The Treasure Box by Penelope Stokes Read Free Book Online Page B

was—with Rafe, down at the green!”
    Cathleen hauled Rachel to her feet and shook her. “You’re going to pay for this, you are!”
    Sophie jumped up and grappled with Cathleen, trying to make her let go of Rachel’s arm. “Stop it, Cathleen! Rachel didn’t tell your Mam a thing.”
    Rachel was beginning to cry. “Cath, you’re hurting me.”
    Cathleen shook harder, digging her fingernails into Rachel’s skin. “I’m going to hurt you a lot worse before this is over! Sweet little sister, who never does anything wrong! Perfect Rachel, Mam’s pride and joy!” She began to pummel Rachel with her free hand, boxing her ears with a clenched fist.
    Sophie latched onto Cathleen’s flailing arm, and the fist connected with her nose. Blood spurted out, but Sophie held on.
    â€œStop! Stop it now! ” She heaved with all her might. Cathleen’s grip gave way, and she reeled to one side and fell against the trunk of the oak tree.
    For a minute she lay there, stunned and panting. Sophie turned away from her and went to comfort Rachel.
    â€œYour nose is bleeding.” Rachel dabbed with a hand at the sticky mess on Sophie’s face.
    â€œI’ll be fine. Let me look at your arm.”
    The arm was bruised and bloody, marred by three deep gashes where Cathleen’s fingernails had dug into the flesh. Fueled to a fury by white-hot indignation, Sophie whirled around to face Cathleen.
    â€œHow could you? She didn’t do anything.”
    â€œYou stay out of this!”
    â€œI will not! Rachel is my friend, and even if you are her sister, you’ve no right to—”
    But Cathleen wasn’t listening. She had risen to a sitting position, her eyes fixed on a point just beyond where the crumpled form of the handkerchief doll lay. Sophie followed her gaze.
    The Treasure Box, her birthday gift from Papa, lay in the grass a few feet away.
    â€œLeave it alone, Cathleen,” she warned.
    Cathleen lurched toward the box, grabbed it up, and was on her feet in a flash. “You want it back, you’ll have to come and get it.” She took off running with the box under one arm.
    After a split second of hesitation, Sophie went after her, with Rachel close on her heels. She could see Cathleen up ahead, sprinting through the woods that surrounded the cottage, lifting her skirts to jump over a fallen log. But she managed to keep her in sight and could hear Rachel’s labored breathing right behind her.
    At last they slowed and came into a clearing on the bank of the river. A dead tree spanned out halfway over the water, and
    Cathleen stood on the trunk, doubled over laughing at both of them. Then, as if in slow motion, Sophie saw her raise her hands and hold the box out in their direction. “Your precious little box that Papa made for your birthday,” she mocked in a singsong tone. She put the box up to her ear and shook it. “I hear something rattling inside. A locket? Something special? Some treasure you just couldn’t live without?”
    â€œGive it back, Cathleen,” Rachel demanded.
    â€œOr what? You’ll tell on me? You’ll go crying to Mam?”
    Rachel took a step forward. “It’s not yours. It’s Sophie’s. And you know it’s important to her.”
    â€œRafe Dalton was important to me. But the two of you had to spoil that, didn’t you?”
    â€œWe didn’t tell. Now, give it back.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell? Oh, well, that explains everything. Mam just knew all on her own, right where to find me with Rafe, and when.
    Maybe she’s got the second sight. Maybe she had a vision.”
    â€œPut the box down, Cathleen. Please. I beg you.”
    â€œYou beg me? You beg me?” She laughed wildly, tossing the box from one hand to the other and moving in a bizarre dance up and down the tree trunk. “Beg some more.”
    â€œPlease,” Rachel repeated.