Firestorm! by Joan Hiatt Harlow

Author:Joan Hiatt Harlow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published: 2010-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

TUESDAY NIGHT,

OCTOBER 3, 1871

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

- Time Will Tell -

For a moment no one spoke after Poppy left. Justin’s gaze went from Poppy’s empty chair to his father, who was peering over the rim of his teacup at Mother. She glared at him accusingly. Charlie raised his eyebrows at Justin as if to ask, What now?

Pastor Belmont’s eyes were on Claire, who seemed to be in shock. Then Claire broke the silence in a trembling voice. “We cannot let that child go back to that Ma Brennan and that awful place where she’s been so badly treated all her life …” She jumped up and ran after Poppy.

Justin heard the front door open. “Poppy, wait! Please don’t leave,” Claire was calling. The door closed with a bang.

Again no one spoke. Then Father set down his teacup. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t trust that child. She’s from the Patch, for goodness sake, and she’s hanging around Justin and the store—and now our house!”

“You made it very clear that she’s not wanted here,” Mother stated.

“I did not,” Father replied. “I said nothing cruel.”

“Your silence was loud enough,” Mother said.

“You told me yourself you didn’t trust her,” Father went on.

“Maybe so, but I would never hurt her in any way … like you did,” Mother said.

“How did I hurt her? I never said a word.”

“If looks could kill, you killed her,” Mother snapped.

“Poppy’s not a bad person,” Justin piped up. “I like her, even though she’s kind of tough. It’s like she doesn’t know much about … things.”

“Oh, she knows a lot about things,” Charlie said. “She’s been on the streets all her life.”

“I mean, she doesn’t know much about families and friends and … those kinds of things.” Justin found it hard to explain what he liked about Poppy.

Forrest spoke up. “Claire and I feel that with kindness and love, anyone can change and have a good life—if she chooses to.”

“She’s had enough kindness from this family,” Father said.

“I can’t help feeling sorry for Poppy,” Mother said wistfully. “Besides, Claire is very fond of her.”

“Claire’s fond of everyone,” Father argued. “She loves Poppy the way she loves the kitten. Poppy’s cute, that’s for sure. But she’s a little wild thing, and like any wild thing, she’ll eventually bite the hand that feeds her.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, she’s just a child,” Mother argued.

“Yes, a child from Conley’s Patch,” Father responded. “Besides, she’s older than she looks.”

“Her life has made her older,” Forrest said. “Self-preservation is the first law of nature.”

“Time will tell who Poppy really is,” Father said. “Now, what’s for dessert?”

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