“Aye, we heard the bell your sister told us about,” said Geordie.
“It is to get people back up from the beach.”
“Weel, it does its job, that is for certain.”
“Where are you from? You don’t talk like anyone I have ever talked to before, and Belle gets a lot of folk staying here in the summer.”
“I am from Scotland. Robbie talks like me, although he has a lot more American in his speech because he was so young when we came here.”
“I haven’t talked to him much. He was in the social room reading a book.”
“He appreciates that courtesy and he likes quiet when he reads, I am certain.”
The moment they stepped into the house, the scent of food hit them. Geordie hurried to the washroom with James at his side. Once they had washed up, they headed to the table, where Robbie was chatting with Abel.
Mehitabel pushed her cart through the doors and set everything on the table. When she sat down and started to help herself, everyone followed her lead. As dishes were emptied, she set them on the cart, which she kept at her side. Geordie smiled faintly. The woman had figured out some very good aids for organizing all the work she had to do.
Geordie realized he admired the woman. She was young and alone, raising her brother, and she had figured out ways to bring in the money she needed. He frowned as he remembered the scene they had ridden up on when they arrived. She also had the courage to face down a bully.
As soon as conversation eased around the table, he took a deep breath and asked, “So have ye got this place free of debt and all that?”
She gave him a questioning look. “Yes. It has always been debt-free. Papa always stressed the need for that. Why do you ask?”
“When we were down at the beach earlier, we saw Bennet and he was pointing out to his men all that would need to be done when he got his hands on the place.”
“Ha. Man is ever hopeful, but he is fated to be sadly disappointed.”
“He claims he has ways to get it.”
“No, he doesn’t. He just refuses to accept the truth because he is a Bennet. No debt he can buy up, no violations of local laws, and all the other sneaky ways some men use to gain land. We know all about those. My father, his father, and right on back to the beginning made sure of it. They always checked any new laws passed in the state, town, and county. Told every one of us we had to keep informed of such things or someone could try to cheat us. Trained all the males then in line what to look for and ways to fight it. We don’t even have to worry that the fool will try to kill us and then try to claim the house from the people running the town. The will has a long, long line of heirs, and if we run out of them it goes to the Pennacooks, part of the Abenaki Confederation, and whoever gets to be the executor of the will has to do all he or she can to find an heir or make a deal with the Abenaki leaders. There’s some more in there, but nothing that will help Bennet get what he wants.”
“Huh, so they made it very elaborate. Tried hard to cover all problems that might arise. Clever. Obviously had the wit to see that the women could carry the weight too, if needed. But how about if one of the heirs is made to believe all the talk some people use to belittle the natives?”
“My da said it has been written to make sure a very long time is spent finding an heir. Great-Grandfather wanted to be certain it stayed in Ampleford hands and, if not theirs, then it definitely goes back into Pennacook hands. Our grandfather made a very precise will to ensure his wishes were fulfilled. It was a promise he made to the man whose daughter he married. That is one reason the women have some protection, too. They are allowed to be heirs and the decision-makers if needed. Great-Grandmother insisted on it. Bennet doesn’t like the idea of anyone with Native blood living near him. He really doesn’t like, and doesn’t believe in, all the rights the women have been given in this will.”
There was a mischievous glint to the smile she gave him. “I believe Bennet is feeling very much put upon, thinks the world is being unduly unfair to him. The state chased away or killed many of the Natives, but he has to live next to some. Even more unfair, no one shares his outrage about that. And no one has ever argued against the women having some say.”
And even worse, Geordie thought with an inner grin, the one Bennet got stuck with was bitingly saucy and did not cower before his bellowing. He found that slightly naughty look on her face intensely attractive. Her golden eyes shone and her full mouth had a tempting curve to it. He was suddenly grabbed by the urge to lean closer and kiss her, but stuffed a forkful of potato in his mouth instead.
“Is my bedroom still open for me?” asked Abel.
“Yes, but I thought you were going back to Auntie’s because you didn’t bring your clothes back with you.”
“They needed washing, so Auntie says she will wash them and bring them back here tomorrow. She is hoping she will have a chance to visit with Gabe and Rafe while she is here.”
“She’ll have to figure out how to do it without being seen.”
“She already has.”
“Are ye talking about the two young men who work for Bennet?” asked Geordie.
Belle looked at Geordie, noting out of the corner of her eye that Robbie and James were looking at her, too. “Yes. They are my cousins.”
“Well, after what they did today, they may not be working long for him.”
“What did they do?”
“They just informed Bennet that he couldnae do what he planned. Couldnae do the steps on the sand and couldnae cut the trees. I gather there are restrictions on some things in that will or, as with the stairs, nature makes it impossible. Bennet wasnae happy. Why are they working for the mon?”
