Jane Sterling thought of the hunched old man she had seen during the day and sighed in spite of herself.
For something like this to happen to one family... it was nothing short of a tragedy.
"But the silver lining is that the old couple found a boy a long time ago, right here by the river..."
The Village Chief clapped his hands, and Jane Sterling's eyes flew open wide.
"They found a child?"
Instantly, Jane Sterling and Drew Thorne exchanged a look. The Village Chief hadn't mentioned this to them.
Seeing their bewildered expressions, the Village Chief slapped his own forehead.
"Oh, dear. I'm getting old and forgetful. I forgot to tell you. But that boy left home a few years ago."
"Left?"
Jane Sterling frowned.
"What do you mean by 'left'?"
Jane Sterling hesitated. The Village Chief scratched his head, not understanding her question.
"He just... left. Went to find his birth parents."
Jane Sterling let out a sudden sigh of relief. 'I thought he meant the boy died...'
