Chapter 127
Morwenna quickly composed herself and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Johnson. I borrowed the money fairly and squarely."
But Johnson wasn't buying it. "Who loaned it to you? You're fresh off the boat in the big city. Who'd give you that much cash?"
Stuart listened quietly. His expression was not as stern as before.
Many people didn’t care where the money was from as long as they got it. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
But Johnson was different. He kept asking about the origin of the money, concerned that Morwenna might be led astray or taken advantage of.
Morwenna was momentarily at a loss for words. She hadn't told everyone back home about her marriage.
Then, an idea struck her. "Norbert lent me the money, the same Norbert who has been funding the education of our village kids over the years. You can relax, Mr. Johnson."
After saying that, Morwenna blushed. She disliked lying, even if it was a white lie.
If Johnson were with her, he might have seen through her fabrication.
But over the phone, Johnson couldn’t detect anything amiss and finally sighed with relief. "Wenna, dear, he's already done so much for us. And he’s now lending us money, too. We'll help you pay it back."
Morwenna swiftly shot back, "It’s okay. I'm earning pretty good at Rosefrost Hollow. I can make it work."
“Wenna, good girl. I’m sending you two handmade silk quilts. One is for you and one for Norbert. The bean crop was good this year. I’ve dried some and will send them along with other things.”
Morwenna's mood softened gradually.
After about fifteen minutes, she finally hung up.
A bit embarrassed, Morwenna turned to Stuart. “I usually don’t lie. I didn’t want Mr. Johnson to worry, so I said Norbert lent me the money. I’ll give you one of those silk quilts.”
Stuart, whose blankets were quite expensive, nodded and asked, “Do you need to make more calls?”
Morwenna shook her head, puzzled.
“Hand me your phone then,” Stuart said directly.
Somewhat naively, Morwenna handed over her phone.
Stuart took it and slipped it into his pocket.
Watching her phone disappear into Stuart’s pocket, Morwenna felt a momentary urge to ask for it back but then thought better of it, assuming Stuart probably wasn’t interested in her old phone.
Why did Stuart take her phone?
Without explanation, he led Morwenna back to the Hetfield's Homestead.
Since she didn't have to pull night shifts at the hospital, she suddenly found herself with some free time on her hands.
When arriving home, Norbert raised an eyebrow when he saw them together.
Morwenna went straight to Norbert.
Preempting her question, Norbert quickly said, “Wenna, don’t look at me like that. I haven’t touched a drop today. Ask Orson if you don’t believe me.”
Orson, standing by Norbert’s side, Orson vigorously nodded, affirming he’d been watching.
Morwenna smiled, “Well, I’ll check on my indigents for making cookies.”
She got flour, butter, and sugar in the kitchen.
And she needed the nuts and some fruits to make different flavors.
After that, the young and an old figure, armed with a slingshot, headed outside.
Indeed, Morwenna was teaching Norbert how to use a slingshot.
She had made it herself, and having roamed the hills for years, she was a crack shot, capable of hitting birds on the wing with her slingshot.