Matilda Ross was taken aback. She was feeling a twinge of remorse for her treatment of her firstborn on her birthday and had been willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. With Lydia’s reaction of obvious guilt, she reconsidered. Jacob would be upset with her, but she didn’t care. This child would be the death of her, always scheming, always trying to look like the innocent in front of Jacob.
“I’m going to give you plenty of time to think about what you did while you help me with the laundry. Go fetch water so I can start it heating, then set up the wash tub outside.”
Lydia scurried to do as her mama asked, trying hard not to spill too much from the heavy bucket. She set up the washtub on the wide front porch and collected dirty clothes, soap, and the washboard while the water heated
