"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Uhm... no, no, everything's fine, just thinking about my appointment." She gave her left cheek a pat and chuckled. "Dentists always make me nervous."

"Ha, you and me both. So then, we'll see you on Friday."

She left for the house, trying to convince herself her boss would have no reason not to mail her letter. All she could do was to hope for the best.

She went upstairs to check on the children, and as she approached Nathan's room, she heard a strange noise coming from inside. When she poked her head in the doorway, there in the corner was a skunk digging in a wastebasket. The container was on its side and the little animal was squeaking with delight as it pulled everything out onto the floor. She closed the door and went to warn Maria.

"Whatever you do, stay out of Nathan's room. He's got a skunk in there."

"Uuh, you sure?"

"Yeah, it's a skunk all right. Anyway, I'm going down to find him, so stay out."

Maria got up and stood in the doorway, watching Emily cross to the staircase. "I think he went for a snack."

She found Nathan in the kitchen pouring Corn Flakes into a bowl, and tried to keep her voice low so Pearl wouldn't hear. "What's a skunk doing in your room?"

The squat woman was hunched over a flour bin, and when she heard Emily's voice, she looked around the counter. "Now what's up?"

"Nothing to worry about," Emily said lightly, then got up next to Nathan's ear. "Get Bruce up to your room, young man, and make it snappy."

On her way out, she caught Pearl's eye and acknowledged her with a wave. "We've got it under control," she assured her.

As she headed around the corner and down the foyer, she could hear the loud admonishing aimed at Nathan. A moment later, the back door slammed and she knew he had made his escape.

Back upstairs, she found Maria outside her brother's bedroom.

They both had an ear pressed against the door when Nathan came up the steps with Bruce.

"Why would you bring a stinky ole skunk in the house, Nathan?" Maria scolded.

"It's just a baby one," he corrected her.

Bruce stepped in front of the door with a box in hand. "That makes no difference, son. Well, what's done is done, but the sooner I get it outside the better."

"What in Aunt Matilda is going on?" They all turned as Pearl pulled herself up the stairs, hanging onto the banister for dear life.

Her eyes settled on the box as she took the last step. She leaned against the railing, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. "All right, Nathan... what've you done now?"

He lowered his eyes.

"A skunk," Maria said, trying not to laugh. "He's got a skunk in his room."

"A skunk?" Pearl clutched the rail with one hand and wagged a finger with the other. "You know better, young man." She stopped for another breath. "What's your father gonna say? Remember how upset he was about the squirrel you brought up?"

"That was a long time ago."

"Like that makes a difference. And what if that creature lets go in there?"

Bruce was beginning to look amused and came to the boy's rescue. "That's why I suggest you go down and gather up all the vinegar you can find."

"Vinegar?"

"Yes, vinegar, to kill the odor."

She groaned and headed back down the stairs, grumbling all the way.

Bruce opened the door and peeked inside. "I think you guys better skedaddle."

Skedaddle they did, down to the family room. Nathan was miserable as he dropped to the couch, doubled up, with his head in his lap.

Emily sat next to him and put a hand across his back. "What were you thinking, anyway?"

"I don't know."

Maria knelt on the floor in front of him. "You know that father's allergic to animals."

"But it was lost," Nathan sniveled.

"I doubt it was lost," Emily said, ruffling his hair. "It probably just wandered off."

Maria giggled. "Yeah, and what if its mommy and daddy and all of its brothers and sisters come for it? Boy, are you in trouble then."

Nathan jerked his head up. "Uh-uh."

"Oh, stop teasing your brother. Actually, Nathan, it could've been very uncomfortable around here for a while."

"Hey, Nathan," Bruce called from the top step leading down to the family room. "Where'd you find the skunk?"

Nathan looked forlorn as he stood to face Bruce. "It was almost up by the highway, over by the stream."

Maria pulled herself up alongside her brother. "What were you doing all the way out there?"

"Never mind, Maria," Bruce said, sounding impatient all of a sudden. "Both of you, come along. I've got the skunk waiting out front. We'll discuss it on the way over."

After they left, Emily slumped to the couch and put her feet up. She couldn't understand why Nathan didn't think things through a little more; like when he took her down to the water when it was obviously off limits. She had a bad feeling about this; in fact, she'd had a bad feeling ever since Donald caught her eavesdropping on Gabriel and Erwin. He was due to return from a trip in four days and she dreaded the thought of facing him.

She closed her eyes, wondering if she should pack up and leave. If he paid her once in a while, by now she'd have enough money to get a place of her own. And to think it took her all this time to realize that was exactly why he didn't pay her. It really got her blood to boil just thinking about it.

Maybe she should go uptown and have some fun for once. Think about herself for a change, instead of trying to please her boss. She would drink just enough to put herself in a state of tranquil bliss. Thought got her heart pumping. Maybe she'd run into Sam. She had to admit there were some moments in the Palace that had thrilled her to the bone. Sam was one of them. Him, along with the music and the brandy sizzling through her veins, making her feel alive in a way that couldn't be matched by anything else. No, that wasn't true, not beyond what she had felt with Michael. He made her limbs weak and her heart flutter with just a glance, that was without a drop of alcohol.

She sighed, pulled herself up, and headed outside, surprised she would even consider placing herself in a situation like that again. For the time being, she thought that living on Donald's estate was probably the safest place for her, although how could she know what the future held?

The next day, she was having lunch with the children on the patio, trying to give them some positive attention. It wasn't easy. Her boss would be home in two days, and she still hadn't discussed the water incident with Nathan.

"Maria," she said, knowing that her talk was overdue, "did Nathan mention the walk we took down to the water?"

Maria's face turned pale. "You what?" She swung around to her brother. "You know better." Then back to Emily. "We're not allowed down there. Not ever!"

Emily looked back and forth between the two. "Well, Ia I..."

The little girl was in tears by now. "The last time we went to the water, we got a scolding I'll never forget. And then we were grounded to our rooms for three days." She leaped from her chair, went around, and gave her brother a good shaking. "You really messed up this time... you brat! And I bet you're really gonna get it."

"I'll decide who gets what around here."

Emily had already heard the footsteps, but the sound of his voice confirmed that Donald Schillings had arrived home early.

"Go on, get out of here!" he said rushing over, shooing the children off the patio. He lit a cigarette, blowing out a puff of smoke.

When they scrambled down the steps, he spun around to face Emily. The veins on his neck swelled from under his collar, and the darks of his eyes pierced into hers.

"I laid down my rules the first night you came, young lady. And don't tell me you forgot."

She wanted to remind him of the visitor who had called him away before he completed the rundown. "I'm sorry, but if it's about the water, I a I didn't realize we weren't to go down there."

"If you didn't know, then why'd you run from one of my men?"

"I don't know. The dogs? And, I a I guess I was following Nathan."

He glanced to where the children were playing. "I'll deal with him later."

She realized what she had just done and pleaded on Nathan's behalf. "Oh, but wait, Mr. Schillings, it wasn't his fault. I asked him to go. At the time Ia"

"Shut up! I'm not interested in excuses." He gripped the back of a chair and leaned across the table. "Your duties were to keep the children out of mischief, not get into it yourself. Damn you."

He picked up the chair, ashes flying as he slammed it back down. "What am I gonna do with you, anyway? I'm sure you're not interested in going back to the Palace, are you? But, wait a minute, you have nowhere else to go, do you? Unless..." He took another drag from his cigarette, forming rings of smoke that circled for a moment and disappeared.

Then he looked down at her calmly as if he were enjoying the fact that he owned her. "Unless I shipped you back to where you came from. I'm sure the Illinois police would be mighty happy. You see, Emily, if you didn't already know, there's a warrant out for your arrest. It's all been checked out." He leaned with one hand on the chair. "What a shame, I heard they're going for Murder One. Oh, and by the way, Bruce won't be taking you into town tomorrow."

Emily was so furious she could barely think. Here she was caring for this man's children, loving them, giving them the attention he refused to give while he screamed at her, jumping to conclusions without giving her a say before threatening to turn her over to the wolves. She was shaking, clutching her arms for support. Her gaze scanned the room for a way out, dropping suddenly to a knife on the table. She wondered what he'd do if she picked it up and ran a hand across the blade, maybe jumped up, and threatened him. With the spot she was already in that didn't sound too bright, even as a thought. But he deserved it. She wanted to show him how angry she was, although she had a feeling he would laugh in her face and snatch it out of her hand before she had a chance to stroke the blade.

He pulled himself up, took a leisurely drag from his cigarette, and then mercilessly took away all of her hope. "Just to let you know, I've left instructions for Otto not to let you use the telephone again. And one more thing. Bruce won't be mailing out any more letters." With that, he turned and headed back inside.

She leaped to her feet and started after him. "Mr. Schillings..." She wanted to ask him why, if he detested her so much, why he bothered to keep her here. But the door closed behind him, and she collapsed to the chair, cradling her head in her hands. All of a sudden, she had an awful headache.

"You okay? Is it your head?"

The children had come to her rescue and Emily sat up and gave them a reassuring smile. "Oh... well, just a little," she said, reaching for some water. "Maybe this'll help."

Maria brushed back hair that had fallen across Emily's face. "I'll get you something, if you like."

"We got aspirins?"

"I think Pearl does. You want me to get some?"

Emily nodded and Maria headed inside and quickly brought her back two aspirins. She took both and finished off the glass of water. Then the three gathered up the dishes and took everything inside.

"We've decided to help with the clean-up," Emily told Pearl as they walked into the kitchen. She had already instructed Maria and Nathan, and they set about piling dishes into the sink.

Her idea was that this would take the children's minds off what had just happened, though it didn't help her in the least. She tried to act as if nothing was wrong, which wasn't a simple task with the way Pearl kept giving her the evil eye, as if the upset had been all her fault. Yes, she took Nathan down to the water, but the rest, the way Donald had practically taken away her rights, was wrong. She understood what he was doing, keeping her anchored to him, but why he would go through all the trouble was beyond her. All the more she thought of the way he had blown up at her a and had probably ruined her chances of ever finding Samuel Dimsmoore a all the angrier she became.

Later, up in her room, she decided it was time to leave. She didn't have a clue where she was going, but she was too upset to care.

She packed her bag, and then went to tell the children her plan. First, she went to Nathan. He told her he didn't blame her for leaving, and that when he grew up and got himself a car, he'd go see her.

"Oh, Nathan," she said, giving him a hug, "I'll see you before then."

When she went to see Maria, it wasn't so easy. "I hope you understand why I'm leaving."

Maria's eyes filled with tears. It was heartbreaking, and Emily almost told her she wasn't going anywhere, but then the poor child related something shocking.

"I don't want you to go," she said, "but... maybe you should after the way he yelled at you. Like he used to with Mommy. He used toa"

"He used to what, Maria?"

"He hit her sometimes." Her lips were trembling, and her eyes filled with tears. "And... just before Sylvia left, he was screaming at her and... and he knocked her against a desk. I saw her lying on the floor with blood running down her forehead."

"You saw it happen?"

"Well, I saw her on the floor, and I saw the blood."

"That's terrible, I'm so sorry. Honey, are you okay?"

Maria nodded that she was, but Emily felt caught in the middle. She was terrified of making the wrong decision.

"Oh, dear," she said, half under her breath, "now what do I do?" One thing was clear; she wasn't leaving until she knew the children were safe.

"Listen, Maria. This is very important, so I want you to tell me like it is. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Has he... has your father ever hit you or Nathan?"

"No! Never! He knows Uncle Bud would kill him if he did."

"Whew. That's a relief. Honestly, Maria, I don't know what I'd do if I had to worry about that. Take you away, I think."

The little girl looked up and Emily didn't miss the glimmer of hope. She thought of taking them along, but of course that was out of the question.

"Uhm, let me ask you this. I've only had a chance to really talk with your tutor a couple of times, and she seems friendly enough, but, how do you guys feel about her?"

"Mm, she's nice. We like her."

"I mean, if something happened, do you think you could talk to her?"