Free Buried Sins by Marta Perry Page A

glanced toward the jewelry, seeming not to notice the gesture, but Keith slid past her to take Caroline’s hand. “Welcome to Churchville, Caroline. I’m Keith Morris.”
    You couldn’t fault Keith’s manners, even if you did think him too much of a featherweight to be mayor of any town, no matter how small. Maybe the voters had been bemused by the freckles and aw-shucks smile.
    “My son is the mayor of Churchville, you know.” Agatha never missed an opportunity to mention that. She cast a critical eye at the quilt. “Karen says you had some question about an antique quilt. If it’s that one, it’s not nearly old enough or unique enough to be of interest.”
    Caroline seemed to stiffen at the slur. “No, I’m familiar with the history of this one. I found an older quilt in the attic at Unger House, one made by my grandfather’s grandmother during the 1850s. It has an interesting design—a combination of flying geese with a star. I’d like to know more about it.”
    He expected Agatha to welcome the opportunity to show off her expertise. She could be counted on to launch into a lecture at a moment’s notice.
    But she didn’t. She stood perfectly still for a moment, staring at Caroline as if she’d said something off-color. Then she shook her head. “I’m afraid that would hardly be worth pursuing. Such quilts are rather common—of no historic interest at all.” She turned away. “Come, Keith.”
    With an apologetic glance at Caroline, Keith followed his mother down the crowded aisle between the tables.
    “Well.” Karen sounded as surprised as he was. “I’ve never known Agatha to miss an opportunity to tell someone exactly how to do almost anything.”
    Caroline shrugged. “Obviously she didn’t think my quilt was worth her time.”
    Could be. But it was still odd. Odd things seemed to collect around Caroline Hampton, for some reason, and he’d like to know why. Until he did—
    “Daddy!” A small hurricane swept toward him, and Ruthie launched herself as if she hadn’t seen him for months, instead of hours. “Grammy said you’d be here.”
    He lifted her in a hug and then set her back on her feet, overwhelmed as he so often was at the way God had brought her into his life. He ruffled her dark-brown curls as his mother came up behind her.
    “Ruthie, you shouldn’t run off that way.” Mom divided a smile among them, sounding a little out of breath.
    “Mom, Ruthie, this is Caroline Hampton.”
    Ruthie caught the edge of the table with two probably grimy hands and propped her chin on it, eyes wide as she looked at the jewelry. “Wow. Did you make those?” Before Caroline could answer she’d ducked down and crawled underneath the table cover, to pop up on the other side next to Caroline, beaming at her. “I love your jewelry. Someday I want to have earrings just like yours.”
    Smiling, Caroline bent down to let Ruthie touch the dangling spirals of silver that danced from her earlobes. His daughter touched the earring, making it shimmer.
    “Ruthie, come out of there now.” Instead of waiting for her to crawl under, he reached across the table and lifted her in his arms. “You know better than to go into someone’s booth without permission.”
    But that wasn’t what put the edge in his voice. It was the sight of his daughter leaning against Caroline.
    Caroline took a step back, her face paling as if he’d struck her. He was sorry. He didn’t want to hurt her.
    But like it or not, Caroline was a question mark in his mind. He’d give the woman the benefit of the doubt in any other instance, but not where his daughter was concerned.

SIX
     
    “Y ou really don’t need to stay and help me.” Caro opened the trunk of her car, peering around the lid at Rachel, who’d walked over from the house to help unload.
    “It’s no problem.” Rachel seized a cardboard box. “Andrea wanted to stop by the show to help out, but she’s swamped, with tax time approaching.”
    Rachel seemed to