Billy in the future.”
Mrs. Johansen crossed her arms at her waist. “Well, it shouldn’t be too hard seeing as he won’t be attending school in the foreseeable future.”
Livy stiffened, her gaze riveted on Miss MacKinnion. “I beg your pardon?”
Miss MacKinnion plucked a piece of paper from her desk and held it out. “Under the circumstances, Miss O’Brien, I’ve taken the liberty of suspending both Georgie and Seth from school for the rest of the term.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I can and I will.” The teacher’s tone brooked no argument.
Livy glared at the teacher, who gave her a tight smile that smacked of triumph. Mrs. Johansen gloated while Mrs. Benson looked on, eyes as big as a lump of coal.
Miss MacKinnion edged closer. “We don’t want you and your kind here, Miss O’Brien.”
Livy’s gut twisted. So that’s what this was all about. They felt threatened by the orphanage, as if those defenseless children could do them any harm. Livy tried to think what would be best for the children, for Mrs. Brooks. Bewildered, she stood there. She’d never faced an adversary like this. If the woman hit or threatened her, she could show her a thing or two that would make Billy’s bloody nose seem like a scratch. But this verbal assault out of nowhere took her completely off guard.
“Those orphans aren’t fit to associate with our children. And that Mary, batting her eyes at the boys. Why, it’s a crying shame the way she carries on!” Miss MacKinnion exchanged a glance with her sister, then slid her gaze back to rake over Livy. “I do wonder where she gets it from.”
Livy clenched her fists in the folds of her skirt and stepped forward, crowding the teacher. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but Mary’s one of the sweetest, most pure girls I know, and I won’t have you casting slurs on her.”
She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, contrasting the pounding of her heart. “And if I hear one word about her character from anyone else in this town, I’ll know exactly where it started.”
Miss MacKinnion’s eyes widened before she regained her haughty composure. “Are you threatening me, Miss O’Brien?”
Livy plucked the suspension slip from the teacher’s fingers. “Only so far as you’ve threatened me, Miss MacKinnion.”
* * *
Livy stomped into the kitchen, resisting the urge to slam the door behind her.
Mrs. Brooks and Mary stood in the center of the room, the older woman’s arms wrapped around the girl. As soon as Mary saw Livy, fresh tears tracked the girl’s cheeks. “It’s all my fault, Livy. I’m sorry.”
Livy’s heart sank. Surely Miss MacKinnion hadn’t been right about Mary. Not dear, sweet Mary. Livy smoothed the girl’s hair back from her forehead. “Mary, I want you to tell me what happened.”
“Billy asked me to walk with him, but I told him no, and he got mad.” Mary sniffed, a tinge of red creeping into her cheeks. “He called me some names, and Seth and Georgie heard him.” Her tear-filled eyes met Livy’s. “I tried to stop them, but they wouldn’t listen. Before I knew it, Billy, Seth, and Georgie were fighting. Billy’s a big old bully!”
So Livy had been right to assume there was more to the story. Billy didn’t look like the type to let two little kids get the best of him. “Shh, it’s all right, Mary. You didn’t do anything wrong. And the boys were just trying to defend your honor. That was mighty sweet of them, don’t you think?”
Mary sniffed one last time and smiled. “For a little squirt, Georgie fights like a wildcat.”
“I imagine he’s been forced to. Now, go get cleaned up. Supper’ll be ready in no time.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Brooks turned to stir the brown gravy on the stove. “Well, I’m glad that’s all cleared up. The poor girl has been beside herself with worry.”
Livy fingered the note in her pocket from Miss MacKinnion. “I’m afraid it’s not that easily cleared up.”
* * *
Jake ducked into the back of the jail the moment he saw Lavinia’s sparse frame sweeping toward the door, a basket under one arm. “Tell her I’m not here.”
“Tell her yourself.” Sheriff Carter leaned back in his chair, a grin on his face.
“Good morning, Sheriff. Is Jake here?”
“He sure is.” Sheriff Carter laughed, and Jake wanted to strangle the man. “Jake, get out here. Miss Lavinia’s here to see you.”
With no way out of the situation, Jake sauntered into the office, feeling foolish for trying to avoid her in the