Free A Marriage for Meghan by Mary Ellis Page B

down.
    Catherine carefully enumerated Owen’s transgressions along with their attempts to rectify his behavior.
    “He didn’t give Joanna much trouble,” said the father, looking from one sister to the other. “At least, she never came here complaining.”
    “Perhaps he’s unhappy with the change,” said Catherine. “But we’re his teachers now, and we want no talking during reading and we want him to do all his work.” She sounded timid and scared.
    “Plus he should listen when I yell at him on the playground,” added Meghan from behind Catherine’s shoulder.
    Mr. Shockley turned toward the doorway to the front room. To their dismay, they saw Owen leaning on the doorjamb, his face blank and unreadable.
    The father turned back to meet Catherine’s gaze. “You do realize Owen’s never been much of a student. And that he finishes up in the spring.”
    “We are aware of that, Mr. Shockley, but that’s why he should make the most of his last year in school.”
    The man issued a dismissive snort. “You can lead a horse to water and all that. But I won’t tolerate him sassing you. Even if he never gets a single star on his papers, I won’t have him disrespectin’ teachers.” He pivoted to face his son. “Are you hearing me, boy? You understand what I’m saying?”
    Almost imperceptively, Owen nodded his head.
    “All right then, it’s settled. Catherine, tell the bishop I said hello and we’ll see y’all on Sunday.” Mr. Shockley strode from the room, leaving his wife, who’d been silent in the corner, to see them out.
    They didn’t have to be asked twice. Neither spoke for several minutes until they were back on the familiar road toward home. It was as though the presence of Mr. Shockley still lingered, intimidating them.
    “Think it’ll do some good?” asked Meghan.
    “It’ll do some good, but whether it’ll be enough remains to be seen,” said Catherine. They walked in silence for half a mile until a sight grabbed their attention, casting out any final thoughts about the Shockley visit.
    “Oh, my goodness,” Catherine murmured.
    Meghan stared at the farm fields on their right. Someone had broken through the fence and driven into the pastureland. Deep ruts, filled with melting snow, had been cut in crisscrossed and zigzagged patterns for as far as the eye could see. “Do you suppose some Englischer skidded off the pavement and crashed through the rails?” she asked.
    “I don’t think so. They should have been able to get back on the road without doing that much damage.”
    “Someone has made a mess of the Miller farm and broken down their fences too.” Catherine looked frightened, as though the perpetrators might still lurk close by. “Let’s hurry home. We must tell daed as soon as possible.”
    Inside the safety of their kitchen, the sisters described exactly what they had seen at the farm on the next road. The other family members listened without interruption, wide-eyed. Then James turned to his father. “What are going to do, daed ? The Millers are old folks who don’t need this kind of trouble.”
    Gideon looked at his middle daughter. “You’re sure this couldn’t have been done by Amish youths?”
    Catherine shook her head. “Absolutely not. Where the snow had melted, you could see huge tire treads from those big trucks they show at the county fair.”
    Gideon turned to his wife. “There’s only one thing I can do. I’m calling the sheriff.”

Five
    M eghan, hurry up! We don’t have time for long tub soaks. You should have taken a shower upstairs.” Catherine glanced at the kitchen wall clock for the fourth time but heard little movement inside the bathroom off the kitchen. If they didn’t leave right now, she’d never get the room ready before the students arrived. And after her unsatisfactory stop at the Shockley farm the night before, she wanted to make sure she was prepared for anything today.
    Catherine packed their lunch cooler with sandwiches and apples,