Lark shook his head. “No ma’am. I’m sorry. I just realized I am at the wrong house.”

The woman advanced and Lark stepped backward.

“Who are you looking for? Perhaps I can help,” the woman said as she continued to approach him. With every step she took toward Lark, he took a step back. He turned at last and hurried back to his horse. He mounted and spurred it to a trot as he lifted his hat politely to the woman and rode off.

She stopped halfway down the pathway and watched him curiously as he rode away.

Lark knew he had found Erin. He had sought to expedite the...