Emily's Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Page B

happy anywhere with Aunt Hilda
, Emily thought,
but I wouldn’t be happy even in a
palace
with you!
    At long last Emily saw some fence posts, and farther on, some cattle. A cottage…some sheep…some trees…a barn…and finally the driver blew his bugle to announce to the little settlement of Redbud that the coach to the West was coming in. The Chinese workers roused themselves and stretched.
    â€œNow,
remember,”
Uncle Victor said, grabbing Emily’s arm so hard that it hurt. “You tell your aunt you’re coming with me. And if you don’t…” He shook Rufus’s box so hard that it rattled, and Emily felt her anger growing bigger and bigger inside her chest like a balloon.
    The Chinese workers began to talk among themselves. This was a way station where they could get a bite to eat before the coach went on. Emily thought how often she had imagined this moment—had imagined how happy and excited she would be when the stagecoach pulled up and her aunt was there to meet her. How happy to have a place where she belonged. Where she was loved.
    There was another blast from the bugle, but this time it was to hurry along a large flock of sheep crossing the road some distance from the station. But the sheep would not be hurried, and the stagecoach had to stop.
    â€œIt’ll be a few more minutes, folks,” the driver called down. “We’ve got to wait for these sheep. You can get out and stretch a bit if you like.”
    One of the Chinese workers opened the door and got out.
    â€œIt’s okay, driver,” Uncle Victor called back. “My nephew and I will get off here. He’s excited to be with me again.”
    He climbed out, pulling Emily after him.
    â€œLiar, liar, pants on fire,” Emily muttered angrily.
    â€œNo more liar than you are, dressing up like a boy,” Uncle Victor muttered back.
    Far down the road, Emily could see a small group of people standing in front of the way station. She was quite sure that the woman in the group, in a blue-checked dress, was Aunt Hilda. And there, standing right beside her, was…
Jackson!
    What would the neighbor women tell her to do if they were here? Emily wondered.
    â€œShe surely would not want Rufus to be hurt,” Mrs. Ready might say.
    â€œBut what can she possibly do?” Mrs. Aim would ask.
    And Mrs. Fire would answer, “Give it a go, Emily. Go!”
    Uncle Victor had one hand on the back of Emily’s neck, and in his other hand he held the box with Rufus in it.
    He pushed her roughly forward, and at that very moment the Chinese worker stuck out his foot. Down Uncle Victor went.
    â€œGood day!” the man said, smiling at Emily.
    Instantly she stepped hard on Uncle Victor’s wrist,forcing his fingers to let go of the box. “Ow!” he bellowed.
    Quick as a flash, Emily snatched up Rufus’s box, and rising to her feet, one bootlace flapping, she ran. On she raced, faster than she had ever run, through the baaing sheep, with Uncle Victor behind her. She ran so fast that the wind whistled in her ears.
    â€œAunt Hilda!”
she bellowed, in the greatest, loudest voice she had ever known, sending the sheep scattering in all directions. A few seconds later she threw herself into her aunt’s arms.
    But Uncle Victor was right at her heels. “You miserable little wretch!” he exclaimed, panting, his clothes askew. He turned to Emily’s aunt. “Well, Hilda,” he growled, looking at the three men who had come to the way station with her. “I see you’ve brought a few farm boys to welcome me to Redbud. I’m here to tell you that the girl’s coming to live with me, and if you fight me on this, I’ll take you to court.”
    Thumpa thumpa thumpa
, went Emily’s heart, and she clung to the round woman even harder. In the horse-drawn wagon behind her aunt, a black dog witha red kerchief around its neck wagged its tail and