June 27, 1859

Dear Safiya,

I did not know that about Father Ryan.  And thank you for sending him.  However, the MacJohns are back to their old tricks.  I do all the chores now, and they moved me from a bedroom out to the barn so that their friend will be able to stay there for a few months.  Yes, months.

Mr. MacJohns is worse than usual.  He is inviting friends over to drink now.  Hear me out, please, we spend over half of his salary on drinks.  He offers it to me, and I’m fourteen years old, fifteen in seven months, so I refuse.  Bobbi and Jack make fun of me, for they have sips every once in a while, and that is the only thing that their mother scolds them for.

I had better stop.  You told me to handle things for myself, and I will try to deal with things myself this time.  Let me talk about something else.

I found something interesting yesterday.  That’s why I wasn’t able to write.  Okay, so I snuck away from Cindy (do not yell at me.  I couldn’t take it anymore) and went to the forest outside my town.  I haven’t really been there, so I was curious.  I found a little path over by the edge, and it looked like no one had been on it for years.  So I went on it, and you wouldn’t believe what I found!

It was a waterfall, and one of the most beautiful ones I had ever seen.  It was a teal colour, halfway between green and blue, with some silver in it as well.  I have never seen anything more pretty.  And the trees surrounding it.  Trust me, Safiya, it was amazing.

I spent hours just sitting their staring at it.  I wanted to see if anything was behind the waterfalls, but I didn’t.  It felt as though it wasn’t my place to look behind them.

It was almost dusk by the time I finally remembered that people wanted me to do things.  I ran home, breathless when I got there.  Cindy asked me if I had seen a boy.  I said no.  She doesn’t believe me, and is currently asking everyone if they had seen me with anyone, so I have to be more careful when I place these letters under the tree.

I was punished, of course.  No supper for three days, and a light lunch only.  We always have light breakfasts.  I’ll find a way to make it through, though.  I always do.

I hope that I can find a way through this.  I really do.  I want to go to the waterfall again, but I don’t think I’ll be able to without the MacJohns punishing me.

Please help.  I’m already in your debt.  I just don’t know how long I’ll be able to go on like this.

Gosh, I’m contradicting everything that I’ve written at the beginning of this letter, haven’t I?  Oh well, that’s just me.  Scatterbrained Lucy.  Like my father, I guess.

Forever in your trust, Lucy