ago.
Emma wasn't in the room. She'd left her shawl hanging over the back of her chair at Seth's bedside. Nothing could pull Emma away unless more trouble had come for them. Then the shouts invading his sleep erupted again. He didn't like leaving Seth alone, but curiosity won over caution. Casting one last look at his best friend, he crept out of the room. It was black in the hallway. Riley’s foot took another step and didn’t find floor. He clutched at the wall, feeling his way with an outstretched boot.
"That’s enough out of you, Headmaster!"
He couldn't mistake the voice. Elder Newcastle and Fergus McCloud were quarreling again. Imagine bickering at a time like this. Two grown men should be able to put their hatred aside for a few days. If he was pressed to pick, Riley wasn’t sure which side he’d choose. Elder Newcastle owned the only wool mercantile on Marianna and half the buildings in town. He overcharged the business owners on rent and tried to cheat the woolie farmers on the price of their wool. Dad was there to make certain he behaved.
Mr. McCloud, on the other hand, built their school, the Lookout. and the airship port with his own money. It seemed to Riley the headmaster took pleasure in reminding everyone — especially Elder Newcastle — that nothing would come or go from Marianna without his say-so.
They were standing toe to toe when Riley reached the base of the stairs. Both men were in a rage, ready to come to blows. Emma sat with Doctor McFadden at a nearby table. Her head slowly rocked upon her open palms. The doctor gripped her shoulder, encouraging her to sip from a glass of liquor.
"Your nephew has put us all in danger." Elder Newcastle stuck his pudgy belly into the space between them. "It’s a wonder the entire town wasn't murdered."
"Young McCloud is one of us. We watch over our own. Talk to the constable if you're so worried." Doctor McFadden lifted tired eyes to the elder. "Seth is still very ill. I daresay he should remain under this roof until he can travel. Satisfied?"
"I’m satisfied if the entire McCloud household remains here." The elder lifted his chin and threw a spiteful glare at Fergus.
"I won't be caged in this hovel while my work suffers." He slammed the tip of his walking stick upon the floor and headed toward the door.
"You cold-hearted creature! Anne just died and Seth is upstairs fighting for his life. Is your work all you can think about?" Riley’s mum cried, coming into the light.
Dad was right beside her with a look of murder on his face. He kept a steady arm about her. His dad was a fair, law-abiding man, but there were a few times he'd taken justice into his own hands. Riley recognized the glint of poorly contained rage about his eyes. Dad was close to giving old Fergus Fussbottom a long overdue beating.
"Look at him, Mrs. Logan." Elder Newcastle pointed at the headmaster's snarling face. "There’s your answer."
The elder turned his great bulk and headed out into the dark morning air. Fergus Fussbottom's cold glare stabbed at his departing back. He struck at the floor with his walking stick and then stormed toward the lower level of the inn.
"Just a moment, Headmaster!" Dad shouted, stepping forward to block his way. "Seth is still…"
"I endured your intrusions upon my family’s private business for Anne’s sake. She is dead now, so don’t think your interfering is welcome any longer. If you are concerned about the boy, take him to your home to live in squalor with the rest of the pigs."
"Thomas, don’t!" Riley’s mum grabbed Dad to restrain him. "Perhaps it is best if Seth comes to our home."
Riley pressed against the wall among the shadows as the crippled form of Fergus McCloud limped by. He couldn't recall a man more deserving of an entire island's hatred. Seth was best rid of him.
"His dear mother would want the boy to finish his studies." Emma's voice sounded frail through her tears. "What would she think if I didn’t make certain Seth
Emma wasn't in the room. She'd left her shawl hanging over the back of her chair at Seth's bedside. Nothing could pull Emma away unless more trouble had come for them. Then the shouts invading his sleep erupted again. He didn't like leaving Seth alone, but curiosity won over caution. Casting one last look at his best friend, he crept out of the room. It was black in the hallway. Riley’s foot took another step and didn’t find floor. He clutched at the wall, feeling his way with an outstretched boot.
"That’s enough out of you, Headmaster!"
He couldn't mistake the voice. Elder Newcastle and Fergus McCloud were quarreling again. Imagine bickering at a time like this. Two grown men should be able to put their hatred aside for a few days. If he was pressed to pick, Riley wasn’t sure which side he’d choose. Elder Newcastle owned the only wool mercantile on Marianna and half the buildings in town. He overcharged the business owners on rent and tried to cheat the woolie farmers on the price of their wool. Dad was there to make certain he behaved.
Mr. McCloud, on the other hand, built their school, the Lookout. and the airship port with his own money. It seemed to Riley the headmaster took pleasure in reminding everyone — especially Elder Newcastle — that nothing would come or go from Marianna without his say-so.
They were standing toe to toe when Riley reached the base of the stairs. Both men were in a rage, ready to come to blows. Emma sat with Doctor McFadden at a nearby table. Her head slowly rocked upon her open palms. The doctor gripped her shoulder, encouraging her to sip from a glass of liquor.
"Your nephew has put us all in danger." Elder Newcastle stuck his pudgy belly into the space between them. "It’s a wonder the entire town wasn't murdered."
"Young McCloud is one of us. We watch over our own. Talk to the constable if you're so worried." Doctor McFadden lifted tired eyes to the elder. "Seth is still very ill. I daresay he should remain under this roof until he can travel. Satisfied?"
"I’m satisfied if the entire McCloud household remains here." The elder lifted his chin and threw a spiteful glare at Fergus.
"I won't be caged in this hovel while my work suffers." He slammed the tip of his walking stick upon the floor and headed toward the door.
"You cold-hearted creature! Anne just died and Seth is upstairs fighting for his life. Is your work all you can think about?" Riley’s mum cried, coming into the light.
Dad was right beside her with a look of murder on his face. He kept a steady arm about her. His dad was a fair, law-abiding man, but there were a few times he'd taken justice into his own hands. Riley recognized the glint of poorly contained rage about his eyes. Dad was close to giving old Fergus Fussbottom a long overdue beating.
"Look at him, Mrs. Logan." Elder Newcastle pointed at the headmaster's snarling face. "There’s your answer."
The elder turned his great bulk and headed out into the dark morning air. Fergus Fussbottom's cold glare stabbed at his departing back. He struck at the floor with his walking stick and then stormed toward the lower level of the inn.
"Just a moment, Headmaster!" Dad shouted, stepping forward to block his way. "Seth is still…"
"I endured your intrusions upon my family’s private business for Anne’s sake. She is dead now, so don’t think your interfering is welcome any longer. If you are concerned about the boy, take him to your home to live in squalor with the rest of the pigs."
"Thomas, don’t!" Riley’s mum grabbed Dad to restrain him. "Perhaps it is best if Seth comes to our home."
Riley pressed against the wall among the shadows as the crippled form of Fergus McCloud limped by. He couldn't recall a man more deserving of an entire island's hatred. Seth was best rid of him.
"His dear mother would want the boy to finish his studies." Emma's voice sounded frail through her tears. "What would she think if I didn’t make certain Seth
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