The morning flew past as Sage met and learned about Cooper's Creek; for a non-existent village on the map, it was modernised; the buildings remained the same stone structures from centuries before, but the amenities were definitely updated. From the bathroom to the coffee machines, the village functioned as well as any tourist trap would; the only people in this particular village were those born and raised. One or two belonged to people who had found sanctuary at the house; other than that, everyone knew everyone else.

Sitting back in the comfortable wooden chair, Sage took in a bustling marketplace, "This morning was amazing," she said, watching the people barter for items, "everything about this place surprises me."

"What surprises you the most?" Maddy asked, leaning on the table, sipping her wine glass as she followed Sage's watchful gaze.

"Where to start?" Sage sighed, "I think the first thing was how modern it is and then the fact that there is no currency …" she shook her head, "… not true, I know, but no currency that people from outside would understand."

"You're not going to call it the Cooper's Creek Coin, are you?" Maddy chuckled.

"Ah, no, I don't think so," Sage chuckled, "whatever the people here call it is just fine. Guess I'll have to get a job to earn my keep and buy what I need."

Maddy cocked her head, "Why would you do that?"

"I don't have any of the currency used here, and somehow, I don't think there is a place that does exchange rates anywhere here," Sage said, looking around the small town.

"You don't know," Maddy said softly, "what were you told when you were to accept this assignment?"

"Not much," Sage said, "I was told I would be coming here to write about the legend of the house and that it would solve my problem of getting away from my family. Honestly, that was all the incentive I needed to come here."

"You needed space from your family that badly," Maddy whispered, shaking her head, "heavens … I thought it was just an exaggeration about the messages and the ex-boyfriend."

"No, it was actually worse than I told you," Sage said, "at one time, when I had first moved into my apartment, this store truck arrived with furniture for my place."

"That must have been nice," Maddy said, smiling and nodding but slowly stopped as Sage started shaking her head, "not nice. Why?"

"I didn't know anything about it," Sage said, "I hadn't shopped for it, hadn't chosen it, and frankly, I never liked it."

"Who did all of that for you?" Maddy asked, horrified.

"My mother and sister-in-law," Sage said, "you see, she was approved, and my brother had married the person my mother chose for him."

"Chose? Like an arranged marriage?" Maddy asked.

Nodding, Sage sighed, "Cooper's Creek doesn't even do that," she shook her head, "When it came to me, my mother decided that twenty-one was a good age to be married and threw a stream of men in front of me, at me, around me. I felt like I was drowning in them."

Maddy started to chuckle, "I shouldn't be laughing; it sounds awful," she cleared her throat and tried to smother her grin, "Did you like any of them?"

"There were a few that I could have been friends with," Sage said, nodding, "but romantically… the way my mother wanted it …" she shook her head, "… I couldn't see myself waking up with any of them every morning for the rest of my life."

"What did your mother do?" Maddy asked softly.

"She chose the one she liked best and pushed us together every chance she could," Sage said, "I got a job far from home, so they couldn't turn up at my office randomly, but it didn't stop my boyfriend from doing it. He became super clingy, and when I tried to tell him I didn't like it …" Sage groaned at the memory, "… that is when I discovered this person was the chosen one for the rest of my life."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"No," Maddy gasped, "when did you break up with him?"

"Immediately," Sage said, shaking her head, "everything suddenly made sense right away, and that afternoon, I found an apartment close to work and moved out."

"Wow," Maddy shuddered, "I couldn't imagine my father being like that; he is more about keeping everyone at bay …" Maddy sighed, "… he keeps saying something about the right one will show himself."

"I like that," Sage said, "meaning you just get on with your life until he appears. No stress."

"It would be nice to have one of the boys I grew up with to be a friend," Maddy said, "I have … no one. My father will not allow it."

"Oh my, I'm sorry," Sage said, stretching out her hand and clasping one of Maddy's, "well, you do have one friend. Me."

"Really?" Maddy asked, frowning, "Do I?"

"Yes, you do," Sage said, "hopefully I have a friend in you."

Maddy smiled, "I don't think I've ever had someone I can call a friend."

"You must have had someone growing up," Sage said, sipping at her wine glass, "someone you played with."

"A brother," Maddy said, "but he's one of those who didn't return after tertiary education."

"Oh no," Sage sighed, "you must miss him."

"Yeah, since he's my twin," Maddy said, shaking her head, "I miss him very much."

"You have a twin," Sage said, "Wow, that must have been nice to have that kind of connection with … anyone growing up."

"It was," Maddy smiled, "we've always had twins … it comes from my Dad's side of the family."

"Really? Not your mom's side?" Sage asked; Maddy shook her head.

"All the women look similar; that is from my mom's side," Maddy smiled, "but the twin thing is from my Dad's."

"Interesting," Sage nodded as her mind flew in multiple directions, "do you have a family name that everyone passes down to everyone else?"

"You mean like the men calling their firstborn son by John so everyone is called the same name, and they all answer at the same time when you call one of them?" Maddy asked, grimacing.

"I guess you do," Sage grinned, "but what about the women?"

"Hmmm, not really," Maddy said, "we don't call everyone by the same first name," she paused briefly before continuing, "... we do have a few people who have had the same second name or have been named after two people so it's the first and second name … but nothing as irritating as a first name for everyone."

"Seems that women have more sense," Sage said, "any of those names recurring?"

"Hmmm …. I know my Grandmother was called Carla Mary," Maddy said, "my mother was called Amabel Charlotte Mary, but that didn't happen with me," Maddy said, "I was named Madeleine Carlotta Amabel Mary."

"Four names before your last," Sage said, "that must have been something when you were growing up."

"Not easy to learn or remember how to spell all of that," Maddy said, grimacing, "my brother also carried four names; it was a little strange."

"Hmmm, do you know where your names come from?" Sage asked.

"Apparently, our ancestors, whoever they may be," Maddy said, turning toward the marketplace as they heard her name being called. A smile broke over her lips, and she waved, "Are you ready to meet our Historian?"

"That would be amazing," Sage said, pushing to her feet and following Maddy toward a larger stone house near the back corner of the square, "why didn't we meet him before lunch?"

"He was busy," Maddy said, grinning, "fishing."

"Ahhh, that would definitely take up time," Sage said, chuckling, "I can't wait to chat with him."

"Then be prepared with lots of answers," Maddy smiled as she pushed open the front door, and they stepped into the coolness of a large entrance hall, "Stuart," Maddy called.

"Back here," a male voice called, and the women wandered through various glass cases holding items, documents and pictures, "remember gloves, please."

"Yes," Maddy said, pulling cotton gloves from a bag hanging on an open door and handing them to Sage, "you need to wear those at all times."

Nodding, Sage pulled them on as they moved further into a large room, wandering toward a corner where a tall man in white gloves stood looking through papers; he turned as they approached, smiling. Sage stared at him, stunned by his grace and startling blue eyes.

"You must be Sage," he said, "as you heard, I'm Stuart."

"Hi Stuart," Sage said, inhaling, "I'm looking forward to learning about the house, town and the supposed legend attached to it."

"Then you have a lot to learn," he smiled, "take a seat, ladies, and let's get started."