The cell was small and stone. Although the occupant was a thin woman, her presence filled the room to overflowing. I could feel it in the hallway. I set my chair down just out of arms reach from the thick iron bars, removed my hat and sat down. I smoothed…

Elden was always such an obliging person: a foster mother to me, who took better care of me than my own mam, always had been. There was nothing she wouldn't do for me, no tear too small to wipe away, no threat too menacing to face.

At eleven I was plagued…