Gossip has wings. Rosemarie was still unpacking her parcels when a man accompanied by thin woman with a tow-headed boy tapped at the door.

“Kin we speak with Mistress Wharton?” The man inquired.

Rosemarie gave them a quick glance, judging them to be of the servant class and wasted no manners on them. “She’s around back making soap.” Had they been quality, she would have invited them in and put water on for tea. Instead, she led them to the back with the baby still slung on her back. By reason of serving as wet nurse to a child of the family, she felt she’d moved up in the world.

The visitors found Molly at the black iron soap pot stirring the boiling mixture. Addie was simultaneously chopping wood for the fire and steering the young ones away from danger. Molly closed the neck of her bodice and wiped sweat from her sweaty face, leaving an ashen streak. “Pardon me for for not leaving my work but I can’t let my soap spoil. How can I help you?”

The man spoke hesitantly, “Good day. I’m Joseph James and this is my wife Marthy. We heard in town your bondsman just come home after gittin’ away from the injuns. We was wondering if he might’a heard something about our girl, Sarah. She was took by injuns about a year ago. Could we talk to him?”

“I’ll send my boy for him. Jamie, fetch Andrew from the wood cutting. Mr. James needs to talk to him.”

Jamie sped toward the woods, thrilled to escape the company of women and babies.

“I’m sorry I can not stop my work to seat you properly, but you are welcome water from the well and rest yourselves while we are a’waiting Andrew.”

Molly could see by her visitor’s poor clothes they were of the servant class as she had been and therefore felt comfortable not providing more niceties as she drew a bucket of water and took a seat on a stump in the shade. Knowing the little boy was probably hungry, she directed Rosemarie, “Fetch molasses cookies and milk for the children.”

“Yes, Mistress .” Reluctantly, Rosemarie left them. She was anxious to know their business with Andrew, who she found attractive. Though she’d been in the household a few days, she’d gleaned little from its close-mouthed inhabitants.