It was late morning at the Dawson homestead. Jack was out working and so were Tommy and Fabrizio. Lily was downstairs eating breakfast while Rose was finishing off her lesson plan. She was to go be at the Flowers in a few hours to continue Violet's French lessons. Sarah was sitting at the table, nursing her tea, her mind on her father and brother and wondering when they'll show up again, ready to drag her back to the life she had run away from. Leah was sitting across from her, also worried. She hated to see anyone depressed over their lives. She had hoped that Sarah would have escaped the situation, but it seemed that no matter how far she ran, her problems were determined to follow her.
"I wish the boys were here," Sarah sighed, putting down her cup of tea. "I feel so vulnerable without Fabrizio by my side."
"Hey! Rose and I are no slouches, thank you very much," Leah huffed, pouring herself a glass of orange juice.
"Rose will be going to work soon. Did I ever tell you how much I appreciate you two for babysitting Lily?" Rose looked up at the mention of her name.
"A thousand and one times," Leah winked. "It's no problem. I love spending time with her."
"I really wish that you didn't have to go, Rose," Sarah sighed, just feeling on edge. She had a feeling that her father was in town somewhere. She couldn't explain why she felt that way. She just did.
"I do too, but I promised to do a job and I'm going to do it. Besides, Harold has been such a help keeping Cal away from us. I don't want to do anything to disappoint his family."
"That Harold is nice, but there's something about him that reminds me of my brother," Sarah frowned, looking down at her hands as if they were the most interesting things in the world.
"Really? What? I don't see anything about him that would remind me of Cal," Rose frowned.
Sarah just shrugged. "I don't know...I can't explain it really. Just the way he talks...like...I don't know…."
"It's all in your head, dear," Leah chuckled, just as there were three determined knocks on her door. The women frowned, wondering who that could be.
"I hope that's not Jack's Aunt Enid. I can't handle her on my own...not when I have to get to work," Rose frowned.
Three more knocks rang out again, this time more insistent.
"Well, we can't stay in here and ignore it. Someone's going to have to answer," Leah looked at her companions curiously. "Should I?"
"No, no. This is my house, you are my guests. I'll answer it," Rose sighed, sliding out of her chair and making her way to the front door. She sighed in annoyance when she opened the door to Cal...and his father Nathan. "I thought it was agreed that you wouldn't be bothering us anymore?"
"We're not here about you, Rose. We are here to see my sister. Don't try to say she's not here. We know that she is. The lady at that boarding house said that she and her husband had returned here. Now, if you please, tell her that my father and I would like to see her."
"I suppose you two can come in," Rose stood to the side to allow entrance.
Cal gave a derisive snort as he lead his equally frowning father into the house.
"You chose this over my son, Rose?" Nathan glared around at his surroundings, finding everything in sight distasteful. "No matter what Enid was upset."
Rose's ears perked up. "Enid Dawson? You know her?"
"We were on the train together and spoke yesterday evening after dinner. She was rather displeased with how her brother's son was living."
"You should have told her that she would have been better off writing off that part of the family, father. You can take the gutter rat out of the gutter, but you can't take…"
"Oh, Cal shut up! You know nothing about Jack or how we live! In fact, you said you weren't even here about us!" Rose yelled, having enough of Cal already.
"That's right. Where is my daughter?" Nathan nodded, pushing his sputtering son aside.
"I am right here, Father. Cal is annoying Rose again. Why am I not surprised," Sarah stood in the doorway leading into the kitchen, glaring at her father and brother. She had been tempted to stay in the kitchen and hide but then realized that wouldn't be fair to Rose, who had shown just how brave she was by walking away from the life that she had been so miserable in. She was Sarah's role model and she wanted to make her proud.
"Sarah! I am very very unhappy with you young lady!" Nathan bellowed angrily, his temper flaring up at the sight of his daughter. "Do you know what trouble you have caused me! What deals have been broken! How much money has been lost and all because you didn't want to do what you were told?!"
Sarah winced, feeling the urge to turn around and run back into the kitchen to hide from her father's wrath, but feeling Leah behind her and seeing Rose standing there glaring at both her father and brother, she felt a sense of strength that she didn't know that she had.
"Hello, Father. I wish that I could say that it was pleasant to see you here, but that would be a lie. And yes, I do have an idea of the trouble I've caused you. The thing is...I simply do not care, just like you didn't care about how unhappy you were making me. I'm not just a porcelain doll that you can control and command. I am a human being! A person! Just as much as my dear brother there!"
"You are nothing like your brother! Cal is an obedient child who follows what his father tells him! He doesn't go about derailing my plans on a whim! He doesn't go about marrying someone that's... beneath his station! He has a proper bride now and if I had my way, I'd drag you back and force you under her tutelage so you can be a proper lady for once!"
"Isabella is a spoiled cow! I'd never do anything she does! I'd never be anything like her at all!"
"Father, let's get to the point so we can be on our way. I really don't want to be here when Dawson returns home," Cal mumbled, giving his sister a derisive glare.
"What's wrong, Cal? Can't stand being in the presence of a real man?" Rose arched a brow.
"Sweetpea, Jack Dawson is a boy. You should have behaved yourself if you wanted yourself a man," Cal snarled.
"Enough! I don't have time for you to argue with your ex, Cal. You are right. I shall get to the point of this visit. Sarah, despite what you may believe, I am not here to drag you back to Pittsburgh. I know that it would be of no use and you would probably run away again."
"You are right about that," Sarah folded her arms. "Why did you come here, Father?"
"To inform you that as of now, you are disinherited. You are out of the will and you will not be receiving any financial help from me, so if that immigrant thinks that he has come into money by marrying you, he is poorly mistaken," Nathan stated, his face showing his anger, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "you have disappointed me for the last time."
Sarah stared at her father in disbelief. She could barely believe his words. "Father...are you saying that I'm...I'm free?"
Cal gave another derisive snort. "You call being disowned free? Preposterous!"
"Shut up, Cal!" Rose glared at her ex-fiancee.
"Oh no. You are certainly not free. Your brother will be remaining here in this town you're calling home to keep an eye on things, as well as opening another steel mill. Hockley Steel is expanding!"
"What? Why? What's the point?"
"I will not be mirroring the Dawsons. I am to know of any babies born. I want this family kept intact. You may be disowned, but there may still be hope for any children you may bear."
"You should consider yourself lucky, sister. Most fathers would not be so generous."
"Is that all that you have to say? That I'm disowned?" Sarah asked, not knowing how to feel right now. A part of her was happy to be rid of her father's controlling influence, but another part of her was sad to part ways with the man that had been a part of her life from birth.
"Yes. I am afraid so. I'll be taking my leave now. Goodbye Sarah. I hope that you are happy with the life you have chosen."
"Oh, I am. I have no regrets."
"Very well. We'll be leaving now. Come along Caledon," Nathan snapped his fingers, walking back out the way he had come, followed by Cal.
The girls stood there in shocked silence. The confrontation had not been as...violent as they all had been expecting. None of their men had even been needed for protection, which was a surprise in itself! This was so unlike the Hockley men that they knew, especially in regard to Rose.
"Did that just happen?" Sarah asked in disbelief. "Am I finally free without having to fake my death or be on a sinking ship?"
Rose's chuckle was grim. "It looks like it...but I don't know if I trust it. Nathan is usually more of a bully...that's where Cal had gotten it from, at least that's what I had always thought."
"Well, at least it's over...even though it means that Sarah is poor now…" Leah sighed, her relief evident. She had expected Nathan to try to drag Sarah away by her hair with herself and Rose trying to save her, but that hadn't happened at all.
"I rather be poor than stuck married to an old geezer or a psychopath!" Sarah declared. "That's what my oh-so-loving father had in store for me! I am so glad that I escaped!"
"Well, this calls for a celebration. I have another hour before I have to leave for the Flowers! How about some Currant wine to toast Sarah's freedom?" Rose smiled, heading for the kitchen.
"That sounds lovely!" Leah giggled, following her friends.
To the three girls, the future looked at least reasonably bright for now. Nathan Hockley was no longer a frightening figure on the horizon, but there were still storm clouds ahead, as is life, as they will soon find out.