“How do, ma’am. Could I be troubling you to hand me down a bit of cake?”
Although she cautiously slipped the child a piece of apple cake, she asked, “Why not just fill up a plate like everyone else?”
“I been bad and they told me I ain’t to have none of this fine food. That be my punishment.” His words were a little garbled as he tried to eat and talk at the same time.
She slipped him a chicken leg, at the same time looking around for his family. The Morriseys were bunched together in a far corner of the hall. A few women stopped to talk to a bone-thin gray-haired woman whom Clover knew must be the beleaguered Bess, but only one man was talking to the brutish Morrisey. Everyone in the family held heavily ladenplates of food, which they were wolfing down. Clover suspected the food was what they had mainly come for. There was a gentle tug on her skirts and she slipped the boy some bread, wishing she could do more for him.
“I think that pig Morrisey must be looking for the lad,” Molly whispered as she sneaked a cup of sweet apple cider down to him.
The boy cursed, causing Molly and Clover to exchange amused smiles. “I was hoping they be too busy eating to see that I done crept away,” the boy muttered, then downed the cider and returned the cup to Molly. “Reckon I best creep back.”
“Make sure you brush all those crumbs off,” Clover advised, then looked down to see that he was already gone. “I hope he heeded me. ‘Tis bad enough to know I cannot help him, but ‘tis worse to think I might cause him more pain simply because I gave him some food.”
“A boy kept that hungry does not fret over a beating. He will endure it if it means he can fill his empty belly.”
“That is so sad.”
Molly shrugged. “I fear the world ain’t always a pretty place, Clover MacGregor.”
Clover watched the Morriseys until the boy appeared back in the group. Morrisey swung a fist at the boy but he neatly ducked the blow. The second time Morrisey struck out, the child tumbled to the ground. As he tried to scramble out of reach, Morrisey kicked him in the ribs. Not one sound escaped the child, which further troubled Clover.
The Morriseys had finished what Big Jim hadbegun. They had taken away the last shred of her enjoyment of the evening.
“Ballard?” Clover leaned against her husband as he drove their wagon home. The rest of their family dozed in the back while Shelton kept a close watch on the road ahead of them. “Are you very certain we can do nothing about that boy of Mr. Morrisey’s?”
“Aye, lass. Sorry. The whole demmed town has been trying to come up with the money Morrisey wants, but I have a strong suspicion that if we ever get it together, he would just demand more and we would be back where we started.”
“You are probably right. And I suppose there is nothing we can do about Big Jim’s threats until he acts on them.”
“Not unless I want to face the circuit judge next time he meanders this way.”
She curled her arm around his and snuggled closer to his warmth. “That is not exactly the news I want to hear. Ballard, do you think the other enemy Big Jim referred to is Thomas?” She yawned and closed her eyes, nuzzling her cheek against his strong arm.
“It could be, lass, but I would be surprised if Thomas bothered to chase us down here. He considers Kentucky uncivilized, the end of the world. I cannae see him inconveniencing himself. I reckon we will just have to wait and see.”
“Wait and see and do nothing. You know, I never would have thought that those two things would be so hard.”
Ballard smiled faintly when Clover barely finished her sentence before falling asleep. He tightened hisarm around her shoulders, holding her more securely against him. She was right. It would be hard to wait and watch. Ballard ached to prevent any danger before it got within miles of her, but he had no choice. He must wait until Big Jim, and whatever ally he had, made the first move. And pray that he would be able to thwart them.
