A Daughter Sent Away
The afternoon sun cast long shadows as an old Chevrolet truck rolled down the dusty road and stopped in front of a weathered farmhouse. Inside the cab, 24-year-old Margaret sat clutching a worn leather suitcase, her hands trembling. Her blonde hair was braided neatly, and her faded floral dress, though carefully mended, revealed years of wear.
She had always been heavier than the other girls her age, and her family never let her forget it. That morning, her father’s voice still stung:
“Margaret, this arrangement will solve our debts and give you a place to stay.”
He had spoken with the finality of a man closing a deal. Her mother added bitterly, “Thomas Brennan is just a farmer, but at least he offered to pay off what we owe in exchange for marrying you.”
