Ladybird, Wysteria and Beatrice were speechless. A long silence fell over the room occupied only by the purring of Breakfast who had returned inside the house.

Ladybird blinked. "I'm sorry."

"Did your father ever mention anything to you about a secret treasure?" Tennessee asked.

"A treasure?" Ladybird frowned. "No, I mean, he called us three his treasures all the time."

"Well according to what we know your father had a treasure that he hid from hungry eyes. He left a map, clues...the whole thing. I've been trying to find it ever since he died."

"Died is putting it kindly," Beatrice said, "Our father was murdered."

"I know and I am sorry," Tennessee said. "But I have reason to believe that this treasure is the reason for his murder."

Silas looked at the sisters then at his friend. "Maybe this is too much at once, Tenn."

"It's now or never," Tennessee said. "I want to find this treasure; it rightfully belongs to you three." He studied each of them. "Don't you see? This is what your father was killed for. Chances are it could fall into the wrong hands; the hands of the very sort of people who wanted him dead."

The pot in the kitchen hissed and Ladybird got up to see to it. "You'll have to forgive us," she said returning to the room. "We hadn't had dinner."

"I won't keep you," Tennessee said. "I just wanted to show you this." He reached into his bag and pulled out a folded paper. He unfolded it and placed it on the table between them. "This is his map made by his own hand."

Wysteria stared at the map as she scratched behind Breakfast's ear. It was painted in full color and the path went in a sort of circle marked by drawing of trees, mountains and animals along the way. In the right corner was a red X. "You are here?" she said.

"Here in Massachusetts," Tennessee said. "That part I have figured out." He pointed to the next picture in the circle. It was the silhouette of a locomotive. "This means to take the train." He dragged his figure down. "And this here alligator stands for Louisiana but that's where the trail runs cold. I can't figure anything out."

Ladybird looked the map over. The style was definitely her father's hand. "You are here," she read. "How did he know where we would be?"

Tennessee shrugged. "Perhaps he told your mother to come here if anything should happen to him." He sighed. "I know it is hard, but I came to you three in hope of getting more information. Were any of you there the day he...died? Did you hear anything particular?"

Ladybird looked over at her sister. "Wysteria was the only one home at the time," she said.

"I don't remember them saying anything." Wysteria said hugging her cat to her chest. "I never saw the men's faces." She stared down at the floor.

Tennessee checked his watch. "I've overwhelmed you," he said standing. "I'll leave you this map to look at and maybe something will come to mind."

Ladybird stood to show them out. "Did you know my father personally?" she asked Tennessee as she opened the front door for him and Silas.

"You might say that," Tennessee said.

"How?" Ladybird asked. "He never mentioned you."

Tennessee nodded. "Well you can be sure he mentioned you many times," he said. "Good night, miss."

Ladybird watched them go from the steps then went inside the house. She went into the kitchen and put the soup into bowls. "It's been a long night," she said as her sisters joined her.

"Do you think that map is really Pa's?" Beatrice asked.

Ladybird joined them at the table with her bowl. "I've seen his work many times," she said then a smile spread across her face. "He taught me how to use my brushes and how to blend colors. I'd recognize his work anywhere."

"Do you think the map really leads to a treasure?" Wysteria asked. "Isn't that the thing of storybooks?"

Ladybird shook her head. "I truthfully don't know," she said.

"Pa was so different in his last days," Beatrice said. "I remember he seemed alarmed. The map said you are here. If by you he meant us, then isn't the map talking to us?"

"What are you getting at, Baby B?" Ladybird asked.

"I mean if the map is for us then maybe he wants us to find his treasure," Beatrice said.

"Oh no," Ladybird said. "I'm not trekking the country on a wild goose chase. Mr. Wellbeloved could be wrong. Maybe the map was meant to be a game for us. Pa was good at games."

"Speaking of him," Wysteria said. "How did he end up with Pa's map?"

"He claims to have known him," Ladybird said. "But he didn't tell me where from. At any rate I think we should be cautious. If there is anything to that map then it could be dangerous to us. I think we should return it to him as soon as possible." With that she folded her hands and prayed over the meal.

/

After fashioning her hair in a pompadour and pinning up the back, Ladybird went downstairs for breakfast. "Remember tonight we have dinner at the Yewtrees," she said as she went into the kitchen. She quickly smeared butter on her toast.

"Why are you in such a rush this morning, Ladybird?" Beatrice asked with her mouth full of bread.

"I'm selling another painting," Ladybird said. "The one with the fisherman at night."

"I wish I could go with you to see how it goes," Beatrice said. "I always wondered how people purchased paintings."

Ladybird laughed. "The same way they do anything. Now you and Wysteria don't be late for school. Where is she anyway?"

Beatrice pointed across the hall to the living room.

Ladybird left the kitchen and found Wysteria in the living room looking over the map. "Wysteria, did you have breakfast?"

"Ladybird I have seen some of this images before," Wysteria said. "This alligator and these hands raised in praise...I have seen them somewhere before." She looked up at her sister. "I know I have."

"Wysteria, please don't worry about that map," Ladybird said. "And don't sit there and be late for school." She picked up a wrapped canvas in the hallway with one hand and held her toast in the other. "I have to go now, I'll see you this afternoon."

As Ladybird went out the door Beatrice joined Wysteria over the map. "Do you think it is real?"

Wysteria shrugged. "There is something about it that I can't tear my eyes away from," she said. "I saw this once before. Hmm...hands raised in praise..."

"In church perhaps," Beatrice suggested.

"No, I saw it more often than that," Wysteria said. "Almost daily." She got up from the floor and grabbed her books. "It's going to bother me all day."

Beatrice rushed into the kitchen and grabbed her books. "I think it will bother me too," she said. "That Tennessee was some character wasn't he? I can't see Pa knowing such a strange person." They stepped out onto the street. "I wonder if Mother knew anything about this, if so she never said it."

"Maybe she was afraid that if she told us harm would come," Wysteria said. "But then again after Pa died she really didn't have much else to say."

"It pains me to think of her in her final days," Beatrice said. "She wasn't like herself at all. She was like a whole different person. I didn't feel like I knew her."

"But she knew you, Beatrice," Wysteria said. "And she knew that we all loved her very much and that is important."

Beatrice nodded and they continued up the street in silence both occupied with the map.

/

Ladybird sat perfectly still and upright as she watched the potential buyer scrutinize her painting. She stole a quick glance at the clock. She had already been there for two hours and had a dress fitting at noon.

"I'm not sure it will go with the rest of the decorum here," the woman said. "My husband was so taken with the fisherman when we saw it at the studio on display but now I'm not so sure it will work. It is a lovely painting, however."

"Thank you, ma'am," Ladybird said.

"Do you have anything else I could look at?"

"Not with me, ma'am," Ladybird said. "If you like I can come back next week—"

"You can't come tomorrow?" the woman said. "I have a very busy schedule entertaining polite society and all."

Ladybird smiled. She was sure it didn't take all day to pour tea and gossip about those not invited. "I will come tomorrow then," she said standing and the woman smiled. Ladybird collected her painting and covered it with linen.

"Oh I almost forgot," the woman said. "Congratulations on your engagement. Mr. Yewtree's son is a fine negro."

"Thank you, ma'am," Ladybird said. "I'll see you tomorrow." She hurried out the door with her painting under her arm. She could hear her grandmother's voice scolding her on the importance of being punctual.

She entered the dress shop out of breath. Another young woman was in the shop and Mrs. Parton was at her feet adjusting a hem. She looked over her shoulder when she heard Ladybird come in then turned to her assistant. "Elsa, will you see to Miss Winters please."

Ladybird set her canvas in a small chair as Elsa came toward her. She liked the woman though she had a hard time understanding her.

The shop was mainly lit by natural light and they had to go down a dark corridor to get to another dressing room. Elsa left Ladybird there to undress while she fetched her wedding gown.

Stripped down to her corset cover and drawers, Ladybird stared at her reflection. She felt just as nervous as a bride on her actual wedding day. She fiddled with the large bow on her corset cover intended to hide the divide in woman's bosom.

"Here is your dress," Elsa said as she returned then she helped Ladybird into it. "We adjusted hems," Elsa said pointing to the places on the dress that she meant. "Good for you getting married."

It took Ladybird a minute to realize that Elsa meant congratulations. "Thank you, Elsa," she said and smiled. She watched the blonde young woman adjust the dress on her getting a good look at her fingers. She knew Elsa had a child for she had heard it crying once in the back of the shop and Elsa had gone to tend to it. Seeing she wasn't married formed all sorts of questions in her head.

"That is such a difficult dress," Mrs. Parton said as she brought Ladybirds shoes. She set the shoes down. "You are a fortunate girl, Ladybird." She went on. "Philemon Yewtree is going to spoil you." She turned and left the fitting room.

Ladybird looked down at Elsa in the mirror. "You know, Elsa you are good enough to handle more than just hems," she said receiving a blue-eyed stare. She wasn't even sure if Elsa could understand all she was saying. "Mrs. Parton only has a reputation to uphold for making fine dresses but eventually she will trust you with more."

Elsa smiled and continued to work.

"The next time I need a new dress I will hire you specifically," Ladybird said and she saw Elsa give a truer smile and knew she understood. "How is your family?"

"Good," Elsa said with a deep nod. "We are good."

Ladybird nodded then looked at her reflection as Elsa lowered the veil over her face. "My heart is racing." she whispered.

"You love him," Elsa said putting her hand over her own heart. "It is beautiful."

Ladybird smiled. "Your day will come, Elsa," she said.

Elsa looked lost for a moment as she digested the words then she smiled. "But you know I have little ones. I think first who would want? But then I meet schoolmaster. Kind he is."

"Schoolmaster?" Ladybird frowned. "Mr. Candlewood."

"Ja, Candlewood," Elsa said and Ladybird caught her dreamy sigh. She supposed romance sounded the same in any language.

"Reuben Candlewood?" she said more to herself. She knew he was a lot older than his brother who was her own age. She turned around as Elsa examined her.

"Still more adjustments," Elsa said.

Ladybird sighed. She would only wear this dress once yet it had been her most tedious fitting to date.

/

Beatrice bit into her sandwich and looked at Wysteria who sat at the table with her outside under a nice shade tree. "It is colder today." She observed.

Wysteria bit into her sandwich and swallowed. "I could barely stay awake in class," She admitted. "I was up all night thinking about that silly map."

"I don't think it's so silly," Beatrice said with her mouth full. "I believe in it." She brought her feet up on the bench and groaned. "Silly little weeds are always clinging to my socks. Sometimes I hate grass."

"Would you rather live in the desert?" Wysteria asked. "There isn't much grass there."

"But there aren't any trees in the desert," Beatrice said. "I like the trees."

"Sure there are trees in the desert," Wysteria said, "The Joshua tree for example."

"There is a tree called Joshua?" Beatrice laughed. "How silly."

"Sure there is," Wysteria shrugged. "It got its name because it resembled..."

Beatrice watched her sister get a far off look in her eyes. "Wysteria? Wysteria?" she reached across the table and poked her. "Resembled what?"

"I know where I've seen it!" Wysteria suddenly declared. She grabbed her lunch bag and stuffed the remainder of her food in it. "Come on!"

"But I'm still hungry."

"Come on!"

Beatrice reluctantly followed her sister as she ran out of the little park across from the schoolhouse. She didn't cross the street into the school but ran down the sidewalk.

"We have to hurry or lunch will be over soon," Wysteria said. They rounded the corner and she came to a stop in front of the apothecary.

Mr. Schwimmer's gray head peaked out from the next room. "May I help you girls?"

"Afternoon Mr. Schwimmer," Wysteria greeted. "We are not here to buy anything but I was wondering if you still had that painting Ladybird gave you after our mother passed?"

Mr. Schwimmer held up a finger and disappeared again into the next room.

"Wysteria what are were doing here?" Beatrice asked.

"I'll show you," Wysteria whispered.

"You do remember that Ladybird gave Mr. Schwimmer that painting to cover Mother's medical expenses?"

"Yewtree paid them off," Wysteria said.

Mr. Schwimmer returned to the room with the painting. "This is what you're asking for?"

"Yes, sir," Wysteria said. She took the painting and held it before her. "It is exactly as I thought. Look, Beatrice, the star at the right corner is bigger than all the others and coming over the mountain. It is a train."

Beatrice examined the painting then pointed to the water where barely visible was an alligator's head. The waters faded into a desert where two hands grew from a tree. Next to that was a dense forest and above that, mountains with what looked like angels. "It almost looks like the map."

"It really is his work," Wysteria said. "He left us clues."

Mr. Schwimmer cleared his throat. "Shouldn't you two be getting back to school?"

"Yes, sir," Beatrice said quickly.

Mr. Schwimmer held out his hands for the painting and Wysteria gave it over to him.

/

"He should have given that painting back to us," Beatrice said as they walked back to school. "He had no claim over it since the debt is paid off."

"Maybe he has grown attached to it," Wysteria said. "It doesn't matter though; it reads the same as the map."

"Why would Pa paint the map that way?" Beatrice asked. "We would have never guessed what that painting held."

"Maybe it wasn't for us," Wysteria said. "Maybe it was for him so he could remember."

Beatrice nodded. "You know, Wysteria..."she said. "Ladybird and I would have never been able to figure out that hands raised in praise meant a desert tree." She smiled. "That was something that only you could do."

"It was Ladybird who was able to recognize his work," she said.

Beatrice nudged her. "But you solved the next point on the map. The one that baffled that Tennessee man. You did excellent! She put her arm around her sister and Wysteria smiled.