Putting on a fake smile, Prudence patted Rebecca on the back. "I'll be back in a little bit. You girls get ready for bed. Understand?" They nodded to her; not even Helena had the will to fight with her at the moment. "Be good while I'm gone."

In the kitchen, Prudence found a candle to light her way. She knew Samantha would be going to the beach, where Mr. Pryde had kept his boat. They had not tried taking the boat anywhere since he left, the girls too little for sailing and Miss Brigham too scared to try. Prudence hoped it would take Samantha a little while to get the boat ready, long enough for Prudence to stop her.

As she plodded along the path down to the barns, Prudence considered what she would say. She knew Samantha was just angry at the moment. With any luck she would have calmed down by the time Prudence found her. That would make things easier. In her heart Samantha had to still love all the girls, even brats like Helena. She wouldn't want to leave them in the way she had, saying such terrible things. If Prudence just told her this, Samantha should come around.

Or perhaps not. Samantha could be very stubborn. When she was nine, Samantha had gotten mad at Prudence for tearing a page in the Forever Young book. They hadn't spoken for a whole week, not until Rebecca worked things out between them. If this were one of those times, then Prudence might have her work cut out for her.

Prudence was still thinking about this when she heard a distant rumble. It was already night and yet the sky on the horizon looked even darker. Prudence shivered as the wind began to pick up. Maybe she wouldn't have to find Samantha at all. With a storm coming in, Samantha would surely realize she had to come back, wouldn't she?

With a sigh, Prudence kept going.




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