Roasted pork, fried chicken and greens filled the air with their scents and there was that unmistakable smell of pie. At noon the girls made their way into town. The celebrations were still going on but they didn't wait around to take part in any of them. Ottaline purchased fried chicken, potato salad and a slice of blueberry pie for her father's lunch and made her way to the mansion.

"Today would be a good day to see the lights!" she said as she and Providence walked up the street.

"I can wait," Providence said. "You know how I am about people."

"Well you seem to trust Mr. Idris a lot, and he's almost a stranger."

"Mr. Idris doesn't make me want to jump out of my own skin," Providence said rubbing her prickled arms with a shudder. When they came to the crossroad she stopped. "Look, Heritage Place," she said with a shiver.

Ottaline looked straight ahead at the narrow path that stretched out far before them then curved to the right before mounting a hill up to a hazy gray house in the far distance.

"Jemima McCarthy says Old Mrs. Heritage's ghost is in there."

"It's always spooks with Jemima," Ottaline said. "Daddy says the family moved away. You'll only find bats and dirty birds in there." She took up the basket of food and gave Providence the wagon handle. "You can wait here; I'll only be a second." she said and skipped off up the lane.

Providence pulled the wagon off the road and sat in it to examine their treasures. The conch shell was by far her favorite. She loved the way the opal shimmered when it was turned in the sun. Holding it up to her ear she listened to the sound of the ocean imagining she was sailing.

Ottaline rushed up to the house and knocked on the kitchen door. When no one answered she knocked again until she got Ally. "For my father," she said and the tall woman took it.

"I'm surprised to see you, Ottaline," Ally said. "Your father spoke of forbidden you come up here."

"Forbidding me? But who would make his lunch?"

"He'd manage I'm sure. He says he wishes you'd engage in more practical things."

Ottaline knew that meant her father wished she'd not poke around and get busy but there was no good in arguing that she didn't.

"Listen to that," Ally said with a sigh. "What I wouldn't give to be down there with the marching band. Oh I forgot," she suddenly said. "Your father went to town to deliver something for Master Esau. I wish he had sent me, but he only trust your father with such things."

"I just came from there and I didn't see him," Ottaline said.

"Well if you hurry back you might catch him," Ally said. "I'll give this to him when he returns."

"Thank you," Ottaline said. She turned away from the house and headed toward the lane. As she was coming down she spotted Craig making his way up, leading a colt that had been ridden too hard. The animal was bowed forward and limping and a trail was blood was left in its prints.

"Hey, you. Go see if my uncle is in the stable," Craig licked his lips with apprehension, looking much more like a scared animal than the bully he was.

Ottaline took in the distance to the stables and the warnings she received about being on the property, and also how concerned Craig was. "I have to be going." As she passed him up her grabbed her arm.

"Go look out for Uncle Ishmael!"

"Help, Ally! Mrs. Richmond, Master Esau!"

Craig covered her mouth. She tasted his glove. She wiggled free, escaping at arm's length and billowed for help all the louder.

"Craig!" Ishmael rode around the house.

Craig shoved Ottaline and bolted.

Ishmael spurred his horse and chased after him.

Ottaline watched the pursuit in amazement. Her heart was in her throat. Craig didn't get far across the lawn before Ishmael cut him down with his whip. The boy hit the dirt at full speed. The hoof of the horse caught his shoulder, slamming him down again.

"Didn't I tell you not to take that colt out?" Ishmael demanded.

Craig struggled to move.

Ottaline was just as paralyzed. She kept hearing the sound of the whip on his back. She felt the warm tears running down her face and realized that what Ally had told her was true. She found no joy in watching Craig Kennedy suffer.

When her mind freed itself she bolted down the lane. At the crossroads she looked over her shoulder and saw no one following her.

"Come on, Rovy we have to go!"

"What happened?"

"We have to go."

"I heard screaming."

"We have to go, come on hurry!" She took the wagon handle and ran as fast as she could without leaving her sister behind. At home, she fell down on the steps and buried her face in her knees.

"Now will you tell me what happened?" Providence said.

Ottaline looked up at her and shook her head. "It's all too terrible."

Providence sat down next to her on the steps but didn't ask any more questions.

/

That night instead of watching the fireworks Providence listened to her sister crying in bed. She tried to comfort her but she wouldn't speak. When she heard the door open she went to the front of the house and was surprised to find her father home.

"Daddy you're home!" She hugged him. "Did you get your lunch?"

"I sure did," Mr. Sabbath said. "But I thought I'd save the pie for you and Ottaline."

Providence smiled but it quickly faded. "Daddy, Ottaline is very upset. She's not talking to me."

Mr. Sabbath took the pie out of the basket and put on the table then hunted for a knife. "Did you two have a fight?"

"No, sir," Providence said. "It happened after we left the Richmond mansion to take you lunch. She came back all disturbed and crying. I heard someone shouting for help, Daddy but... I didn't go see." Providence looked at her father and saw a shadow pass over his face.

"Well we'll take her some pie and see if she doesn't cheer up." He divided the slice in half and put one on a saucer for his daughter. He followed Providence into the room where Ottaline was lying on the bed.

"Daddy?"

He sat down on the bed and touched her back with his free hand. "Are you all right?"

Ottaline shivered. "Daddy, I'm scared," Ottaline said. "I think I brought calamity on someone else. Maybe I...behaved badly."

Mr. Sabbath found it hard to compose himself. "What happened at the house? Who is trying to hurt you? You tell me right now, Ottaline."

Ottaline didn't know what to say. She'd never seen her father so intense. "No one, Daddy."

He grabbed her. "Don't be afraid of him, Ottaline. I'm your father I'll protect you."

Ottaline shook her head. She was mixed up. "I'm afraid, afraid of what they might do to you."

Mr. Sabbath was up in a flash, spilling the pie onto the floor, he stormed from the room slamming the front door behind him.

Providence slowly turned to her sister who sat in the bed in shock. She joined her in the bed and wrapped her arms around her. Neither had seen their father this angry before.

/

Mr. Sabbath had been happy for this day at first. He was finally able to get away from the mansion for the afternoon after delivering Esau Richmond's package. He then had the idea to walk over to Laurie and order two precious gifts for his little daughters. Now he was filled with anger at the day. He paced the yard for nearly twenty minutes before his rage got the better of him and he stormed for Richmond Hill.

The house was well lit and he knew that supper would just now be set. He burst into the kitchen starling Hattie who dropped the silverware she had been holding. The forks and knives clattered to the stone floor with a loud echo. In the hall he passed Ally with a pitcher and as he neared the dining room Franklin Smith came out with an empty tray.

"Mr. Sabbath I thought—"

"Where is Jude Richmond!" John Sabbath demanded.

"Upstairs, changing for supper. They have guests in the parlor," he cautioned. "What has upset you?"

"Something happened to my child and it must have had something to do with Jude!" Mr. Sabbath boomed.

Franklin paled. "...John," he pleaded. "Don't do this, it's not worth the consequence."

"My daughter is worth any consequence."

"All my life..." The laughing voice of Jude Richmond floated down the stairs and Franklin instantly placed himself in Mr. Sabbath's path, dropping the tray on the wood floor.

Jude rounded the stairs. "Making a mess down here?"

Mr. Sabbath shoved Franklin's thin frame out of his way. He was not a weak man. Strong hands were hidden beneath those kid gloves. In a second he had both of them on Jude and pinned him against the wall. "You slimy snake! What did you do to my daughter?"

"What are you talking about?" Jude gasped.

"You know what I'm talking about! Our problems lie between us. You have no right to target my child."

Jude blundered. "The sausage? I'll get you more. All she wants just let more go, man."

"What is the meaning of this racket?" Esau came rushing down the stairs with Ishmael behind him. Ida had come out of the parlor closing their dinner guest in but even they were peeking into the hall.

Mr. Sabbath's grip had slacked but he didn't let Jude go. "Someone knows what happened to Ottaline here. She's upset and I want to know what for."

"Now Johnny," Esau said lightheartedly. "Let's not get carried away. Jude is always playing games with the children."

"This was the result of no game."

"Perhaps Ottaline is too sensitive, girls her age often are," Esau said. "Come let him go."

Mr. Sabbath's nostrils flared. He wanted to hit Jude right then and there but he released him.

Jude rubbed his neck and quickly joined Ishmael on the stairs. "Tell him what happened today."

Ishmael turned away from his younger brother. "There really is nothing to be cross over, John," Ishmael said. "For all we know the girl is telling tales. Naturally such slander ought to be corrected. Then if it is so terrible...let's all hope it is a tale." He smiled. 

Mr. Sabbath had no words.

Jude wanted to object but Esau stopped him.

"We have guest," he said firmly. "I will hear no more of this now." He put his hand on Mr. Sabbath's shoulder. "Johnny, why don't you take a walk in the evening air and cool down. I'm sure this was all a big misunderstanding. Ida, explain to the guests please."

Ida glared at Jude before turning back up the hall.

Esau sighed and turned to Mr. Sabbath. "I'm not angry with you. I'm sure there has been some misunderstanding to cause all of this. You always have a place with us."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Ishmael said. "He nearly strangled Jude to death."

"It's my decision," Esau said. "Besides I made a promise to John that he was always welcome here and I don't break my promises."

"You promised Little Catherine she was always welcome here too," Jude said. "But some people don't support your promises." He turned and marched up the stairs to get himself cleaned up.

Mr. Sabbath massaged his temples and turned down the hall. In a daze he walked out of the kitchen and into the yard. From the kitchen door, Hattie, Ally and Franklin watched him go.

Esau looked at Ishmael, the one remaining person in the hall. "I think it's time you went back abroad."

"I've only just returned."

"Did you hear me, Ishmael, or do you have cotton in your ears?" Esau hissed. "What you did to Craig is barbaric! You need to sober up. I know you didn't like how Ma treated Little Catherine, but I won't let you keep fueling that hate."

"Craig had it coming. And I owe the dead nothing," Ishmael said. "I'll go abroad but don't ever expect me to feel anything for Little Catherine or her family." He went upstairs. When he got to his room he closed the door softly and started undressing out of his dinner clothes and into something more causal.

"Going somewhere?"

He spun around and found Jude sitting in the corner by the window. "What are you doing in my room?"

"You used to always let me come up here," Jude said getting up. "We used to get on so well until you started making me your scapegoat."

"Shut up, Jude," Ishmael said as he finished changing. "Stop worrying about your reputation, you have none." He went into the closet and returned loading a shot gun. "None of it will matter soon."

"Off to the wood to shoot phantom animals again?" Jude asked after him as Ishmael closed the door.