She felt more relief than she cared to admit when he said he'd return to Whitby. Her fist relaxed. She didn't know why she cared. Him returning would complicate things. Especially if he went after the people who had hurt Noah, as he seemed ready to do.

"Relax, will ye. It was old Ben Ward among others. Remember wee Alice Ward, our little Miss Teacher?" A gleeful smile played around her lips. "Well, she's not so wee and perfect anymore. Noah got 'er pregnant, idiot that he is. Anyway, t' police are on their side, so don't ye go causin' trouble. They're not worth it. What else? Oh, Claude ran off. Haven't 'eard from 'im in a long time. They stuck Alex in a reformatory over some stupid stuff. I got two bairns of me own, Sam, who's just turned two and Lucy turnin' one. But ye won't see 'em unless ye promise to behave."