Gabriel felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Malinda sat down next to him. “You’ve been out here by yourself for quite a while,” she said. “I thought I would come find you, just to make sure you are all right.”
“Well, I’m not all right,” he said. “I’m angry and confused and . . . and . . .”
“You’re not going to listen to what Mr. Arnold put in that letter, are you?” replied Malinda.
“What do you mean?” asked Gabriel.
“You are not about to go back to New York or stay here with us on the farm. Don’t let Mr. Arnold confuse you.”
“And why shouldn’t I let him confuse me? It’s not like I really know what I’m doing here in the first place.”
“Don’t say that, Gabriel. You do know what you’re doing here. I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t listen to Mr. Arnold. He looks after one person in this life, and that’s himself. Oh, he may have moments of what appear to be compassion — for example, bringing over that quinine when you had such a high fever — but he only does that to look important in the eyes of others. You noticed how the post master who brought the letter to you this morning knew right where to find you. He knew you had been sick and that Mr. Arnold had delivered the quinine to save your life. I guarantee Mr. Arnold made sure the whole town of New Haven knew what he had done to save a poor, helpless boy.”
Gabriel interrupted, “Malinda, you shouldn’t say such harsh things about Captain — I mean, Colonel — Arnold. He saved my life.”
“I should say such harsh things, and I will,” retorted Malinda. “I’m respectful of Mr. Arnold to his face only because I have to be. You just ask my father what happened between him and Mr. Arnold a few years ago. He will tell you of Benedict Arnold’s selfish motives. The building in New Haven where Mr. Arnold has his drug store . . . well, it should have belonged to my father.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Gabriel
“Father knew how difficult farming could be and was looking to open up a store that sold farm equipment and seed, so he could stop working full-time in the fields. Farming was exceptionally hard for Father, since he had no sons to help him. He asked around town if any buildings may be coming up for sale. A man named Mr. Tanner told Father he would sell a building he owned along Main Street. Father was surprised by the quick response and even more surprised by the low price Mr. Tanner was asking for the building. Mr. Tanner said he would sell it to Father only if he had all of the money in hand. Father said he would get the money but asked that Mr. Tanner not tell anyone else about the building being for sale. Father went and sold some of his best farmland to raise the rest of the money needed. It only took him a couple of weeks before he had it all. He was so excited.
Gabriel looked confused, “What does this have to do with Colonel Arnold?”
“I am getting to that part, just be patient,” responded Malinda. “Two days before he took his money to Mr. Tanner, Father spoke with Benedict Arnold, who had stopped by to deliver some medicine for Mother. He told Mr. Arnold about his plans to open up a farm store and said Mr. Tanner was asking a very fair price for the building. Benedict promised Father he wouldn’t tell anyone about his plans since the deal wasn’t completed yet. Father took the money from his lock box the next day and went to hand it all to Mr. Tanner. Mr. Tanner told him he was sorry, but the building was already sold. He said Benedict Arnold had come by earlier that morning and offered Mr. Tanner more money than he was asking for the building and threw in a lifetime supply of whatever medicines he may need. Mr. Tanner swore he hadn’t told anyone about the building being for sale, but he couldn’t refuse Mr. Arnold’s offer. Mr. Arnold, that selfish brute, bought the building right out from under Father. He opened up his drugstore in the building and never told anyone what he did to Father.”
“That’s horrible. Why was your father so nice to Colonel Arnold when he came by the house?” asked Gabriel.
“Father says it was just business and that it was his own stupid fault for flapping his jaw about buying the building from Mr. Tanner for a fair price. Mind you, he’s certainly not Mr. Arnold’s best friend. Did you notice he didn’t jump at the chance to have Mr. Arnold stay for dinner the other night? Still, even if Father had felt harshly toward Mr. Arnold, he would have forgiven him by now. Father has told me more than once the Bible tells us to forgive seventy times seven. He usually tells me that when Constance has done something mean, like breaking one of my doll’s arms off.”
“Was your father able to buy back his farmland?” questioned Gabriel.
“No, and no other buildings have come up for sale that Father could afford. We grow just enough food for ourselves, and Father hires himself out to work at other people’s farms or at the sawmill.” She looked at Gabriel squarely. “Do you see now why I tell you not to listen to Benedict Arnold?”
Gabriel nodded his head. He truly felt sorry for Malinda and her family. The thought of marching with Colonel Arnold now seemed repulsive. “I’m sorry about what happened to your father, Malinda,” he said, “but
