By 1799, Mrs. McKeiver had lived in the Hills for twenty-one years, time enough to be an accepted midwife and herbal healer. Widowed now, she cares for her brilliant twenty-year-old son, crippled when a child. In addition, she cooks for the poor with donated food, as Poor Relief bread alone is insufficient. This annoys the Bishop, furious that the Reverend Reeves delivers it and lets the poor grow food on Glebe Farm. She is regularly faced with mysterious pregnancies, plus children being abused by their parents and carers. However, she cannot go on without a husband's support. Funnily enough, he has been waiting.