the other end of town. He rarely turned his head in her direction, and any questions she posed got only a grunt or an ‘I don’t know’ in reply. His face was flat and emotionless, even though she knew a mighty storm was raging behind it.
Skye considered getting a bus ticket for the return trip.
She didn't actually need Jamison to come with her, but it was nice not to be going alone. She might see a familiar face. After all, Marcus had frequently dealt with Somerleds in this area. But for the most part, she felt like a vampire, going to see other vampires. They were her own kind, but that was where it ended. There wasn’t much of a possibility of danger, though. No one would try to eat her mortal escort for a snack.
Surely.
They made good time without Jamison speeding too much. The gas station attendant couldn't stop staring, even while talking to them. He must have never seen a Somerled with a non-Somerled before.
Around one o’clock they started up the canyon. Half an hour later, they entered a glorious valley and Skye was grateful for the ability to appreciate the surreal shades of green that deepened with every mile. Vast fields of crops, and stock yards bursting with livestock lined both sides of the road up to the ranch house. The earth was so moist that their tires kicked up very little dust on the unpaved driveway that took them to the expansive front lawn. Jamison parked at the edge of the grass and they both climbed out.
A woman came out on the porch, wiping her hands, smiling at Skye, then frowning at Jamison.
“Don't worry, Jamison. They have no reason to mess with your memory,” Skye whispered across the car roof.
“Yet,” the woman hollered. “No reason yet.”
When it looked like Jamison was going to jump back in the car and drive away, the woman started laughing and waved them inside.
Skye was happy to see another Somerled woman. Already she’d proven friendlier than the one in Flat Springs.
The woman didn't wait at the door for them, so Skye opened the screen and walked inside, dragging a reluctant Jamison behind her. The entry was dim, in spite of the hour. More generous light and the sounds of activity drew them to the back of the house.
Four women, besides the one who had greeted them, stood around high wood tables, cutting up pumpkins, separating the seeds, chopping up the sides. They were covered in orange up to their elbows, their short shirtsleeves rolled up like army recruits, their white aprons only white around the edges. Their hair was pulled up tight and covered with bandanas. All that was missing was a cigarette hanging between their lips and they'd look like a nineteen-forties ad for Uncle Sam, only they weren't manufacturing guns or ammo.
“Be careful.” One woman grinned. “Lanny reads minds whether you want her to or not. If you've got something to hide, better get out of the valley.”
The others laughed, including the one Skye suspected was Lanny.
Skye tried to picture the list of Somerled communities in her mind, trying to remember how far away the next one was.
“Too late, missy. I already know why you've come. No need to leave until we've got you straightened out.”
Lanny was still grinning. The others had stopped laughing and exchanged looks that made Skye change her mind—she was grateful there weren’t more females at home.
***
“You there.”
Jamison looked around. Lanny was glaring straight through him, making him feel as transparent as a ghost. He put a thumb up to his chest and hoped it wasn’t shaking.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Get out of my kitchen. Go help the menfolk, if you can. We’ll deal with this one. Don’t need you in here, mucking things up.”
“No.” Jamison didn’t know where his sudden abundance of balls came from. He was just happy they’d arrived. “I’m not going anywhere without her. She’s not going anywhere without me.”
“Aw, look ladies. Ain’t he sweet? A regular Romeo.”
“More like a dog in love with a cat.” The tallest woman wiped her arm across her face. Jamison was glad the arm was orange, and now, so was the woman’s cheek.
Lanny laughed, and Jamison knew she’d read his thoughts.
He tried what he’d used on Lucas the night before, focusing on other things.
The road, the white line down the middle, the drying grasses along the side...the road, the white line, the grasses...
Lanny laughed again, then stopped like she’d hit a brick wall. “Son, I told you