When Mercy rose with the first blinking of the hazy morning sun, she threw back the quilt with a gasp. Her dreams had left her uneasy, unsettled and some how invaded. Where was Prudence? The cabin was empty.  With a sigh, Mercy readied herself for the day and dressed. While she was making the bed, she mulled over the details of the injured girl. She must go to the authority today. Some man or men were in the forest attacking women and the community would not be safe. She had just stirred the fire when a pounding came on the door.<br/><br/>"Who calls so early?: Mercy asked, even as she was raising the latch.<br/><br/>"Jane."<br/><br/>She opened to find the ferret faced woman with faded blue eyes standing on the stoop, holding some freshly baked buns.<br/><br/>"I have brought sustenance. Would you share breakfast with me?" the town gossip inquired, weaseling her way in without an invitation.<br/><br/>"I suppose since you are here," Mercy said dryly. "Won't you be seated?"<br/><br/>Without preamble the woman handed her a bun and began to share news.<br/><br/>"Brother Wagner was found dead this morning by the dogs. He was laying half in and half out of his root cellar, his pants around his ankles. He reeked of strong drink. What a scandal!. If he had not have been dead, he would have spent a fortnight in the stocks. I have heard stories about him anyway, how he spied on women in the privy house or hid in the bushes while they bathed in the stream. I have heard other stories about him liking to entertain more than one woman at a time in his bed with his goodwife."<br/><br/>"Oh, Jane, is it enough that the man is dead? and in a compromising position. Do you have to make up such abominable tales as that?" Mercy exclaimed, putting the warm bun on the table. " I am no longer hungry and have work to do. Please leave."  She crossed to the door, holding it open. Jane gathered her basket, holding her chin high. As she stepped through the door, she stopped.<br/><br/>"You won't tell anyone of our visit? I don't want to visit the stocks meself for gossiping. I'm only telling the news. Everyone needs to know the news." she whined.<br/><br/>"Jane, just go. I have more to do that to tattle to the authority about your idle gossip."<br/><br/>The rest of the day Mercy found herself too busy with cleaning and churning to go to the church to talk to the Reverend Deacon but soon, she promised herself , perhaps after the evening meal.