Page 65 of Kissing Kin
“And why?”
“All good questions.” He picked up the cameo. Then turning it in his hand, he clicked the lever and stared at the delicate weave of hair. “Whose was this?”
“Rosie mentioned Marianna had a baby that didn’t survive…”
“Are you thinking what I am?” He lightly ran his fingers over the baby-fine plait. “Could this hair belong to that child?”
“Maybe…Marianna cuddled it until the end, which reminds me. Did the chair rock on its own in your apartment?”
“Can’t say I noticed, but if it’s the brooch that’s…what? Enchanted? Possessed? Haunted…” He rubbed his eyelid. “It sounds crazy, but maybe whatever’s haunting it rocked the chair.”
“It is crazy, but I’m starting to think it’s true.” She met his gaze, then glanced at the chest. “I still haven’t organized Marianna’s journals. I just stacked them in the chest—”
“Her hope chest.” He narrowed his eyes, reflecting. “How strange that Marianna’s belongings are together once again.”
“I wonder if she used to keep her diaries in that chest.”
“Possibly.” He shook his head, rousing himself. “But you were saying…”
“Tonight, I’ll arrange the journals according to dates, and we can read them in chronological order. Maybe Marianna mentioned whose hair is in the brooch.”
“Good idea—maybe after dinner?” He glanced at the time. “Let’s grab a bite before the morning’s gone. I plan to finish the patio bar if you want to prune vines.”
“Sure.” She opened the door, and a clap of thunder sounded. “Then again…”
Drops of rain splattered the ground.
“Better make a run for it. I’ll take Teddy. Here, boy.” He picked up the puppy and held him close as he dashed toward his quarters.
“I’m right behind you.”
Once inside, he set down the dog and took two bowls from the cupboard. “I made oatmeal.”
“Hits the spot on a rainy morning.” She glanced out the window. “How long is it supposed to rain?”
He pulled up the app on his phone. “Looks like all day. The patio’s covered, so I can work, but you won’t get much pruning done. The fields will be too muddy.”
“Why don’t I run into town to do some research at the library?” She caught his gaze. “Okay to borrow your truck?”
****
“Luke said you might be here.” I recognized Mamie behind the library’s information desk.
“Yes, I volunteer Tuesdays and Saturdays. What brings you in?”
“Research. Could you help me find information about the previous owners of Luke’s property.”
“Sure, let’s start with the Appraisal District’s online search. This way.” Mamie led me to a computer and found the link. “Type in the address, then click the search button.”
Three previous owners appeared, two in the nineteen-seventies and another in the fifties.
“We’d hoped to find more historical information, going back to the eighteen-hundreds.” This search might not be so easy…
“Got it. “ Mamie nodded. “You want the original land surveys and homestead records, right?”
“Exactly.” Relieved to be in good hands, I took a deep breath.
“To give you a little background, Spain gave land grants from the 1700s to 1810, when Mexico declared its independence. Then Mexico offered colonization policies until 1836, when Texas declared independence, and settlers became eligible for first-class headrights.”