Read An Introduction to the Pink Collection for Free Online

whirlwind. If she didn’t get out of here soon she would do something violent, she knew she would.
    In the end her belongings filled two large bags. She took what she could of her mother’s clothes, but there was no room for everything, and it mattered more to have the photographs and personal mementoes of her parents.
    Then she thought back to the find of the coins, and realised that but for them she would have no place to lay her head tonight. And more than ever she felt that her father was watching over her.
    As she struggled down the stairs the haughty woman was standing at the bottom, waiting for her.
    â€œI’m sorry you were inconvenienced,” Rena said to her politely. “I shall not trouble you further.”
    The woman looked her up and down. “I do hope you haven’t taken anything that isn’t yours.”
    Rena took a deep breath and controlled herself. “You may be sure that I have not,” she said.
    A large piece of furniture was being manhandled through the front door.
    â€œI’ll leave the back way,” Rena said.
    â€œIt’s up to you.”
    Some strange noises were coming from the kitchen. Rena discovered what they were as soon as she entered, and received a feathered body almost full in the face. She dropped the bags and clung to it.
    It was Clara, her chicken.
    â€œPoor Clara, how could I forget you?” she said. “You’re coming with me.”
    â€œPut that chicken down,” said a tow headed young man. “That’s our supper.”
    â€œIt most certainly is not. Clara belongs to me, and I won’t let you kill her.”
    â€œWhat’s the trouble?” The haughty woman had appeared again.
    â€œShe’s trying to take our supper, Mama.”
    That did it. Rena had borne much patiently but suddenly enough was enough.
    â€œOnce and for all,” she said, “Clara is mine, and I am taking her with me.”
    She looked at the four of them ranged against her.
    â€œIf you take her from me,” she said, slowly and emphatically, “that will be stealing, and I shall report you to the constable.”
    â€œWho’s to say who it belongs to?” the unpleasant young man demanded. “That animal is parish property, and the constable will say the same.”
    â€œNo, he won’t,” Rena flashed, “because he’s met this chicken before (she could have bitten her tongue out for the idiotic words). In fact, his mother gave it to me.”
    â€œWhich means,” she added, recklessly casting aside Papa’s teaching aside, “that he’ll know that this is a den of thieves. Ask yourself how your brother will like that on his first day.”
    In sullen silence they stood back to let her pass. Still keeping a firm hold on Clara, Rena had to use her other hand to put one bag on the table, fitted her arm over it, and lifted the other with the hand of that arm.
    She was horribly aware of what she must look like, staggering out of the house, laden down. It took her an hour to limp through the village to her destination.
    But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except that she had stood up against bullying and won. She could have cried hallelujahs.
    Thus it was that Miss Colwell returned to The Grange in triumph, carrying all her worldly goods under one arm, and a chicken under the other.

CHAPTER THREE
    Luck was with her. She found the front door of The Grange unlocked, and was able to slip inside. The house was in darkness, so she guessed that the Earl was still carousing in the tavern. That meant she could settle herself in peace.
    Dropping the bags, she made her way to the kitchen, keeping firm hold on Clara, who was making contented little mumbling squawks, as though signifying that she felt safe now.
    With Clara safely deposited in the kitchen, she lit a lamp and went hunting for a place to lay her head. She could find a proper bedroom tomorrow.
    It was dark in the house with only