On Saturday the sisters skipped into town and hurried across the track onto the platform. A few other children from their area had already arrived and sat at the depot eating ice-cream from waffle cones. Providence and Ottaline hurried over to the apothecary and went inside. The establishment always smelled of ginger and sugar and today was no acceptation. Mr. Drakes seemed to have ordered extra candy in preparation for the celebrations in a week.

Ottaline rumbled through the pocket of her pinafore and went up to the counter. "Good morning, Mr. Drakes," she greeted. "I would like a bag of candy please. The green ones."

Mr. Drakes gave an annoyed grumble then turned to fill a bag with the requested sweets. A train rumbled by making the jars on the shelf tinker as they knocked together.

"You ought to consider moving your store, Drakes." A male customer said, "At least before an accident happens."

"I have thought about it," Mr. Drakes said wiping his hand on his bulging apron. "But this is the only convenient spot." He rolled the air out of the bag and passed it to Ottaline who put her money down on the counter then hurried out of the pharmacy with her sister.

"Shame you have to serve them," the customer said. "Someone should have long ago told them they don't belong in Drinking Water."

/

Franklin Smith stood in the doorway of the hilltop mansion next to John Sabbath and Hattie. The dark haired man crossed his arms and shook his head as the automobile unloaded in the yard. One man and nine dogs filled the yard among luggage bags as the driver struggled to please all ten.

"So it's been ten months already," Franklin said. "If only I had a clock to turn back time."

"Remember, Mr. Franklin we are not here to let our feelings show," Mr. Sabbath said.

"Aye," said Hattie. "If I were showing my feelings right now I'd had fainted. Nothing gives me the creeps more than Master Ishmael...not other than Richmond Wood."

Ally came up behind them. "Great, now we have to tend to all three of them."

Hattie turned to join her inside the house as the men went out to greet Ishmael. "Times like this make me wish I had never left New York with Miss Carmichael...back when she was Miss Carmichael. But I was just a little urchin and she took me in and taught me how to be a ladies maid. She taught reading and figuring too and I felt I owed her."

"Are your parents well?" Ally asked.

"Aye," Hattie said. "I want so badly for them to come over from the old country only not to this house...never to this house."

Ishmael took each of his dogs by their leashes as Mr. Sabbath and Franklin Smith approached him.

"Welcome back, Master Ishmael." Mr. Sabbath greeted shaking the man's hand. "How was Europe?"

"Lovely," Ishmael replied looking up at the house. "It is good to be home though." He passed the leashes to Franklin who was immediately yanked away by the nine large dogs. Ishmael watched the thin man struggle but didn't intervene. "I hope everything is running in top order. He removed his goggles and gloves.

"Of course it is!" Mr. Sabbath said taking up two of the luggage bags. "We have everything ready for you; as dust free as you left it."

They entered the house and Ishmael looked around. Franklin and Mr. Sabbath held their breaths as he scrutinized the foyer and then the two maids that stood at the base of the stairs. "Hattie your apron has a spot on it." His voice broke the silence.

The dark haired girl looked down at her apron in search of the stain.

"Get yourself cleaned up and don't stand in my presence in such disarray again," Ishmael said and Hattie scrambled away to the kitchen.

Franklin, Mr. Sabbath and Ally exchanged glances but none of them said a word. Ishmael turned to Mr. Sabbath and beamed. "I took driving lessons in France," he said. "I drove all the way from the station on my own. I do say I'm quite proud of myself." He tilted his head. "I suppose I won't be needing Morehouse anymore."

Mr. Sabbath and Franklin looked back at the driver who stood crestfallen in the door.

Ishmael smiled. "Well what are all of you standing around for?" he said. "There is much to be done." He clapped his hands and they all scrambled.

"Don't worry, Morehouse," Mr. Sabbath said to the driver once the brother had gone. "Master Esau won't let him dismiss you like that."

Ishmael went upstairs to his older brother's rooms where he found him sitting quietly with his wife reading over papers. He knocked on the door jamb and the red haired man looked up.

"Ishmael!" he exclaimed opening his arms to embrace his brother. "I didn't even hear you come in you must have left the dogs in Paris."

"I brought them," Ishmael said.

"So..." Esau said looking his brother over. "How was your travel...are you feeling better?"

"Couldn't feel more so," Ishmael said. "I had forgotten Paris. It was good to go back but I think I've had my fill of it for a time." He nodded to his sister-in-law. "Ida."

She nodded back. "Ishmael." She concentrated on her needle work. "I'm glad you are finally back. Esau speaks of nothing but you."

Ishmael smiled. "I am glad," he said. "It is good to be home." He went over to the window and looked out at the yard. He had missed Drinking Water and was ready to take his place in it again.

/

Ottaline was standing at the rabbit cage wondering where Racket was when Providence came out the house.

"Daddy's lunch smells delicious," she said. "I've packed it for you to take."

Ottaline nodded. "What happened to Racket?"

"Racket?"

"Yes, where is he?"

"Oh!" Providence exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you. I let a man take him."

"You let some man take our rabbit?" Ottaline shouted. "Rovy, what is wrong with you? He'll probably eat him!"

"No, it wasn't like that," Providence said. "I was out walking with them in the wagon and the Kennedy brothers stopped me. They threw Racket and they would have done Bambi the same if the man didn't come along." She looked into the cage. "I thought they would kill me."

Ottaline watched her sister for a moment. "Who was this man?"

"Mr. Idris."

"I've never heard of him before."

"Me neither but he said he would help our Racket." She petted Bambi through the cage. "He seemed honest to me and Racket was hurt very badly I think he would have died."

Ottaline's lips went tight and she turned away.

"Are you mad at me, Ottaline?"

"No, it's not you, Rovy," Ottaline said. "It's those Kennedys. I swear they get worse every year. I wish they would just stay down in Georgia with their mother." She marched toward the house and Providence followed her.

"You're planning to do something aren't you?" she asked as they went inside. "You could tell their uncle or... cousin whatever Master Esau is to them."

"They only call him uncle because he is so much older," Ottaline said. "I don't know if telling on them will make a difference. Master Esau is very protective of his family. I don't think he'd take my side."

"Then we have to teach them a lesson ourselves," Providence said. "We could put a dead fish in their lunches or ants in their drawers."

Ottaline laughed. "I'll think of something," she said. "It will have to be something to get them to leave us alone for good." She took the lunch basket off the table. "Thank you for your help, Rovy," she said. "I'll see you when I get back."

Providence waved to her sister as she went out the door then sat down to practice her hand.

Ottaline hurried to the mansion and went in through the open kitchen door. She paused when she saw Hattie weeping and Ally trying to comfort her.

"It's always like this," Hattie wept. "He always tries to make me feel so small."

"Don't let him," Ally said.

Ottaline sat the basket down loudly on the counter to alert them to her presence. "Afternoon," she said when they turned to her in surprise.

"I'll get your pa for you, Ottaline, you wait right here," Ally said.

Ottaline nodded and went over to the table where Hattie sat. "It will be all right, Hattie," she said. "Master Jude is never angry for long."

Hattie frowned at her. "Master Jude? No...Ottaline it's no—"

"Still running your mouth, Hattie?"

Hattie sprung up from her seat. "I apologize, Master Ishmael I was just—" She paused when she realized his narrow blue eyes weren't focused on her and she looked over her shoulder at Ottaline.

His face turned pale and his mouth hung open. "What are you doing here?"

Ottaline glanced at Hattie who looked just as confused. "I'm brining my father his lunch," she answered timidly. "Sir."

"Are you all right, Master Ishmael?" Hattie asked. "You look like you've just seen a ghost." When the man remained in his trance she turned to Ottaline. "Ottaline, I think you should go." she said. "I'll tell your da to kiss you when he gets home tonight."

"Ottaline?" Ishmael said is if the name had broken his spell.

"Yes, sir," Hattie said. "Ottaline Sabbath. Mr. Sabbath's daughter."

"His...daughter," Ishmael said suddenly regaining control of himself. "I don't recall you child but you look an awful lot like someone I used to know." He next turned his attention to the maid. "Get back to work, Hattie."

Hattie nodded her head as Ishmael left the kitchen then let out her breath.

"Hattie, who was he talking about?" Ottaline asked as Hattie busied herself with preparing Mrs. Richmond's lunch. "Hattie? Hattie, what did he mean?"

"Quiet lass!" Hattie said. "Mind yourself and don't go asking question 'less you want to find yourself in real trouble. And you listen to me!" She grabbed Ottaline by the arms. "When you come to this house be at your best and never let yourself be alone. You wait outside for me or Ally. Look at me, Ottaline, and pay attention. Most girls are blessed for their looks but yours is a curse and unless you want to suffer for them you'll do as I say."

Ottaline nodded her head. "Yes, Hattie," she said and the young woman released her grip on her arms.

"Good," Hattie said. "I'm not angry at you, lass but you ought to know that there are people born at the top and people born at the bottom. Yours and mine are the ones at the bottom. But we are safe their so long as he don't go looking for ladders."

Ottaline nodded though she wasn't sure she really understood. She listened to Hattie and left the house without being able to see her father. She took the long way home through town and paused to look at her reflection in the apothecary window. She felt her flesh and her cheekbones and her lips then her nose.

"Ottaline? Ottaline? Ottaline!"

Ottaline jumped and spun around to see Alice and Jenney standing behind her. "Yes." She murmured.

"Why are you standing their staring at yourself?" Alice asked.

Ottaline shrugged and the girls frowned up at her. "Well we're going to get on home."

"Wait?" Ottaline called after them. "Alice, Jenney do I look like anyone you know?"

Alice shook her head, sending her braids spinning.

"Why?" Jenney asked.

"I don't know," Ottaline said. "I was just wondering I guess."

"Well my father says most girls look like their mothers," Jenney said. "I look like mine and Alice looks like hers so maybe you do too." She shrugged.

"My mother is dead," Ottaline said.

"That doesn't mean you can't look like her," Jenney said.

Ottaline nodded. "Thank you," she said. "Bye, I have to get home to, Rovy."

"We'll walk with you," Jenney said and the trio set for home on the far side of the tracks.

When Ottaline got home she pulled out all the drawers and opened all the cabinets and cupboards. She searched the shelves and under the beds and in between books. She lastly searched her father's room but finding nothing she returned to the living room. There wasn't any evidence of their mother in the house and their father rarely talked about what she was like. The only real memory she had of her was the lullaby she used to sing.

She let out an exasperated sigh and looked up at the ceiling. "Up here on this mountain I feel I'm caught between..." She stopped singing. The only thing she stood between were walls a ceiling and a floor. She looked down and stared at the gray boards. Had it been a dream? Taking a knife from the counter she knelt down and wedged it between the floorboards. When she wiggled it the board shifted. Tilting the knife at an angle she lifted the board slightly out of place then pulled it the rest of the way with her fingers. Setting it aside she pulled up two more.

A blue and white vase reveled itself in the dim light and Ottaline felt her heart sink. It had been real. Jude Richmond had been here that early morning and he and her father had hidden this stolen vase. "Daddy how could you?"

"How could he what?" Providence strolled into the house and paused when she saw her sister on the floor. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing!" Ottaline said quickly putting the boards back into place. "You saw nothing!"

Providence took a seat in the dining room chair and rubbed her left leg. She stared at her sister for a moment trying to understand what her she was keeping from her. "Sorry I went out," she finally said. "Are you ready for lunch?"

Ottaline took a deep sigh. "Sure," she said quietly. She slowly lifted her hands from the floor boards. She would have to think of something to keep her father out of whatever trouble he was in. If these things were discovered missing he would be the first they suspected. She looked at Providence hobbling in the kitchen getting the plates ready. She couldn't let her sister know about it, however. She wanted to keep her as innocent as she possibly could.

"Rovy," she said getting up from the floor. "Let us dance together."

Providence cocked her head. "What about lunch."

Ottaline laughed and took her sister's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen. "I have a lot on my mind and I need shake these cobwebs out." She spun Providence around. "Now plie and sous-sus."

Providence stumbled and fell over. "Ottaline!"

"Just stick with me." Ottaline said helping her sister up. "Again, plie...now sous-sus."

Providence stumbled again but Ottaline caught her arm tightly. "I've got you," she said pulling her straight. "Forward on three. One two three."

The sister danced outside into the afternoon spring sun. They danced around the yard until they tripped on a branch and fell into the dirt beneath the clothes line. They laid in the grass laughing for a moment watching the sunbeams seep through the waving boughs.

Providence looked over at her sister as she stared up at the sky. "Ottaline?" She waited until she turned to her. "We will always stay together won't we? No matter what happens...won't we?"

Ottaline smiled at her sister and took her hand. "I'll do whatever it takes," she said softly and she meant it from the heart. It was why, in that very moment she was turning over in her head how to help her father without him knowing. He wouldn't be happy to know that she had spied on him or that she was getting into trouble. He was a man of pride and she was just a child and couldn't speak to him about such delicate things as his past but that didn't mean she couldn't help him in the best way she could.