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18. moral quandary

Anne didn't know what to do.

She lay in the meadow amongst the wild flowers, gazing up at the hazy blue sky. She tried counting clouds or spotting birds or listening to the crickets but absolutely nothing could distract her. All she could think about was Joseph.

She was morally obligated to tell somebody about what he'd done that awful stormy night - He had tried to steal the wagon of goods and he'd lied about it belonging to him, just so she would help him take it. He had hurt the two riders and didn't seem shy to kill them if he deemed it necessary. He was dangerous and clearly a criminal. He had to be stopped. What if he went back to the forest and found the wagon? He would steal the goods and kill anyone who challenged him.

Anne couldn't tell anybody though - Joseph had threatened her along with everybody she loved. If she told anybody the truth about what happened then she'd be putting everyone in mortal danger.

In books this type of conundrum always seemed dreafully exciting but the reality, Anne realised it was terrifying. She wished it to be over and for life to return to normal. She was so afraid.

But Anne was the only one who knew the truth of what happened that night. She had to tell somebody, she had to report him... It was her duty to the town to stop this dangerous criminal. He could go on to do more terrible crimes - but she would put everyone she loved in danger.

Anne tried not to cry. She knew she needed to be strong if she was to fully recover. Her wound was still aching and she wouldn't be healed for at least a month or so. She found it frustrating being so physically inhibited.

She heard footsteps and sat up, wincing at the strain. It was Jerry. She rolled her eyes. Of course it would be him who interrupted her quiet time. She found him so irritating. He always managed to annoy her, no matter what the scenario. Even in matters of life and death he turned up uninvited to disturb her.

It was noon and he was almost finished work to stop for lunch. He was surprised to see Anne here in the sunny meadow - despite her dehailitating injury he expected her to be keeping busy. It was unlike her to lie around, unless she had free time and was imagining a fantasy world and acting, or more likely in this case - her mind was tormented by something.

"You're still here?" Jerry asked. He carried a pitchfork and looked dirty.

"Yes, well I do live here." Anne answered disagreeably.

Jerry chuckled. "I'm surprised you're not on one of your adventures. You're always running off, finding trouble. Or at least doing chores..." He commented, looking down at the stubborn girl in the flowers. "If you're not keeping busy, you must be sad."

"I'm not sad." Anne said instantly, feeling defensive. "I'm perfectly fine. Not that it's any concern of yours, of course."

"You always mope like this when you're sad." Jerry shrugged. "You seem to be, as you would say - fallen."

"It's pronounced forlorn, Jerry." Anne huffed impatiently. "I'm certainly nowhere near forlorn. It will be difficult for you to even begin to understand the complexity of my whirlwind myriad of emotions, but to put it simply, I'm frustrated. Firstly, Marilla won't let me go to work. She told me I have to rest and there's no arguing with Marilla. When she gets her mind set, there's nothing to be done - even for somebody as determined as me. She won't even let me go to school, as with this injury I can't walk to the church where the lessons are held and Mathew is using the cart and horse so he can't drive me. I'm also in pain constantly and I am totally conflicted about what to do concerning--" Anne stopped suddenly.

She was rambling and she almost let slip the truth. She didn't want to tell anybody about Joseph or she'd put them in danger. It was too much of a risk. Even Jerry who annoyed her regularly, didn't deserve that risk. She did care about him enough to keep him safe from that nightmare boy Joseph.