As the April rains trickled down slowly through the sunshine, Ottaline danced around what once was the library of the old house. The wood floors were now sturdy and with a new frame in the works it was a lot safer to be inside the old house. Above, was a banister that was accessed from the next floor and gave a glimpse down into the library to passersby before leading into a small room that had once been a private office.

The smell of mold and decay was quickly being chased away. It was a lot of work and the twelve little women were thankful for the help they received from their friends. She danced out of the room and into the foyer where Astrid sat with her new doll, while Heloise sat on the stairs reading a book. She curtsied and they applauded.

"That was beautiful, Ottaline," Astrid said.

"And one day this whole place will be filled with dancing!" Ottaline said. "I can't wait till then." She skipped to the front door with Astrid and Heloise following. Ladybird and Beatrice were already sitting out front having lunch while Selene and Wysteria made sketches of the garden.

"I'm thinking about October roses," Wysteria said. "And maybe some camellias by the gate for the late seasons. I think hydrangeas and rhododendrons will suffice for summer and spring. That way the yard will look pretty year round."

"Sounds lovely, Wysteria," Ladybird said.

"And the sign is ready to be painted," Beatrice said. "I think we should wait until we've finished everything before we hang it."

"I haven't thought of a poem for it yet," Heloise said. "I've been very busy with school."

"That's all right, Heloise," Ladybird said. "You should concentrate on your schoolwork."

Heloise looked up at the house and smiled. "You know what, I think the house is happy," she said. "You can almost feel her smiling." Such thoughts brought back memories of Fairchild Place and it made her heart glad that she could make a house happy again.

"I wish my daddy could see all we have done," Ottaline said. "He would be so proud. He was so worried about Rovy and I when he died. I sometimes think he's alive somewhere worrying still and we have no way to reach him."

"The dead all rest in peace, Ottaline," Selene said.

Ottaline smiled but it wasn't a strong one. She thought before it would be easy to continue with life but the sudden ache for her father took over her heart.

/

Jessop put down his bags in cousin's bedroom and stretched. He fell back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling exhausted from the travel. He heard Idris walking in the hall then he appeared in the doorway. He didn't think his brother's new mustache became him.

"I suppose we should visit them tomorrow and find out exactly what is going on," Idris said.

"You never stop, do you?" Jessop said from the bed.

"You're a lawyer, you know how it is," Idris said.

Jessop couldn't argue there. "All right," he said. "Then we'd better both be getting sleep if we wish to be able to function."

Idris agreed and went off to the spare room. Not able to find sleep he decided to unpack his things. As night encroached so did the storm and going to the front of the house he looked out the window at the swaying oak tree that lived in his uncle's yard. In the storm it flashed silvery as it waved its weighted branches.

/

Across town, up the road to Brickyard at Custardville and on the corner of Fifth and First Streets another man watched the storm. The black shadows of the rain running down the glass striped his face as the pale moon emphasized his stormy gray eyes. As he watched the rain spray across the street from the fortitude of his Queen Anne home something caught his eye. The shadowy figure moved slowly up the street and for the life of him he couldn't imagine what fool would be out in this weather this time of night. He watched the man stagger then fall to the ground then struggle to get up.

Going to the front door he put on his riding boots and coat then stepped outside. The wind was howling and the lightning was flashing at its best. "Are you all right?" Sumner shouted as he ran into the street towards the man. "Sir, are you all right?" He took the man by his shoulders and helped him up. When a flash of lightning lit his face he frowned. "It's you," he said. "You're the one who's been following me."

"Please, help me," the man said.

Sumner was skeptical. This old colored man had been following him around for months and here he was asking for hospitality. What if he robbed him? The wind sprayed rain into his face and going against his judgment he helped the man up and inside the house. He took him into the parlor where he gave him a throw blanket and set him in the chair by the fire place. Going over to a shelf on the wall he took down some matches and lit the logs.

"That should warm you up," Sumner said.

"Thank you, son," the old man said. "You will be blessed for showing kindness."

Sumner scoffed. He didn't consider it an act of kindness. "I couldn't just have stood back and let you die out there," he said.

"Sure you could've," the old man said. "No one would have blamed ya."

Sumner leaned against the mantel and looked down at his muddy boots. The man was right.

"There is something I's been wanting to tells ya," the old man said. "I went to the colored school and I's was waiting but you never came likes you had been doings."

Sumner sat up and stared at the man. "You're the witness they've been talking about," he said. "You saw who burned the schoolhouse."

"That be me," the old man said. "One and the same!"

Sumner swallowed. This old man had seen too much, and his life just may be in jeopardy for it. "Why..." he began. "Why were you waiting for me? What did you have to say?"

"I wanted to tell you about your daddy," the old man said.

"I already know about my father," Sumner said poking the fire. "He was killed in a bank robbery."

The old man nodded. "Mr. Woodrow was the man who raised you but he wasn't your daddy."

"Excuse me!" Sumner hissed. "You're soft in the head, old man, of course he was my father. That's why I live here, that's why I have his name."

"That's what they believe and so that's what they told you," the old man said. "Your mama, Eden knew better but she wasn't about to tell else she lose you too."

"What are you babbling about?" Sumner asked.

"Ask your mama about Talbot Montgomery," the old man said.

"She is dead," Sumner said.

"But have you been up to her room?" the old man asked and they both looked to the ceiling. "See if she still keeps the ragdoll at her bedside from when she was but a girl." He coughed.

Sumner looked at the fire as it popped. "I haven't been in there for years," he said. "Not since she died."

The old man nodded. He got up from the chair and staggered over to Sumner. "She is the only living relation who will tell you about your daddy," he said. "You will be surprised to know how well wolves can act like lambs." He coughed long and hard. "Can I trouble you for water?"

Sumner left the cold man and went into the kitchen. Using the pump at the sink he filled a cup with water. The old man confused him but he couldn't help but be curios to what he was saying. What could his mother possibly have to say about his father that he didn't already know? Thoughts over flowing he returned to the parlor and paused at the threshold. The throw blanket was neatly folded on the back of the chair and there was no sign of the old man. He looked at the fire burning then back at the chair. It was as though no one had been there at all.

/

Ladybird went out to the back porch to see to the sign she and Providence had been painting for Twelve Briars. She had to explain to the girl the difference between interior and exterior paints. They had decided on a white background with lime letters. She came back into the workshop removing her smock and hanging it on the wall.

"Selene, that gown looks lovely," she said going over to her.

"Thank you," Selene said with a bright smile. She always gave them without reserve despite the narrow gap in her front teeth. The dress was violet with ecru lace making up the collar. The bust had a violet butterfly wing effect. "It's for Mrs. Christenson. She saw what I did for her daughter-in-law and, fell in love as she put it."

Ladybird giggled. "Well you have much talent," she said. "That's something no one can deny."

Beatrice came running into the workshop. "Ladybird, Selene!" she cried. "It's the apocalypse!"

"Beatrice, what's wrong?" Ladybird asked as her sister.

Beatrice leaned against her for support heaving for breath. "Two strange men are outside!"