Chapter 46
Maynard stared at the empty stall for a good long minute, as if willing the horse to reappear.
He gritted his teeth in vexation. Mischievous students again. Perhaps they were responsible for the note after all. But how were the two connected?
He had just awoken the stable hand and sent him off in search of the horse when he saw the Willow Cottage matron huffing down the path, bed-cap still clapped to her head, a shawl wrapped around her nightgown.
“Mrs. Hitchcock, what on earth are you doing out at this hour?” Maynard asked.
“Have you seen ’em?” she asked breathlessly.
“Seen whom?” Maynard asked.
“Miss Crandall and Miss Wells. They’re not in their rooms. A critter yowling outside woke me. I checked all the girls’ bedrooms since I was up. That’s when I seen they were gone.
