“I wouldn’t be afraid,” Franny piped.

“Will you shut up? And what about Duff’s court appearance?”

“It can probably be advanced if we tell them we’re leaving town. Maybe the authorities will be glad to be rid of us, eh?” He punched Duff playfully. Duff didn’t react.

“We’re not going to ask for any favors. Duff will go to court when they call him.”

“I can’t understand you. A couple of weeks ago you would’ve been willing to do anything to get away from here. What about you, Duff? What are your feelings?”

“I’ll go along with whatever Mother wants,” Duff said quietly.

That was the end of the discussion. Duff and Franny went out to wait for the school bus, and Jack, highly irritated, went to his room to take up his writing. I don’t think he was serious at all about leaving. I think he was just trying to bait me. I still wanted to get away from the Caine farm as soon as possible, but there just didn’t seem to be any reasonable way to do it immediately.

Shortly afterward Dr. Tully called and asked if he could visit us. I’m afraid I was rather abrupt with him, telling him that my husband wasn’t feeling well and that I didn’t expect him to feel better for some time.

Then a few minutes later Father Jackson came along. I saw his car and went out to meet him.

“You seem gloomy,” he said as we drove off. “More visitations?”

I hesitated. “No.”

“What then? Not that it’s any of my business.”

“You’re right. It’s none of your business.”

Priest or not, he wasn’t my confessor. This was only my third meeting with him and he seemed to feel entitled to pry as much as he wished. On the other hand, I thought, he was supposed to be trying to help me.

“I did see the General again,” I said.

“I thought so. Where?”

“On the lawn in front of the house last night.”

“He didn’t come in the house?”

“I didn’t see him come in.” I paused. “I also managed to read some more in Duff’s notebook. It definitely wasn’t Duff’s handwriting anymore.”

“We ought to be able to find something in the General’s hand. A deed or some other legal paper in the Ashland courthouse maybe. Go on.”

“In the notes he just talked about his life. His Civil War experiences and so forth.”

“Could I have a look at the book?”

“Sure, sometime.”

“Maybe after we’ve seen this horse.”

“I’m not sure it would be a good idea to try and sneak the book out today. I don’t know where Duff is.”

“Isn’t he in school?”

“You never know with Duff.”