Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 Read Free

Clarissa. Do you hear from her? I had thought that ungrateful young woman would write us more, as is our due, as we are her stepmother and father, and yet she seems intent to break her father’s heart with her silence.”
    “She writes us once a week. Their one year anniversary approaches, and I believe she is disappointed she is not yet expecting a blessed event.” Matilda took a sip of tea.
    “Oh, if she only knew what a bother it is to have a child, she’d rejoice at her childless state. Just last week I was awakened by Melinda, not once, but twice. It seems she is teething again. Why she can’t soothe herself is beyond me.” Mrs. Sullivan pursed her lips in disgust.
    “Did you go to her? Comfort her?” Savannah asked.
    “Of course not. She needs to learn to calm herself.”
    “She’s eighteen months old,” Savannah said with a hint of steel in her voice. “I’m uncertain how you expect such a young child to know such things.”
    “If I don’t instill such attributes as self-reliance in her now, she’ll never learn them.” Mrs. Sullivan watched Savannah with a censorious look. “What parenting advice can a childless woman give me, Savannah? I’d count myself fortunate your daughter died rather than have to listen to her mewling cries and constant interruptions in your life.”
    Savannah paled and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I will never give thanks that my daughter was taken from me. Unlike you, I would have rejoiced at her presence in my life.” She rose and nodded to her mother and Mrs. Sullivan. “If you will excuse me, I have other calls to make.” She strode from the room, and, after a moment, the table shook from the force of the front door slamming shut.
    Rebecca turned to Matilda. “Well, I never, Matilda. I thought you had raised her to be more respectful of her hostess.”
    “The loss of her daughter continues to haunt her.”
    “I would think she’d have recovered after six months.”
    “It’s approaching seven months, and I see no end to her grief,” Matilda said with a sigh. “I had hoped that today she was beginning to show signs of recovery. She seems to believe she is the only woman who has lost a child. I understand her sorrow, but I cannot countenance such behavior.”
    “I would think Mr. Montgomery would aid her in seeing the error in her ways.”
    “I believe he tries, in his way. However, she is reluctant to be persuaded to his manner of thinking.” Matilda shook her head. “She has become fanciful in her grief, believing that her daughter lived and was taken from her.”
    Mrs. Sullivan smirked. “As if that husband of hers would act in such a way. Her behavior’s been indulged too long, Matilda. You need to take care with her.”
    “I fear she has been influenced by Clarissa’s radical beliefs about women.”
    Mrs. Sullivan gasped. “Never say such a thing. Although I know it pains Sean to have her so far away, I’m glad not to have to listen to her spouting her suffragist nonsense nor live with the turmoil she brought to our daily lives. I can’t imagine what that man in Montana sees in her.”
    “And yet you wanted her to marry Mr. Wright.”
    “You know he would have been like Mr. Montgomery. A steady, strong hand to steer her in the proper direction. I fear that Mr. McLeod will only continue to encourage her radical ideas and she will become wilder.” Mrs. Sullivan shuddered.
    “Any word about Mr. Wright?”
    “I had tea with his mother recently. He has remained in Montana and is enamored of a Mrs. Bouchard’s daughter. He has chosen to remain to be near her.”
    “Do you believe the proximity to Clarissa has anything to do with his desire to remain in Montana?” Matilda took a sip of tea and watched Mrs. Sullivan over her teacup.
    “I should think not. She is a married woman now, and her dowry, or what she would have received had she married an acceptable man, has been donated to charity.”
    “To charity? Any idea to which