right from the start." His light eyes cold as ice, he continued with a thread of menace, "I don't like being called names. I'm not a bastard any more than you are, and unless you're looking for trouble, you'd better remember that."
"I'm not taking orders from you, prison boy! I heard everything the chaperon told my father about you. You're trouble! You came from prison, and you were a problem from the minute you joined that group of orphans he brought here. Smith said he thought you had good things in you, that the right home would make the difference, but you and I know better, don't we, prison boy?"
"I told you I don't like being called names."
Ignoring his comment, James continued hotly, "Don't think Pa and I aren't wise to you. You had trouble getting placed, didn't you? So you latched on to that little girl and told her you'd protect her. You figured some soft-hearted lady like my mother would feel sorry for her and take you along as part of the deal. Only you didn't figure on somebody like my Pa and me being in on it. My Pa and I aren't stupid, and if it wasn't for my mother being so sick, and her heart being broken by little Annie's passing, my Pa never would have agreed to take an orphan in the first place.
"But that doesn't mean you're going to get away with anything here, and I'm telling you right now, don't even try . I saw you take my mother's arm. You keep your hands off her! She doesn't need your help. Any help my mother needs, she'll get from Pa or me. And while I'm about it, I'm telling you to keep your hands off my sister, too. Pa and I will be watching you every minute."
His anger at James's unwarranted attack barely under control, Delaney responded slowly, "Your father agreed to a contract that says I get room and board in exchange for work on this farm until I'm eighteen years old."
"And that contract also says if you turn out to be trouble, you go back to where you came from. Understand?"
His control beginning to slip, Delaney unconsciously squared his stance more firmly. His fists tightened. "I'm not going back anywhere."
"Then you'd better be all my mother is expecting."
"And while we're talking about what we're expecting, I'll tell you what I expect. I don't expect to listen to any red-faced country boy telling me what to do."
James Case's face turned a true red, and he took a threatening step forward, only to be halted by a deep voice. "That's enough, James!"
Jacob Case's sharp admonition alerted both young men to his unexpected appearance.
"I was just telling this prison boy"
"I said that's enough!"
Taking a few long strides closer, Jacob Case waited until his son's thin lips snapped tightly shut before turning toward Delaney. His eyes searched Delaney's unrevealing expression, holding his frigid gaze for long seconds before he spoke again.
"I haven't said much to you, and I suppose I'm to blame for letting James get to you before I could set the matter straight for both of you. Well, here's the truth of the situation, boy. James was right when he said none of us, including Sarah, was in favor of taking an orphan into our home. It was too close to our losing Annie and we…" His lined face twitching revealingly for a silent second, Mr. Case swallowed and continued with a new firmness, "And we were against taking you along with the girl. We didn't want one orphan, much less two, and a boy with a bad record at that.
"But I want you to know this, boy, here and now." Turning, Mr. Case directed a brief, meaningful look into his son's tight face. "Now that you're here, we expect to fulfill that contract we signed. We'll treat you like one of the family as far as working and eating and everyday living is concerned. And as far as schooling, well, that's up to you. Nobody can make another fella learn, and that's the truth of it." Jacob Case paused for a deep breath.
"I'm not taking orders from you, prison boy! I heard everything the chaperon told my father about you. You're trouble! You came from prison, and you were a problem from the minute you joined that group of orphans he brought here. Smith said he thought you had good things in you, that the right home would make the difference, but you and I know better, don't we, prison boy?"
"I told you I don't like being called names."
Ignoring his comment, James continued hotly, "Don't think Pa and I aren't wise to you. You had trouble getting placed, didn't you? So you latched on to that little girl and told her you'd protect her. You figured some soft-hearted lady like my mother would feel sorry for her and take you along as part of the deal. Only you didn't figure on somebody like my Pa and me being in on it. My Pa and I aren't stupid, and if it wasn't for my mother being so sick, and her heart being broken by little Annie's passing, my Pa never would have agreed to take an orphan in the first place.
"But that doesn't mean you're going to get away with anything here, and I'm telling you right now, don't even try . I saw you take my mother's arm. You keep your hands off her! She doesn't need your help. Any help my mother needs, she'll get from Pa or me. And while I'm about it, I'm telling you to keep your hands off my sister, too. Pa and I will be watching you every minute."
His anger at James's unwarranted attack barely under control, Delaney responded slowly, "Your father agreed to a contract that says I get room and board in exchange for work on this farm until I'm eighteen years old."
"And that contract also says if you turn out to be trouble, you go back to where you came from. Understand?"
His control beginning to slip, Delaney unconsciously squared his stance more firmly. His fists tightened. "I'm not going back anywhere."
"Then you'd better be all my mother is expecting."
"And while we're talking about what we're expecting, I'll tell you what I expect. I don't expect to listen to any red-faced country boy telling me what to do."
James Case's face turned a true red, and he took a threatening step forward, only to be halted by a deep voice. "That's enough, James!"
Jacob Case's sharp admonition alerted both young men to his unexpected appearance.
"I was just telling this prison boy"
"I said that's enough!"
Taking a few long strides closer, Jacob Case waited until his son's thin lips snapped tightly shut before turning toward Delaney. His eyes searched Delaney's unrevealing expression, holding his frigid gaze for long seconds before he spoke again.
"I haven't said much to you, and I suppose I'm to blame for letting James get to you before I could set the matter straight for both of you. Well, here's the truth of the situation, boy. James was right when he said none of us, including Sarah, was in favor of taking an orphan into our home. It was too close to our losing Annie and we…" His lined face twitching revealingly for a silent second, Mr. Case swallowed and continued with a new firmness, "And we were against taking you along with the girl. We didn't want one orphan, much less two, and a boy with a bad record at that.
"But I want you to know this, boy, here and now." Turning, Mr. Case directed a brief, meaningful look into his son's tight face. "Now that you're here, we expect to fulfill that contract we signed. We'll treat you like one of the family as far as working and eating and everyday living is concerned. And as far as schooling, well, that's up to you. Nobody can make another fella learn, and that's the truth of it." Jacob Case paused for a deep breath.
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