Chapter 303
The return trip would take another four hours–a daunting challenge for Julia in her current state.
Briony couldn’t bear the thought of sedating Julia, but deep down, she knew it was the only option left.
Even administering the sedative was proving difficult.
Julia refused to let anyone near her.
Perhaps it was the sheer number of people today. Normally, Julia would at least let Farrah approach, but as soon as Farrah stepped into the barn, Julia shrieked in terror and hurled fistfuls of straw at her, trembling with panic.
Farrah had no choice but to retreat.
“Maybe it’s just too crowded for her,” Farrah sighed. “It’s usually just me coming in–she never acts like this.”
“Then we need to be firm,” Stewart said, the authority in his voice unmistakable. “Judd, take the team and go in.”
Before Briony could protest, Judd and the other four team members rushed into the barn.
“Wait!” Briony started forward, but Stewart caught her arm.
“Briony, I know you want to spare Mrs. Hudson, but when someone’s lost touch with reality, this is the only way.”
Briony froze.
She watched, helpless, as Judd and the others pinned Julia to the ground.
Julia was terrified, her face streaked with tears and snot, wailing incoherently–Briony couldn’t
make out a word.
Briony herself was already crying, unable to watch as the straw beneath Julia grew damp.
She pressed a hand to her chest, squeezed her eyes shut, and turned away.
A sharp needle pierced Julia’s arm.
The sedative worked quickly; Julia’s eyelids fluttered and then closed, her body finally relaxing into a deep sleep.
Judd’s team lifted Julia onto a stretcher and carried her out of the barn.
Briony shook off Stewart’s hand and turned to Farrah. “Could I use your bathroom? I want to bathe my mom and help her change into something clean and comfortable.”
‘Of course!” Farrah replied with a warm smile. “I get it, city folks like you always keep up
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appearances. My place isn’t fancy, but let me help you.”
Briony’s voice trembled with gratitude. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“Oh, don’t mention it! It’s fate we crossed paths, isn’t it? All right, bring her inside…”
Farrah dragged out the big old wooden tub, scrubbed it clean, and had them settle Julia into it.
Julia was filthy, her clothes so worn they tore at the lightest tug.
Briony washed her mother gently, tears slipping down her cheeks the entire time.
Farrah asked, “Where are you all from?”
“Northborough,” Briony answered.
“A real city girl!” Farrah glanced from Briony to Julia.
Julia’s face, once cleaned, was gaunt and sallow with malnutrition, but her delicate features were still apparent.
Farrah’s curiosity got the better of her. “That man outside, the big boss–your husband?”
Briony frowned slightly. “No.”
“Oh, I must’ve guessed wrong.” Farrah was the type to speak her mind, no filter at all. “I just thought you two looked good together! But he seems to care about you.”
Care about her?
Briony’s heart twisted with bitter irony.
Stewart didn’t care. Everything he did was for Irwin Wentworth–nothing more.
Farrah tried combing Julia’s hair and frowned. “This is hopeless, all matted up!”
Briony gently touched her mother’s tangled hair. There were so many knots.
“Let’s cut it,” she said. “Do you have scissors?”
“I’ll get them.”
Farrah fetched a pair of scissors.
Briony herself cut her mother’s hair short, then washed it over and over until it was truly clean.
After drying Julia’s now–cropped hair, Briony stroked the strands, noticing how two–thirds of it had turned white. Tears blurred her vision.
Farrah noticed and tried to comfort her. “Sweetheart, the important thing is you’ve found her. We always say, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.‘ Your mama’s been through so much and survived–she’s blessed. Her luck’s just beginning.”
Briony sniffled. “From now on, I’ll take good care of her.”
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When Julia was finally clean, Farrah called in two other local women to help.
Country women were strong and used to hard work–they made quick work of things
With their help, Julia was transformed–no longer the disheveled, broken woman they’d found
–
Farrah and the village head personally walked them to the edge of the village
Briony stopped to say goodbye.
She clasped Farrah’s hand. “Thank you. This is a small token of my appresatoo–dese, you must accept it.”
Before Farrah could react, Briony pressed a bank card into her hand
“The code is six zeroes.”
“Oh, no, I can’t!” Farrah quickly tried to return it. “We really can’t accept your moner
*Please, take it. It will give me peace of mind.”
Farrah shook her head. “No, really, I can’t!”
Briony was firm. “I know you and the village head didn’t help us for the money, but please le me do this for my own peace.”
Farrah glanced at the village head.
He nodded. “If it’s Ms. Kensington’s wish, then let’s accept
Farrah finally relented and took the card.
Briony stepped back and gave them both a deep, grateful bow.
By the time their private yacht pulled away from Harborview Pier, dusk had settled over the
water.
They traveled even slower than on the way out.
But with her mind consumed by concern for her mother, Briony barely noticed the hours passing.
Along the way, Julia began to stir
The doctor traveling with them checked her over, then carefully administered another dose of sedative.
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