Marcie opened the back door and called Caleb.
“What?” he asked as he popped his head out of the stable.
“Can you get the buggy ready for Hayley? And do you want to be her driver today? Or would you rather stay here and weed the gardens while I go with her.”
Caleb grinned. “Be ready in a minute.”
After he and Hayley were on the road to Bridgeport, Caleb said, “Don’t worry about Uncle Marcus. He can deal with Lisal. He’s used to her.”
Hayley jerked around and stared at Caleb. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re afraid he’ll find out she’s the reason you’re moving to town. You don’t need to worry. He’s used to her.”
“I just need to be closer to town. Lisal has nothing to do with it.”
Caleb looked at Hayley for a moment and sighed. “All the same, you don’t need to worry about Uncle Marcus. Now, where are we going? To Thom’s?”
“No, Morris’s house. But while I’m there, you can go see Thom if you want to.”
Caleb grinned. “All right!”
When Caleb dropped her off at Morris’s, Hayley knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer.
A few minutes later Gloria opened the door, wiping her hands on her apron. “Oh, hello, Hayley. Are you looking for Morris?”
When Hayley nodded, Gloria pointed around the side of the house. “He’s messing in his garden. When you find him, tell him I have some cookies ready to come out of the oven. The two of you can have some while you talk.”
“Thanks. I’ll go get him, but I want you to be there when I talk to him. This involves both of you.”
“Sounds interesting,” Gloria said with a twinkle in her eye. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
After they were all three seated around the table with tea and cookies, Hayley told them she’d like to take Morris up on his offer to stay there until the chapel was ready.
Morris thought her moving to town was a good idea. “After all, I am the town director, so naturally I would be your host.”
Hayley looked at Gloria. “How do you feel about it? And please, be honest. I know there’s no way anyone can stay with you without causing extra work, and there are two of us. We’ll try to help out as much as we can, but I know it’s an imposition. I’ll prepare a lot of my herbs out at Marcus’s but I’ll have to use your kitchen to make poultices and other things that can’t be made up in advance. I know it’s annoying to have someone else in your kitchen, and I’ll try to stay out of your way, but sometimes I won’t have any choice.”
When Hayley paused, Gloria jumped in. “Of course I don’t mind. It’ll be nice having someone else around. And as far as the kitchen is concerned, that’s not a problem. You’re welcome to use it anytime you need to. I don’t mind at all.”
“Are you sure you’re all right with this? If not, I can figure something else out. We can stay where we are if we need to. I just thought it would make things easier for everyone if I’m in Bridgeport.”
“I think you’re right. We were hoping you’d stay with us when we first made the offer.” Gloria reached across the table and put her hand on top of Morris’s. “He may have been the one to say it, but the invitation came from both of us.” Gloria leaned back in her chair and took a sip of tea. “When can you move in? Today?”
Hayley smiled. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to, yes. We’ll leave the stuff we don’t need, like the extra herbs, our winter cloaks, and so on, out at Marcus’s.”
“Then I better get your rooms ready. Would you like to choose the ones you want? We have three spare bedrooms.”
Hayley shook her head. “Whichever ones you want us to use will be fine. And don’t go to any trouble. We’ll take care of anything that needs to be done.” Then Hayley looked at Morris and explained her thoughts on holding clinics three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. “That will leave me free to make rounds on Saturday. What do you think Kent would say if I asked him to let me use his tavern for the clinics?”
“I’ll take care of it. After all, it’s only until we get the chapel finished. I’ll see him this afternoon and let you know what he said when you get back.” Then Morris stood up. “I imagine you’ve got a bit to do if you’re going to get settled in here today. You better get going.”
~~~~
By dinner Tuesday evening, Hayley and Sherri were settled at Morris’s. Their clothes only took a few minutes to unpack, but the herbs and bandages Hayley brought with her took a little time. Fortunately Gloria let them have the third bedroom as a storeroom.
Morris had talked to Kent and made arrangements for Hayley to use the tavern for a couple of hours between lunch and dinner for her clinics. Kent had offered to let her use the tavern every day if she wanted to. When Morris told her, Hayley said she’d tell Kent she appreciated the offer but she thought three would be enough. She figured Kent and his wife were going to get tired enough of having people in there during their quiet time as it was. Every day would be too much.
After dinner, Hayley took Sherri down to the site where their chapel was being built. The foundation was in and some of the frame work had been done, but that was it. While they were there, Hayley showed her the garden areas.
“I don’t know anything about gardens or growing herbs,” Sherri said.
“I didn’t either when I started. I learned most of what I know from Sister Theresa. I’ll teach you. But we will have to get started on the gardens.”
“But summer’s gone,” Sherri said, looking around the grassy area that Hayley said would be their garden.
“I know, and there are a lot of herbs we won’t be able to plant this year. But some grow year round.” Hayley gazed into the distance for a minute, thinking. “One or two of Doreen’s planters would come in handy up here. If we had a couple of those, we could grow a lot of what we need inside. I’ll write her tonight and see if she’ll make me a couple. Marcus or Myron could bring them up.”
“You’ll show me what you want me to do, won’t you?” Sherri asked, wondering if she’d gotten in over her head. “I’m serious when I say I don’t know a thing about gardening.”
Hayley put her arm around the younger woman’s shoulders. “That’s all right. Just ask when there’s something you aren’t sure about.”
Sherri frowned. “You’ll get tired of answering questions.”
“And you’ll get frustrated when I have trouble explaining what you need to know. But it’ll get better as we get to know each other and get used to working together. Give it some time. You’ll see.”
Sherri looked anything but convinced.
“Look, give it six months. If you don’t like it then, I’ll find someone else for you to work with. Or if you decide working in a chapel’s not for you, we’ll find you something else to do, but you need to give it a little time before you decide to call it quits. Think you can do that?”
Sherri considered what Hayley said. “Six months.” She nodded, looking at the unfinished chapel. “I can do that. We’ll see how things look then. Who knows? In six months we may have a chapel!”
Chapter 16
Visitors in Bridgeport
True to his word, Carson lined up enough customers for a southern route, but Mikos had thought Carson would take the southern route and let him and Devron keep the northern customers. If he’d known he and Devron would be making deliveries to Bridgeport, he’d never have agreed to the plan. He felt his stomach drop when they pulled up to the dock shortly after noon.
“Let’s get some lunch before we unload,” Devron said as he finished tying off.
“I don’t know.” Mikos looked around. “This place makes me nervous.”
“It’s been over six months since we’ve been here. No one recognized you then and no one’s going to recognize you now. Come on. Let’s get something to eat.”
Mikos looked around again and then nodded. “All right. We need to find Director Morris anyway. He ordered all this glass
but he didn’t say where he wanted it.”
On the way to town, they passed the framework of a large building next to Thom’s blacksmith shop. “That wasn’t here the last time we were here, was it?” Devron asked.
Mikos shook his head. “Wonder what they’re building.”
“Maybe that’s what the glass is for.”
Mikos shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out when we find Director Morris.”
Lisal greeted them when they walked into the tavern and motioned them to a table. “Haven’t seen you two lately,” she said as she set two mugs of scog on the table. “Where have you been keeping yourselves?”
“Our route’s north of here so we don’t get down this way much. The only reason we’re here today is the guy who handles this area couldn’t make it this week and asked us to handle the run,” Devron said as he picked up the mug. “We’ve got a load of glass for Director Morris. Do you know where we can find him?”
“He runs the dry goods store, but if he’s not there, try the smithy.”
Mikos frowned. “Why?”
“His son’s the blacksmith,” Lisal answered.
“Thom?”
Lisal nodded. “Now, can I get you some lunch? We have potato soup.”
“Sounds good,” Mikos said.
“Be right back.”
Ten minutes later Lisal was back with two bowls of soup and a plate of bread. After she set their lunch down, Devron asked, “Do you know what they’re building on the other side of the smithy?”
Lisal rolled her eyes. “A chapel. It’s nothing but a waste of time and money.”
“Why don’t you want a chapel?” Mikos asked.
Lisal shook her head. “We don’t need one, but Morris wants Sister Hayley to be our local sister.”
“You know who the sister will be before it’s built?” Devron asked.
“She’s the only reason they’re building the thing,” Lisal spit out. “Most people around here act like she’s something special but all she did was deliver Morris’s grandson. Marcie and Shel were there, too. They could have done as much as she did. But since it happened on the night of the raid, everyone made a big deal out of it. Personally I think she needs to go back to Milhaven where she belongs.”
“She’s from Milhaven?”
Lisal nodded and glanced around the tavern. “You need to hurry up and eat. Morris said we have to let her use our tavern for her clinics, so we have to cut lunch short and clear out. If you need anything else, let me know.”
After lunch, Mikos and Devron went to the dry goods store to see Morris. Devron introduced himself and said, “We have a load of glass for you. Where do you want us to put it?”’
“I’ll get a wagon and meet you at the dock,” Morris said. “Just give me a minute to close up the store.”
Devron nodded. “We’ll get it ready to unload.”
Half an hour later, Morris, Thom, and Caleb pulled up to the dock. Thom and Caleb jumped down while Morris turned the wagon around and backed it up to the boat.
Devron watched from the deck. “Hold it,” he called out. “That’s close enough.” Then he looked at Thom. “If you stand in the wagon bed we can hand the glass directly to you.”
Thom climbed up in the back of the wagon and Mikos and Devron started handing the panes of glass to him.
“Too bad you weren’t here last weekend,” Caleb said as he watched the men work.
“Why?” Devron asked.
“Uncle Marcus was here. He’d have all of this unloaded and stored in no time.”
Thom nodded. “Marcus is the sorcerer who caught the slavers. Caleb’s his sister’s boy.”
“Nice to meet you, Caleb,” Devron said as Mikos’s eyes widened. “Maybe next time we’ll try to come when he’s here.”
Caleb nodded. “He’ll be here more often now that Sister Hayley’s here.”
“Oh?” Devron asked.
Caleb grinned. “Don’t tell Mother I said so, but Uncle Marcus likes her.”
“Of course he does,” Morris said. “Marcus likes everyone.”
Caleb shook his head. “Not Lisal.”
“Caleb! Don’t say that,” Thom said, swallowing a smile. “He might not like some of the things Lisal does, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like her.”
“Does, too,” Caleb muttered under his breath as he climbed up in the back of the wagon. “I think Uncle Marcus will move back here now that Sister Hayley’s here.”
Morris raised his eyebrows at Caleb. “Has he said anything about that to you?”
Caleb shook his head. “But he’s thinking about it.”
“More likely wishful thinking on your part,” Morris said. “Although I can’t help but hope you’re right. I miss having him around.”
“Father was Marcus’s foster father. He and I grew up together,” Thom explained. “He’s the reason Marissa and I were at the settlement the night of the raid. We went down to have dinner with him and his sister’s family and ended up spending the night.” Then he put his arm around Caleb’s shoulder. “Good thing this one’s a light sleeper. He’s the one who heard the slavers and woke Marcus up.”
“Oh? So you’re a local hero, huh?” Devron asked with a smile.
Mikos took a step towards the other side of the boat and narrowed his eyes as he studied the boy. He was trying to remember if he’d seen him that night, but he’d been so busy trying to get out of there, he hadn’t paid much attention to who might have been around.
“Not really,” Caleb said. “All I did was wake people up. I didn’t leave the house until it was over.” Then he looked at Mikos. “You were there, watching from the woods.”
Devron shook his head. “We weren’t anywhere near here. Sounds like it was quite a night though. Thom told us about it.”
Thom nodded as Devron handed him the last pane of glass. “A couple of weeks later, at the tavern.”
Devron nodded. “It was the last time we were down this way.”
Caleb kept looking at Mikos. “Bet Uncle Marcus would remember you.”
“Thom, you about done?” Morris asked.
Thom raised his eyebrows at Devron. When Devron nodded, Thom said, “I think we’ve got it all.” Then he jumped down from the back of the wagon and looked at his father. “Where do you want to store it?”
“I thought we’d put it in your shed until we’re ready for it.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. We’ll need to clear some stuff out to make room. While you take care of paying them, Caleb and I’ll start getting the shed ready.”
As Caleb jumped down to join him, Thom turned to Mikos and Devron. “Nice to see you again. Next time you’re back this way, plan to stay overnight. We’d love to have you come to dinner.”
“Thanks.” Devron jumped down to the dock. “We might take you up on that.”
Later, after Devron and Mikos were back on their boat, Devron said, “I think you’re right about Bridgeport. We need to stay away from there.”
“And away from that boy.” Mikos frowned. “I don’t see how he could have seen me. I was only there a few seconds.”
“You were there long enough for the sorcerer to grab you.”
Mikos glared at Devron. “I don’t know why he was looking towards the woods right then, but if he hadn’t caught the flash of light from the energy field, he’d never have known I was there. That was just bad luck.”
Devron shrugged. “Well, we’re out of there now, and I don’t think Thom or Morris paid much attention to the boy.”
Mikos shook his head. “If he tells his uncle one of the men on this boat was the guy in the woods, his uncle’s going to want to check it out. I know I would.”
Devron thought for a few minutes. “They have no reason to connect either of us to that raid other than the imagination of a young boy. And even if the uncle does happen to see you, I doubt he’ll recognize you. You’ve changed. And it’s not like he hung around. He got a quick glimpse and that was it. Besides, as far as th
e people in Bridgeport know, we’ve lived in Camden all our lives. They think we’re boatmen. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“You may be right, but I’d hate to bet my life on it.”
“We’re not betting our lives on anything. Even if they prove you were there, it’s not against the law to be a slaver. Only the raid is illegal, and you had no part in that. The boy said you were watching from the woods, and the sorcerer knows you weren’t involved in the actual raid. They can’t touch you.”
Mikos thought for a moment. “I’m not sure they’d see it that way. I had the key. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say I was involved.”
“In transportation. That’s all the key does. And transportation of slaves isn’t illegal or a bunch of sailors would end up in jail every year.”
“I don’t know about Camden, but no one would bother with that distinction in Landoryn, least of all my mother. She’d be out for our blood.”
“Well, let’s not worry about that now. Let’s concentrate on finding something else to do and somewhere else to do it. As long as we don’t go back, it won’t be a problem. Carson can handle any runs down there.”
“What reason can we give him for not wanting to go back to Bridgeport?”
Devron chuckled. “We’ll say the girl in the tavern’s looking for a husband, and we don’t need her looking our way. He’s married, so he’ll be safe.”
Mikos breathed out a long sigh. “All right, but I want to get out of this area, and soon.”
Chapter 17
A Few Loose Ends
South Port, North Amden
The fall meeting of the Council of Elders fell on Monday, the fifteenth of September. Weldon was in his office shortly before noon when his aide, Eldwyn, knocked on his door and cracked it open. “You asked me to let you know when Caelan arrived.”
Weldon nodded. “Show him in.”
A couple of moments later Caelan walked in.
“Nice to see you,” Weldon said. “How have things been going?”
“Fine, as far as I know. How about here?”
Weldon waved towards his empty desktop. “Not one letter about humans causing any problems in North Amden. Do you think it’s over?”
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