Northern Light by Annette O'Hare Page B

pulled the little one onto her lap and began rocking him. Within moments, Jeremiah was asleep. Mama held him out to Margaret.
    Margaret took him to Mama and Papa’s bed.
    “I won’t be able to finish the mending.” Mama sighed. “I need to get supper ready.”
    The screen door banged against the frame.
    “Mama,” June called as she walked into the kitchen. “I stood at the edge of the property and watched Lizbeth till I couldn’t see her no more.”
    “June, you need to talk much quieter. Margaret just put Jeremiah down for a nap.”
    “Oh, sorry, Mama.”
    Mama asked June a question, but Margaret couldn’t hear what she said.
    “No, Mama, she didn’t go to the fort. She kept right on walking all the way down the road.”
    “I’m very proud of the good job you did,” Mama told June.
    “Thank you. Can I have that biscuit and honey you promised me now?”
    “You sure can. Let’s go fetch you one.”
    Margaret came to the kitchen. “Mama…June…did I hear you two talking about spying on Elizabeth?”
    “Be quiet, Margaret. It’s a secret, and you don’t know nothin’ about it. Mama’s giving me my biscuit!”
    Mama took the biggest biscuit on the tray, sliced it open, and slathered the insides with honey. She then handed it to June.
    “Mama, can I go outside and play in the garden?”
    “Sure you can.” Mama smiled at her.
    “Mr. Murphy is working out there, so don’t be a pest,” Margaret called to her.
    “I won’t,” June said with a mouth full of biscuit, skipping out the back door.
    “Mama, if you wanted to know where Elizabeth has been running off to, you should have just asked me.”
    “Well, I guess I’ve been dealing with the wrong little spy.”
    ~*~
    “Mama, I’m worried about Elizabeth. I suppose I should have told you sooner.”
    “What is it, Margaret?”
    “It all happened a few weeks ago when I stumbled across Thomas in the garden. I was still mad that you and Papa let him come here. We had a huge argument and I stormed off to the bay. Do you remember that happening?”
    “I remember. You didn’t see another soldier, did you?” Mama picked up two eggs, a bowl, and a whisk and sat down at the kitchen table.
    “No, I just needed to collect my thoughts…and cool my temper.” Margaret scooped up the right amount of cornmeal for the cornbread she knew Mama would prepare for their meal. “Anyway, I came up on the Stoltze place and noticed Necie doing the wash.”
    “Oh, how are the Stoltzes doing?”
    “It doesn’t sound as if they’re doing very well, Mama. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you sooner, but I told Necie you would come and check in on them.”
    “That’s all right. I’ll pay them a visit later this week.” Mama tapped the egg on the edge of the bowl, splitting the shell.
    “I talked to Necie about some things, and she told me that Elizabeth had come by earlier that day. She said Elizabeth comes by quite often…on her way to…the Widower Langley’s place.”
    “What on earth is she doing going there?” Mama stared at Margaret, her expression startled.
    “I don’t know, Mama.” Margaret shrugged. “Maybe she’s helping Mr. Langley take care of his son.”
    “I suppose that could be the case, but why wouldn’t she tell me about it?” Mama stirred the mixture. “It’s not right, her sneaking off. She’s keeping secrets…but why?”
    They were silent for a bit.
    “Mama, why does Mr. Langley’s son act the way he does? He scares me half to death with the way he screams all the time. I don’t even walk past that house anymore because he shouts those horrible words out the window every time anyone goes by. Is it because he’s upset about losing his arm and legs?”
    Mama shook her head. “No, honey, it’s not that.”
    “Then what would make him act like that?”
    “When they brought Johnny home, everything was fine. He’d lost his limbs, but at least he still had his life. Most of the boys fighting weren’t so blessed.” She ran