Free Blood Kin by Judith E. French Page A

folks be neglected.”
    â€œYour grandfather was a pastor as well, wasn’t he?”
    â€œFather, grandfather, and great-grandfather, not to mention the uncles, cousins, and even a great aunt—although she went over to the Quakers when she marrieda Dickerson from the Eastern Shore. Mother had hopes that Daniel would study for the church as well, but . . .” Matthew sighed. “He wasn’t cut out for it. Nor for being a farmer or a waterman. Smart. Did well in college, but he always had a restless air about him. Had a high-paying job with the government for years.” He shook his head. “Gave it all up last fall. Quit and came back here to pound nails. Lots of people thought Daniel was crazy to give up the pension. Not much money in being a carpenter.”
    â€œI was hoping that I might have a look at some of the church baptismal records this morning. Mr. McCready said that I was christened here as an infant.”
    Matthew yanked out a dandelion and added it to the growing pile of wilting weeds. “Hmm. What would that be? Thirty? Thirty-odd years ago?”
    â€œThirty-five.”
    He looked thoughtful. “My father was pastor here then. He would have been the one to officiate. Trouble is, Father was better at delivering fire-and-brimstone sermons than keeping his records in order. I have a meeting after lunch, and tomorrow is full. Give me a few days and I’ll take a look and see if I can locate the book for that year. But don’t get your hopes up—the seventies are pretty sketchy.”
    â€œOh.” She’d hoped to get a chance to read them today, but it sounded as though Matthew was going to be as pleasantly unhelpful as the rest of them. She forced a smile. “There is another idea I had. I’d like to go and talk to my great-uncle Will. Could you give me directions to his home?”
    â€œWill Tawes?” The pastor frowned, and for just an instant Bailey thought she read panic in his eyes. “Mr. Tawes has a bad reputation on the island,” he saidstiffly. “Not mentally stable. He isn’t a member of our congregation. Hasn’t attended church in . . .” He scoffed. “Not since his brother’s wedding, as far as I know.”
    â€œMr. McCready says that Will—”
    â€œYou can’t accept Forest’s opinion. He defended Will at the trial. One of his first cases. They lost, and Forest has always felt as though it might have been his fault—that if he’d had more experience, he could have kept Will from going to jail.”
    â€œHow long did he serve?”
    â€œNine years. Went to prison a bitter man and came back worse. No.” He shook his head. “He’s not someone you want to associate with. He’s dangerous.”
    â€œThat’s what your brother said.”
    â€œIs it?” Matthew looked slightly puzzled. “Daniel should know. Sometimes I think they’re a lot alike.” He gathered the weeds into a basket. “I hope those baptismal records still exist. Unfortunately, we had a fire a few years back, and . . .”
    â€œI hope they aren’t lost.”
    â€œWe’ll remain optimistic.” Matthew rubbed his back. “Tomorrow I have church business, and there’s Birdy Parks’s birthday on Friday. I might get to those records Friday morning, but the following day, Saturday, is our archeological group’s monthly dig day. Five, six of us—four ladies and two men—go with me to our new site in Creed’s skiff.”
    â€œWhat kind of site?”
    â€œQuite exciting. An Indian fishing camp, at least we think it is. We’ve found some Woodland-era pottery and some points and fishhooks. If you’re interested?”
    â€œYes. I’d love to come. If I wouldn’t be—”
    â€œAlways room for one more enthusiastic digger.Dave’s visiting his son in Oxford, but his wife will be there. Alice. You’ll