Sins of a Shaker Summer by Deborah Woodworth

of breath from Irene. Good, Rose thought. Such rudeness would surely prevent Irene from feeling tempted by a forbidden relationship with Benjamin. At least, she hoped so.
    â€œWe never really spoke in depth about your work,” Rose said. “Have you a special interest you are following, or do you simply conduct the experiments Andrew chooses for you?”
    Benjamin reddened as the gentle jab hit its mark. “Andrew knows nothing about my work,” he said. “He’s got some pharmacy training, book learning, but that’s about it. He’s a businessman.”
    â€œI see. So you must have a more extensive background in medicinal herbs?”
    â€œIndeed I do,” Benjamin said, arrogance marring his smooth voice. His gaze flickered to Irene and back to Rose. “I’ve studied the ancient uses of herbs as curatives, both in Europe and here among the Indians. I’m building on all that, and I’m close to developing some remarkable medicines.”
    Rose nodded, momentarily speechless in the face of such pride. Had he confessed it to Elder Wilhelm? She thought not. He probably did not recognize hubris in himself. Moreover, she was sure this display was meant to impress Irene.
    â€œHave you found anything that can help those poor little girls?” Irene asked.
    â€œMy guess is they don’t need anything else besides what Josie already did for them—a good, old-fashioned emetic and a sedative. They’ll come around when they’ve had enough rest, and maybe they’ll remember the emetic next time they’re tempted to get into the cleaning supplies.” Benjamin’s face softened as he spoke to Irene, but Rose thought she heard wariness in his voice.
    â€œSo you think that’s what happened?” Rose asked. “They sampled a cleaning solution? Those solutions are hardly appetizing, I’d think. Why would they do such a thing?”
    â€œWhy do children do anything?” With a wave of his hand, Benjamin dismissed the rationality of all children. “They probably did it to get attention. They need to be watched more carefully.”
    â€œThose girls have suffered dreadfully, and I hardly think they knew what they were doing!” The forcefulness in Irene’s voice grabbed the attention of several Believers seated around her, who interrupted their own conversations to glance over with interest. Benjamin was too startled to speak. Rose settled back against the slats of her chair and waited a few moments before breaking the impasse.
    â€œI was wondering, Benjamin,” she began when the interest around them had waned, “could the girls have gotten into something in the Medicinal Herb Shop or garden?”
    â€œNay, impossible. Their silly . . . I mean, their adventure took place in the afternoon, when all of us were in the shop. We can see the garden through the east window. The door and all the windows were open to let in some air, so we would surely have heard if children were giggling away outside.” He grimaced and glanced at Irene as he realized that more harsh words about children would likely displease Irene. Irene sniffed but did not speak. Rose tried to keep from smiling.
    â€œWhen Gretchen found the girls, she said Nora thought she was a monster,” Rose said, “and at the healing—”
    Benjamin’s lip lifted in a cynical arch, which hardened his attractive features.
    â€œAt the healing, Nora kept talking about a bad angel. Does any of that mean anything to you, Benjamin?”
    â€œNay, why should it?”
    â€œI just wondered if, in your extensive study of the medicinal properties of herbs, you might have run across anything that might cause such a reaction.”
    â€œNay.” Benjamin’s gaze wandered off into the distance. He fidgeted with the round collar of his clean work shirt. He was hiding something; Rose could sense it. But she also knew this was not the time to