Chapter 95

• When Lucas left to go speak with Patrick, Anna didn’t waste a second of her time. She bathed and dressed in something warm before she wandered out to the village. People were gathered around a fire and swapping stories with warm cups of tea and chocolate. Anna smiled at them, but they looked at her and quickly avoided her eyes. She noticed a beautiful woman seated by herself watching Anna as she passed by, but didn’t offer any kind greeting either—just a curious look.
• “Anna!” Eliza came out of one of the cabins and hurried her steps to catch up with her. Anna wondered how old the woman was. She had to guess somewhere around her mothers age—which wasn’t that old. Possibly in her forties.
• “Oh hello Eliza. How’re you today?” Anna asked as she slowed her steps to walk with the woman. She followed her to a table that had warm tea and cookies. She wondered if it was a daily thing to gather around a warm fire together—how lovely that sounded.