Dearest Ben,

Summer has faded and made way for autumn with a very terrible storm here in Hatrack. Fortunately, all is well in spite of the weather.

The twins seem to be settling into their jobs very nicely and Abigail is growing so fast I can hardly believe it. She is strong like her father,grandfather, and great-grandfather and already has a will of her own. Lavender has made a nice recovery. I plan on paying her a visit later this week perhaps for some tea.

For all that is happening, Hatrack is just not right without you. I miss you more than I can say, and count the days till I shall see you again. My mind drifts to you often, wondering what you might be doing, saying or thinking at that very moment, my dear. All I can do, however, is wait and comfort myself with thoughts of your kind eyes and beautiful smile.

Give my love to the Senator and Mrs. Baker as well as my dear little Seth.

Becky tried to force herself to read every word of the notice. She couldn't. Before she got as much as a quarter of the way down the page, she had torn the paper from the wall and crushed it in her hands.

A second later, she had a second thought, and smoothed it out against her skirts. Carefully, she folded the notice into a small, tight, packet, and slipped it into the pocket of her skirts where it seemed to weigh as much as a stone. Still, she couldn't afford, with the catchers after her, to lose sight of anything like this. She had to know what they were looking for, so that when the catchers came back, they would be sure not to find it.

He found the package he was looking for and tore it open with one mighty rip. The label said that it was from some post in Dekane. There was a letter in with the cookies. Landing with a thud, Seth's huge frame found a seat on the counter as he read the note and shoved cookie after stolen cookie into his mouth.

It was addressed to a something Walker. Mr. or Missus or so and so - reading wasn't Seth's strongest suit - and that the writer couldnt make it to the huge barn dance she was hosting this week. He did the math and realized it would be going on soon. Seth crumbled the note and tossed it over his shoulder.

A barn dance, huh? Bet she'd be there. And if not, he'd find someone to amuse himself with - he'd come across a cave outside of town that'd be right nice for he and a lady friend. No one could hear the screams out there, for starters. He laughed hard at the thought, burped up some cookie, and spit it into the "Out Of Town" mail bin.