The downstairs, in the great room, and the dining room, were emptied of guests, other than Mrs. Stone, Teresa, Miss Hallie's sister and the

neighboring rancher's wife that had been seated next to Charlie at suppertime.

When she saw Charlie, Mrs. Stone's facial expression crumpled even more than it had been.

"What were you girls doing?" she lamented, sponging at her face with a lace handkerchief.

"We were only walking," Charlie said, wishing that she'd stayed upstairs.

"She's sure to be found, anytime now," Teresa said, in a soothing tone.

"Anything could have happened-" Mrs. Stone continued. Looking to Charlie again, she said, "Were you girls having a squabble? And Lucy

got upset?"

Charlie was grateful for Miss Hallie's light touch on her elbow, and said, stiffly, "I wanted to come back to the house. Lucy didn't want to."

"Ohhh," Mrs. Stone said, in distress.

"I'm sure Lucy made up her own mind as to what she wanted to do," Teresa said, and Charlie felt heartened at Teresa's defense.

"Perhaps," Mrs. Stone allowed. "But she must be lost-or hurt-she wouldn't be playing a trick. My Lucy's not that sort of cruel, to worry

me this way-"

To Charlie's relief, Mrs. Wilson took abrupt charge. "Teresa, let me sit," she ordered, and took Teresa's spot next to Mrs. Stone.

"You go and see if they've found her," she instructed, including Teresa, Charlie, Miss Hallie and her sister in her directions. "I'll sit

here with Belle."

Teresa looked relieved and ushered Charlie ahead of her, as the four of them stepped from the great room, and thru the dining room

to the kitchen.

"My goodness," Teresa said, with a sigh, sinking into one of the kitchen chairs.

"You look all done in," Miss Clarice said. "How about some tea?"

"Yes," Teresa said, and Clarice began filling cups with water from the teakettle, and, a few moments later, they were all seated

at the table, with cups before them.

"The water's still hot enough, don't you think?" Clarice asked, and Teresa and Hallie agreed that it was.

Charlie sipped at her own, feeling subdued. Teresa reached out to smooth back Charlie's hair.

"Don't let what Mrs. Stone said bother you," Teresa said, trying to comfort.

Charlie shrugged, and took another sip. "She thinks it's my fault," she said, dejected.

"It's not," Teresa said, firmly.

"No," Miss Hallie said. "Remember? Scott's always right." She smiled in encouragement across the table at Charlie.

Charlie smiled in return, but it was a small smile. She wished that Lucy would just pop out of wherever she was hiding, already.

At least, Charlie was almost nearly certain that Lucy was just hiding. That some terrible something or other hadn't befallen her.

Still...the thought of that something or other is what kept Charlie's insides all clinched up in nerves and worry.

Teresa was just saying that some fresh hot coffee should be prepared, so that the men could have a hot drink. She got up to

begin that task, when there was a scraping at the back door, and Murdoch came inside, with Mr. Stone on his heels.

"Where's my wife?" Mr. Stone asked, without preamble.

"She's with Mrs. Wilson, in the other room," Teresa said, pointing.

Mr. Stone walked swiftly by, his face looking drawn and worried.

"Have you-" Teresa began to ask Murdoch, as he shook his head.

"No. Not yet," Murdoch said.

"Oh," Teresa said, quietly.

Hallie stood, gesturing to the chair she'd been sitting in. "Sit down, Mr. Lancer," she offered.

"No. Thank you," Murdoch said. "I just came to find another lantern."

"I'll get it," Teresa said, and scurried from the kitchen.

Charlie had gotten to her feet, and came to stand beside Murdoch. She was silent, just standing beside him. Murdoch reached out

to pat her back. "Did you get warmed?" he asked, quietly.

Charlie bobbed her head in answer, looking up at him out of wide brown eyes. Murdoch moved to step back outside the back door, and Charlie

padded after him. She slipped her hand into his large one.

"I'm getting worried," she admitted. "I thought at first-that she was only just hiding somewhere or somethin', but she wouldn't have

stayed outside all this time-unless something really did happen because she doesn't like to get dirty, or cold, or anything like that-"

"I know," Murdoch said, squeezing her hand. "Try not to worry."

Teresa reappeared, carrying a lantern. "Here you are," she said.

"Thank you, sweetheart," he said.

"I could come and help," Teresa offered.

"No. You'd do best to stay inside. You have enough to contend with, dealing with Belle."

"Mrs. Wilson is with her," Teresa reminded. "I can help-"

"No," Murdoch said, again, his tone sharp. Immediately, he seemed regretful. He reached out and gathered Teresa in with one arm, and

Charlie with his other arm. "I'm sorry for snapping at you," he said.

"It's alright," Teresa said. "I know you're worried."

"Yes. I am," Murdoch admitted. "It won't do for her to be outside all thru the night. I don't like the fact that we haven't located her

yet."

Charlie felt a lump in her throat tighten. "I shouldn't have left her," she said.

"You did exactly right," Murdoch said, firmly.

"Yes. There's no way you could have gotten Lucy to do anything that she didn't want to do," Teresa said.

Mr. Stone came out again, his steps seeming heavy. He looked to Murdoch, and sighed. "Well-" he said, and

trudged off into the darkness.

"Alright. I'd better get along," Murdoch said, and just as Charlie was reluctantly releasing his hand, he paused, looking thoughtful.

"You don't suppose," he said.

"Suppose what?" Teresa asked him.

"Well, Charlie's comment a moment ago-how Lucy doesn't care to get dirty, and such-" he hesitated, still thinking.

"Yes?" Teresa prompted.

"Well, it's just a thought. Is it possible she's hiding in the house?" Murdoch asked, sounding contemplative. "Could she have circled back and

slipped inside without being noticed?"

"I never thought of that," Teresa said, and turned immediately. "We'll start-"

"Wait, now," Murdoch cautioned. "Don't say anything to Belle just yet. Enlist Hallie and Clarice to help you look over the house, but don't let

on to Lucy's mother as to what you're doing. No point in upsetting her more, if Lucy's not in the house. If you find her, one of you ring the bell to let

the men know. Alright?"

Both Teresa and Charlie nodded in agreement, and Murdoch walked into the darkness after Mr. Stone

"If she is-" Teresa muttered under breath, sounding angry. Once back in the kitchen, Teresa told Hallie and Clarice about their task of searching the

house over for the errant Lucy.

"Oooo," Hallie said, her eyes flashing. "Do you suppose-I mean, is she that horrid of a child?"

Charlie and Teresa exchanged a glance, and then Teresa said, "Well, let's see if we can find her first, and then we can answer that

question."

L

Short chapter, hope everybody is doing well, and finding some joy in their days.