The girl turned and spat at her mother, then abruptly switched her attention to Tamara. She stuck out a long, pointy finger and shook it.

"You! You think you can have him, but you cannot! He belongs to me! One day he and his men will ride to me again and they shall take me away from my suffering!" The girl's mouth twitched, bits of spittle pooling in the corners. "He is mine!"

With an abrupt shriek, Sarah shot to her feet, knocking her chair over with a clatter, and flew from the room. The front door slammed behind her.

Mrs. Nichols stared after her, then the woman's face crumpled in upon itself and Tamara ran to help her into a chair.

"My daughter. Oh, that is not my daughter..."