I’ll wager that Tamar is the old nightmare hag herself—trying to haunt me even in my dreams.
Maggie sank back into the pillows. Today is Monday, and the Rands will go to the constable, Maggie thought. Would they convince him that Sirius is dangerous to sheep? We would never own a dog that would harm sheep. Why, my great-grandfather in Scotland kept sheep. Our people are sheepherders from way back.
Maggie pictured her great-grandfather and his herds of woolly sheep dotting the hills of Scotland. Suddenly, she remembered something. The family brooch! Where was it?
She leaped out of bed, almost knocking over the lantern. Where was her blue dress?
She had taken it off last night and dropped it on the chair. There. Maggie grabbed it and searched for the silver pin. Gone!
Maggie groped under the chair with both hands. The brooch wasn’t there. Nor was it on the top of her dresser with her hairbrush and ribbons. Frantically she pulled out each drawer, shaking the contents onto her bed. She rummaged through the clothing, but the brooch was not there.
Had she taken it off and put it back in the velvet box down in the parlor? Maggie took the lantern and tiptoed down the stairs, her bare feet cold on the wooden floor.
The light from the lantern made strange shadows on the walls and ceilings. As she passed the kitchen she heard Sirius snoring loudly.
Maggie found the velvet box and opened it. It was empty. Maggie sat on the floor. The Celtic brooch was the most precious thing her family possessed—a reminder of their heritage and past generations—and now she had lost it.
Sirius yawned in the parlor doorway.
“Come here, boy,” Maggie whispered. The dog lumbered toward her, his tail swishing back and forth happily. “Oh, what have I done?” She put her arms around him, burrowing her face into his white star. She cried softly. Sirius licked her hair and nudged her head with his nose.
Maggie wiped her eyes. She must retrace every step she had taken yesterday. Church. Vera’s house. The well. The road to the harbor. The pin could have fallen off anywhere.
Sirius reached out with his forepaw and patted her leg. “I can’t go looking for it now. It’s still too dark,” she said. “Oh, where could the brooch be?”
Sirius stood up and cocked his head at Maggie. He wagged his tail slowly.
“Maybe . . .” Maggie got up and held out the velvet box to Sirius. “Yesterday you smelled this, Sirius. Do you remember the pin?” The dog sniffed the container.
Maggie led Sirius into the kitchen, continuing to hold the box out to him. “Go get it, Sirius,” Maggie commanded, and opened the kitchen door. Sirius wagged his tail but looked puzzled. Again, Maggie held the box to the dog’s nose. “Here,” she directed. “Go to the dory. The boat! Go get the pin. Go get it.”
Sirius started through the door, then paused.
“Good boy. Go get it. Boat,” Maggie ordered in a stern voice, pointing out the door. Finally Sirius trotted onto the porch, down the steps, and disappeared into the early morning shadows. The wind was southerly, and the salty smell of the ocean drifted across the porch. A light shone in a window at Vera’s house, and Maggie wondered if the brooch could be there somewhere. If it was, Aunt Selina would bring it straight over. But what if it had fallen into the sea? Then it would be gone forever.
Maggie sat down at the kitchen table and laid her head in her arms. Surely Sirius didn’t understand. How could she send off her loving and gentle dog with such harsh words? After all, it was her own fault that the brooch was missing. Why had she worn it in the first place? For some stupid sentimental reason she felt that the brooch might bring some kindness or good fortune—for Vera. What did Pa say about superstition? “Foolishness. We are the masters of our own lives and fortune.”
Maggie decided that as soon as it was light she would search the church and the well.
She got up and put the teapot on the stove and opened the damper. A hot cup of tea would make her feel better. The day was brightening, and she looked out the door to see if Sirius was back yet.
Noises came from upstairs. Ma was getting up. How could Maggie face her mother and father and tell them she had lost their most prized family possession? She tucked the velvet box in the pocket of her nightgown.
“You’re up early, Maggie,” said Ma. She glanced at the stove. “What a good child. You’ve lit the fire and have tea brewing.” She viewed the glass barometer on the wall. “Good weather today.” She stood back to look at her daughter. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Maggie hated to lie. But she might find the brooch once it was light enough outside, so Ma didn’t need to know about it. Not yet.
“Don’t worry about Vera. She’s going to be all right.” Ma smiled at her gently. “See? The Lord heard your prayers, my dear.”
Maggie nodded and turned away quickly.
“Let’s have some biscuits and bake apple jam. Just you and me.”
Bake apple. Maggie’s favorite, and used only for special occasions. Ordinarily, it would have been a sweet moment to be having tea with Ma, but Maggie was so worried about the brooch, it was hard to pretend everything was fine.
Ma studied her daughter’s face. “What’s wrong, my child? Can’t you tell me?”
Maggie turned to the window again. “It’s . . . Sirius. I don’t want to lose him.” The morning sun, in a haze of sea fog, now cast a golden glow over the harbor. Poor dog. How could he have any idea of what Maggie had sent him to do?
“Here, maid,” Ma said comfortingly. “Here’s the tea. You get the biscuits, and we’ll plan some way to fight for Sirius. We’ll do everything we can to keep him here with us. But if not, we can send him to my sister in Corner Brook. He’ll be safe there.”
“No. I’ll never see him again if he’s sent away,” Maggie said vehemently. She already had a plan if the worst were to happen. “I’ll find a way to keep Sirius.”
Maggie brought a tin of biscuits out of the cupboard and set them on the table. She turned back to the window. Sirius was already at the gate and heading back to the house. Maggie hurried to let him in.
“Speak of the Devil,” said Ma, “and he appears.”
“Come in, boy,” said Maggie, holding the door open. Sirius had done his best. She must not expect a dog—even a dog as smart as Sirius—to understand and solve her problem.
“Everyone in the family takes off their shoes when they come into my kitchen,” Ma said with a laugh, “except for that animal.” She pretended to frown. “Off with your boots, you old thing,” she commanded. Sirius wagged his tail.
“Come here, boy,” Maggie said gently, tapping her thigh. Sirius went over to Maggie and stretched out his great head over Maggie’s open hand. He dropped a wet and slimy object into her palm.
Sirius had found the silver brooch.
SECRET AT THE QUIDNUNC
MAGGIE KNELT AND HUGGED SIRIUS. “My sweet Sirius,” she whispered. “You found it!”
Sirius whined softly and lapped Maggie’s face.
“You slobbery, wonderful dog,” she laughed. “Thank you, thank you.”
“What did Sirius bring you?” Ma asked. She turned Maggie’s hand in hers. “The brooch?”
“Oh, Ma, it must have fallen off my dress yesterday,” Maggie explained, standing up. “This morning when I realized it was gone, I sent Sirius to find it—and look. He did.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “That’s why I was so sad. I thought it was gone forever.”
Ma looked in wonderment at the silvery pin, then to Maggie’s tearstained face. “It’s all right, my dear,” she said, gathering her daughter into her arms. “It would have been a tragedy for sure, had it been lost. But it’s all right. We have the brooch, and you don’t need to feel bad anymore.” Ma examined the pin. “The clasp is bent, so it doesn’t hold the pin tightly. Pa can fix it.”
“I’m sorry, Ma. I thought it had fallen into the sea when I went out . . .”
Ma wiped her daughter’s face with a handkerchief. “It’s all right,
Maggie.” She motioned Maggie to the table. “Now, you eat and don’t worry so much.”
Sirius put his paw on Maggie’s knee. Maggie gave him a biscuit. “Here, my clever star boy,” she said. “You are such a good dog.” Sirius took the biscuit and ate it loudly under the table.
Maggie spooned some rich cream from the tin her mother opened and stirred it into her tea. The tea did taste good and soothing. Then, remembering the velvet box, she pulled it out from her pocket. “I was going to tell you, Ma,” she said, placing it on the table. “But I wanted to look for it first.”
“I understand, Maggie.”
Maggie could tell from her mother’s voice that the issue was closed.
“Now, if we can only find a way to get some water into our house. We can’t be going out to that iceberg again. So we have to boil this water for now—for a long time—before we drink it. I’m tired of pumping out of that well and carting water back here every day, anyway,” Ma said, spreading bake apple preserves onto a biscuit.
“It would be right nice to have water piped directly to our kitchen sink,” Maggie agreed. “Real modern—like the Rands.”
“Well, the Rands do seem to have a lot. But much of their wealth is ill-gotten,” said Ma with a nod. “He’s charged off too many expenses to the fishermen here, and things are about to change.”
“How, Ma? What do you mean?”
“Pa and I think you are old enough to know. You’re almost thirteen, and you’re a responsible girl. But, you mustn’t tell anyone.”
Was she about to hear the secret that caused those knowing looks between Pa and Otto? Maggie leaned forward eagerly.
“You know how Pa went to St. John’s last month to visit his brother? Well, Uncle Bert has a boat for sale. Five of the families here in Bonnie Bay are going to buy it. We’ve worked, hoarded, and saved, and now we’re about ready to make our dream come true. Pa will be the skipper. Everyone else will have an equal share in the profits. We won’t have to work for old Rand anymore.” Ma put her fingers to her lips and stifled a laugh.
Maggie was astonished. “Do the Rands know about this?”
“Oh, goodness, no. Not yet,” said Ma, chuckling. “It’s going to be a big surprise!”
“But I heard Otto say that Howard Rand is angry at Pa. I’m sure he’s heard something about it. That’s why he’s acting so mean about the sheep.”
Ma nodded. “Could be, Maggie. He’s been more than his usual nasty self lately.” She played with a crumb on the starched white tablecloth, then looked up. “It is hard to keep a secret like this—especially in Bonnie Bay.”
Pa came into the kitchen, his dark hair tousled from sleep. His hair was the exact shade of brown as Maggie’s—with hints of gold in the sunlight. People said Maggie resembled her father—except she had inherited the same unusual amber eyes of her mother. Pa was already dressed in wide, dark jeans held up with embroidered suspenders. Like all the fishermen in Bonnie Bay, he wore a long-sleeved gansey, a sweater from the Isles of Guernsey. Even when the days were warm onshore, it was cold on the Atlantic.
“So now you know, Maggie girl. How about it? Won’t you be happy to have your pa a proper ship’s captain?”
“Yes, Pa, but what about the Rands?”
“There’s not a thing they can do about it. Just a few more weeks and a new boat will be down in the harbor. I’m naming it The Grace, for your ma.” He put his hand on Ma’s shoulder and kissed her cheek.
“Is it brand-new?” Maggie asked.
“Well, it looks like new,” Pa answered. “And the engine purrs like a contented cat and leaves hardly a wake. It’s a nice-lookin’ boat and will serve all of us well.” Pa poured some tea and sat at the table. “But, remember, we don’t talk about it yet.”
“I won’t tell,” Maggie promised. “But I think old Rand already knows.”
“That would explain why he’s concentrating on Sirius. He doesn’t really believe that our dog would hurt anything. But he’s out to make life miserable for us,” Pa agreed. “He’s not about to let anyone steal his lines.”
Hearing his name, Sirius crawled out from under the table and sat at Maggie’s feet. His tail thumped the floor rhythmically.
“Now we’ve got to figure out what to do about our boy here, should the constable show up.” Pa scratched Sirius’s head.
“Oh, Pa, the Rands have probably talked to the constable already. They won’t try to shoot Sirius, will they?” She saw a quick look pass between her father and mother. “They can’t.” Her voice rose. “You can’t let them hurt my dog!”
“There, now, Maggie. I’m sure it won’t come to that,” said Pa, reaching for her hand.
She pulled away from him. “No, it won’t come to that.” Maggie jumped up, squeaking the chair. Sirius yelped and bounded out of her way.
Maggie raced up the stairs and put on some old clothes—a flowered calico dress that she had almost outgrown. It came down only to her boot-tops and would make it easier to climb among the rocks. Hastily, she tied a ribbon around her curly, unkempt hair. No time to wash up, she thought. I’ve got to hide Sirius.
She bolted down the steep stairs and almost fell over Sirius, who was waiting at the bottom. “Rope. I need a long length of rope, Pa.” She stuffed her bare feet into her old boots.
“What are you up to, Maggie?” Ma chided. “Calm down.”
“No. I won’t. I’m taking Sirius away myself—where no one will find him!”
“All right, my child,” Pa agreed. “I have rope out under the porch.”
Maggie, her father, and Sirius went out into the cool air. Maggie couldn’t see over the hillside, where the road wound up to her house. Howard Rand might be on his way with the constable right now. “Please hurry!”
Her father retrieved a coil of rope from beneath the steps and handed it to her. “What are you planning to do, Maggie?”
“I’m going to hide Sirius. Come on, boy,” she said, tying the rope to the dog’s collar.
“Maggie, wait.” Ma came out to the porch, holding a plate full of meat. “Let him eat this first.” The dog’s tail swished wildly, but he waited for the command. “Eat!” Ma said, and Sirius lunged for the food. “He’ll need water, too.” Ma went back inside and returned with a bowl of cool, boiled water. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Maggie shook her head. “No one must know where Sirius is.” No, she wouldn’t tell anyone. After all, even the big secret about the new boat wasn’t really a secret anymore.
Sirius had gobbled up the meat and was lapping the water. “Come on, Sirius,” she urged.
The dog looked up, water streaming off his jowls, and she tugged on the rope. She would come back for more food and water later, but now she just had to get Sirius away from there.
“Hiding Sirius is like concealing a whale in a puddle,” Ma called out. “Are you going to Beachy Cove?”
“I’m not telling you. That way you won’t have to lie if someone asks,” Maggie said over her shoulder as she and Sirius headed behind the house and into the thicket. To anyone watching, it would look as if she were heading through the woods to Beachy Cove, a deserted harbor, several miles away.
Actually, Maggie had considered hiding Sirius there. Few people ever went there. It was a long, arduous walk through heavy spruce thickets. However, it was easily reached by boat, and people might expect that’s where he’d be. Besides, how could she feed him and watch over him if he were so far off? No, Maggie had another plan. A better plan.
Out of sight of the houses, Maggie turned and led Sirius up the overgrown back pathway to the quidnunc. Sirius jogged along happily, not at all annoyed by the rope leash. It was getting hot, and mosquitoes buzzed around them, but Maggie didn’t pause until they had reached the first outcropping of rocks. “Sit!” she commanded Sirius, tying the rope loosely to a scrub tree. Sirius sat. Maggie crawled out onto the cliff and looked over the rocks. Below, the colorful houses of Bonnie Bay, with their crisscrossed stick fences, looked
unreal, like a small child’s drawing. She gasped when she saw three people heading up the path to her own house. One of them was short, and she recognized Tamar. “It’s Howard Rand and Tamar,” she said out loud. “And the constable must be with them.” Squinting, she could just make out that both Howard Rand and the other large figure were carrying rifles.
Maggie shuddered and scrambled back to her dog. “We got you out just in time,” she whispered. “They came with guns! How could they do this?” She untied Sirius from the tree, and they continued up the overgrown narrow path to the quidnunc. Then she sat down on the rocks and pushed on Sirius’s rump until he sat down, too. “Now, I know this will be hard for you,” she said gently, “but, trust me, Sirius, and you’ll be safe down there.” She pointed to the mossy ledge below. Maggie slid her way downward over the smooth boulders. “Come on.”
Sirius held back, but as Maggie slipped farther down the rocks, the rope tugged at his collar. He felt his way with his paws, taking unsteady steps toward Maggie.
“There. Good boy.” Once she and Sirius were safely below in the crag, Maggie surveyed the secluded mossy ledge. No one would see Sirius with the thicket surrounding him. The sun beat down on the balsam and spruce needles, making a sweet scent around them. “There’s a nice place here for you to lie and warm yourself, Sirius. Now, come here, boy.” She tugged at the rope, and Sirius followed her to the small hidden cave. “See? If it rains, you’ll keep dry here.” She laid the old blanket from her copy house on the floor of the cave. Sirius sniffed at it, then lowered himself onto the blanket and watched her. Maggie untied the rope from his collar. “I don’t want to tie you up,” she said sadly. “But you mustn’t follow me. You must stay.”
Maggie crawled out from the cave. Sirius rose.
“No, Sirius!” she said sternly. “Stay!” She leaned into the cave and put her arms around him. “You’ve got to stay. I’ll be back.”
Star in the Storm Page 4