Forbidden by Eve Bunting

broken.”
    I pulled my hands away. Was she deranged?
    “Dear girl,” she said softly. “You think me a meddlesome old woman. But I saw how you looked at him. You should know. Eli is forbidden.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I STARED AT MRS. STUART. What . . . ? How dare she speak to me like this? She saw how I looked at him! That was laughable! As if I would ever fancy her grandson! As if . . . And what did she mean, “forbidden”? Forbidden by whom? To do what? Forbidden by her?
    And there he was, standing in the open doorway.
    “May I offer my arm again?” he asked. “For your return to Raven’s Roost?”
    “ It is kind of you,” I said stiffly. “But it is unnecessary. I am perfectly capable of going alone.” How was I looking at him? I lowered my eyes.
    He gave that slight shrug that I was becoming acquainted with. “If you prefer.”
    His grandmother glanced from one of us to the other. “Do not forget to come back tomorrow,” she advised me.
    “I will see how it feels. Perhaps there will be no need for further treatment.” I tried to keep the indignation I felt out of my voice. Do not give your heart to Eli, indeed! As if I would! This ill-dressed, ungentlemanly person! He had aided me, of course. He had saved me from Lamb. But still . . .
    “You must do what you think is best,” his grandmother said.
    “I will,” I said. “And I thank you again.” I bobbed my head, then hobbled past Eli, through the door and down the shell-lined path.
    The sky did not seem as blue, the breeze not so sweet as I walked back. Perhaps there was about to be another change in the weather. Or perhaps I was in a different frame of mind. I told myself that I should be grateful. My ankle had required attention, and she had been more than kind. But I could not seem to lose my vexation. The thought that I might have been walking with Eli and not alone taunted me more than once. I chose to dismiss it.
    Raven’s Roost had the look of emptiness. No smoke rose from the chimney. There was no one about. Lamb would be inside, left to watch the house . . . and me.
    I was seized with a sudden restlessness. I could go down again and sit on the rock where I had sat earlier. I would try not to think of Eli Stuart. Eli Stuart, who was forbidden. Like Adam and Eve, who had eaten of the forbidden fruit. Had it been worth it for them, or had the price they’d paid been too costly?
    I looked across the ocean at the Sisters. My aunt and uncle were out there till the tide changed. When would that be? My knowledge of tides was rudimentary, but I thought that the tide came in, went out, came in again, went out again in a day and night cycle. That meant they would not be back till afternoon.
    I gazed around me. If it were not for the weakness in my ankle, I would walk the mile to Brindle and see what was there. I would buy stockings to replace the ones I now wore that were almost tattered. My first glimpse of the town had been unpleasant. But if I was to be there for a long while, I needed to take stock of it again.
    Then I remembered the horse. I would ride him! The idea excited me and lifted my spirits.
    I limped to the animal enclosure. The horse was small and old. He stood patiently and lifted his head to inspect me.
    I spoke to him gently and ventured close to stroke his nose. “Shall we go for a ride?” I whispered.
    I saw no saddle or bridle. They would no doubt be in the shed, which was locked. I tried the door, pushing on it, angry now and frustrated. It was immovable. I walked around it. In back I saw two old carriage wheels, a table missing a leg, a rain barrel half full of water. No saddle. No bridle.
    So, I would walk despite the pain. I was not, not, going to be trapped there.
    Lamb watched me impassively as I went into the house.
    “Good dog,” I whispered. “Nice Lamb.”
    He moved to the bottom of the stair as I went up to my room. The door to my aunt and uncle’s room was closed. Should I look inside?
    Curiosity killed the