eaked open again. This time it was Mrs. Winlow, wrapped in her plum colored shawl and carrying three letters in one hand

said brace yourself and wen

doorway. "I saw that dreadful mason boy throw stones at the chapel bell this mo

d me," Miriam murmured with a

s. "It means he's prone to bad luck, loose morals, an

whispered behind the she

mayor? I've not seen him since the fair, and the town council's postpon

fountain," Lena sa

estate paperwork. Since his uncle passed, he

er chin. "Wealth makes people disap

n't ela

nts, and a mystery about the magistrate's niece Lena

r says something nic

good posture onc

's wo

vaguely like something he'd heard at the Harvest Ball. Miriam watched the condensation b

of stale ends and broken crusts and made her way toward the back al

were trying to repair the collapsed railing outside Miss Everley's boarding house. Rumor had it that s

ivy, the ginger cat was waiting. Not hers though it came often enough

king a piece of rye. "You'd better

in favor of the wa

tory of the building behind the alley. The open shutters stirred in the breeze, and Elias stood there with a half empty

yone in this t

he poli

s bottle. "C

older man with a missing finger and a patchwork vest was struggling with a sack

odding down. "He'll fall over ne

her hands on her apron. She helped Jonah hoist the torn sack

. "Made by that new girl at the tannery. I

pped it," Miriam said, tig

led, but

chapel. Not for anything urgent just habit. The stone path was cracked but familiar, and the overgro

ure moved near the altar Father Linley, brushing dust from the knee

out without looking up. "Chec

p one day. That'll be th

ould you believe the stained

ked. "Li

ndles either. Ju

idn't

o clean, depicting a woman in a red cloak, standing between two cypress t

el with his coat pulled tight. He paused, glanced up at th

, gulls screame

was not a to

d arrive with quiet steps, as ev