Chapter 24 - Jed's Mother is a Crook

Maggie was still trying to find her family when she noticed a young boy that she knew slightly. He occasionally went around with Bill, Adam, and the rest of their gang. He was reaching in front of him to pick Reverend Elliot's pocket.

She frowned; she couldn't let him take what little money John Elliot had, especially as she knew that this boy came from a family with a fair bit of money. The boy - Thomas, that was his name! - was always well-dressed and had plenty of money for sweets and games. She'd heard his parents brag about how they never expected him to do chores, because he would follow his father into the family business. This wasn't a boy like Han, who was in the habit of stealing just to survive and found it hard to avoid temptation. This was a boy who liked to steal because he could get away with it. Even if he was caught, his parents would make sure that he wouldn't be punished.

She wondered what her best course of action was. If she called out, the boy would simply deny it and would run away before they could search him. It would be his word against hers. She sighed; there was really only one thing she could do.

She watched critically as he clumsily lifted the money from the minister's pocket. Professionally speaking, he wasn't very good at it. Han or Jed would have done a much better job of it. She mentally chided herself for being proud of their abilities in that direction.

She saw him smile as he fingered the money and placed it - oh, so carelessly! - in his own back pocket.

She walked towards him, timing it so that she was jostled in his direction as they passed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she said.

He scowled at her and walked away. She made a mental note to tell her children not to spend any more time in his company.

She approached the minister with a smile. "Hello, John."

"Maggie, are you having a good day?"

"Better than you. Don't look now, but young master Thomas Brown just picked your pocket."

John went ashen and put a hand into his empty pocket. "Oh no! That was everything I had!"

She grinned and handed him the bundle of bills. "Then it's very lucky that I'm a better pickpocket than he is!"

The minister knew about her family history. He looked grave and took the money. "As your minister, I feel I should admonish you for breaking a commandment. But as a man who has to eat for the rest of the month, I am deeply grateful."

"Does it count as breaking a commandment? Technically, I was recovering stolen goods. And I suppose you could say that, by telling you, I've already confessed to my sin to God!"

He grinned. "I suppose that's true!"

Maggie put a hand on his arm. "I think our young thief is about to discover his loss!"

They watched as Thomas reached into his pocket and found it empty. Horrified, he looked back and saw the two of them watching him. John pointedly put the money into his breast pocket.

Thomas narrowed his eyes. He remembered Maggie bumping into him and realized that she must have taken the money from him then. She was the only person that had been anywhere near him. They saw him utter an oath.

Maggie sighed. "He really is an unpleasant child, isn't he?"

The minister frowned at her. "Now, Maggie! God lives in ALL his children." He paused and watched the boy trip a small child that was running past. "But I'll confess, he's hiding pretty well in that one."

Han and Jed walked away from the crowds to look at the horses tied up outside the stores. Thomas Brown seemed to appear out of nowhere. He advanced on Jed and Han pushed the younger boy behind him protectively.

"Hey, kid. You got any money?"

Jed stood to his full height and glared at the boy. "No, but if I had I wouldn't give it to you!"

Han sighed and said, almost to himself, "Couldn't just say no, could ya?"

Thomas came forward menacingly. "Yeah, well I don't believe you! Your ma took some money from me, so I'm gonna make you pay!"

A small crowd of children gathered around to watch the brawl they were sure would ensue.

Jed went very red. "My ma wouldn't take anything from you unless she had a reason!"

"Reason was that she's a crook!"

Everyone had seen Han backing down from confrontations, so no-one was prepared when he flew at Thomas, fists flying.

They all assumed that he couldn't fight, but it seemed they were wrong. Thomas was twice his size and four years older, so they all thought that Thomas would quickly triumph. But Han had been fighting for his survival for years and he fought dirty.

Maggie and John had followed Thomas when they'd seen him run off. Reverend Elliot wanted to talk to him and Maggie didn't trust the boy. Maggie's heart sank when she heard the shouts - she felt sure that he had decided to take out his frustrations on Jed, who could never resist a fight.

They ran forward and stopped in surprise. John recovered himself first and pulled Han away, just as the boy sank his teeth into Thomas' arm.

Bill and another boy held onto Thomas. His face was a mass of scratches and cuts and he was crouched over in pain. Han had managed to get in a couple of good kicks.

Han actually didn't look too bad. His lip had been split and he had a cut above his eye. Maggie guessed that his eye would be black tomorrow.

The children looked at Han with new-found respect. Sure, he fought dirty, but Thomas was always picking on the smaller children and they all thought that was pretty dirty too. The crowd started to disperse.

Maggie sat Han down on the grass and put a handkerchief to his bleeding lip.

Jed ran over to them, grinning wildly. "Wow, Han! That was great! I thought you hated to fight; why'd ya do it?"

Han looked up at his friend. "You don't say something like about someone's mother." He gave Maggie a sidelong glance and added with a grin, "'Specially if it's true."