Chapter two-
Lydia was an early riser. The next morning she slipped out of the warm bed she shared with Margaret and dressed in the predawn chill. She put her coat on over her blue blouse and light brown rumpled skirt.
She walked all the way to the church and proceeded to start her morning devotions in the book of Isaiah and sing her praise to God.
Lydia walked back to the mission, the strains of the Moonlight Sonata being heard. Lydia walked into the mission as Mr. Harland, her mother's friend, stopped playing and a young girl, not much older than Lydia, came down the stairs.
"A vision of loveliness. What a better way to start the day?" Harland asked, causing Lydia to roll her eyes. Harland always flirted like this. It was rather disgusting.
"Is Miss Alice here? I thought I heard her," the girl asked, smiling.
"No. You probably heard me when I got up," Lydia said softly.
"No, I'm afraid not. I was forced to breakfast alone. And Ruby Mae's cooking does leave a bit to be desired," Harland said. The girl and Lydia tuned as Margaret and Alice entered the room.
Lydia hoped her mother didn't ask where she'd been. Lydia was in no mood for a slapping because of her quiet moments with God. It was bad enough that she was wearing that garish hat of hers.
"Miss Huddleston? This is my daughter, Margaret, and my granddaughter, Lydia," Alice said, introducing Margaret and Lydia. While Lydia tried to look friendly, her mother pasted a fake smile on.
The room was silent as Miss Huddleston looked shocked. "Mother's not introducing us because we already know each other," Margaret said, sitting next to Harland, a flirtatious look on her face.
Lydia refrained from saying anything. She could think of a couple of the 10 Commandments that her mother had broken; adultery being very high on the list. And Mr. Harland encouraged it!
"I am most grateful to your daughter for having brought me here and I'm certain that this trip is going to be far more valuable than what I paid her. In spiritual terms, of course," Harland said quickly when he saw the look on Alice's face.
"And you must be the teacher," Margaret said, looking at the young girl next to Lydia.
"I'm pleased to meet you," Miss Huddleston said, a strained look on her face. She turned to look at Alice. "I don't understand," Miss Huddleston whispered in shock.
"Oh, it's a terribly long story, but I'm sure Mother will catch you up," Margaret said before Alice could say anything. Mr. Harland lit her cigarette for her. "Do you know they approached me to be a teacher? Can you imagine me running after all those little ones?" Margaret asked in a laughing, snide way. It was an insulting slap in Lydia's grandmother's face. They all stood there in uncomfortable silence. One that didn't last long.
"You're so young. Not too many years older than my own daughter. How do they expect someone to teach about life when they haven't even lived it?" Margaret asked, insulting Miss Huddleston.
"The children here are especially fond of Miss Huddleston. And she of them," Alice said, trying to sound cheerful and smiling with no success.
"Well, I'm sure you're probably far better at it than I would ever be. Lord knows they need something around here to keep them busy," Margaret said lazily.
"Everyone knows you wouldn't help keep them busy," Lydia said in a mutter, her tongue finally getting the best of her.
"Excuse me?" Margaret asked in surprise, turning her attention to Lydia.
"You heard me. Everyone works hard while you sit there on your blessed assurance, breaking all of the 10 Commandments at once," Lydia said, her voice hard.
Margaret stood to her feet, looking as if she were going to throttle Lydia. "Has anyone sent for your husband?" Miss Huddleston asked, switching Margaret's ire from Lydia to Miss Huddleston.
"I'll look after my own affairs, thank you. I am sure you'll have your hands full with the children," Margaret said tightly as she turned her back on Alice, Lydia, and Christy and Harland resumed his piano playing.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Lydia, Alice and Christy went into the kitchen, a stunned silence between them. "I apologize, Miss Huddleston, for my mother's behavior. She had no right to treat you like that," Lydia said, pumping herself a glass of water.
"You don't have to apologize for her. I should never have asked about your father," Miss Huddleston lamented.
"I'm glad you did. What is my father like? I've only heard one version of him. My mother's and it's not good," Lydia said, changing the subject.
"He's a wonderful man, thy father. Thee looks like him," Alice said, raising her granddaughter's chin slightly.
"Do you think he'll want to meet me, Grandmother?" Lydia asked.
"I would think so, Child. You are his daughter," Alice said, tenderly stroking Lydia's face. Lydia hoped her grandmother was right. It would be horrible if her father shunned her because of Margaret.
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It was late in the afternoon when Lydia stepped onto the porch of the Mission. She had sat in on Christy and Reverend Grantland's school day, wondering how the mountain children got taught. Of course she was a curiosity. The older girls, Ruby Mae Morrison, Lizette Holcombe, and Bessie Coburn marveled at her clothes and hair. The older boys her age stared at her as if she was beautiful and the little boys and girls all wanted to sit next to her. Especially a little girl named Mountie O'Teale. The children grew to like her more when they realized who her father was.
Lydia watched as Christy and Mr. Harland rode away. Mr. Harland was going to meet Hattie McCabe, a song singer in the cove and Lydia's aunt on her father's side. Lydia had decided to go this morning with them, but after playing with the children at the school she was tired and decided against going.
"This is very kind of you. I'm most grateful for the escort," Mr. Harland said.
"Miss Hattie's cabin is hard to find. I only happened upon it by accident," Miss Huddleston said. The conversation was stopped abruptly as a man on a black horse came riding into the Mission yard, an angry look on his face.
"Where is she?" The man yelled in a Scottish accent. He dismounted and looked first at Margaret and then Lydia. Lydia shrank slightly under her father's angry look. The man probably had a worse temper than her mother.
Her mother walked toward him. I know this must be a shock-"Margaret started to say.
"Don't you dare! Only you could do something this hateful. You stole my daughter and let me think you were both dead. You are dead to me, Woman," her father said, shaking Margaret by the shoulders.
"Neil-"Margaret started again.
"You are dead! I'm taking my daughter. I never want to see you again!" Neil shouted, grabbing Lydia by the wrist and gripping it so tightly she winced with pain. Her mother and grandmother didn't stop him as he stomped across the yard to his horse.
Neil got into his saddle and pulled Lydia up behind him. Lydia wrapped her arms around his waist, having the good sense not to say anything to him while he was this angry.