Maddy's heart was pounding as the wet cloth settled on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, relaxing in the delight of refreshment rescuing her ...rom the heat of the mountain. Dwight slowly massaged her neck, gradually moving the cloth lower and lower down her back. As he brushed the small of her back, he leaned forward and brushed his thick lumberjack beard into the side of her neck. He reached around to grope her breast with his free hand. Maddy gasped - he had palmed an ice cube and was. It had to come. He weakened with the turning of the seasons. There was nothing I could do. We spoke of it and discussed his coming time.He thanked me for the distraction. I thanked him for his lessons and care. It was understood that we thanked each other for our love. I stayed with him until the end. I called the others and we honored him in death, in a bower high among the trees. We took turns drumming for his spirit. Before the ceremony ended, I was brought before the eldest remaining shaman. Even after all these years a mystery shrouded the ship. The ship was carrying a payload of some kind. Some speculated that it was a hoard of gold sent with an unimpressive elderly gentleman to deliver to a certain tobacco grower in the states. Others said there was a dignitary on board, one that owed a huge gambling debt and was escaping to the new world and the debtee had contracted out for revenge. Whatever the case, the mysterious massacre of the Emily Claire would not go away. Black Jack. Claire was unsure about the proposed workshop, but she left work early, making her way home in time to eat, feed Smudge and change into something more comfortable. ‘You’d better bring a rug and a cushion,’ Louise advised when she came to collect her, ‘Sophie said there would be a crowd when she brought the tickets round.’ Netherbury Farm lay on the outskirts of Little Brompton where Claire and Louise lived. The redundant farm buildings, recently converted into craft workshops, were beginning.