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She would sell the horses and find a boat to take them up the river Even if the fever came back, she could take care of Lizzie as well on a boat as she could in this hot, s toward their goal

She got up and splashed a little water on her face, twisting her sweat-soaked hair up out of the way She loosened the cru plans in a dreamy, disconnected sort of way

A boat, on the river Surely it would be cooler on the river No h muscles ached from four days in the saddle They would sail to Cross Creek, find Jocasta MacKenzie

"Aunt," she htly as she reached for the oil-dip lained a kindly white-haired old lady ould greet her with the saood to have fahts, as he did so often She resolutely pushed hih to think of hinats hovered over the flame, and the wall nearby was spattered with the arrowed shapes ofrespite from their quest She pinched out the flame, scarcely hotter than the air in the room, and pulled the shirt off over her head in darkness

Jocasta would know exactly where Jaet to theh the stones, she thought of Jaher mother Her mother would knohat to do for Lizzie; her

She spread a folded quilt on the floor and lay down nakd on it She was asleep inof the s looked better The fever had broken, just as before, leaving Lizzie spent and weak, but clearheaded, and as cool as the cliht’s rest, Brianna had washed her hair and sponge-bathed in the basin, then had paid the landlady to keep an eye on Lizzie while she, dressed in breeches and coat, went about her business

It had taken oodmouths as men realized her sex--to sell the horses at what she hoped was an honest price She had heard of a ton and Cross Creek in his canoe for a price She hadn’t found Viorst before dark, though--and wasn’t about to hang around the docks at night, breeches or no breeches Morning would be ti, Lizzie had been downstairs when she returned to the inn toward sunset, being cosseted by the landlady and fedand chicken fricassee

"You’re better!" Brianna exclaiulped her ain, and Mrs Ss Oh, it’s so nice to feel clean again!" she said fervently, laying a pale hand on her kerchief, which looked freshly ironed

"You shouldn’t be washing and ironing," Brianna scolded, sliding into the bench beside her ain"

Lizzie looked down her thin nose, a prim smile perched at the corners of herto meet your Da in clothes all spotted wi’ filth Not but what even a clarty goould be better than what ye’ve got on" The little ly over Brianna’s breeches; she didn’t approve at all of her mistress’s penchant for male costume

"Meet ?" A flare of hope shot up inside her, a sudden bright puff like the lighting of a gas stove

Lizzie looked s

"I have that And ’twas all because of the washin’, too--s its reward"

"I’m sure it does," Brianna said dryly "What did you find out, and how?"

"Well, I was just after hanging out your petticoat--the nice one, aye, wi’ the lace about the he of ly over her

"All right! I’, one of the tavern’s patrons had co fine He had admired Lizzie’s domestic skills and taken up a pleasant conversation, in the course of which it was revealed that this gentleman--one Andrew MacNeill by name-- had not only heard of James Fraser but ell acquainted with him

"He is? What did he say? Is this MacNeill still here?"

Lizzie put out a hand andmotions

"I’m sayin’ it as quick as I can No, he’s not here; I did try to make him stay, but he was bound for New Bern by the packet boat, and couldna bide" She was nearly as excited as Brianna; her cheeks were still pale and sallow, but the tip of her nose had gone pink

"Mr MacNeill knows your Da, and your great-auntie Careat lady, he says, verra rich, with a trereat house, and lots of slaves, and--"

"Never mind about that nohat did he say about my father? Did he mention my mother?"

"Claire," Lizzie said triumphantly "Ye did say that was your Mam’s name? I asked, and he said yes, Mrs Fraser’s na healer--did ye not say as your mother was a fine physician? He said as he had seen her do a desperate operation on a man, laid him smack in the middle of the dinner table and cut off his ballocks and then stitched theht there on the spot, wi’ all the dinner party lookin’ on!"