"But what?"
"On the ride, he looked back at you again and again."
"Did he? If he did, 'tis because he…he is sorry for what his wife did. She hurt me a little."
"Did she hurt you as bad as Old Mrs…?"
"How could anyone hurt a lovely lady such as yourself?" said a man suddenly standing behind them.
Cathleen caught her breath and took a step back, but his sudden appearance made Sassy mad. "Dare you sneak up on people?"
"I do apologize, I thought you saw me. I am Amos Wells, at your service." He tipped his straw boater hat, revealing his curly blond hair. He had a nice smile and wore loose fitting tan trousers with a dark blue, double button jacket.
"What sort of service?" Cathleen asked.
Perplexed, Amos answered, "I…well, any service you desire, I suppose. Who might you be?"
"I am Leesil and this is my sister, Cathleen."
"Leesil what?"
Still annoyed, Sassy sternly answered, "We have no last name, Mr. Wells."
Finished greeting Loretta and Pearl, Hannish glanced at Sassy and there was no mistaking the chagrin on her face. Just as he was about to go to her, he spotted McKenna approaching them.
"McKenna MacGreagor," she announced, extending her hand to the stranger. "And you are Mr…?"
"Wells, Amos Wells. I heard you were in town, Miss MacGreagor. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"And I you. We happened to pass a very large house on our way through town," she said, turning to look back. Just as she hoped, he turned too and when he did, she motioned behind her for the sisters to slip away. "To whom does it belong?"
"No one just now," Amos answered. "Unfortunately, the man building it ran out of funds and has since disappeared."
"Truly? Has no one bought the place?" she asked. McKenna saw Abigail coming her way and glanced back to make certain the sisters were gone. "Do forgive me; I must greet my dear friend."
He nodded, watched her walk away and turned around only to discover he was alone. He looked down the edge of the lake, and saw the sisters holding hands, stepping from rock to rock along the shore, with the dog right behind them. He was about to follow when Hannish showed up. "Mr. MacGreagor, you are just the man I hoped to see. Amos Wells."
Hannish shook the man's hand. "Why so?"
"I am a carpenter and I hear you need furniture. Perhaps I might interest you in some of mine."
"You have heard correctly. What sort of furniture do you make?"
"I have a shop just west of town and you are welcome to come see for yourself." Amos looked once more at the sisters. "Mr. MacGreagor, why is it that Leesil and Cathleen have no last name?"