peter’s sentence to be extended, they’d be beaten half to death when they got home.
"We're leaving!" Sarah grabbed her sister’s hand and bolted, terrified Mary would make good on her threat.
The onlookers scattered like startled birds under Mary’s glare.
The gate creaked open.
"Mom, I’ve caused you trouble again." Emily sighed. When it came to unreasonable people, someone like Mary was the only solution.
"You’re just too soft-hearted." Mary patted her hand.
"Aunt Emily!" Grace chirped, her eyes darting toward the house.
Emily smiled knowingly. "Come in, I’ll get you some cookies."
Mary followed her inside, lowering her voice. "As long as Peter’s sentence isn’t finalized, Margaret won’t stop. She has three sons and two daughters—Peter’s the youngest."
As Emily handed out cookies, Mary continued, "The eldest branch has two girls and a boy. The third branch has two sons still in school. The daughters married far away—heard the bride prices were steep, two hundred for one, a hundred for the other..."
Just then, David and Tommy stirred in the next room. Emily peeked in to see them sleeping soundly, their cheeks rosy and fuller than when they’d first arrived.
"Here, try some wild berries." Emily brought out a plate of foraged treats. Jack immediately grabbed a tomato, juice dripping down his chin.
Mary frowned. "Margaret dotes on that youngest son of hers. She’ll keep making trouble. You need to be prepared—"
Before she could finish, a commotion erupted in the distance. Emily’s heart sank—had the Wilsons come back?