Chapter 13
For the next two weeks, Meredith's school experience didn't change. She tried to hide her anxiety, but she wasn't sleeping well at night and her appetite wasn't good at all. Adeline was worried about her, but Meredith refused to admit anything was wrong.
Finally, it was time to send home a report card and Meredith was dreading it. She knew her grades were not what they should be. She wondered what her parents would say. She couldn't stand the thought of her father looking at her with disappointment.
Meredith was glad to see her Uncle Heath ride into the school yard, pulling Misty behind him. She squealed with glee and gave her uncle a huge hug when he explained they were going to go riding for a bit before going home. Just about the only time Meredith felt free and relaxed was when she was riding. She used to enjoy drawing, but even that had lost its charm. She had taken her sketch pad to school one day and Miss Peters saw it. She refused to believe that Meredith had drawn the pictures inside and confiscated the pad. Meredith had yet to gain enough courage to ask for it back. She only hoped that Miss Peters was taking good care of it. Meredith had started a project for her father and she wanted to give it to him in few weeks. But if Miss Peters didn't give her sketch pad back soon, she wouldn't be able to finish it.
Meredith and Heath rode up onto the North Ridge and she again stared in awe at the sight. The Barkley Ranch was beautiful and Meredith was proud to be a part of it. She and Heath dismounted and they went to sit down under a large tree. They had become quite close in the last few weeks and Meredith was thankful for him. She adored her father beyond anything, but her Uncles were a close second. Heath seemed to really understand her awkwardness concerning her arrival into the family. And she knew that although her Uncle Nick could be loud at times, he had the most gentle heart.
"This is such a pretty spot, Uncle Heath," Meredith said, looking around.
"Thought you might want to draw some pictures of it sometime," he said. Had he been looking at her, he would have seen the sadness in her eyes. She only had the one sketch pad and didn't want to ask for another one.
"Meredith?" Meredith looked up and realized she had let her thoughts wander.
"Sorry, Uncle Heath. I was thinking."
"Yeah, this is a good spot for it." Heath picked up some tall grass and stuck it in his mouth, chewing on the end. "How was school today?"
Meredith sighed. "We got our report cards," she said softly.
Heath looked over at her and asked, "How'd ya do?"
Meredith took her report card out of her pocket and handed it to him. He opened it up and admitted he was a little surprised at the grades. He had gotten the impression from Jarrod that Meredith was a good student. He looked up at her and saw her biting her lip, wondering what he would say.
"Well..."
"Will Papa be mad?" she asked, hating the thought of him scolding her.
"Let me ask ya, Meredith. Did ya do your best?"
Meredith nodded, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over.
"Well, if ya did your best, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. They'll understand it's been an adjustment for ya movin out here. Don't worry about it. Your next report card will be great, I'm sure!"
Meredith tried to smile, but new her next report card would be the same unless she got a new teacher and that wasn't likely to happen.
"Have you finished the sketch you were doin for your Papa?"
Heath had been the only one she had confided in concerning her surprise. She had needed his help in getting things set up.
"No. I...I don't have my sketch pad anymore."
"Did ya lose it?"
"No, I ..."
Heath watched Meredith closely. "Meredith, what happened to it?"
"I brought it to school and Miss Peters took it. I haven't asked for it back."
"Were ya drawin durin class? Is that why she took it?"
Meredith shook her head. "I showed it to her and she said she didn't believe I did the drawings and took it away. Told me I..."
"Told ya what?" Heath asked, his brows drawing together.
"I'm not allowed to say the word, Uncle Heath. Granna told me if she ever heard it coming from my mouth she'd wash it out with soap!"
Heath thought on this. He didn't want to pressure her, but he had to wonder what the teacher would have said to her that would be so bad. More than likely it was just a word that Meredith thought was bad.
"Tell ya what. You tell me what she said, and I promise I won't let your Granna wash your mouth out with soap when she gets here. She may not even need to know."
Meredith nodded and then quietly said, "Miss Peters said I shouldn't lie even though that's all she would expect from a bastard child."
Meredith wasn't watching her Uncle and he was glad he had a moment to compose his features. He put on his best poker face when Meredith looked up at him. He smiled at her and winked, then said, "Well, you're Granna is right. You shouldn't be sayin that word. Tell me, has your teacher called any of the other children that?"
"No. At least not that I've heard."
"Has she called you that before?"
Meredith hesitated, but knew she couldn't lie. She nodded, but didn't share any details. She asked instead, "What did Miss Peters mean by that, Uncle Heath? Why am I considered a...Well, you know. That word. Is it because I was adopted?"
Heath took a deep breath and tried to quell his rising anger. Meredith was staring at him with her wide blue eyes. Eyes that still held the innocence of life and he didn't want to do anything to take that from her.
"You aren't one of those Meredith. But I'll tell ya what. I'll explain it to ya a little later when you are older. It's getting late and from the look of that stack of books you put in your saddlebags, you have a lot of homework. We should get home."
Meredith nodded, sad that her time of freedom was over. Her father had told her that her homework needed to be completed as soon as possible each day before she could go out and play. But she never seemed to finish it before dinner.
"Meredith," Heath asked as they mounted their horses. "Do the other kids have a lot of homework too?"
"No sir. Not usually."
"Then why do you always come home with so many books?"
"Miss Peters doesn't like it when I get an answer wrong. So for every wrong answer, I have to write sentences on the board. Then with whatever classes I miss, I have to bring home those books and make up the work."
"And the other kids don't have to do that?"
"Not that I've seen."
Heath gave Meredith a lopsided grin and put his hand on her shoulder. He didn't say anything else and they rode home in silence. Heath was thinking on what course of action he should take. He wanted to tell Jarrod and Adeline, but he didn't want to betray Meredith's trust. He sighed and hoped a clear answer came to him soon.
Heath considered going to Miss Peters himself but knew it wasn't his place. Jarrod and Adeline had to be told what Meredith had said and then they would need to take care of it. He waited until Meredith told everyone her goodnights and was tucked into bed. He had told Jarrod that he needed to speak with he and Adeline later, so the three of them went into the study. Heath didn't know how to begin and Jarrod could sense his uncomfortableness.
"Heath, has Meredith done something wrong?" Jarrod asked.
"No. Not at all. She's a wonderful child, Jarrod." He looked to Adeline and she smiled at his praise.
"It's just...she told me some things I thought you should know."
"All right."
Heath took a deep breath and told them both about Meredith's school work. Jarrod had seen her report card and though he admitted he had been a bit disappointed, he thought maybe her low grades were because of the move and needing time to adjust. Now he knew differently.
Heath told them about the sketch pad, but didn't say anything about the surprise Meredith was making for Jarrod. He didn't see any need for him to know about that. When he told them what Miss Peters had called Meredith, he knew Jarrod was angry. Probably the angriest he had seen his big brother in a long time. Adeline wore a shocked expression on her face, her hand going to her mouth.
"I wasn't sure what to do, Jarrod. I didn't want to betray Meredith's trust in me. She didn't ask me not to tell you, but this was something you had to know."
"Thanks Heath. We'll take care of it and hopefully in a way that will not let Meredith know you told us. Maybe if I can get her to open up to me about it..." his voice trailed off, his mind working on a plan to help his daughter.
Heath bid them both goodnight and left the room. When Heath closed the door behind him, Adeline turned to Jarrod who was standing by the fireplace, deep in thought. She wrapped her arms around him and he held her as she cried.
"Why? Why, Jarrod?"
"I don't know, honey. But one thing is for sure. Meredith isn't going back there. I hate to pull her out of school again, but this is not acceptable behavior for a teacher."
"What will we do?"
"I'll go in tomorrow and get Meredith's school work for the rest of the week. Somehow during this time, I'll try to get her to open up to me. That way, I can go to the school board without Meredith needing to know Heath told us."
Adeline nodded. Her head hurt from crying and she was so very tired, but she didn't want to leave the arms of her husband just yet. Jarrod led her to the settee and they sat down. They watched the flames for a while until Jarrod felt Adeline's head bob. He gently kissed her, rousing her from her seat and suggested they turn in. Adeline wanted to go and check on Meredith first and Jarrod told her he'd be up in a few minutes. He sat in the study, calming his raging emotions. When he finally felt he was calm enough to sleep, he made his way up the stairs. He found Adeline still in Meredith's room, sitting in the chair next to her bed. He took her hand and led her to their room, helping her settle into bed. He fell asleep listening to his wife's soft cries.
