Where Love Dwells by Delia Parr Page A

maybe we would stop in to make sure Wryn got everything. Do you have a list of what she purchased in the account book?”
    Smiling, Addie reached under the counter to get the account book, set it on top, and opened it up. “Here is it,” she said and pointed to the center of the page. “She didn’t get all that much. Just two tins of sweets and some beef jerky. A bone-handled knife, which I wrapped up real good for her, and some needles and thread,” she said before looking up again. “Was there anything else you needed?”
    â€œOnly Wryn,” Emma muttered under her breath. “I’ll be back early in the week to settle up the account,” she promised.
    Addie closed the book. “That’s fine. How long will you be staying in Candlewood, Mark?”
    â€œFor a few weeks.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to meeting your wife and your boys.”
    â€œI’ll be sure to stop in with them. Did . . . did Wryn happen to mention before she left if she was heading back to Hill House?”
    â€œWith all those packages she was carrying, I thought she would be, but she said she still had a few stops to make. I offered to let Mr. Atkins take her packages to Hill House for her when he left to take the other supplies, but she insisted on keeping them with her.”
    â€œThank you for offering to help her,” Emma said before departing. Amazingly, they found that Wryn had made only one other stop along Main Street, at Carson’s Stationery Store, where she had purchased a day book and several writing tablets.
    Unfortunately, her trail ended there.
    Standing at the corner of Hampton and Main Streets with her son, Emma was cold and exhausted. She also knew that if she didn’t get these boots off soon, she would be sporting a whole family ofblisters on her feet. “It’s still a long walk back to Hill House,” she said as a shiver raced down her spine. “I’d dearly love to warm up with a cup of tea.”
    â€œIf you like, I can take you back to the hotel, where you can have your tea while I go back to Hill House and get the wagon to take you home.”
    â€œI don’t want you to go to all that bother.”
    â€œAfter all the trouble I’ve brought home with me, it’s the least I can do,” he said. “I don’t mind. Truly.”
    â€œI know you don’t, but . . . wait. I think I have a better idea,” she said after rejecting any notion of stopping in at Zachary Breckenwith’s. He had not been supportive, at first, when she had taken in Aunt Frances. He was the last person she would expect to support her when it came to taking in Wryn, especially once he found out about the young woman’s shopping adventure today.
    Emma did, however, know where she and Mark could get the advice they both needed. “I know exactly where we could both warm up in front of a nice fire with a good strong cup of tea,” she said as she urged him to turn around. “Remember when I wrote to you and Catherine about Reverend Glenn getting married and working again as our assistant pastor?”
    He nodded. “We got the letter just before we left.”
    â€œWell, his cottage is only a few squares away. I know he would love to see you and introduce you to Aunt Frances. With the weather as it is, it’s not likely they’ve had a single visitor today. Besides, I haven’t been to check up on them for almost a week now, and I want to make sure they’re faring well on their own.”
    â€œBut what about Wryn?” he asked as they started back the same way they had just come.
    â€œShe’s probably made her way back to Hill House and hidden all of her booty by now. If she has, then Mother Garrett will besure to keep a close eye on her. If she hasn’t, then we’re both going to need to warm up before we walk back to Hill House and get the wagon to start searching for her again.”
    Emma and