"Yes."

There were half a dozen female servants in the house and Nell. I didn't see my governess doing this; she had been as ecstatic to see me as John. It made sense the first woman sent back to this era was close, that she might be hiding nearby or within the ranks of servants.

"He knew nothing about you except that you had to be stopped."

I looked up at Fighting Badger's words. "Who?"

"The man who tried to hurt my brother and you. He set fire to the cabin as a warning to my brother."

"So he knew your brother?"

"He said he did."

"What happened …" I stopped. His memories formed once more, and this time, they were absolutely horrifying. "Stop, stop, stop!"

They dissipated into shadows. Fighting Badger smiled.

I released a breath. "Okay. You found the one with blue eyes. What about the other?"

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"Other?"

"There were two men in your head that night," I said. "This one and one who was … think about that night again." The memories were faint and very hard to distinguish, given how dark and stormy it had been. "You saw him. I couldn't find him in your head if you hadn't. He was camouflaged, a large shadow, one who had been following you. At one point you thought you heard him?"

"I did," Fighting Badger was hushed. "I saw nothing."

"I saw him, and I think you did, too. I don't think you knew it at the time though."

He snatched my arms suddenly enough that I gasped. "What else? Tell me who he is." His dark eyes burned into me.

"That's all I can see. That's all there is."

Fighting Badger glared at me.

"I wouldn't lie to you," I whispered. "Especially after you helped me."

The fire faded from his dark depths, and he released me.

"Miss Josie!"

"I have to go," I said and stepped back. "You shouldn't be seen here."

Fighting Badger didn't budge. He was still enough to be a statue, his eyes the only part of him that moved. He was watching me.

"Thank you for helping me," I added.

He shifted finally and turned away.

Of all the people here, I understood him the best and least. Our shared skill did nothing to shed light on the source of his depravity.

Hungry and unnerved, I left the well. It was near noon, and I had learned all I thought I would from the dead women in the well. Uncertain what to do with the knowledge of the location of their bodies, I dwelt on their memories while arguing silently with how to help women who were already dead.




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