LM Montgomery owns Anne of Green Gables. Margaret Mitchell owns some other characters. I own the characters you don't recognize from any stories you have read. And legal disclaimers are for the birds. Tweet Tweet.

The storm had done very little real damage, when all was said and done. When everything dried, and the branches had been removed, it was clear that no one had suffered from any major destruction. Marybeth did hire a girl from the Glen to help while Lanie was recovering, a girl named Daisy. Daisy was quiet, but worked hard, and didn't need to be taught much. One morning, close to noon Daisy and Marybeth were hanging laundry on the line outside. Lanie had brought the baby, who was as yet unnamed, outside for an airing, and Lanie lounged with her feet up, baby in her lap and enjoyed the fresh air.

As they hung the wash, Marybeth watched the progress of two people, a young girl and an older man, as they walked up her street. The pair paused at her gate, looking around. Marybeth slipped the second clothespin over the shoulder of the blouse she was hanging, and went to the gate to see what they wanted. As she got closer, she realized that this girl must the infamous Sadie.

Anna had been right about one thing, Sadie definitely looked too old to be friends with her children. Ted was 14, but he was a young 14; they had celebrated his birthday the week before they moved here.

The man spoke as soon as Marybeth got to the gate. "The name's Marsh--Mr. Marsh." He didn't extend his hand, and Marybeth was just as glad. He had the look of a hard drinker, and Marybeth couldn't be sure he was sober now. "This's my girl, Sadie."

Marybeth looked at Sadie and nodded. Sadie tried to look at her defiantly, but she couldn't maintain eye contact for very long. She also seemed to be trying to unobtrusively inch away from her father. She was attractive in a frowsy sort of way, and obviously was in the habit of using her looks to her advantage. Her clothes were shabby but clean, and her hair was done in a fairly close send-up of the latest style.

"Is this where Ted Hamiton lives?" The man asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Marybeth asked.

"Cause he and I have something to settle."

"I'm the head of the family, Mr. Marsh," Marybeth said. "You'll discuss this with me."

"Then why don't we step inside?"

"We'll discuss it here. What do you want?"

"To settle this dalliance between your boy and my Sadie." At this point he noticed Sadie trying to distance herself, and with a suddenness that made Marybeth wince, his hand shot out and grabbed Sadie hard by the arm and yanked her back within reach. Sadie just looked resigned.

"What makes you think," Marybeth asked, "that there was any sort of dalliance between them?"

"She said so."

"Is that right? Sadie, why don't you tell me exactly what happened? " Said Marybeth, crossing her arms and looking at the girl narrowly.

Sadie tried to brazen it out, but she couldn't help blushing and stammering, "Well--you see--it's like--I'm--I'm too embarrassed to say it."

"Maidenly modesty," Mr. Marsh mumbled.

"No doubt," said Marybeth. "So where's your proof? Any eyewitnesses?"

To these questions, Sadie shook her head 'no'. Mr. Marsh shot Sadie a threatening look, but before he said anything, Marybeth jumped in again.

"Are you aware, Mr. Marsh, that my son is only 14?"

At this a glance passed between the father and daughter. The man coughed and cleared his throat. Then he spoke, "Look lady, I'm a reasonable man. You know and I know that if this is ever made public, then it's Sadie's word against the boy's. But I'll make sure she keeps her mouth shut, if you'll give us a little concession. Not much, just enough to get us through the winter. Winters up here are pretty severe..."

Marybeth looked at him, open mouthed, unsure whether to be outraged or horrified. To try to extort money from her, and to sell his daughter's virtue so cheaply! Marybeth took a deep breath and replied, "No. You won't get one red cent out of us. How dare you come here trying to make deals! Get off my property right now, or you'll have more trouble than you know how to handle."

"Who do you think you are, Lady, coming into our town, talking funny and acting so high and mighty! I've got half a mind to get the law on your son."

"Go right ahead and try to get the law involved. I know a whole bunch of lawyers I can call for anytime I want. And don't let me see you around here again. Go!"

At that moment Mr. Marsh looked at the little group over by the clothesline. Besides Daisy, Lanie and the baby, Burt had joined his wife when he heard the commotion by the gate. Mr. Marsh had counted on intimidating a lone woman or a young boy, not to confront another fully-grown man.

"This isn't the end of this, you know," Mr. Marsh mumbled as he dragged Sadie down the street with him. Lanie and Burt, who wanted to know what had happened, joined Marybeth at the gate and she didn't see a look that passed between Sadie and Daisy, a very unfriendly look on both sides.

Marybeth was still infuriated as she resumed hanging laundry, and she mulled over the conversation she had just had. The Marshes had no proof or witnesses, but people jumped on a juicy scandal like this. Ted was too young to have to face such a thing, and so unjustly. There had to be a way to shut the Marshes up and fast. Giving them money was out of the question. Marybeth had spoken truly about knowing a lot of lawyers--her late husband's associates. She decided she would send a telegram to her husband's old practice and ask for advice. Then she remembered. She wasn't in the States. The laws would be different here. A cold chill went through her. What if Mr. Marsh really could set the law on Ted? She would have to talk to him as soon as she saw him. Just as she hoisted one of the laundry baskets on her hip, she saw Miss Cornelia coming across the lawn to her.

"Marybeth, did I just see that shiftless Marsh and his daughter on our street walking towards the village? What in the world do you suppose they wanted up here?"

Miss Cornelia had her days when she believed that she had heard everything in the course of her life and that nothing much could surprise her, but nothing had prepared her for Marybeth's calm reply of, "Miss Cornelia, I think I'm being blackmailed. Could you recommend a good lawyer?"

Later that day, Marybeth waited for Ted to come home. Miss Cornelia had been very helpful in recommending somebody, and Marybeth was going to see him as soon as she had spoken to her son. Of course, Marybeth had had to tell her the entire story, and was surprised that Miss Cornelia had been rather sympathetic towards Ted. Miss Cornelia had a thoroughgoing dislike of Mr. Marsh that outweighed all other considerations.

Marybeth knew that Miss Cornelia would probably tell Anne the story, but she was confident that the story go no further than there.

As soon as Marybeth saw her sons coming home, she ran up to Ted and pulled him aside, bidding the other two to give them some privacy. Rather than turning into the house, she walked with him up the road, away from town. She told him about the visit from Sadie and her father.

"I took up for you, Ted," Marybeth said," but before I see this lawyer, I want to hear from you exactly what happened."

To her surprise, Ted relayed the entire story, simply and without embarrassment, or fear or anger. She knew he was honest and had never known him to tell an untruth. When he was finished, he put his hand on his chin and frowned a little, thinking.

"Mother," he said, slowly, "would you wait a little while before seeing the lawyer?"

"But why?" she asked, genuinely astonished.

"Don't you always tell us that we have to accept responsibility for our own lives and the things we do?"

"Yes, but you just said you didn't do anything."

"I did walk home with her alone. That was my own stupid idea. But I just have a feeling, a hunch."

"I really don't think waiting is a good idea."

"Then Mother, just do this. Give it a couple days before seeking advice? Please?"

Marybeth felt uneasy, but Ted seemed so determined to have his way she gave in, hoping it was the right thing to do.

Later that day, Marybeth and Anne were walking along the shore. They had discussed the entire situation inside and out.

"Doesn't that beat all, Anne? Ted wanting to take charge of the situation?"

"It sounds as if Ted is growing up."

"I'm just afraid he's too young for this. But don't believe for one second, if he gets in over his head, that I won't step in."

"I know that, but maybe it's for the best, for him to try to solve this his way. He wants to learn to be self reliant."

Marybeth sighed.

"It just makes me sick, Anne, blackmail. You and I both know what it is to be poor, but would you ever have stooped to blackmail?"

"I was poor, but never desperate. I don't know. I like to think I wouldn't."

"Maybe you're right, Anne. 'There but for the grace of God go I'. It just makes me so angry because it's my own child. Besides, I did do my share of stealing when I had to eat. Maybe that's what it is. I don't want my children to go down the same road I did, making the same mistakes. I want to shield them from the ugliness of life, and I can't do it all the time."

"I could never bear to think of my children as orphans, bounced from home to home as I was. But I did survive. And his wanting to handle his problem himself shows that he's learning the lessons of responsibility you've taught him. You can be proud of that."