Free Forbidden by Eve Bunting

stream. I gathered my hair and wrung it out. “It was infected by Lamb’s bite. She applied a potion.”
    My heart was beating too fast. He was in a rage.
    “What woman? There is only one on Brindle Point who believes herself a healer.”
    All my instincts urged me to be careful. “Mrs. Stuart. She was very kind.”
    “Come ye inside, Caleb,” Aunt Minnie shouted. “You’ll get your death of cold.”
    She stood in the doorway, one hand on Lamb’s head.
    My uncle paid her no mind.
    I was not prepared for the shout of anger that exploded from him.
    “Mrs. Stuart, was it?” He grabbed my arm. “You stay away from her. And from her weasel of a grandson.” His face was so close to mine that his spittle sprayed across my face, and I could tell he was going to strike me.
    I took a step back.
    Lamb growled.
    “Easy, Lamb!” my aunt called out. “Easy, Caleb. Remem- ber what we spoke about? Time will pass.”
    It wasn’t hard to realize that they had no more desire to have me than I had to stay. But there was the monthly payment. And the promise of the hundred guineas. My stomach was snarled. I looked at my uncle, the terrible red of his face, the spittle on his lips, his harsh words. How was I to stay for two long years?
    At my aunt’s shout, he let loose of my arm.
    “I remember, woman,” he said. “But I will not hold my tongue. You are not to go near either one of them again, you hear?” he ordered me. “I forbid it.”
    Even in the tension of the moment, the word forbid resonated in my mind. “He is forbidden.” Forbidden by my aunt and uncle?
    I slid my hand into my pocket and clutched the blue slippers. “Uncle Caleb,” I said, fighting the irrational shake in my voice, “I appreciate that you and Aunt Minnie are sheltering me. But I do not take kindly to intimidation. It was not my father’s wish that you should rule over me when he arranged for me to be here and provided money for my keep. I do not expect you to be always affectionate toward me. However, I do not care for being ordered. We will live in better harmony if we treat one another with consideration.”
    My uncle scowled. “Do not be impudent. You will come inside and put that saddle and bridle back where you found them.”
    “You were in Jackdaws,” Aunt Minnie said. It was not a question but a statement. She nodded toward the trousers.
    “Yes,” I said, and nothing more.
    Dobbin stood, patiently waiting. I petted his nose, then led him again into the enclosure. The five hens were still there.
    Though I was forced to hobble, neither my aunt nor my uncle helped me as I dragged the saddle and bridle and reins back to where they had been, even though I had to make two excursions into and out of the house. The only one who watched me was Lamb.
    I had never been so wet or so cold. Shivers chased along my legs.
    They were in the sitting room, which I had to pass through again to get to the stair. Aunt Minnie was at the table polishing the silver candlestick with a cloth dipped in white powder. She didn’t look up as she addressed me. “Did you make the acquaintance of the grandson while you were being attended to by Doss Stuart?”
    “No,” I said. I had made the grandson’s acquaintance earlier, but I was not going to reveal that.
    “Stay away from them,” she said.
    “Why?”
    “Because we say so. While you are in our house, you will do as you’re bid. Put those trousers by the fire to dry. There is porridge on the hob. Spoon yourself a bowlful and take it with you to your room. I will call you later.”
    The trousers began to steam as the heat of the fire reached them.
    Neither of them spoke as I fetched a bowl, filled it, and limped to the stair. My aunt handed me a lit candle in a tarnished holder.
    “Josie?”
    “Yes, Auntie?”
    She turned from the table while I stood waiting for what was to come next. “Stay here.”
    She opened the door to the storage room, disappeared, and came back with a dark garment, which she