Inheritance's Price by Whitney Buckley

Author:Whitney Buckley [Whitney Buckley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Writeful Journey
Published: 2020-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

March roared in as the Lion, burying the grass and early calves in heavy wet snow. Claire rationed the last of the hay and hoped against hope the mamas would keep their babies warm. Bama and Wade were sticking around in exchange for meals. They checked the cattle around the spread regularly and brought in a few bum calves. Claire put them on Lulu, who had birthed a heifer in the midst of a heavy snow. The Jersey cow accepted the three calves with a sniff and head bump. With three calves, there was little milk for the humans but Claire felt it was worth the trade.

The wind that blew the last of the snow away brought another form of a storm. In early April, a team of horses drug a loaded wagon into the muddy barnyard. Emma leaped off, embracing her sister in a hug and an endless stream of chatter, Claire paid little heed to. Over her sister’s shoulder, she watched a woman, not much older than herself, stand up and teeter over to her Pa’s outstretched hand. Though not having seen many women expecting, Claire was certain the woman was not carrying her father’s child.

Pa escorted his new wife around the puddles to Claire. “Kathleen, my eldest daughter, Clarissa, otherwise known as Claire.”

Claire snapped her hanging jaw shut and offered her hand. It was ignored. “John, I am quite exhausted from all the bumping about. Show me the house, and I can learn all about this,” she made a grand sweeping motion to the rest of the property, “later.”

“Oh yes, yes. Of course. Claire, I will speak with you in a moment.” He stated sternly.

Claire nodded and helped Emma bring in the luggage from the wagon. She drooled at the sight of flour, sugar, and molasses. “How did Pa pay for this?”

Emma sighed. “He didn’t. I did from my wages.” She jerked a bag of grain off the back end of the wagon.

“Do you have much left?”

“I saved the last payment Mr. Wilson gave me but it isn’t much. Why?”

“No, I am not spending the last of your money. Best sew it into your corset or petticoat.”

Emma nodded her head. “I did. Besides, Pa says Kathleen will be taking care of the shopping now.”

Claire doubted that. From the looks of the woman, the only shopping she did was for dresses that would be shredded in one day working in the garden. Claire kept her opinion to herself.

“I have something for you,” Emma smiled. The smile made her near giddy.

“I don’t need—”

“Shh, grab some grain sacks. Here, I will help.” Emma picked one up and waited for Claire to follow her lead.

Once inside the barn, Emma dropped the bag and reached under her skirts. She pulled out a small book.

Claire grabbed it. The book was Jane Austen’s, Persuasion.

“Open it.”

Claire flipped the cover open. In block script, Clarissa was written on the inside. Claire smiled and held it to her chest.

“I want to know the story that goes with that.

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