China Doll gently slipped out of bed. She dressed in the dark and planted a quick kiss on Napoleon's cheek. Stepping outside the tent she was met with an unwelcome chill. She readied her horse and freeing it from the tree she lead it away from the camp.

A snort from far off stopped her in her tracks and she turned to see Lazarus trotting her way on his horse. He pulled the reins when he reached her. "Leaving so soon?"

"I must," China Doll said. "The mission must be complete. Tell Napoleon he can send Osprey after me later. I'll leave a good trail." Her horse tried to rub against her and she pushed it away. "Why are you up so early?"

"Someone has to keep watch while everyone sleeps," Lazarus said.

"Up here?" China Doll asked.

"Maybe not for Windstalkers but the Knights don't mind thin air. Then there is always the rogue."

"I don't think we have to worry about the Knights," China Doll said.

"You really want to help Tennessee Wellbeloved?"

China Doll sighed. "We were friends once. Before the colors we wore decided our loyalty. Back then he was thrilled at becoming a messenger. He was the only one who would tell me stories about his adventures late at night around the campfire. And then there was the raid."

"You still have loyalties to them?" Lazarus asked.

"I am loyal to whom I love," China Doll answered. "Flags, anthems and colors don't decide that for me."

"I'm afraid Napoleon doesn't think that way," Lazarus said. "And me..."

"Who can really know Napoleon?" China Doll said. "And you, Lazarus, just wait until you fall in love."

Lazarus shrugged. "I love Napoleon."

China Doll smiled, he was such a soldier. "That's not the sort I mean." She clutched her stomach as a wave of nausea overtook her.

"Are you unwell?"

"I'm fine," China Doll said trying to keep her supper down.

"If you are sick be sure to pass it on to the Windstalkers," Lazarus laughed.

China Doll wiped her mouth. "They can't catch what I have."

Lazarus blinked. "You're in the family way?"

China Doll laughed. "Don't look like a lost boy, Lazarus, and don't tell Napoleon."

"But—"

"No buts," China Doll said climbing into the saddle. "I'm asking you as a friend, Lazarus." She flipped her braid over her shoulder. "Nothing can compromise this mission." She dug her heels into the horse and sent it galloping through the snow with her white cloak flying.

/

The fur trim of Ladybird's coat fluttered in the breeze as she crossed the brown hills of the Yewtree mines.

"The cemetery is right this way," Ron said as he led her down the hill.

"And these people, they just...live here like this?" Ladybird asked.

"Well that's not why it is so bad," Ron said. "We, my boss and I, found out about this place through another case he was working. The clients' father had been held here illegally. My boss figured there was something more illegal going on and he's recently sent me to investigate." They looked down on the cemetery with its graves only marked with post. "It's a dangerous job and Yewtree doesn't pay very well."

Ladybird approached a man digging in the cemetery looking at all the post as she did. When she reached the pit she looked down at the small body wrapped in linen and closed her eyes turning away. What was this place? Where else did such terrors live on earth?

"Philemon, how could you?"  This man...this man who had done these terrible things had nearly become her husband. Did her grandmother know of his crimes? Had she been willing to marry her granddaughter to a murderer and a life of suffering?

"I know this is hard for you," Ron said. "But I nor my boss is looking to ruin a rich colored man. Heck, our last clients were colored sisters. We are just trying to stop a bad person. I know it is hard to swallow."

Ladybird took a deep breath. "Maybe not as hard as you think.  Do you think my horse is ready?"

"I uh...we could have a look," Ron said. "Listen, if there is anything I can do to help..."

"Let me be on my way," Ladybird said. "And please, tell no one you have seen me." She gathered her skirts and walked out of the cemetery. Suddenly it all became clear. Her Grandmother's drive to marry her into the Yewtree family, Philemon's hate for Beatrice...

/

"How could I have been so blind?" Ladybird said later when she had rejoined Wysteria. "I feel like such a fool."

"No one suspects their grandmother of wicked deeds," Wysteria said.

"But you saw right through Philemon," Ladybird said. "You knew he was no good so why couldn't I see it?"

"Maybe you were too in love," Wysteria said. "And some things are just clearer to others."

Ladybird shook her head. "He's a murderer, Wysteria. How does he look at himself in the morning? How can he smile in the street with what he has done? What would he have done to me had I married him, or to you or to Beatrice?" She buried her face in her knees. "Why do men get to have such an easy world?"

Wysteria watched her sister mourn then took her hand. "Men can be a lot of great things," she said. "But they can't be sisters. And I wouldn't trade that for the world and all the finest things in it. Not for an empire or a jewel in King Edward's crown."

Ladybird wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged her close. "This trip has made me appreciate you more than ever, Wysteria," she said. "I'm sorry if I've been self centered."

"I'm sorry too," Wysteria said. "I've been a closed door to you and Beatrice. I never let you know what's going on inside."

Ladybird hugged her tighter. "And I never tried to listen."

Wysteria looked up at her. "We have to find Beatrice," she said. "Everything will be all right then. We can leave Narrow Lake. We can forget about the Yewtrees and anyone else that tries to pull us apart."

Ladybird nodded. "Just name the place and we'll go."

Wysteria smiled and gave her sister another hug. So long as they stuck together they would do fine.

/

Silas finished reading Ladybird's letter. Breakfast jumped up on his desk purring to be patted. A maid came in and announced that he had a visitor. Silas told his three pupils to keep working then he followed her into the parlor where Samantha was waiting.

"It's a blistering cold day," Samantha said as she stood by the roaring fireplace. "It would seem winter has come early to Narrow Lake." She embraced him.

"Ladybird wrote," Silas said taking a seat with her. "I don't think they'll be back anytime soon."

"They couldn't possibly survive the mountains in this weather," Samantha said. "Poor Beatrice."

"I should have gone with them," Silas said. "Who knows what has happened since they sent that letter."

Samantha placed her hand over his. "You did what you thought was right at the time," she said. They sat in silence listening to the fire crackle. "Oh, I almost forgot what I came to tell you," Samantha suddenly said. "Chadwick Yewtree visited my father this morning. He was in quite a state; he interrupted breakfast he shouted he swore..."

"Why?"

Samantha lowered her voice. "It is Philemon," she said. "Just when you think he couldn't shame his father any further by handing over half the business to Elizabeth Winters workers go on strike at the coal mine. It's going to be in the paper come Sunday next."

"What scandal."

"And as though that wasn't bad enough, reporters are getting brazen and seek to drag the family name deeper into the mud by bringing forth all these...shady characters Philemon is supposed to know very well."

"Very scandalous!" Silas said shocked.

"The town is going to go on its head when they discover such a respected family has such skeletons. Philemon might be disinherited."

Silas felt his ears perk. "What did you say?"

"I said the town—"

"After that."

"Oh, Philemon might be disinherited," Samantha said. "His father shouted it loud enough to wake the dead."

Silas nodded slowly. "And all of this is only being found out now?" he asked and Samantha nodded. "After Mrs. Winters announces to the whole society that she is taking over half the family business?"

Samantha's lips slowly parted. "You don't think she is the root of all of this do you?" she asked. "She doesn't have the deeds and contract to the mines does she?"

Silas shrugged. "I don't know." He thought. "Then she wouldn't stab Philemon in the back if she didn't would she."

Samantha got up in tended the fire. "No," she said jabbing a charred log until it split. "Unless there is something more to be had...or something less."

"Less?"

"Maybe the mines aren't as valuable as she originally thought," Samantha reasoned. "Or maybe Philemon has wronged her."

Silas snapped his fingers. "Or maybe he sold her bad eggs from the start."

"I'm not sure I understand your expression."

"The surest way to know an egg is bad is to crack it open," Silas said. "By then you are already suffering with the stench. Philemon gave Elizabeth Winters a bucket of worms buried in a few pieces of gold."

Samantha held up a finger. "What you're saying is, no matter how great the value of what he has given her is it won't be worth the scandal?"

"Exactly!" Silas jumped up and grabbing Samantha he kissed her. "And poor Ladybird had been the starting pawn in all of this."

Samantha bit her lip. "Um, Silas?"

"Yes?"

"If we are correct and this whole scheme is falling in on itself then won't that mean that Ladybird has lost her value?"

"It might, but Philemon called off the engagement and she didn't take him back," Silas said.

"Oh Silas," Samantha shook her head. "Where do you think he has gone off to?" Silas looked hopeless and she took his arm. "I've been invited to tea at Mrs. Winters' place with my mother. I'll see what I can find out. Do you know of anything else that might help?"

Silas slowly nodded. "I know some people."

/

"You snake! You pitiful excuse for a man! After all I have done for you!" Elizabeth hissed in the telephone. "I asked for silk and you spin yarn you promise marble and you give me bricks!"

Philemon laughed on the other end. "Lizzy, Lizzy keep your temper you little poodle. Do you not like platinum?"

"Not if it sends me to prison! You give me a mine being investigated for criminal activity by one the of best lawyers in this country. How dare you double cross me? I give you my granddaughter on a silver platter, I rid you of that charmed cousin of yours and you stab me in the back. It serves you right Ladybird ran away!"

"Don't shout into the operators ears," Philemon said, reminding her that others could hear their conversation. "And I plan to teach Ladybird a real good lesson once I find her. And don't worry about the authorities. I'm sure your boy January Frost can get you away from them before its hanging season in Massachusetts again. Isn't that what they do there with witches?"

"I don't care what you do with Ladybird or her sisters. My love was for my son and I've lost him." 

Philemon laughed. "Yes Amos. You poured all you love into him but in the end it was Ladybird and her sisters who he gave his most prized possession. If you ask me, his love went to them not a miserable snow queen like you."

"I'll get you for this Philemon Yewtree, you will never be able to hold your head up in public again. That is, if I decide to let you keep it." She hung up the phone then picked it up again. After speaking to the operator she was put through. "Yes. This is Winters. Yes. Yes that is correct. When you see my granddaughter...kill her." She listened to the voice on the other end. "I don't care how you do it, just break her heart first.  Where shall we arrange for payment I'll send my man?" She took a slip of paper and a pen. Yes, I'm ready." She took the needed information then hung up the phone again.