She had been working for over two months now and slowly, gradually, the townspeople had started to accept her, seeing her as Jassy McCloud, a person in her own right, instead of just a whore’s daughter. She had never thought it would happen, never dreamed the people of Harrison would be able to overlook her past. For the first time, she knew what respect was, what it meant to be able to walk down the street with her head held high. She went to church on Sundays, finding comfort in the hymns, in the Psalms. She smiled at Kate Bradshaw, owner of the Harrison Tea Shoppe, exchanged greetings with Elizabeth Wills, who was standing on the boardwalk, sweeping. She was making friends. It was a good feeling. Climbing the stairs of Gratton’s Mercantile, Jassy nodded at Mr. Thomas, feeling a strange catch in her heart as she realized the old man was sitting in the rocking chair that had been Creed’s favorite. Mr.
