Read The Tale of Halcyon Crane for Free Online Page B

had even made the reservation for me. If he thought I could take Mira into my confidence, he would’ve said so. He had alluded to a “situation” that had occurred around the time my father left with me all those years ago, something the islanders who were living here then had not forgotten. Now was not the time to find out if Mira was one of them. She was the only innkeeper still open on this island. If she threw me out for claiming to be Madlyn Crane’s long-dead daughter, I’d be without a place to stay.
    “I’m seeing William Archer on a legal matter.”
    She looked at me, a mix of interest and curiosity in her eyes. “Oh?” Clearly, she wanted to hear more. “It’s really none of my business. It’s the innkeeper’s curse; we’re naturally inquisitive.”
    “No, it’s perfectly all right,” I said to her, hesitating. “I’m here to talk with Mr. Archer about Madlyn Crane’s will.”
    Mira stared at me for a moment and my mind raced, trying to think of a plausible way to backpedal away from an explanation.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said slowly. “I didn’t think Madlyn had any living relatives.”
    I had succeeded in digging myself into a nice little hole.Should I admit who I was? Keep silent? Saying as much as I already had was clearly foolish.
    “I’m not exactly—” I began, and then stopped and started again. I didn’t want to tell an outright lie. Too many lies had been told already. “I really don’t know much right now. I got a letter from Mr. Archer requesting me to meet with him about the will. I didn’t know Madlyn Crane. I knew her work, obviously, but beyond that—”
    She squinted at me. “You’ve never met the woman?”
    “I don’t remember ever meeting her, no.” It was technically the truth.
    She raised her eyebrows. “You’ve come all this way at this time of year to talk about the will of a woman you didn’t know.” A statement.
    I was starting to get more than a little uncomfortable with her intrusion into my personal business. What did she care why I was here? Why was she grilling me like this? “Actually, if you must know, I’ve been dealing with quite a lot at home lately, and when I received Mr. Archer’s letter I was grateful for the chance to get away for a few days.”
    “If you
must
know,” wielded correctly, always turns the tide. I watched as her suspicion melted into concern mixed with what might have been a good dose of chagrin.
    “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I understand. Everyone can use a getaway now and then, even in November.”
    “In any case, I’ll learn more tomorrow when I see Mr. Archer. I’m curious to find out about all of this, too.”
    The conversation turned to other things, and we spent the rest of the evening quite amicably. After all, she hadprepared dinner for me and was doing everything she could to make me feel at home. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that had crept up my spine when I mentioned Madlyn Crane’s name. It was as though Mira’s suspicion and mistrust had worked its way into my body and was taking root, reminding me to be on guard.
    When I finally retreated to my room I climbed beneath the thick down comforter, but I couldn’t shake the cold.

· 5
     
    I awoke with a start, a silent scream catching in my throat. Someone had touched my face; I was sure of it. I sat up fast. Was somebody here, watching me as I slept? Mira?
    Moonlight streamed in from the bay window, illuminating the room with an eerie whiteness. My heart was pounding in my chest as I looked around: my bags, the television, the armoire, the window seat. Nothing seemed amiss.
    I slipped out of bed and poked my head into the bathroom. Empty. So was the closet. Nobody was under my bed, either. After checking the lock on my door—bolted, the chain fastened—I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath all the while.
    It had been a dream, then.
Silly.
    I tried settling back down under the covers, but the adrenaline rush