his face, and was transfixed by the glorious realization that the carnal caress, even through their clothes, had almost sent him over the edge. She liked knowing he was that turned on. She bent her head to let it rest on his left shoulder, her face turned into his throat. The hot man-smell of him filled her with both excitement and joy.
“You should leave now,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“Yes.” She had things to do, and even more to think about. On the trip up she’d felt as if she was approaching doom, but what had actually happened between them now made her as exhilarated as if she’d successfully been playing hooky. She was going to have sex with Ben Jernigan, someday soon. The situation in the valley was still fraught with tension, difficulty, and possible danger, but that was balanced by the amazing fact that people kept on being people, doing what they had done for eons. Sexual attraction, getting drunk on hormones and pheromones . . . she had to say it was an excellent counterbalance to everything else.
He lifted her down from the hood and opened the driver’s-side door for her. “I’ll be at the store early. You said you’d start at nine, but people will be lining up by daylight.”
“I hope I have enough gas for everyone.”
“Anything is better than nothing. Ration it, so everyone gets some.”
Reluctant to leave him, she told him about her idea of making braziers to heat and cook, for the households that didn’t have fireplaces, if they could find a potter and a kiln for firing the clay. He nodded. “Good idea. There should be a potter in the valley, with all the crafts going on around here. If there is, there’ll need to be fireproof brick, or slate, or an indoor sand pit to put under the braziers so they won’t burn the floor.”
“Another thing to think about,” she said, sighing. “Every solution comes with its own problem, doesn’t it?”
“Way of the world.” He leaned down and kissed her again, as if, now that he’d started, he intended to seize every opportunity to do so. She didn’t mind at all.
As she turned the SUV around and drove down the mountain, she began mentally worrying at the complications that could develop. She hoped the woman who knew a woman who had thrown pots had some good news. So much had happened today that she couldn’t remember the possible-potter’s name, but she did know who had said she’d check. Finding that out came before everything.
Sela thought about stopping at Carol’s when she drove by, but her hair was still damp and even though she was alone she could feel herself blushing. No, she didn’t want to explain why her hair was wet; not only did she not want anyone knowing she’d taken a shower in Ben’s house, but Ben might not want anyone knowing that he had a working shower with beautiful hot water. Instead she went to her own home and built up the fire, then sat in front of the flames combing her hair until it was dry. Oh, it felt so wonderful, to be clean from head to toe—such a little thing, but a huge boost to her sense of well-being. When her hair was dry she pulled it back and secured it with a clasp at the back of her head, the way she usually wore it these days.
Then she walked back to Carol’s house, and let herself in. “How’s the patient?” she asked Barb.
“I can hear you!” Carol yelled from the bedroom, answering that question, because she sounded cranky and impatient.
“The whole county can hear you,” Sela countered, going into the bedroom because obviously Carol was awake.
“Ha ha.” Carol shifted uncomfortably on the bed. She didn’t look feverish, which was great, but neither did she look well. Now that twenty-four hours had passed, her bruises were blooming, including one on her jaw that had been nothing more than a red spot last night. “My leg hurts, my ribs hurt, and my head hurts. I’m tired of this. I’m bored. I want to move to the living room.”
“Sorry. You can move to the portable toilet for right now, but that’s it. How about a book to read?”
Carol glared at her. “I have a book, thank you, and you’ve turned into a tyrant. Power has gone to your head.”
Sela burst out laughing, and bent to kiss Carol’s forehead. “You wanted me in charge, so if I’m a