The following afternoon Pleasant rode Polaris to the farm and turned him out in the pasture with the other horses. She enjoyed watching him race about like a black shooting star.

Joining May on the porch of the farm house she sat down on the steps while her sister played with some kittens.

"I like the orange one," May said. "Do you think Havelock will let me have him?"

"I'm sure he would," Pleasant said. "But do you really want the responsibility?"

May pried the kitten from her blouse and joined her sister on the steps. "But look at him!" she said holding the animal to Pleasant's face.

Pleasant leaned back. "He sure is noisy," she said.

May laughed. "But also adorable," she said setting the kitten in her lap. "I'm going to call him Enoch."

Pleasant laughed. "Why?"

May shrugged. "I just always liked that name."

Pleasant smiled as her sister teased the kitten, letting it claw and bite at her hands as it lay on its back in her lap. Being unwell all her life had left May behind. Though she wished better for her sister there was something ethereal about sitting in her rays of her innocence.

"Good afternoon," Havelock said as he approached the women.

"Havelock!" May exclaimed. She jumped up and ran and hugged him. "I like your kittens. I called this one Enoch. Might I have him? Pleasant likes him too."

Havelock smiled as he looked from May to Pleasant who just nodded. "You may have him," he said. "Why not take all the little scamps?" he laughed.

May hugged Enoch closer to her. "Thank you," she said and ran back up the steps to collect her other three prizes.

Havelock led Oneida closer to the steps and watched May name the kittens. "Whatever makes her happy."

Pleasant chuckled. "How shall we feed four kittens?" she turned to him and noticed for the first time that he had a shotgun tied to his saddle.

Havelock followed her eyes. "There has been a bear spotting two nights in a row in the area," he said. "You know who everyone turns to when they have animal problems."

"That is strange," Pleasant said. "I haven't heard much about it."

"Well the strange thing is it hasn't caused any harm. No one has lost any animals and no property has been damaged."

"Are they certain it is a bear?" Pleasant asked smiling at a kitten that came up to her and skipped to play.

"I saw the tracks myself," Havelock said. "You know no one has seen a bear here in ages. Mr. Meeks says he saw it and so did two maids on their way from town. I consider the sources reliable. So...I'll be camping out to see if I can't spot it in Moody's Meadow."

"Moody's Meadow?"

"That's where the maids saw it," Havelock said climbing into the saddle. "I advise you not to get caught out after dark. There haven't been any attacks but we don't know how dangerous it can be."

Pleasant nodded as he tipped his hat and rode away. Getting to her feet she dusted of the back of her skirt. "Come on, May. We'd better get going so we can pick up some milk for your kittens."

May collected three kittens and Pleasant took the last one. After getting Polaris they went into town and picked up some milk and a crate for the kittens to sleep. While Pleasant brushed Polaris down May set about to making the four kittens comfortable. At night she curled up with them on the sofa while she worked on a quilt and Pleasant read.

"Pleasant?" May said from the parlor.

"Yes?"

"Do you think the bear is real and that it will hurt someone?"

"Mr. Meeks wouldn't make something like that up," Pleasant said setting her book down on the kitchen table. "I even think I may have seen it myself."

May eyes grew wide. "You?"

"I was on my way back from a ride with Polaris and saw something in Moody's Meadow."

"Didn't Margaret once say that meadow was haunted?" May said.

"But that can't be," Pleasant said. "Ghost aren't real."

"Perhaps not," May said. "Perhaps what people have thought was a ghost has been something else all along."

Pleasant looked into the oil lamp. She thought the people of Natt Fristad had monsters just as bad as bears. There was no way of escaping her own bad ghost; the one that shook her awake in sweats at night, the one that broke her down when she saw the damage done to her body, the one that would never give up clinging to her. Moody's Meadow wasn't haunted, but she sure was.

She went to pick up her book again then paused. Thinking back to the day Cedric had her in his room she had to wonder what had made him react thusly. She couldn't remember everything after blacking out but she remembered that he wanted her to keep quiet about something; to un-see it as it were. Whatever it was, her scars were a reminder.

/

"Students, it has been a marvelous term with all of you. After today some of you will not return but will be young women of the nation. May you follow your dreams. For those of you who will be returning I look forward to having you again," Pleasant said from the front of the classroom. "Now my sister and I have prepared a treat for all of you. If you could please form a line in front of be desk and collect a bundle." The girls formed a line and as each of them stepped up she handed them a little bag of baked goods and a card, thanking them for being a good student.

Mary Phagen, Melissa Fultz, Hattie and Mary Meeks, Mary Morhman, Lillie Hoyle, Naomi Wise, Lura Libby, Isabella Joyce.

"I'll be back next term, Miss Day!" Isabella said excitedly. "I'll be sure to bring you blueberries from the woods too."

"Thank you, Isabella," Pleasant said as the girl curtsied and walked away.

The line continued with each girl thanking their teacher and making their manners. Georgiannia Lovering, Elizabeth Dolan, Annie Deering, Polly Williams, Katie Hood and Sarah Alexander.

When Josie reached her desk she hugged her.

"You're the best teacher I ever had, Miss. Day."

"Thank you, Josie," Pleasant said handing her the bundle. "Perhaps someday your students will say the same of you."

Josie smiled shyly. "Thank you, Miss, Day," Josie said. "Oh and I've brought you something," she took a book from the few she had folded it in arm and gave it to the teacher.

"Chamberlin's Book of Days," Pleasant read.

"It's been in my father's collection for many years," Josie said. "I asked him if you might have it. I know you like to explore the unknown and the no more."

"Thank you, Josie," Pleasant said. "I'm sure I will enjoy it." Opening her arms she hugged her. "Be well."

"You too, Miss Day," Josie said. Turning away she joined her friends and they walked from the classroom.

Pleasant turned back to the desk and picked up the one remaining bag. "Mamie," she sighed shaking her head.

Saddling Polaris she took the little sack and rode up to the Berry mansion. As usual the gates had been left open and in order not to disturb the family she rode around make and knocked for a kitchen made.

Mrs. Jessop answered the door covered in flour and drying her hands. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Pleasant said. "I'm looking for Mamie Kelly. She wasn't in school today and I was concerned about her."

Mrs. Jessop gave Pleasant a criticizing scan up and down. "Hmphf, what you trying to school that girl for?" she asked. "Some heads ain't cut out for learning."

"Some things come harder to others," Pleasant admitted. "But there is always something someone can learn. Even a dog can be taught to do tricks."

Mrs. Jessop rested one hand on the doorpost and the other on her hip. "I know that child and she best off not going to that little school of yours. All you can do is hurt her in the end. She won't ever be nothing. You best put your concerns elsewhere."

"I'm her teacher," Pleasant said, nearly losing respect for the woman. "It is my duty to be concerned for her."

"Listen here," Mrs. Jessop said. "That girl couldn't see you if she wanted to. She done had herself a nasty fall left her all black and blue."

"Mamie is hurt?" Pleasant said. "Well then I have to see her."

"Doctor Monhollen done been by already," Mrs. Jessop said. "We don't need some high toned school teacher poking her nose where it don't belong. That girl works at this house for Mr. and Mrs. Berry and what goes on is no business of yours. I don't care how much you think you have Baldwin Monhollen wrapped around your finger."

"I beg your pardon!"

"Girl," Mrs. Jessop said, "you don't have me fooled."

Pleasant sighed. "Could you just give this to Mamie, please?" she said holding out the little sack. "It is a gift for the last day of school."

Mrs. Jessop took the bag and turned it over in her hand. She looked across the yard at Polaris when he snorted. "Sweet Jesus," she muttered. "If I didn't know any better I'd swear that beast was passing judgment over me."

Pleasant looked back at Polaris who was watching them intently.

"I'll be sure to give this to Mamie," Mrs. Jessop said. Without another word she closed the door.

Pleasant stood on the step for a moment then returned to Polaris. As she prepared to climb into the saddle she turned around when she heard the kitchen door open. Her heart froze in its cage as the smoking man came out onto the steps. Barely able to concentrate she climbed into the saddle as he came across the yard. Quickly she turned Polaris around and galloped away before he could reach her.