Chapter 24

If Dane was hoping she had any news about Hale, she was at a loss.

“We heard the Carter family has this old recipe for a medicinal wine that helps with rheumatism and arthritis. Supposedly, just a couple sips and you’ll feel better p>

Dane knew it sounded like a stretch, but when it came to Baldrick, any hope was worth chasing, no matter how slim.

“They really do know their stuff,” Pandora said, nodding. She had some understanding of the Carter family. “But, honestly, we haven’t kept in touch for years. I don’t think I can help p>

Dane looked a little let down, but there was nothing he could do about it. Baldrick had told him once that Hale used to pursue Pandora. Since Pandora had moved on, gotten married, and started a family, losing contact with Hale made perfect sense.

“Finding Hale… that might be tough,” Claire said out of nowhere.

“You know Hale?” Dane turned to her, eyebrows pulled together. Even Pandora glanced over, curious.

“I’m not completely sure if the Hale you’re talking about is the same one I know,” Claire replied cautiously. “He used to live next door to, well, Pandora. He practiced traditional medicine too, but he was kind of a loner. It was like he was hiding from the world p>

Hiding away from everyone? Dane couldn’t picture it. That didn’t match Baldrick’s stories he always described Hale as bold, passionate, and outgoing.

But Pandora had something else to say. “I saw him once, a long time after all that. He really had changed. His personality was… off. Not the gentle, polite man I remembered p>

People who studied traditional medicine were usually calm and steady. But the Carter family had gone through a lot. One of their old students had reported them, and the whole family was labeled as outcasts. Hale’s great-grandfather even had his fingers broken, and Hale himself suffered a lot back then.

“So, it could really be him?” Dane’s eyes lit up, his mind racing. He needed to check for himself, no matter what.

“Do you remember where this neighbor lived?” he asked.

Claire gave him an address, but then hesitated. “But… Hale passed away p>

The news hit Dane like a punch. Hale was a good ten years older than Pandora and Baldrick, so maybe it made sense, but still p>

Even Dane, who never wore his emotions on his sleeve, couldn’t hide his disappointment. Pandora let out a son sigh Losing two old friends in one night was a heavy blow.

“Hale really is gone,” Claire explained quietly. “Pandora and I helped with his funeral arrangements p>

Pandora turned to Dane. “If Hale is gone, what will you do about your grandpa’s illness now p>

Dane ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping in. “Maybe he had students? If not, we’ll just have to keep searching for another good doctor” Baldrick’s illness was serious They’d tried many things, so but nothing had really worked. The latest doctor said that, at best, Baldrick had three years before he’d be bedridden.

Just as the mood sank lower, Claire suddenly spoke up again. “That medicinal wine… If you want, I think I can make it for you.” Dane’s head snapped toward her. “What p>

Pandora stared too. She already knew Claire was good at identifying herbs, so knowing some medicine wasn’t out of the question. But being able to make that exact remedy for Baldrick?

“Claire, are you for real?” Dane asked, trying to keep it together, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.

Even Jack was buzzing with excitement, looking at Claire like he was clinging to his last hope.