Honor in the Dust by Gilbert Morris Page A

month ago. “I don’t know what to do. They can’t put Stuart in jail or in the stocks. They just can’t!”

    The hearing was held in a relatively small room built for several purposes. Linton Stowe was the justice who was listening to Hyde’s charge. Stowe was an older man with silver hair and clear blue eyes. He had the reputation, Grace knew, of being a fair man.
    â€œAll right, Mr. Hyde, what is your charge?”
    â€œWell, I caught the boy red-handed, and there’s the two rabbits he poached from my land. No excuse, Justice.”
    Stowe studied Stuart, and Grace followed his gaze, swelling with pride over her fine-looking boy. He was tall for his age, with a thatch of auburn hair and bright blue eyes. She thought she saw the justice’s eyes flash with compassion.
    Hyde threw a malevolent glance at Grace and said, “I went to tell his mother, and you know what she dared? She offered herself to me if I would let the boy off! Of course, I wouldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be right,” he said with false morality.
    â€œMrs. Winslow, you may speak.”
    Grace stood on her feet. She faced the magistrate, her voice not loud but filled with certainty. “My boy did break the law, and I have the money to pay the fine. The vile thing that this man said of me is a lie.”
    â€œShe’s a whore and a liar!”
    Stowe hesitated, then said, “In view of the youth of the young offender, I’m going to take the fine and release him to his family.”
    â€œShe’s naught but a whore!” Hyde roared. He turned and shoved his way out of the room. He was followed by a short man with hazel eyes who grabbed him by the arm and turned him around while he was still within earshot of Grace.
    â€œAre you looney, man?”
    â€œWhat are you talking about, Tillford?”
    â€œYou know who her husband is?”
    â€œSome kind of a soldier fellow,” he said dismissively.
    â€œClaiborn Winslow. He’s a demon with a sword, and when he comes home and finds the man who’s called his wife a whore and a liar in public, why, he’ll cut his heart out!” Tillford glanced back at Grace. “You’d better go back and make it right.”
    Hyde hesitated a moment. With a curse he turned and walked back over to her. The justice looked up, and Grace remained silent.
    â€œSir, I fear I let my anger get the better of my judgment.”
    â€œAnd how is that, Mr. Hyde?”
    â€œWell, I said some things about the lady here that weren’t true. I have a bad temper, and sometimes my mouth seems to have a mind of its own. So, Mrs. Winslow, I’ll ask your pardon.”
    â€œGranted,” said Grace carefully.
    â€œVery well, then. I think it’s wise that you made this right,” the justice said. He turned back to Grace. “Take the boy and go home. But, Son, if I ever see you here again, it won’t be as easy for you. Mind that you never appear before my bench again.”
    â€œYes, sir. Never again,” Stuart said.
    Grace and Stuart made their way out, but she felt Hyde’s eyes on her, and when she glanced at him, she saw that their family had a new enemy.
    When they were outside, she said, “God was good to us, Stuart. It could have been very bad indeed.”
    â€œI’m so sorry, Mother. I won’t ever do that again.”
    â€œThat’s good. I believe you.”
    â€œWill we have to tell Father?”
    â€œOh, yes, he would hear it anyhow. Better he hears it from you.”

    Grace was forced to hire men to hay when Claiborn had not returned in time. Worley, one of the men she had hired, came over to her. He wiped the sweat from his face and said, “That son of yours can do more work than some grown men.”
    Grace was pleased with that. “He is strong, is he not?”
    â€œI thought Master Claiborn was due back by now. When do you expect him?”
    Grace found she could not