more about two of the original familieswhoâd settled here. He wanted to ask Lorene and Alice if they knew anything about the Mayeaux family or about the ancient feud Mr. Gauthier had told him about. A feud between the Mayeaux and the Brysons, according to Mr. Gauthierâs scanty recollections. Maybe Alice would be able to help him some on that without him having to tell her his real reasons for wanting information. But her next words dashed that brief hope.
âWhat were you doing at Mr. Gauthierâs place today?â she said, her question echoing in the silence. And it was just a bit accusatory, even if she did have a sweet smile on her face.
Surprised, Jonah almost choked on the sip of tea heâd just taken. âHow did you know I was there?â
âIâm a reporter, remember? I hear things.â She shrugged. âAnd see things.â
âYeah, right.â He wondered if she had indeed been âshadowingâ him all day. And what else had she heard?
Lorene dropped her spoon. âAlice, what on earth are you talking about? Mr. Gauthier doesnât let people onto his property.â
âWell, he did today. I saw Jonah there.â
âYou were following me, then,â Jonah said, feeling both triumph and trepidation.
âYes, I drove by and checked,â she admitted, seemingly not in the least ashamed or embarrassed.
He had to give her credit for being honest, but he knew her well enough by now to know she wasnât telling him everything. âYou canât just drive by that place. If you saw me there then you must have snuck up to the house.â
She leaned forward, tenting her fingers, her elbows hitting the table. âWhat if I did?â
âThatâs not very professional, is it?â
Her smile actually looked serene. âI wasnât actually working at the time. I was just curious.â
He smiled back, polite but firm. âOh, I get it. You wanted to catch me doing something sneaky?â
âAlice, pass me the butter,â Lorene said, her voice full of warning.
Alice slid the pristine crystal butter dish across the Battenburg lace tablecloth toward her sister, but her eyes stayed squarely on Jonah.
âArnold Gauthier? Is that man still alive?â Jay asked, a hint of amused curiosity in his question.
âHe was very alive today, but Iâm surprised Jonah still is,â Alice answered. âDid you two have a good talk?â
Jonah dropped his white linen napkin, his face fixed in his own fake smile. âAs a matter of fact, we sure did. He told me a lot of things about this town, things that will help me get a handle on the kind of community Iâm rebuilding. Good things and bad things.â
âAbout the whole town or just the Mayeaux family?â
Jonahâs pulse throbbed like a toothache, jarring his whole system. He liked this woman but sheâd gone too far, messing in his personal business. âAbout both, actually. Itâs all part of the history. Just like this house and your land is part of the history.â
âThe Mayeaux family?â Lorene looked from Jonah to Alice, then back at her silent husband. âThey were trouble from the get-go, according to my daddy. Theynever did like any of our relatives and they caused our parents some worries, too. I was real young, but I was relieved they moved away. Why do you want to know about them, anyway?â
âThatâs what Iâd like to hear,â Alice said, her arms now crossed over her stomach. âWhy donât you tell us what you learned from Mr. Gauthier, Jonah?â
Jonah turned to Lorene. âI did talk to Mr. Gauthier about the Mayeaux family. He said theyâd all left years ago, but he also told me they had a hard time and struggled to make ends meet. Iâm going to find out more before I pass judgment.â
Alice leaned forward, her interest obvious. âWhy would you want to know about them? What