One thing you're possibly wondering is how do they stay out of the orphanages?
Good question. They stay out because Mary is 18 and technically old enough to marry and have her own family (even though she doesn't... for a while.) Also, Iain sends money from his job to the girls, helping them keep their land. It probably helps that most people, even in the tiny hamlet-kind-of-town they live in, don't even know they are there. True, when they first came, the girls went to school there for a few months (and then they taught Iain at night, because he was kinda busy building them a shelter during the day, which will be covered more later), but they rarely go into town, seeing as they grow their own food, so the shopkeeper who sells them cloth, soap, meat (other than chicken) and other things they can't grow is really the only person who knows them there, and he just assumes that the parents themselves never go into his shop. Lots of children would have come in for things before or after school without their parents.
Also, remember that girls would still be married at sixteen during this period. It might come into play later, and I'm just reminding so you're not all creeped out...
If there are any more questions, comment them and I will be happy to answer them either in story or another note. I'm grateful beyond words for you readers and your votes so please take one second to vote!
-Megan