True Justice

"I'm obliged for the concern you have for your boss, but I am perfectly capable of staying out of harms way." Terence said with a nod. "You, however, are not."

"I insist, Miss O'Teale."

True Justice

"Yet again, you underestimate me. I am quite capable at staying out of harm's way. I do it all the time." Shay pulled herself to her feet. "I think you'd do well to realize that I don't need your help. However, since I'd prefer to keep my job, I shall resume my spot on this chair, and watch you make a fool of yourself. You could have let me fix the floor, but your stubbornness got in the way, didn't it?"

True Justice

"There is nothing you can do for me. I am perfectly happy living by myself." Elle said, not bothering to turn around anymore. She turned down a lane and led Jinna toward the edge of town, where a meadow lay.

~~~

"I am not the only stubborn one." Terence gave her a pointed look. He waited till she was settle back in the chair before he lowered himself to the ground, pushing the board down with his knees. When it was back in place, he hammered a few nails into the wood.

Satisfied with his work, he stood, dropping the hammer by the door and placing the nails into a small bucket on a hook. They dropped to the tin bottom with a high-pitched clank. "All done, with no hint of making a fool of myself..."

True Justice

"Yes, well, at least we have something in common." Shay smirked and propped her ankle up on the sacks once more, watching Terence finish his work.

"Well, I stand corrected. Although I wish you had hit your thumb with a hammer or something like that. Not that I want to see you get hurt, mind you - but it would've been rather amusing."

True Justice

"I would never give you that satisfaction." Terence picked up the broom once more and began sweeping. "What do you know about the traitor? It seems to be the talk of the town...

True Justice

Jinna nodded absent-mindedly at Elle's last comment as her mind was suddenly flooded with memories. Gracie was on her mind now, and there she would stay. For six years, Jinna had wanted to find her. For six years, her options had been limited. Now, finally, she had a lead. She might find her baby girl. Gracie...how much that girl meant to Jinna and John.

As they neared the meadow, Jinna smiled. She was getting closer to her Gracie with every step that she took.

True Justice

"I know nothing of the traitor." Shay shrugged. "I haven't really taken much interest in it at all. Do you know anything?" She picked up the ropes and continued to twist them together. "That man who spoke to you back at the mercantile seemed to know her."

True Justice

"I know her. I also know that she would never put herself in such a position. She's a kind woman, not one who would be tried and arrested for treason." Terence shrugged. "Either Adrian is mistaken, or he'll find out the truth of what's happening and, in turn, he will tell me and we will take action from there. I would be out there trying to find things out, but I have work to do here. I'm already behind schedule. I'll have to work twice as fast now..."

"Adrian and I have been for years. I would do anything to help him, and if what he suspects is true, then I will do whatever I can to help free Aeryn. But until then, I will be here. Adrian knows where to find me."

Terence set aside the broom and returned to his carving. "I give up on that job...Too feminine..." Since his stool was being used by Shay, he stood and carefully carved on the wood.

True Justice

"How do you know she wouldn't commit treason?" Shay frowned. "I'm sure a lot of people thought that about their friends and family members who betrayed them."

"You're probably behind schedule because you won't let me help. My ankle feels fine now. I can finish sweeping." She held up the three finished ropes. "I'm also done with these."

True Justice

"If you knew her, you wouldn't think otherwise..." Terence said, leaning forward to examine his work. "She's a sweet-tempered, mild-mannered woman. If she was anything other than that, I wouldn't support my friend, Adrian, for loving her." He looked at her. "There is no way she could possibly be a traitor. There must be some misunderstanding."

"I was behind schedule before I even met you, Miss O'Teale." Terence chuckled. "You can just set the ropes aside. I'll take care of them in a few minutes." He blew away some shavings on the wheel.

"I don't have anything for you to do at this moment, but you're welcome to keep me entertained until I can think of something for you to do. Sweeping is out of the question. For you to be on your feet will only hurt your ankle more." He looked at her.

~~~

Elle turned to face Jinna, once they reached the end of town and were about to step into the meadow. A few livestock animals chewed on the fresh, green grass, but other than that, the meadow was abandoned. "The cabin was here."

True Justice

Jinna looked around quietly. So this was where Gracie's mother had grown up. Then, the woman had left, married, and had a child. Jinna wondered absent-mindedly if Gracie had any siblings. If not, that was a plus; there would be more reason for Gracie to come back to live with John and her, where there were other children to play with. Mark's birthday was coming up. If only Gracie could be back by then...

"Was this the last place that you saw your sister?" Jinna asked Elle quietly.

True Justice

Elle shook her head. "No, I will show you that place next." She walked out a little bit, to a certain spot. "This is where the house stood. Gracie was born here."

True Justice

Jinna followed Elle to the spot and stood there, looking about herself as though lost in a dream. She slowly spun around 360 degrees until she had made a full circle. A tear slid unheeded down her cheek and a sob broke from her throat. Jinna kneeled down and bowed her head, overwhelmed by the lost love she held for her child. You aren't going to find Gracie here. you'd better keep looking. she reminded herself. Forcing herself to stand up, she looked at Elle. "How old was Gracie when your sister left this place?" Jinna wiped the tears from her cheeks and took a deep breath.

True Justice

Elle shook her head. "I cannot tell you for sure. Maybe 4..."

She lifted her hands and pulled a chain from her neck. A small, heart-shaped locket hung from the silver necklace. She pried it open with her fingernail and held the open locket out to Jinna. Inside, there was a small lock of blonde hair glued to the heart. "I found this after I burned the house. It may be my sister's or it may be Gracie's. I don't know."

True Justice

Jinna reached out as though she was not sure whether or not she was allowed to finger the locket. Her eyes were wide and glistening as she studied the lock. It was so like Gracie's... and yet it might have been her REAL mother's. "Was there anything else that you kept?" Jinna asked, forcing her eyes away from the locket and to Elle's face. "Perhaps there is something...something to tell where she is, which way she went..." Jinna looked off for a moment. "What was the next place you were going to take me? if our business is done here, I would like to move on. It has already been six years, and I cannot bear to wait any longer."