Before going to Margaret-Gay's breakfast at Moon Thread Hill the two sisters returned to the cottage to change. May put on a light blue sailor style dress while Pleasant put on a cream blouse and brownish green skirt. In the kitchen she took the breakfast cakes they had made and put them in a picnic basket before heading out the door.

"Mind yourselves, kittens," Pleasant said to the little scamps on the porch. Adjusting her shawl she and May headed for the park on foot.

There were already a number of people there when they arrived. Mrs. Singer was easy to spot talking to Mrs. Purefoy under the trees with their parasols. Pleasant and May were a bit surprised the women still got along after Margaret refused to marry Daniel.

Mr. Singer was talking to some other gentlemen while Mr. and Mrs. Blanche who had come in for the wedding were introduced to Mrs. Monhollen.

Pleasant and May made their way to the food table and set out the cakes there. It didn't take long for Margaret to find her cousins.

"Oh good you brought the breakfast cakes," she said. "I knew you would come through for me. Didn't I tell you so, Alice?"

Alice approached pushing the new baby in his carriage. One look from her to the sisters and they knew it had been Margaret who was complaining about them.

"He is such a precious dear," Pleasant said looking down at the baby that looked back at her with his father's blue eyes.

"And look," Alice said. "He has his father's dash as well. Minas didn't think it would pass to the next generation. He hates it when he is wrong."

"How are the girls?" Pleasant asked.

"They are with my mother," Alice said. "She wanted to show them a bird's nest."

Margaret sighed. "We can talk later," she said. "Right now I am due for a photo shoot with my cousins." She took Pleasant by the arm and May and Alice followed. "You know you don't look so matronly today, Pleasant. In fact you look rather nice."

"Thank you, Margaret," Pleasant said though she had worn the clothes before and received the opposite comment.

Margaret tugged at her cousin's arm as they approached the photographer and the set up she had designed. It was comprised of a white bench, a flower covered arch and urns of flowers on both sides. "Isn't it lovely?"

"You designed this all yourself?" May asked.

"Alice helped a little," Margaret said. "Mother tried to put a word in but I wouldn't have it. She hates that I have an opinion almost as much as she thinks I'm odd for not eating meat. She had enough nerve to bring up how grand the Purefoy house is and that I wouldn't be inheriting it. I think the house Henry chose for us is fine. Like Baldwin said, I can go skating on Hawks Pond with no one to disturb me."

The three women seated themselves and sat through the session. Margaret kept interrupting the photographer to make suggestions and therefore dragging out the length of the shoot. Alice took Baby Maurice from the carriage and bounced him when he fussed. When her friends were finally finished she followed the sisters away while Margaret spoke to the photographer about photographing the wedding.

"We should have known she would be a difficult bride," Alice said, pushing the carriage with one hand and holding the infant with the other. "I like Henry; he's kind yet won't put up with all her nonsense. Espen seems to like him very much too."

Pleasant laughed. "Espen Monhollen hated Daniel Purefoy more than most of us," she said. "It doesn't surprise me. He'd rather see Margaret-Gay an old maid than see her married to him and so would I."

"He'd also rather not see you a teacher," Alice reminded her.

"That is true," Pleasant said. She did need to keep in mind that Espen was no friend of hers. "Here, Alice let me push the carriage for you." She offered, taking it from her friend. "He is such a beautiful baby."

"The first grandson!" Alice announced proudly. "My poor Minas; you should have seen him when he made the announcement to his brothers. He was so pale. The girls were one thing but then we named him Maurice, after his grandfather. The first thing Brunhilde said was Oh isn't that wonderful, Baldwin! Baldwin just said congratulations but Minas says he thinks it bothered him. He even offered to change the name. Espen as usual thought it all amusing."

Pleasant had to bite her tongue often when it came to Espen. "I think it is a lovely name and he is the first grandson," she said.

"You do?" Alice asked.

"Of course," Pleasant said. "Why does that surprise you?"

"Well I just figured you'd be partial to Baldwin," Alice said. "At least...Margaret believes he is partial to you."

Pleasant paused then continued walking. "I don't believe he is," she said.

"Of course," Alice said. "How foolish of me to assume. Minas says the bear must have moved on."

"Good for us then," Pleasant said reaching out her arms for Baby Maurice. She held the lacy infant in her arms and smiled. The Monhollens would never be able to deny him. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She laid the baby back in its carriage and continued to push it so Alice's arms could rest. They passed the food table and May smiled.

"Looks like there is not much left of the breakfast cake," she said. "W-w-w-we must have done a good job."

"Was it you who made the cake?"

The three women turned in the direction of the table and saw a tall blond haired man standing on the other side.

"Oh good morning, Dick," Alice said with a smile. "I'm so glad you were able to make it, Minas didn't think you would."

"Baldwin said I should accompany my mother out," Dick said to Alice but his eyes went to Pleasant. "How are you, Alice."

"Well, thank you," Alice said. "You know the Days."

Dick gave a nod. "I'm sure we must have met at some time," he said. "If not, then I am pleased to now because the cake is delicious."

"My sister did most the work," May said.

"Well then," Dick said. "She is good. Is that Maurice there?" He came around the table and stationed himself right next to Pleasant. He smiled down at Maurice and touched his cheek. "Precious little fellow." He slid his hand closer to Pleasant's so their fingers touched and looked into her face for a reaction.

Pleasant felt her body freeze up as cold and frightened as it had been that day. Alice said something to her but it sounded muffled and far away. Finally she was able to pry her hands free of the carriage and the next thing she knew she was running. She nearly collided with a strolling couple but she kept running until the grass beneath her feet turned to the covered bridge over broken brook.

A disheveled mess she ran through the farm gate sending the geese scattering. Inside the stables she ducked into the first stall and pulling the door closed she sank to her knees trembling in tears. Leaning against the back wall she brought her knees up to her chest and covered her face with her hands. Again she was silenced; she would continue to be silenced unless she grew the courage to act.

/

"I'm excited for the wedding," Alice said as she led Pleasant through the house. "Margaret says she hasn't been able to sleep a wink."

Pleasant smiled. "She's worried everything won't go perfect," she said. "I tried telling her that nothing is ever perfect but she wouldn't have it."

Alice laughed as they entered the parlor and sat. "That is the usual Margaret," she said. "She came by crying yesterday after the breakfast saying she had changed her mind."

Pleasant raised her brows at this.

"It took Espen to convince her otherwise; she wouldn't listen to anyone else," Alice said. "For the two of them to have been such wayward children I'd say they turned out well."

Pleasant just smiled. She still didn't find Espen likeable but Margaret had improved in her behavior. She knew the two of them had been close coming up and that they had kissed on at least one occasion but they seemed to have everything sorted. Espen had gone out of his way to insure Margaret didn't have to marry Daniel Purefoy so perhaps he had improved in his own way as well.

"There you are, darling," Alice said as Minas entered the room. "Pleasant has already arrived to see you."

"Good morning, Miss. Day," Minas said. "I hope you are not too unwell."

Pleasant got up from the sofa. "Not at all," she said as she followed him out of the room. "I am here on behalf of one of my students." They entered the office and he offered her a seat. "Mamie Kelly."

Minas took a seat behind his desk and nodded. "I remember treating the girl," he said.

"Well I'm concerned about her," Pleasant said. "I haven't seen her and I hear she is unwell. The last time I saw her she was very withdrawn. When I went by the Berry residence to see her their cook wouldn't admit me."

Minas nodded. "The girl was rather banged up when I saw her," he said. "I was informed by Mrs. Berry that she fell down the stairs."

"Did Mrs. Berry witness this herself?" Pleasant asked.

Minas shrugged. "I do not know, Miss Day, what are you trying to say?"

"Only..." Pleasant searched. She herself wasn't sure what she was trying to say. To prove to him that Mamie hadn't taken a fall? To accuse his cousin, who she had only seen at the Berry residence once, of harming Mamie? "I don't think Mamie suffered a fall," Pleasant said.

Minas turned up his hands. "How can you be certain?" he asked. "You've admitted you have not seen the girl."

"I think someone has harmed her." Pleasant managed to get out, expending herself to do so.

"Harmed her?" Minas asked. "So you think someone made up the story about her falling down the stairs? Miss Day, I have actually seen the child and I must say that if what she looks like was done be human hands then it was a very heartless human." He shook his head. "These sort of things just don't happen in Natt Fristad."

"You have not created Heaven on earth, Dr. Monhollen," Pleasant said.

The doctor fiddled with an ink pen on his desk. "Miss Day," he said looking up. "I understand that emotions are involved because you are fond of the child, but at the end of the day she is the Berrys' responsibility."

"Yes," Pleasant said sadly. She felt she had come to the wrong person. "I was just worried about her."

"I've been there, Miss Day," Minas said. "When we used to visit my aunt in Missouri there was this house off a dirt road that all the children said was haunted. We saw the parents come and go often and even in town. However once, my brother and I went walking and we decided it would be fun to spy on them. We snuck into the yard and looked into one of the rooms. What we saw scares us to this day."

Pleasant sat quietly as the doctor churned his memories.

"We saw a boy," he said. "He was chained to the floor by his arms and wrist. He had a blanket to sleep on and bowl of water to drink. The floor was covered in dirt and his own waste." He leaned back in his chair. "We argued rather or not to tell anyone. Espen wanted to but I was too afraid of getting into trouble. Soon as we grew older we stopped making trips to Missouri and I never did learn what happened to that boy."

Pleasant looked out the window at a butterfly tapping the glass. There were no heroes in the world for children. "Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"Did you think that helping that boy was none of your business?"

Minas sat silent, looking straight into her.

"Brother, I am in need of your assistance."

Pleasant and Minas looked to the door as Espen came in. Pleasant gasped and turned away at his state of undress.

"Espen, put on a shirt there are ladies in the house," Minas said getting up from his desk.

Espen held up his cut hand.

"Wonderful," Minas said. "Well come into the next room and I'll treat you."

"I told him to be careful with the knife," a voice said from outside the room. Nevertheless the familiarity of it sent chills up Pleasant's back.

Minas looked past his brother. "What's he doing here?" he whispered.

"Baldwin told me to spend some time with him," Espen said. "It's his fault this happened. He snatched the knife from my hand."

"What are you two talking about?" Dick said as he got closer.

"Nothing," Minas said in the doorway. "Espen go into the next room, I need to see Miss Day out."

Pleasant stood as the doctor returned. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of better help," he said. "Perhaps you should try to see her again."

"I will," Pleasant said following him into the hallway. "Thank you." She turned quickly so she wouldn't have to look at Dick or shirtless Espen who were still in the hallway.

"So..." Dick said as they entered the examining room. "You and the school teacher..."

"Shut up, Dick," Espen said sitting on the table. "You insult my sister-in-law."

Minas rolled his eyes as he poured witch hazel on a rag. "Miss Day was here about one of her students," he said placing the rag on his brother's hand. "Say, Dick you spend a lot of time at the Berry house. You wouldn't happen to know how Mamie Kelly came by her accident would you?"

Dick was too busy watching Pleasant going up the hall to be paying attention.

"Dick?"

"What?"

"Do you know how the Berrys' servant girl had her fall?"

Dick smiled. "Fall?" he asked. "Perhaps she was pushed." Both his cousins turned to him and he laughed. "Their little dog is a jealous thing."

Minas shook his head. "Your sense of humor is... Well, Espen you won't need stitches." He bandaged his brother's wound. "Though you might, Dick when he gets finished with you."

"You ratted me out?" Dick said.

"You need to be a little more careful," Espen said. "That blade is sharp it could have cut a lot deeper."

"Duly noted," Dick said. "Say..." he folded his hands behind his back and came deeper into the room. "Would it be against the rules to court the teacher?"

Espen and Minas looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"What is funny?"

Espen was laughing too hard so Minas had to explain. "Aside from normal propriety in the respect of teachers, Miss Day is off limits."

"Why?" Dick asked. "Teachers have married before."

Minas shrugged. "Baldwin went through a lot to get her that position," he said.

Dick smirked. "Our Baldwin"

"Yes," Minas said putting the medicine away. "Miss Day and her sister are like family to us. Baldwin saw to it that she was taken care of...not unlike he has done with you."

"And she gives nothing in return?"

"Does Baldwin ever ask for anything in return?" Espen asked.

"No," Dick said. "Nothing but decency and...obedience...and respect for the town and one another." As the brothers went on talking, Dick mulled over how to keep the teacher silent and to keep himself before everyone else in the light of his cousin's love.