And the search was on, and here comes trouble in the back stretch...the house search began, with Teresa, Hallie, her sister, and Charlie
taking different parts of the house. All without alerting Lucy's mother that they were searching over the house for the errant Lucy.
"Check your room," Teresa told Charlie, in a low voice.
"I changed my clothes earlier-she wasn't in there-I'd have seen her if she had been," Charlie protested.
"You never know-she might have slipped in there afterwards," Teresa said. "Check to be sure."
"Okay," Charlie said, and made her own bedroom the first stop. She entered quietly, and looked around-there weren't many hiding
places, really, except maybe one spot. Charlie got down on her hands and knees, peering under the bed. There were dust bunnies-and a pencil-but
no Lucy.
Charlie got to her feet, brushing off the knees of her overalls. "Knew she'd never go under there," Charlie muttered to herself. "She wouldn't
want to get dusty."
Charlie paused in the hallway, considering. Teresa was coming out of Murdoch's bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her.
"No?" Teresa asked, and Charlie shook her head.
"No."
"I've looked in my bedroom, and Murdoch's-you look in Scott's, alright?" Teresa said. "I'll check Johnny's."
"Okay," Charlie said, and opened Scott's bedroom door. The room was, as was usual, tidy. There were more places that Lucy could have
hidden in here. It was a larger room, and Scott had a enormous wardrobe. A little girl could squeeze into there, Charlie thought. After she'd peered
under Scott's bed, she tiptoed to the wardrobe, and thrust the door open with a quick jerk.
Fully expecting to find Lucy crouched there, Charlie felt a bit let down when the wardrobe only showed Scott's well-arranged shirts, and
extra pair of boots.
Charlie closed the door to the wardrobe, and looked around the room, considering. Thinking. Where were other places that Lucy might
be hiding? If it had been for herself, searching for a place to hide in-well, the cellar, or the attic might have been options. But, with Lucy-?
No. There was no possible way that Lucy would risk encountering a mouse or spider in the cellar, and the attic door was a bit difficult to maneuver-
Charlie knew that first-hand, because she liked to go up there sometimes, and look thru the trunks of old-fashioned clothing, and pretend she was
managing a store as a shop-girl.
Lucy wouldn't have been able to manage the attic door without being detected, since it was so difficult, and squeaky, besides.
Charlie was just heading out of Scott's bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her, when she heard a sharp piercing whistle.
It sounded as though it was coming from downstairs, and Charlie made a run to the staircase, and down, as fast as she could, Teresa behind
her.
From the library, there were noises, a high-pitched little girl's voice, whiny; a woman's lamenting, and tears; and when Teresa and Charlie
came in, it was to find Mrs. Stone bending over and peering under Murdoch's large Oak desk.
Mrs. Stone was directing her attentions and words to the space underneath the desk, while Clarice and Hallie stood nearby. Hallie
had her hands on her hips, and was looking disapproving, angry even.
"She's there," Hallie said, gesturing in the direction of Mrs. Stone's interest, as Teresa and Charlie came around to stand
with her.
"Come out now," Mrs. Stone was coaxing.
To Charlie's dismay, Lucy was perched under the desk, her hands full of cookies. And, other than her hair being slightly mussed, it seemed to
Charlie that Lucy looked just as pristine as she always did. And, just as was usual, she had a pout on her face.
"I found her, hiding under there," Hallie said, to Teresa and Charlie. "Just as though she didn't have a care in the world-"
"Come on, darling," Mrs. Stone persisted, and Charlie peered closer at Lucy, wondering why she was so reluctant to come out of her
hiding hole.
"I don't want you to fuss at me," Lucy said, sounding petulant.
"I was so worried-" Lucy's mother said, but then in haste, "Darling, of course I won't fuss, I'm just so relieved-"
Lucy, apparently convinced, scooted on her bottom, and came out, getting to her feet.
Suddenly, with spirit, Hallie said, "You've had everyone worried, you silly girl," to Lucy.
Lucy gave a shrug, and Hallie's eyes flashed. She looked ready to give Lucy what-for, and Charlie felt an immense liking for the older girl.
She felt furious, herself- how dare Lucy have everyone so concerned, and be hiding under the desk like this-
"Were you under there the whole time?" Charlie asked Lucy, curious despite being furious.
Lucy shook her head, looking triumphant, one of her long coiled curls bouncing, and Charlie had a nearly overwhelming urge to yank on that blonde curl.
"You're horrid-" Charlie said, thinking of the men, out searching in the chilly air. Even knowing Lucy as she did, Charlie was shocked
at how selfishly Lucy had behaved.
"Charlie-" Teresa said, meant to caution Charlie from letting her tongue run away with her. "Go and ring the bell," Teresa said, in a
quieter tone.
Charlie gave Lucy a squint-eyed glare, and went out to pull the rope and clang the bell, to signal the men in the fields.
Then she ran back indoors, and back to the library, wanting to get back to the situation and see whether Lucy had gotten a
telling-off.
Lucy was now installed on the sofa, her mother sitting beside her, anxiously patting at Lucy.
Mrs. Wilson had begun gathering up dishes from the guests and Clarice went to help her.
"Do you want me to start some more coffee, Teresa?" Mrs. Wilson asked, and Teresa nodded.
"Yes, thank you," she said, sounding grateful.
Mrs. Wilson gave Lucy a look as she passed by, tut-tutting under her breath, in disapproval.
Charlie was ever more curious about where Lucy had gotten to, before she took up residence under Murdoch's desk-she had
to have slipped into the house amid all the turmoil, without being spotted-
"Come on," Teresa said, urging Charlie from the room.
"Why?" Charlie said, in protest, as Teresa became firmer, pushing her a bit, in the center of her back.
"Let her have some time with her mother, in private," Teresa said.
"Murdoch's going to be really angry," Charlie said.
"No doubt," Teresa said, in agreement. "They should be getting here, and they'll need some coffee-help me pick up the
rest of these plates and things."
"Maybe I should ring the bell again-" Charlie was suggesting, as they heard the front door open, and boots scuffing on the floor.
"Here they are," Teresa said, as Mr. Stone burst into the great room, his boots leaving wet spots on the floor, and running a hand
thru his hair. Murdoch followed behind him, and then Val.
"Where is she?" asked Mr. Stone, sounding frantic.
"She's in the library," Teresa said, quietly, as all three men made a line in that direction.
Charlie moved to follow, but Teresa caught at the back of her overalls.
"I want to go-" Charlie protested.
"You don't need to," Teresa said, and then-there was no need to follow, because Val's voice could be heard, raised and angry.
He was letting Lucy know without any doubt, that she had been foolish and had caused everyone a great deal of unnecessary
worry. Mrs. Stone's voice could be heard then, too, soft and pleading, but Charlie couldn't make out the words.
"I don't hear Mr. Stone," she whispered to Teresa, as they stood, listening.
"No."
"Why isn't he even hollering?" Charlie asked.
"I doubt that he will," Teresa said.
And then Lucy set up a wail, crying, and protesting loudly that everyone was picking on her.
Murdoch came from the library, and both Teresa and Charlie took note of his set jaw, a sure sign of his anger.
"Hello, girls," he said, in greeting, and wrapping an arm around both of them.
"Mrs. Wilson was making some fresh coffee," Teresa told him.
"That sounds really good," Murdoch said.
"I'll go and see if it's nearly done," Teresa said, and went off towards the kitchen.
Murdoch gave a deep sigh, and patted Charlie's shoulder, almost absently.
"Scott and Johnny haven't come in yet?" he asked Charlie.
At the shake of her head, Murdoch sighed again. "What an evening," he said, not loudly, almost to himself.
"I don't know how she got inside without someone seeing her," Charlie said, looking up into his weary-looking face.
Murdoch patted her again, and when he was silent, Charlie asked, "Is Lucy even going to get into any trouble?"
Murdoch's jaw seemed to tighten even more, and he said nothing in response to her question. He said, instead,"Go out and see if you
see the boys coming. If not, ring the bell again, would you, sweetheart?"
"Yes. I will," Charlie said, and went out the front door. Mr. Wilson was standing there, smoking a cheroot. He seemed a quiet man, and
he nodded at Charlie.
"I'm seeing if Johnny and Scott are coming," Charlie said, in explanation, and Mr. Wilson nodded again.
"I believe I heard them-coming from over there," Mr. Wilson said, pointing to the field beyond the barn. "It sounded like
voices."
"Thank you," Charlie said, and ran towards the barn, pausing at the side to cock her head and listen. Yes, she could hear them
talking, and getting closer. In the darkness now, she saw a lantern light bobbing along, only for a moment, and then it was
put out.
She ran out a bit more, in the direction of the light, and then paused, as the voices drew closer yet.
She called out to Scott, and he answered, and Charlie walked a bit further, seeing their outlines as the lantern light shone again.
"They found Lucy?" Scott asked, as Charlie reached out in the darkness and found his hand.
"Yes. Miss Hallie found her-she was hiding under Murdoch's desk in the library!" Charlie relayed, sounding a bit breathless from
her running.
"Mocosa," Johnny muttered.
"I don't know how she got in without someone seeing her," Charlie chattered on, as they continued walking towards the house.
"She was eating cookies under there," Charlie said, and then added, "Mr. Val was yelling at her something fierce!"
"Val's not one to put up with any nonsense," Johnny said.
"Her mother was just crying and crying," Charlie said.
"She needs a good wallopin'," Johnny said.
Scott had been mostly quiet, and Charlie squeezed his hand. "They were making some coffee," she told him.
"Sounds good," Scott said.
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In front of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were preparing to get into their buggy, and take their leave, as Murdoch saw them
off. There were thanks given on both sides, and Mr. Wilson spoke and said goodbye to Johnny and Scott, and their buggy went
off down the long drive.
"Party's over, huh?" Johnny said, dryly.
"I would say so," Murdoch said, in response, just as dryly.
"Where's the little brat?" Johnny asked. "Out in the woodshed gettin' tanned?"
Murdoch gave a humph sort of a sound. "If it were up to me-then yes, she would be. But, no, she's still in the library with
her mother."
The door opened and Val came out, lighting up a rolled-up cigarette from his shirt pocket.
"Whew," he said.
"How is the little darlin'?" Johnny asked, sounding amused. "Did you get her straightened out, Val?"
"It would take a good bit to straighten that one out," Val said, darkly, puffing on his cigarette.
Val relayed the information that Lucy had admitted to hiding behind the barn, and then slipping into the house, thru the kitchen, and,
finally, to the empty library.
The door opened again, and Mr. Stone came out. It seemed to Charlie that he was embarrassed, as he held his hat in his
hand, and apologized for the uproar that Lucy had caused.
"I think she thought it would be a clever trick," Mr. Stone rambled on. "She didn't realize it would be so upsetting to her mother, or
consider that we'd all be searching for her-"
Charlie watched Murdoch when Mr. Stone was saying all of that. Murdoch still wore his disapproving expression, she could tell that from
the light shining from the entryway.
"I'm glad she wasn't hurt, or lost," Murdoch said, in answer.
"Yes. Again, I apologize-" Mr. Stone said, as his wife and errant daughter appeared. Lucy had on her cloak with the fur around the collar,
and Charlie saw her give Murdoch, and Val, a rather wary glance.
"Lucy feels badly about what happened this evening," Mrs. Stone said. To this, when Lucy said nothing,
Murdoch prompted, "Do you, young lady? You had us all very concerned for your well-being."
Tears welled up in Lucy's big blue eyes, and Charlie was sure that the adults would feel pity for her, though she herself doubted the
tears were real ones.
"I hope you won't do anything like this again," Murdoch continued, still sounding severe, and not seeming to notice the tears.
Lucy turned her head away, into her mother's side, and Mr. Stone cleared his throat, and said, "Well, we'll take our leave now. Thank
you for the meal-"
"Yes, thank you," echoed Mrs. Stone.
And, the little family got into their buggy, and trotted away.
Without realizing it, Charlie let out a sigh. Val gave Charlie a comradery look. "Glad to see the back of her?" he asked.
Wondering if she should state her true feelings, Charlie hesitated, and then nodded her head.
"Can't say as I blame you," Val said.
When they all went inside, there was coffee and more cake, and then all the adults sat and talked. And talked. Not about what had
happened with Lucy that evening, but about other things. Charlie was allowed to stay up, and she ate another piece of chocolate cake,
staying quiet mostly, as she didn't want to remind them of her presence and be sent off to bed. She was enjoying hearing Hallie and her sister
talk and tell stories of their growing up, traveling all over with their father who'd been in the Army.
Finally, when it was nearly ten o'clock, Val and Clarice, and Hallie took their leave. Hallie shook Charlie's hand as though she
were a grown lady, and said, "I've enjoyed meeting you. I think we're going to be great friends, Charlie."
"I'd like that," Charlie told her.
Once it was just them, the family, Murdoch told Teresa to leave the rest of the clearing up until the morning.
Once Charlie had been sent to her bedroom, to prepare for bed, she was sitting on her bed, in her nightgown, yawning,
when Scott came to say goodnight.
They wouldn't read tonight, he told Charlie. Since it was so late.
Even though she was sleepy, Charlie felt like talking a bit more to him. She coaxed him to sit down on the bed while she lay
back on her pillows, her quilt tucked up around her.
"I like Miss Hallie," she told Scott. It wouldn't, Charlie thought, be quite so hard to have to share Scott, as long as it was with
someone like Hallie. She almost wished that Scott felt that special sort of love for Miss Hallie that he'd talked to her about. But, he'd said
they were only very good friends.
"Do you?" he asked, and at Charlie's nod, he added, "I'm glad. She's a very good person."
"She's funny, too," Charlie said.
"Yes. She is," Scott said, in agreement.
He was tucking the quilt up tighter around her, and Charlie knew he was getting ready to say his goodnights and leave.
"What do you think about Lucy?" she asked, to keep him talking.
"I think she did a very thoughtless thing tonight."
"I meant-what do you think of her?" Charlie persisted.
Scott looked contemplative, and then he said, "I don't know her very well. I think she's impulsive. Prone to poor behavior."
"I don't think she's nice," Charlie said. "Not at all."
Scott regarded her somberly for a long moment. "I think we can all understand your feelings about her a lot more clearly now."
A moment of understanding passed between them, and Charlie smiled at him.
"I'm not saying that you should be unkind to her," he said. "You understand that, right?"
At Charlie's nod, he said, "But, even though I want you to still treat her the way you'd like to be treated-" he paused. And a glimmer of
a smile curved at the side of his mouth. "I don't think any of us, including Teresa, will ask that you entertain her, ever again."
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