and mentor.”
Karen easily recognized the resemblance between Peter and Miranda. Although Miranda’s hair and eyes were darker, her chin and mouth were clearly the same. The woman smiled and extended a gloved hand. “I’ve heard so much about you, Miss Pierce. Grace speaks of you often.”
Grace smiled. “The pleasures and joys of one’s life deserve special consideration. Karen has been both to me. Karen, this is Miranda Colton.”
Karen shook the woman’s hand. “Miss Colton.”
“Please call me Miranda.”
“Only if you call me Karen.”
The woman laughed. “Oh, I shall, for I feel I already know you very well through Grace.”
Karen seriously doubted that either Grace or Miranda knew her at this point. She felt only rage, anger, and now complete confusion. She would soon have to tell the Barringer children about their father and then decide what was to be done in order to see to their welfare.
Grace picked up the conversation. “We went first to the store only to find it gone. Whatever happened?”
“Paxton.”
Grace raised her brows. “Martin Paxton?”
“The very same. He burned down the store and killed Aunt Doris.”
“What? Doris has passed on?”
Karen saw the pain in Grace’s expression. She touched her friend’s arm to offer comfort. “Adrik Ivankov woke us. He saved the rest of us—the Barringer children. I thought Aunt Doris was with me, but I only had hold of her blanket. The smoke had overcome her and she collapsed. Adrik went in after her, but . . .” She paused, trying to keep her voice from breaking. Taking a deep breath, Karen changed the subject. “But what of you? How is it that you’re here? Aren’t you worried about Martin Paxton?”
“I don’t think he’ll bother me now. I’m married. He knows he’s lost.”
“He knows nothing,” Karen said, walking back to the wooden chair. Angrily she plopped down, not even caring that she had done so in a most unladylike manner. “Martin Paxton is to blame for the fire. He’s promised to make all of us pay. He managed part of that threat with the fire.”
“But how do you know it was Mr. Paxton?” Grace asked in grave concern.
“I saw him at the fire. He was watching us as we came out of the building. He smiled at me, Grace. Smiled that smug, ridiculous smile.”
“That doesn’t mean he actually set the fire,” Grace protested.
“I suppose you would just forgive him even if he stood there acknowledging the deed. Peter said that would be your attitude. He said you didn’t understand that men like Paxton never change.”
Grace stepped back and frowned. “Peter spoke against me?”
Karen saw Miranda take hold of Grace’s arm. “Surely he wouldn’t,” Miranda stated.
“He didn’t say it to speak against you, but merely to explain to me why you wouldn’t be inclined to believe anything against Paxton.”
“I know Mr. Paxton to be an evil man. You forget, I was the one who had to deal with him first,” Grace said, anger tingeing her tone.
“I don’t forget, but apparently you do. Peter said you wanted to send the man a letter of forgiveness. Why would you ever want to do that? You owe him nothing. He’s the one who should apologize.”
“But the Bible calls us to forgive our enemies and do good to those who wrong us,” Grace protested. “You taught me that.”
“I don’t care. The man is evil and deserves to pay for what he’s done. The Bible is also full of examples where people were justly punished.”
“That’s true, and if Mr. Paxton started the fire, he should indeed pay,” Grace replied. “But, Karen, what if you’re wrong?”
“Do you have proof?” Miranda asked. “Proof that the authorities might recognize?”
“I know Paxton, and I know what he’s capable of. It was the middle of the night, and he had no other reason to be here in Dyea. I feel no doubt whatsoever. He was responsible, and he must pay for what he’s done.”
“Just listen to you,” Grace said,
Karen easily recognized the resemblance between Peter and Miranda. Although Miranda’s hair and eyes were darker, her chin and mouth were clearly the same. The woman smiled and extended a gloved hand. “I’ve heard so much about you, Miss Pierce. Grace speaks of you often.”
Grace smiled. “The pleasures and joys of one’s life deserve special consideration. Karen has been both to me. Karen, this is Miranda Colton.”
Karen shook the woman’s hand. “Miss Colton.”
“Please call me Miranda.”
“Only if you call me Karen.”
The woman laughed. “Oh, I shall, for I feel I already know you very well through Grace.”
Karen seriously doubted that either Grace or Miranda knew her at this point. She felt only rage, anger, and now complete confusion. She would soon have to tell the Barringer children about their father and then decide what was to be done in order to see to their welfare.
Grace picked up the conversation. “We went first to the store only to find it gone. Whatever happened?”
“Paxton.”
Grace raised her brows. “Martin Paxton?”
“The very same. He burned down the store and killed Aunt Doris.”
“What? Doris has passed on?”
Karen saw the pain in Grace’s expression. She touched her friend’s arm to offer comfort. “Adrik Ivankov woke us. He saved the rest of us—the Barringer children. I thought Aunt Doris was with me, but I only had hold of her blanket. The smoke had overcome her and she collapsed. Adrik went in after her, but . . .” She paused, trying to keep her voice from breaking. Taking a deep breath, Karen changed the subject. “But what of you? How is it that you’re here? Aren’t you worried about Martin Paxton?”
“I don’t think he’ll bother me now. I’m married. He knows he’s lost.”
“He knows nothing,” Karen said, walking back to the wooden chair. Angrily she plopped down, not even caring that she had done so in a most unladylike manner. “Martin Paxton is to blame for the fire. He’s promised to make all of us pay. He managed part of that threat with the fire.”
“But how do you know it was Mr. Paxton?” Grace asked in grave concern.
“I saw him at the fire. He was watching us as we came out of the building. He smiled at me, Grace. Smiled that smug, ridiculous smile.”
“That doesn’t mean he actually set the fire,” Grace protested.
“I suppose you would just forgive him even if he stood there acknowledging the deed. Peter said that would be your attitude. He said you didn’t understand that men like Paxton never change.”
Grace stepped back and frowned. “Peter spoke against me?”
Karen saw Miranda take hold of Grace’s arm. “Surely he wouldn’t,” Miranda stated.
“He didn’t say it to speak against you, but merely to explain to me why you wouldn’t be inclined to believe anything against Paxton.”
“I know Mr. Paxton to be an evil man. You forget, I was the one who had to deal with him first,” Grace said, anger tingeing her tone.
“I don’t forget, but apparently you do. Peter said you wanted to send the man a letter of forgiveness. Why would you ever want to do that? You owe him nothing. He’s the one who should apologize.”
“But the Bible calls us to forgive our enemies and do good to those who wrong us,” Grace protested. “You taught me that.”
“I don’t care. The man is evil and deserves to pay for what he’s done. The Bible is also full of examples where people were justly punished.”
“That’s true, and if Mr. Paxton started the fire, he should indeed pay,” Grace replied. “But, Karen, what if you’re wrong?”
“Do you have proof?” Miranda asked. “Proof that the authorities might recognize?”
“I know Paxton, and I know what he’s capable of. It was the middle of the night, and he had no other reason to be here in Dyea. I feel no doubt whatsoever. He was responsible, and he must pay for what he’s done.”
“Just listen to you,” Grace said,
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