Chapter 9
On the grassy bench on the other side of the strip of sand where the Masked Robber’s gang is sitting in groups, Elmien and Jacques stare into the moonlit pool in front of them.
They say nothing because both are lost in their own thoughts. Jacques in the wonder of what is here next to him and how he has met her in such a remarkable way, Elmien in the realization that she is here in the company of murderers although her heart still refuses to acknowledge it.
Tonight in her room she wrote a note to Willa because she knew her sister would be restless if she came to sleep before she returned and did not find her there. She climbed out the window and found Jacques waiting for her in the peach orchard next to the road.
“You made me wait, Elmien,” he said, and before she could answer
