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might do well to remember something,’’ she began and nodded toward the sampler. Each of the men paused and then, following her direction, glanced at the sampler and back at her.
    ‘‘ ‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’ ’’ she whispered. ‘‘I stitched that sampler many, many years ago. How I wish my dear mother were still here, that I might love her and honor her wishes, regardless of how old she had become or how old I had grown to be. My mother passed to glory long ago, but you’re both blessed to have your mother still here. It’s neither my place nor my intention to question why your mother has chosen to come and work here, but she’s not a child. She’s eighty-one years old. She has a sound mind and a right to decide her own future.’’
    She paused and looked from one man to the other. ‘‘I pray someday she might want to return home to live with both of you from time to time. Until then, please honor her wishes to stay here at Hill House. And honor her request not to speak with either of you today. Perhaps you might like to speak to Reverend Glenn instead. As you know, he’s living here at Hill House now. I’m certain he’d be willing to discuss the merits of the fifth commandment with both of you.’’
    James was the first to relent and step back from her desk. His shoulders were stiff with annoyance, but his gaze had softened. ‘‘I’m not sure why my mother is being so difficult, but I trust you will provide well for her here, at least temporarily. Tell her . . . tell her to send for me when she wants to come home.’’
    When she nodded in reply, he walked past his brother and let himself out.
    Andrew simply continued to glare at her. ‘‘James is a fool, and my mother is obviously becoming senile. You have until Sunday to convince her you made a mistake hiring her. I’ll expect her to leave with me after services,’’ he hissed, then turned on his heel and slammed the door shut the moment he stepped outside.
    Emma briefly shut her eyes until her heartbeat slowed to a normal rhythm. With more than a little divine inspiration, she had managed to secure a few more days for Widow Leonard to think through her troubles before she had to face either of her sons. The nature of the wedge that had driven the two brothers apart still remained a mystery, but Emma had lived enough years and learned more about the variety of troubles that could drive families apart to know the root of the problem was related to either love or money.
    James and Andrew had both been married for a good number of years. Money, either the lack of it or the opportunity to acquire it, was the more likely culprit. Given the change in the economy brought to the area by the building of the Candlewood Canal, the Leonard brothers were no doubt experiencing the same challenges that faced many other longtime residents: to change and grow with the times or to cling to the past.
    Faith was the one anchor that would hold them steady.
    Faith would strengthen the ties that bound them together as a family.
    ‘‘Simply faith,’’ she whispered and prayed James and Andrew might rediscover the power of faith in their lives to end the bitterness between them.
    Until they did, Emma would put her own faith to work, perhaps with a little assistance from Zachary Breckenwith, who was her lawyer as well as her financial advisor.
    After all her guests left today.
    After Hill House was restored to proper order.
    But well before either James or Andrew thought better of leaving their mother at Hill House and returned to force her to leave.

5
    S IX HOURS AND COUNTLESS ACHING muscles after the last guest had left, Emma stopped cleaning long enough to take a turn around the first floor to survey the progress they had made setting Hill House back to rights.
    She started in the center hall at the front door. Ditty had swept the wraparound porch free of dirt and debris left by the storm and wiped down the porch chairs after helping Emma remove