𝑰'𝑫 𝑭𝑶𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑾 𝒀𝑶𝑼, shirbert

19. 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑪𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕

MARILLA CUTHBERT rolled her eyes and groaned out loud once she heard Anne Shirley Cuthberts loud sobs coming from her bedroom.

"She's been crying for 3 days Matthew! I don't know what to do." Marilla complained, frustrated with Anne, her brother who kept silent- and most of all- she was furious with Rachel Lynde.

"It's ridiculous what Rachels doing! I tried sending Anne to Gilbert's yesterday, but Rachel was making her way up to the door before Anne could even leave the property! It's like she's got a tracking device in Anne or something!" Marilla went on, but stopped once she saw Matthew leaving the room.

"Matthew! You have to help too!" Marilla said, throwing her hands up in complaint. Matthew turned around, a look of discomfort on his face.

"Why not just talk to Rachel? You ought to put some sense into her!" Matthew grumbled and fled from the house, going to find Jerry. Marilla huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. She dropped them, slapping them against her sides once she heard Anne cry louder. Marilla made her way to the stairs, stomping on them as she walked. She made her way to the hallway, Anne's sobs getting louder as she came closer to her room. Marilla lightly pushed the door open, seeing Anne on her back, her pillow rested on her stomach as she let out heart wrenching sobs.

"Anne. Please stop crying. I am going to go talk to Rachel when I am done speaking with you, but please stop crying. Good heavens Child. " Marilla pleaded, her own frustration almost bringing her to tears. She felt relief when she saw Anne nod slowly, her cries become softer and softer as time went by until they stopped.

"I'm going to go to Mrs. Lyndes now. I promise I will not leave her house until I am sure you can see him." Marilla promised. She grabbed Anne's hand before leaving, squeezing it. Anne smiled.

"I love you." Anne whispered, before closing her eyes to sleep. Marilla softly smiled and left her room, closing the door behind her. She rushed down the hallway and down the stairs. She grabbed her coat and hat, slipping them on before slipping out the door. She made her way to the barn, calling out for Matthew.

"Matthew? Can I borrow the carriage and horses? I'm going to Rachel's." Marilla stopped when there was no Matthew in sight. The carriage wasn't in any place she could find or in sight.

"Oh forget it. I'll walk." Marilla grumbled to herself before heading on her journey to Rachel Lyndes house.

On her way, she went over what she would say. Rachel was a tough woman to crack, but saying the right things can make her surrender. She hadn't realized she made it until she saw the house in front of her. She stumbled a bit, her head still spinning from her thoughts. She made her way up the steps and knocked three times on the door. Rachel Lynde opened the door with a smile, but that smile so my faded once she saw who was knocking.

"Marilla." She said, coldly.

"Rachel." Marilla snapped back, entering the house with out and invitation. Rachel closed the door, looking Marilla dead in the eye.

"I did not invite you in." She said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I do not need an invitation into your home at this moment. I've come to speak with you, and I think you know exactly what it is I want to discuss." Marilla said, sitting down at the table. Rachel sighed, giving up, and sat down across from the table.

"Marilla. The two need to learn their lesson. I do not want them to cause a bigger scandal than they already have when Gilbert left the other girl." Rachel shrugged her shoulders.

"They know what they can and can't do. You are not the one to tell them. I'm sorry Rachel, but you do not intimidate them. They will listen to me-but not you." Marilla laughed a little bit when she saw Rachels face.

"I'm guessing you came here to make me leave them alone." Rachel guessed, raising her eyebrows.

"Anne has learned her lesson, and I'm sure Gilbert has too. They are both mature and know the limits. They do not need you down their backs all the time. Please Rachel. They haven't been able to spend a lot of time with each other, and you are ripping it all away because you caught them kissing?" Marilla deadpanned, trying her best not to insult the woman in-front of her. Sure, they were good friends, but sometimes Rachel needed a reality check.

"Well I suppose I was a bit harsh, but I don't want Anne getting her reputation ruined. She's built quite the reputation, and I don't want some boy adding to the list." Rachel expressed, admitting to her harshness towards the young couple.

"I understand, but if someone needs to punish them it will be Bash and I. Please just tell me they can see each other again?" Marilla pleaded, tired with the whole situation.

"I don't see why not, but if I catch them doing...things again, there will be punishment, and I won't hesitate to enforce it." Rachel gave in, but made sure she was not going to have or catch Anne and Gilbert behaving inappropriately again.

"Well, then I won't hesitate to repeat this conversation. You have to promise you will not intertwine yourself into silly issues like this one." Marilla said.

"But Marilla-" Rachel protested, groaning.

"No I will not hear it. Now if you'll excuse me, I will be on my way out. I need to go tell Anne she can go see Gilbert." Marilla smiled, standing up. She started to head for the door but turned around.

"Rachel, I think you should apologize to them for your actions. I know you don't want to, but I think you should." Marilla said, folding her hands together.

"May I join you on the way back to Green Gables? Then we could head to Gilbert and Bash's home, with Anne. Then I'll apologize to them both, despite how much I don't want to." Rachel sighed.

"Yes, you may." Marilla smiled with her success. Rachel grabbed her coat and hat, and Marilla opened the door for them. They both headed out the door and began on their journey to Green Gables.

AUTHORS NOTE
good job rachel