As sunlight streamed in the following morning Taitiann felt someone touch her face. She opened her eyes to the bright room drenched in the gentle white light of dawn. A smile spread across her face when she saw Miriam and she sat up and hugged her.

"Oh, that's my sister!" Miriam said. "I've missed you."

Taitiann drew her knees up. "I've missed you too," she said. "I am happy to be back with my family."

Miriam nodded. "You'll be happy to know we've got a new addition to the family. Missy the wagon horse."

Taitiann smiled. "I met her some last night. Alifair told me about Mr. Calico's new horse. I can't wait to go for a ride. Oh, it really is so good to be home. Being in New Orleans was like being stuck in Beach's Pneumatic train."

Selene walked into the room with a smile on her face. "Good morning, Taitiann!" she said. "It's been too long since I've been able to say that." She hugged her sister. "Ottaline has breakfast on the table. Dress and come on down."

At the breakfast table, Taitiann took a seat between Ladybird and Selene and helped herself to the scrambled eggs at the center of the table slapping them onto some toast. "Ottaline, I've missed your cooking," she said. "Everything is so different in New Orleans. So busy and loud. It's good to be home."

"I agree," Ladybird said. "I won't say I didn't enjoy the city but I'm glad to be home."

"How did your painting come along, Ladybird?" Selene asked.

"Oh it didn't end too well I'm afraid," Ladybird said. "The client was displeased to see a colored woman with his wife's portrait."

"His loss," Beatrice said. "I wonder if he was drowning if he would be too proud to ask a colored woman to throw him a life preserver."

When Miriam finished eating she got up from the table. "Providence, Ottaline we had best hurry along," she said. "I much prefer to arrive before my students."

Ottaline took Providence's empty plate to the sink with hers while her sister got their lunch bags. "And we want to be there before Mr. Woodrow."

"Who is Mr. Woodrow?" Taitiann asked.

"He's a man that we think is trying to shut down the school," Ottaline said as she put the plates in the washtub. "He likes to come and sit in the back of the classroom and watch what we do."

Miriam dried her hands on a hand towel. "I feel he is just waiting for me to make a mistake so he can lower the axe on the school. Apparently people don't like that I teach colored children that they can better themselves. I used you as an example, Taitiann."

"We plan to kill him with kindness," Heloise said. "That's what Papa says to do."

"Mama calls it catching flies with honey," Hannah said.

"Well some people can't be changed," Ladybird said getting up from the table. "I think they make up in their minds how they want to be and feel ashamed if they deviate from it." She looked at Miriam. "That could be the case of Mr. Woodrow."

Miriam sighed. "Whatever his reasons we'll be ready for him," she said. "That school is my joy and I'm not going to lose it now." After gathering her things she and Wysteria along with the school girls went out the door.

Selene took the task of clearing the kitchen. She filled the kettle with water from one of the three gallon buckets filled that morning by Alifair and Heloise from the pump then put it on the stove. Beatrice took the broom and swept the floors as well as the porch and steps then brushed down the webs in the corners.

"What are your plans for today, Taitiann?" Selene asked.

"I thought I'd go over to the Calico's and have a look at that new horse he got while I was away," Taitiann said. "Then maybe I'll stop and see some old friends. Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure," Selene said turning to the whistling kettle and taking it off the stove. "Now that Bessie's dress is complete I have time to do other things. I'd love to get started on Miriam's new shirtwaist and the leg o mutton sleeves for Astrid's recital dress."

"I could help you," Ladybird said. "You shouldn't have to do all the family sewing yourself." She joined Selene at the washtub and rinsed and dried the dishes.

"I don't mind," Selene said submerging a plate in the tub. "But if you really want to help I'd be honored. Maybe I can even finish that skirt for Mama."

They finished tidying up and after checking to see if Mrs. Fairchild needed any help the four, Ladybird, Selene, Taitiann and Beatrice donned their hats and set out through the town. Selene wore her slightly weathered straw hat with a curve at the back while Taitiann wore her usual boater with the riding outfit Selene had sewn for her. Ladybird's hat was full in round with a flower on the side and Beatrice wore a simple boater with a pink ribbon.

As they passed through the town the youngest scoffed at the staring men. "They're like animals they are."

Ladybird laughed. "Beatrice you really do despise unwanted attention."

"I doubt they are looking at me," Beatrice said crossing her arms. "I'm not as fashionable as you and Selene, nor am I was willowy as Taitiann. I'm loud, messy and I can't keep my hair."

"Some men like that in a woman," Ladybird teased. "Really, Beatrice you'd look ever so lovely with your hair up. You ought to bring out those wonderful cheekbones."

Beatrice put her gloved hands to the sides of her face. "I don't want any male attention."

"But even Ottaline wants to wear her hair up," Selene pointed out.

"Ottaline has her vanity and I have my pride." Beatrice turned up her nose and took a big unladylike step forward. The toe of her boot caught on her skirt and she was pitched straight forward onto the ground with a loud smack. Laughter erupted from the other pedestrians as she sat up spitting out a mouth full of dirt.

"Are you all right, Beatrice?" Ladybird asked grabbing her arm and trying to help her up.

"This would happen to me!" Beatrice said grabbing hold of her sister and hoisting herself up. "Look at my blouse, ruined."

"I'll soak it when we get home," Selene said. "I'm sure it will wash out."

Beatrice dusted what she could from her clothing and looked around at the other people. They had all gone back to what they had been doing but she still narrowed her eyes at them.

"You could wear my riding jacket over it," Taitiann offered.

"No, Taitiann, thank you but I will be fine," Beatrice said. "As I said, I have my pride and no matter what I can walk with my head up." She linked arms with Ladybird next to her and they walked on.

/

When the front door opened and Mr. Christenson stepped out bidding good bye to Elijah Burnstead the banker, Mr. Fairchild got out the motorcar and opened the door for him. He stood straight, not looking at the two gray men as they made their way toward the motorcar still locked in conversation.

Mr. Christenson put his hat on his head and waved to his friend. "He's a good man that Elijah." he said as he ducked into the automobile. Hoof beats from the road distracted Mr. Fairchild as he readied to close the door behind Mr. Christenson. As he turned around a glistening horse slowed to a trot and stopped alongside the motorcar.

"Morning, uncle! Where's my uncle?" Sumner Woodrow said. He smiled when Mr. Christenson stepped back out the motorcar. He tipped his hat to him from his mount looking down over the hood. "Good morning, Uncle Solomon."

"Sumner if I were the law I'd ticket you for riding that animal through the public streets that fast," Mr. Christenson said. "What if a woman or a child had stepped out in front of you, they would have been trampled."

"My mare likes to go fast," Sumner said patting the horse's shoulder. "What are you doing visiting old Elijah Burnstead for? You know I talked to him and he still won't sell that field on the edge of town to me."

Mr. Christenson grumbled. "Yes," he said. "I've heard all about your endeavors, Sumner. How you've been spending your days buying and selling land and encouraging others to buy and sell land."

His horse swayed, brushing against the automobile. "Well someone has to encourage these people to make use of their properties. Forest stay put, fields lie fallow. Mr. Sweetland finally is ridding himself of his mother's childhood home. For decades it's just sat there smack dab in the heart of Brickyard. A real eye sore."

"Yes," Mr. Christenson said. "I've thought about entering the raffle myself." He stooped to get inside the motorcar.

Sumner snorted. "Uncle as rich as you are you could have bought it when it was for sale," he said. "It's no wonder you let Addams handle your legal affairs."

Mr. Christenson stood back up. "It wasn't worth what Sweetland was asking for," he said. "Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so."

"But Sweetland has these raffles for the poor," Sumner said. "You remember the mule and the stove...oh and the wheelbarrow. Isn't that right Mr. Fairchild?"

Ezra looked up at the smiling young man then to the scowling gray one.

"Don't bring Ezra into this," Mr. Christenson said.

Sumner held up his hands as his uncle got into the motorcar and Mr. Fairchild came around to crank it. "I almost forgot, Uncle," he said reaching into his saddle bag. He then pulled out a gray kitten by the scruff of the neck. "I got you a little something for that mouse problem of yours. I suppose it's more for Aunt Kate."

Mr. Christenson's face turned red. Even Ezra knew that he considered his seven little mice to be pets. "Cats are the mechanism of the Devil!" he spat. "I can't stand cats."

Sumner smiled and held the mewing kitten to his chest. "There you are little buddy," he cooed. "I won't let my mean old uncle get at you." He tucked the little animal back inside his saddle bag and turned his horse, nearly swatting Mr. Fairchild with her tail. "You take care, you here." He galloped off.

Mr. Fairchild got into the motorcar and pushed the button, starting the engine. Slowly he pulled away from the curb straitening the wheels before they went on a collision course with a woman and her children riding in a carriage. The children stood to see the motorcar prompting scolding from their mother as they passed.

"I hope my nephew isn't giving you too much of a hard time, Ezra." Mr. Christenson said. "He can be a menace when he wants to be. He likes to parade around town as though he owns it. Oh, he still bothering your daughter down at the schoolhouse?"

"Miriam is handling it," Mr. Fairchild said though he would have like to have told Mr. Christenson how he really felt about his nephew and all the other people who had a problem with her teaching in Custardville.

"Miriam is a bright girl," Mr. Christenson said, turning the pages of his newspaper. "But I'd be worried about your other daughter. The seamstress."

"Selene?"

"Word is all over town that she's run off with the St. Cloud boy. Folks say they have a whole secret life outside the city together." Mr. Christenson said. "It's not my words," he added. "I'm just letting you know what people have been saying about them. I'd tell St. Cloud to put a leash on his son for your sake but... You know young men, Ezra, they go through stages. My son Charles put us through the ringer in his college years. Sumner's passions are different so I don't worry about him, but if I were you I'd get to the bottom of this St. Cloud business. I wouldn't want someone to snatch my daughter from under my nose without my consent to marry her off. I never cared for St. Cloud. Seems to me he doesn't respect himself much either. You'd better have words with your girl, Ezra."

Mr. Fairchild turned onto the next street. He was gripping the stirring wheel so tightly it hurt his hands through his gloves. No, he didn't know how young men were as Mr. Christenson had suggested. He knew Selene better. He knew the St. Clouds better. He knew Jetrho was better than the Christenson men combined all. All of this could have easily been put into words and Mr. Christenson would have been dumbfounded but Ezra took a deep breath and let it out. "Yes sir, Mr. Christenson."

/

"She's good," Beatrice said as she Ladybird and Selene and Mr. Calico watched Taitiann trot around on the blazed faced liver filly. The horse's copper man bounced as she increased her gate and took her over a makeshift jump. Taitiann trotted toward her sisters as they applauded.

"She's a natural and what a grand beauty," she said. She leaned forward and kissed the horse's pole. "She'll do excellent in cross-country.

"The trakehner is a marvelous horse," Mr. Calico said. "This one had an injury and was going to be put down but my son-in-law saved her and she recovered. He of course has more horses than you can shake a stick at, and much prefers morgans and thoroughbreds so he sent her down to me."

"Well I am glad I could meet her," Taitiann said. "She truly is wonderful."

"You're welcome to come and ride her whenever you please," Mr. Calico said. He took the horse by the reins while Taitiann dismounted.

"I'm afraid I didn't catch her name," Taitiann said.

Mr. Calico patted the horse as it turned its head toward him. "We've just been calling her the filly," he said then smiled. "Why don't you go on and give her a name, Taitiann. The two of you are going to be spending a lot of time together."

Taitiann smiled as the horse turned to her. She scratched the horse's head and behind her ears. "I'll call her Marzipan," she said looking into the animal's brown eyes. "She's as sweet as Ottaline's almond treats." She placed a kiss on Marzipan's snout.