Miriam was gasping for breath by the time she had successfully biked to town. She could no longer paddle and now pushed the bike up snow littered street in the muddy trails of horses and wagons careful not to step in droppings and further soil her skirt. She parked the bicycle by a hitching post outside the general store and went inside.

A woman had just left the register as she came in and three men lingered in the back of the store talking about some other none of them liked.

Miriam made her way up to the counter where a large man was counting money. When he had finished he looked up at her and his brows met his eyes.

"What you want?"

"Pardon me, sir," Miriam said. "But seeing that your store is well visited I wanted to inquire if you knew of any persons who can read foreign languages."

The man leaned one big hairy arm on the counter top. "What language are you talking about?"

"Well," Miriam said, relieved that was paying her attention. "Something like this." She took the scroll out of her purse and unfolded it on the counter before the storekeeper. The man picked up the paper and held it up to the window light. Miriam watched eagerly as his lips twisted and his frown increased.

"I can't say I know someone who could read this," He said. "It don't look like anything I've ever seen before." He tilted his head to see around one of the store shelves. "Hey, Lesley! Come here a minute."

One of the men at the back of the store turned at his name being called and made his way up to the counter with his friends following him. "Sir?"

"Take a look at what this gal brought in." The man behind the counter handed Lesley the scroll. "What you make of that, you think it's Indian?"

Lesley turned the scroll over in his hands then passed it to one of his friends who took it roughly.

"Do be careful," Miriam said reaching for the scroll only to have the man pull it away. "Might I have that back please?"

The man grinned and held the scroll out of her reach. "Look here, Lesley by the way this broad is after this here parchment I'd say it's worth something." He passed it to their other companion. "What do you think, Bill?"

Bill took the paper and held it up. Casually he reached into his pocket and took out a lighter. "Let me see..." He held the flame to the edge of the paper.

"No!" Miriam dove for it but Lesley grabbed her.

"Burn it, Bill!"

"No!" Miriam said which only fueled their twisted jubilee.

The door to the general store suddenly flew open and the owner stepped back. Lesley and his friends stopped what they were doing and looked to the door.

"Jessop, odd seeing you here this time of day," Lesley said.

Jessop analyzed the scene before him. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Bill said. "We were just—"

"They took my scroll," Miriam said and Jessop shot her a venomous look that muted any other words that dare came to her tongue.

His dark eyes went to Bill. "Hand it over."

"Finders keepers," Bill slurred.

Jessop had his pistol drawn in a flash. "Hand it over and let her go."

Bill immediately gave him the scroll and Lesley shoved Miriam at him. "We were just foolin'."

Jessop caught Miriam and held onto her upper arm. "Well have it with someone else. And forgive a girl's blatant ignorance." He looked at Miriam. "Were there any damages?" He addressed the storekeeper.

"Not at all, Mr. St. Cloud," the man said.

Jessop nodded and returned his pistol to its place. "Sorry for the trouble. She won't be in here again." The other four men nodded as Jessop hauled Miriam out of the store. The cold winds greeted them as they stepped outside. The bicycle had already been loaded onto the surrey and Miriam was surprised to find Taitiann sitting in the middle row.

"What are you doing here?"

"She came to find you!" Jessop shouted. "Do you know what kind of a panic your absence caused back at the house? You told no one you were leaving. If I had men after my head I wouldn't leave home letting my family worry themselves over my safety."

"You wouldn't help us," Miriam said hugging the scroll to her chest. "I had to do what I could."

"You just be happy the people around here respect my family. There is no telling what would have happened to you had I not come along when I did." He turned to climb up in the surrey mumbling under his breath.

"You don't care if a colored man dies."

Jessop stopped and dismounted and Miriam saw a new kind of anger in his eyes than before. "What did you just say?"

Miriam swallowed hard. "My father is going to die."

"And so are you if you continue to be so reckless." Jessop said. "I swear woman you better get control of yourself before I do. If I were your father I 'd have your head examined." He shook his head at her. "You're recklessness...that's what you got you into trouble in there, that's why your sisters are dead."

The cold wind cut like a knife though her skin. Miriam felt as if her heart had turned to ice. She put her hands over her face and pushed her hair back.

Jessop watched her mental torture without pity then climbed into the surrey. "Get your sister." He barked at Taitiann who quickly climbed down and helped Miriam into the seat.

The ride back was silent. Only the snort and neighing of the horse joined the natural winter sounds. When they got back to the house Jessop drove the wagon up the drive and to the front door where he pulled hard on the reins. "Put the horse away!" He barked at a servant who had come out to meet him. He then marched around to the side of the surrey and snatched Miriam down.

"Miriam!" Taitiann reached for her but Jessop was quickly dragging her into the house. "Mr. St. Cloud, please!"

"Father!" Jessop's voice echoed through the high walls as he shoved the front doors open with great force still hauling Miriam behind him. "Father!" When John appeared at the top of the stairs Jessop looked up. "Where is my father?"

"Mr. St. Cloud is in his study."

Before John could ask what was wrong Jessop tightened his grip on Miriam's arm and dragged her thrashing up the hall. He stormed into his father's office startling his uncle who was also present.

When Marion saw Miriam's weeping face his eyes went to his son. "Jessop, what's the meaning of—"

"Send them home!" Jessop demanded. "I want them out of this house before I return to Louisiana." He released Miriam and she fell to the floor in a winter stained heap.

"What has gotten into you?" Marion asked.

Jessop pointed down at Miriam. "Having them here is a danger to you, Ma and Ira and I won't have my family targeted because of her foolish whims."

"Nonsense," Harold said. ""Miriam, my brother has said you are welcome to stay here as long as you like."

"Uncle, please I respect you but don't mind this," Jessop said.

From the floor Miriam glared up at Jessop and as Taitiann helped her up she gently pushed her away. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. St. Cloud." She wiped her tears, surprised that they were falling in the view of others. "We will leave. I will take my sisters and go. I hope I won't get them killed." She rushed out the room with Taitiann going after her.

"Miriam, wait for me."

Miriam stopped in the hall and turned around. "No, stay away from me, Taitiann. Find Selene and Astrid and tell them to pack."

"But, Miriam."

"Don't argue! Just do as I say." Wrapping her arms around herself she fled around the corner. She ran all the way across the house, through the ball room and up the south stairs. When she reached her rented bedroom she slammed the door behind her locking Taitiann out. She slid down the door and faced the dismal window on the opposite wall. "You let them see you cry, you let them see what makes you angry, you let them know what hurts." She bowed her head down to her knees. "It's all your fault."

Marion slowly brought his gaze back to his son. A shuffle in the doorway made them all turn as Jethro came in.

"Ma, heard shouting, she wants to know if everything is all right."

"Everything is fine," Marion said. "We were just..." He looked at his stone cold son.

Jessop held his head up and faced his cousin. "The Fairchilds will be leaving."

"What, why?" Jethro asked.

"Because we can no longer support them,"

Jethro shook his head. "They have done a fine job supporting themselves. Tell him, Pa. They're hard workers. No woman I know is as industrious as they are."

Jessop scoffed. "You would know, Jet," he said. "You're bewitched by one of the sisters not me."

Jethro's face turned somber. "Is that how you think they are?"

"That's how they all are," Jessop said. "And their father is probably guilty. And they ask for my help?" He scoffed. "Well I'm a lawyer and they need a detective."

"Then why are you making an arrest?" Marion demanded. "You burst into this house, my house, dragging a helpless girl in as if she shot Lincoln!" He got to his feet stopping Jessop from speaking. "Those girls are welcome in my house for as long as I say so. If you don't like it then you can pack your things right now and leave!"

Jessop's lips went tight. "Really, Father? Next you'll disown your eldest son for their sake."

Marion's eyes narrowed. "You're not my eldest son."

Harold shook his head at his brother but Marion dismissed him.

"I was in love before your mother." He went on, watching Jessop's eyes get wider by the moment. "She was my first love."

Jessop swallowed. "A...a colored woman?"

"No, a white woman. But my family didn't think her family was good enough. They say we can't see each other but we disregard caution and elope. She gets with child..."

Jessop scratched his dry throat. "You make it sound so somber."

"It was the dead of winter and we had no money," Marion said. "We had to go back. She wasn't welcome even with your uncle pleading for us." He seated himself again. "I got a letter later that she'd taken ill after our return. Another arrived shortly from her mother that she passed away after giving birth. I could go on with my life but I'd always send money for the child; even after you were born, and Ira. I was fond of him, even from a distance. You might remember a time or two when you were little that I had to work away from home..." He watched his son's expression; he could almost see the memories in his head.

Marion opened a drawer on his desk and pulled out a cabinet card. Without raising his eyes he held it out to Jessop who slowly stepped forward and took it. 

Swallowing a lump in his throat Jessop brought himself to look down at the picture. In it was a man close to his own age with a woman and three children. He closed his eyes and swallowed again.

"You have grandchildren?"

"Yes," Marion said. "You and Ira are uncles."

"Does he know about this?" Jessop asked and Marion nodded. "And Ma?" Again his father nodded. "When were you going to tell me?"

Marion leaned back in his chair. "At first it was when you got a little older, then it was...when your heart was right."

Jessop trembled. "He has the St. Cloud name?"

"Yes. Your mother, Ira and I visit once or twice a year. We wanted to invite you but..."

Jessop turned his back on his father.

"I love you, Jessop," Marion said. "Maybe I should say that more often but fathers often don't."

Jessop gulped and bit his thumb. Without another word he maneuvered around Jethro in the doorway and made an aching trek up the hall. He crossed the house until he reached the ballroom, stopping at the center. He wrapped one arm around himself and put his other hand over his face. When he heard footsteps he sighed in annoyance. "What do you want—I mean, may I help you?"

"You're not a bad person."

He recognized Jethro's voice and glanced slightly over his shoulder. Turning away he looked down at the floor and was immediately captivated by the iridescent colors. He jerked his head up to the ceiling and starred in awe at the dome as if seeing it for the first time.

..."If you may...try to remember the reason you became a lawyer."

Jessop turned around and not seeing Jethro he realized that the voice had been inside his head. In the heavenly aurora he decided what he would do.