“Sorry. But don’t worry. You get me that proof and I’ll find him.”
“It’s lies. All of it. I didn’t beat anyone. Tell them, Faith.”
“Why would you expect me to lie for you, Ed? You abused my son, you hit me over and over again, and you tried to steal our property. I want you to get your things and leave, right now, or I will press charges against you for stealing from me.”
Ten minutes later, they watched him ride away. Charles sighed. Would the man ever be brought to justice?
Chapter 14
Livvy arrived at the school on Monday afternoon. She’d scheduled the extra riding day because Charles would be back from Rome and she was breathless with curiosity about what had happened there. But the girls had also been asking for two days a week instead of one and P.H. had given Livvy permission, as long as the girls kept up their grades.
She found Charles in the science room, grading papers. He rose with a cry of pleasure and reached for her hands. “Livvy. I was about to ride over to the parsonage, but I heard the girls talking about today’s riding lesson.”
“Yes, sorry to search you out. You’re obviously busy, but I have a few minutes and couldn’t wait any longer to hear about the Saunders farm.”
“Everything went well.” He led Livvy to a chair and then told her everything that had happened at Severn’s Flat.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. But they still haven’t locked up that evil man for what he did to Jeremiah and Faith.” She frowned and bit her lip.
“No, but Trent and I are taking Jeremiah and his mother to Rome one day this week. Trent has to check on his patients first and make sure everyone is taken care of. Once the authorities see the boy’s scars and hear his story, I’m sure they’ll put Saunders behind bars.”
“I certainly hope so. The thought of that man running loose gives me chills. What if he comes after Jeremiah?”
“If you’d seen the panic on the man’s face, you wouldn’t worry. He’s long gone by now. But the sheriff and deputy will find him. Never fear.”
Livvy stood and smiled. “If you believe it that strongly, then I’ll believe, too. And now I’d better get to the stable where the girls are no doubt waiting for me.”
He winked and grinned. “I’ll see you later.”
With a wave of her fingers, she stepped out of the room and headed downstairs, lighthearted and blushing from the wink. If Charles wasn’t interested in her romantically, he must be losing his mind.
The girls ran to meet her, laughing with excitement. Molly grabbed Livvy’s hand. “Thanks for giving us this extra day, Miss Livvy.”
“It’s my pleasure, Molly.” To her surprise, she found that her statement was true. No twinge of fear upset her joy today. “I see you have the horses ready. Who’s first today?”
“Lily Ann.” Margaret smiled and placed her hand on the little girl’s back. “Come on, I’ll help you mount.”
They stepped over to the mounting block and Margaret took the tiny girl’s hand.
“Wait!” Jeremiah came from the barn carrying an odd-looking contraption. As he drew near, Livvy saw that it was some sort of stool or table.
Suspicious that he was up to more of his tricks, she watched carefully as he set it solidly on the mounting block.
“Here, Lily Ann. Feel this so you’ll understand where to put your feet.”
The little girl reached out trustingly and examined the new stool. Her hand found the step then moved smoothly over the flat top. “Why it’s to help me mount. Thank you, Jeremiah.” She was careful to look directly at him as she spoke.
“It’s nothing,” Jeremiah mumbled as he took her hand and helped her onto the mounting block.
“I can do the rest by myself.”
He grinned and removed his hand but stood close as she climbed to the wide top of the stool. She paused and took a deep breath, then put her left foot into the stirrup that hung down from the extra pommel. In no time she pulled herself up and into the sidesaddle. A huge smile lit up her face.
Livvy stepped over, adjusted the stirrup and moved Lily around a little bit on the saddle. “Perfect.”
She turned to Jeremiah. “That was a very nice thing to do for the girls, Jeremiah.”
“Aww. It wasn’t much,” he signed. “Mr. Charles and I checked it out to make sure it’s safe. You don’t need to worry about it falling off as long as you set it on the block straight.”
With a chorus of thanks from the girls, Jeremiah’s face turned red. He waved and walked away toward the barn.
What a transformation this act of kindness had made in Jeremiah. Who would have thought it?