Ancient Spirits (Daisy Gumm Majesty Books) by Alice Duncan Read Free Book Online Page B

doesn’t really run it,” I felt compelled to say in my Daisy voice.
    “Don’t matter. He probably has more influence over her than you do at this point.”
    Egad. What a terrible thing to say to a fond mother!
    But Mrs. Pinkerton clutched her hands to her bosom as though Rolly had revealed a miracle, although both Sam and Harold had told her the same thing not a half-hour earlier. “You really think so?”
    “Aye,” said Rolly firmly. “It’s not too late. Speak with your husband about it, and take a firm stand, the two of you. In the meantime, my darling Daisy don’t know how long she has to stay in jail without being bailed out, but let her stay there. You’ve bailed her out too many times already. And be sure to talk to that minister of hers.”
    A silvery tear slid down Mrs. Pinkerton’s no-longer-powdered cheeks. She’d cried all her powder off during Sam and Harold’s reign, I reckon. “Oh, dear,” she whispered. “It’s so difficult to treat one’s children harshly.”
    “Harshly?” Rolly gave what I fear was a rather sarcastic laugh. “She’s the one who’s been treating you harshly, from what I’ve heard over the years. It’s past time she began to behave as a dutiful daughter should. Och, if one of our boys had given us such grief, I’d have switched his backside raw.”
    Mrs. Pinkerton swallowed audibly. I was kind of appalled myself. As a rule, I didn’t favor corporal punishment for children. On the other hand, we were talking about Stacy Kincaid here, and as far as I’m concerned, the only things she deserved were maybe a silver bullet or a stake through the heart.
    “Oooh,” she cried wretchedly. “I wish Algie were here. He’s my strength, you know. I’m sure he’ll help me remain firm with Stacy this time.”
    “If he don’t,” I had Rolly say in the voice of Doom, “you probably won’t get another chance. Your child is playing with fire as a moth is drawn to a candle flame, and she won’t be the first bright young thing to burn up as a result of her own stupidity.”
    Very well. That was it. I couldn’t do this any longer, at least not that day. Poor Mrs. Pinkerton was in as feeble a state as I’d ever seen her, and I’d been the one to put her in it. Worse, I was glad of it. Perhaps because I was wallowing in grief, I wanted everyone else in the world to suffer. I don’t know, really.
    “But my time here is through for today,” Rolly said hastily, before I could blurt out any more hurtful words. “Take heart, m’dear. You talk to your Algie and form a plan to deal with your daughter. You needn’t let her rule the roast any longer. This is your home, and you should be comfortable in it. You shouldn’t have to worry about a spoilt child.”
    Shut up, Daisy! I commanded myself.
    “Thank you for helping us today, Rolly,” I said, vowing that he’d say not another word.
    “Yes,” said Mrs. Pinkerton. “I . . . you’ve been honest with me, Rolly, and I appreciate it. Although . . . oh, it’s so hard!”
    Rolly struggled to emerge once more, but I wouldn’t let him. Mrs. Pinkerton had never had to work a day in her life, and this post-war world we lived in was nothing like the easy-going days of yesteryear. Well, they’d been easy-going for the likes of her. We Gumms and Majestys had still had to work like the dickens for our livings. Not that I was bitter or anything.
    Um . . . I think I just lied about that part. But never mind. I’d known for a long, long time that the world wasn’t fair, and that there were the haves and the have-nots populating it. The fact that I fell into the latter category wasn’t Mrs. Pinkerton’s fault, even if she was a silly woman.
    “I’m afraid Rolly has gone back to the Other Side,” I said softly, hoping to make up for some of Rolly’s earlier harshness. “I hope he hasn’t upset you.”
    She heaved perhaps the largest sigh I’d ever heard and said, “Well . . . yes, he did upset me. But I suppose it’s no