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  Relief turned my spine to jelly and I slumped, letting out a long sigh. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t know how long she’ll stay but I doubt it’ll be more than a few days. And her name is Nichele Brown.”

  “All right, don’t worry about a thing, Storm Cloud Dancer. Just enjoy visiting with your friend. But, dear…” She rose, her eyes troubled. “Please talk to your counselor about this. You need to learn to trust. You deserve the happiness and fulfilment of knowing you’re loved for who you truly are.”

  Guilt heated my cheeks and I dropped my gaze to my toes. “Thank you. I will.”

  Chapter 19

  At two o’clock, Dave’s big highway tractor growled into the field beside the road. As soon as it pulled to a stop Nichele bounced down from the cab wearing her usual exuberant grin, but I could see lines of strain around her eyes.

  “Aydan! It’s so great to see you, girl!” She flung her arms around me in her customary bear hug.

  “Great to see you, too!” I returned the hug, grinning in spite of my worry. Dave clambered down from the cab carrying Nichele’s giant suitcase, and as he set it down and straightened I went over to collect a hug from him as well.

  “Take care of her, Aydan,” he muttered into my hair. “Call me if it gets dangerous.”

  “I will.” I gave him a reassuring squeeze before stepping back and putting on a smile. “Hey, Nichele,” I teased. “Are you sure about this? You’re really out in the sticks here. There isn’t even an internet connection.” I conveniently omitted my own secret setup.

  Nichele gave me a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s perfect. I need to get away from everything for a while.” She turned to Dave. “Thanks for the ride. See you. Drive carefully.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips before pulling away.

  “I will.” He hesitated, his brow furrowed with worry. “Call me when you get a chance. Or if you need a ride home.”

  Nichele smiled a little too brightly. “I will. Now scram. I want some girl time.”

  Dave nodded, opened his mouth as if to say something else, then closed it and turned to climb back into the cab. Nichele and I stood watching in silence until his truck was out of sight.

  Then I turned to face Nichele. “What’s up?” I demanded. “You hate camping. And I’m pretty sure your cell phone is surgically attached to your hand and you’ll fade away and die without an internet connection.”

  Her face crumpled into misery. “He asked me to marry him.”

  “Oh.” I kept my expression neutral. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” she wailed. “Everything was so good between us. Why did he have to spoil it?”

  “I doubt if he meant to spoil it.” I hesitated, then dove in. “He’s not like your dad, you know.”

  “No, I don’t know! How do I know he’s not boinking every floozy he meets along the road? Or if he isn’t now, how do I know he won’t start as soon as we’re married? I can’t live like my mom did. I can’t just put up with it and pretend it isn’t happening.”

  “Oh, Nichele!” I pulled her into a hug, my heart wrenching as she clung to me. “It’ll be okay,” I murmured. “Trust me, Dave’s not like that.”

  “How do you know?” she demanded, pulling away to glare at me through tear-smudged mascara. “You don’t! You can never know until it’s too late!”

  “Okay, you’re right,” I conceded with a sigh. “But look at it this way: You said everything was perfect up to now, but you still couldn’t be sure he wasn’t cheating on you while he was on the road.”

  “Yeah, but we weren’t married. I could just dump him and walk away.”

  “Like you did with all those other guys,” I said gently. “You never gave them a chance. Do you really want to throw away what you’ve got with Dave?”

  “No.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes, smearing her makeup even more. “But…” Her eyes brimmed up again. “I’ve already lost him. We can’t go back to the way we were now. This will always be a huge ugly thing between us. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?” She swiped the tears away angrily.

  “Maybe it doesn’t have to be a big ugly thing,” I argued. “Maybe it’s not a yes-or-no question. You could tell him you need some time to get used to the idea. I know Dave loves you. He’ll give you all the space you need, and I’d be willing to bet he’d never cheat on you.”

  “I don’t know, Aydan. I just…” Nichele sniffled again before straightening resolutely and digging a tissue and a compact out of her purse. “Never mind. I’ll figure it out. Oh-em-gee, I look like a raccoon! Here, hold this.”

  She pushed the mirror into my hand and set about repairing her makeup. When she was done she retrieved the compact and tucked it into her purse before looking up at me with a grin that only wobbled slightly around the edges. “Okay. Take me to meet your crazy aunt and uncle.” She glanced around the empty field, frowning. “Is there a shuttle bus or something?”

  I laughed. “Poor little rich girl. I told you you’d hate it here. There’s no shuttle bus or concierge or bellhop. If you brought it, you get to drag it to wherever it needs to go.”

  “Well, that sucks.” She grabbed the handle of the suitcase. “Good thing it has wheels.”

  “Uh-huh,” I agreed, eyeing the dense grass and uneven terrain. “Good luck with that.”

  After watching her struggle almost to the edge of the field, I relented and reached for the suitcase handle. “Here, let me do it. That thing’s nearly as big as you are.”

  “Thanks.” She relinquished it with a sigh of relief, rubbing her shoulder. “I was thinking about just leaving it here and walking back to get what I needed every morning. Is it a long way to the commune?”

  “We’re on commune land now, and we’re pretty close to the encampment.” I hoisted the suitcase over the remaining lumpy ground and onto the gravel road. “Come on, Moonbeam and Karma want to meet you, and they’ll take us to your tent.”

  Nichele had apparently decided to shelve her personal worries, at least for the moment. Her usual sparkle returned and she chattered all the way to the encampment, bringing me up to date on our mutual friends and making not-so-subtle inquiries about the state of my love life.

  When we arrived at the encampment she gawked unabashedly before asking, “So how does this work? I get a tent, but what about food and bathrooms and stuff?”

  “Your tent will probably be in this area.” I indicated the tents scattered around us. “In the main building there’s a big kitchen with three wood stoves and you do your own cooking. You can take whatever you want from the iceboxes or the pantry and if you use the last of something, you write it on the grocery list. The showers are in the main building, too, along with the laundry and school and library, but you probably won’t get assigned a shower slot. There’s always hot water in the boilers of the wood stoves so you can wash up in your tent. The latrines are up by the main building, too.”

  “Wow, this is freaky.” Nichele gazed around her. “It’s like going back in time.” She shot me a look. “It’s ‘way nicer than you said. These aren’t tents, they’re yurts. Raised wood floors and everything. And the weather’s beautiful.” She waved a hand at the blue sky and sunshine.

  “Yeah, but this is the first day it’s been nice,” I grumbled. “And yurt or not, it’s still a canvas tent. See how you like it once the fog rolls in and it starts raining.”

  “Oh, don’t be such a grouch.” She shot me a quizzical look. “No wonder you’re cranky, sweating in that big jacket. Why don’t you take it off? I’m comfy just like this.” She indicated her crisp khaki shorts and scoop-necked tank top.

  I surreptitiously wiped my forehead under the pretense of pushing my hair back. “I’ve spent the last four months freezing my butt off. I’m enjoying the heat,” I lied. “And anyway, it’s easier to wear it than carry it.”

  And the pockets were full of classified technology, but I couldn’t tell her that.

  Nichele shoo
k her head. “You’re nuts… Oh, look! Is that cat pregnant, or just super-fat?” She pointed at Peaches waddling down the path toward us.

  “Pregnant. This is Peaches.” I crouched to pet her and her purr rumbled up under my hand. “One of the other cats had her litter a few weeks ago,” I added. “The kittens are absolutely adorable. I’ll show you later, but with your allergies you probably don’t want to touch them.”

  Nichele sidestepped as Peaches came over to inspect her. “Sorry, Peaches, I can’t pet you. Why do cats always go to the person who’s trying to avoid them?” She dodged Peaches again, eyeing her critically. “Oh-em-gee, Aydan, she’s so fat! That can’t be good for her. Don’t they spay and neuter their cats here?”

  “Yeah, but they keep a couple of females intact so they can maintain the population.” I leaned down to give Peaches a quick chin-rub before walking on in deference to Nichele’s feline-avoidance tactics. “They only let them have a couple of litters each, and then they’ll spay them and choose a new female to breed.”

  “Oh, that’s good.”

  I hid a smile at her satisfied expression. Even though she might not be fond of cats, Nichele’s world-bettering crusades were legendary. I had no doubt that she would have been pushing for a spay/neuter program within minutes of arriving if she thought it was needed.

  We rounded the corner and Nichele leaned over to whisper, “That’s got to be your Aunt Moonbeam.”

  I grinned at the sight of the slight figure fluttering toward us in her rainbow tie-dyed caftan. “Yep.”

  Moonbeam gave us one of her luminous smiles, eyeing us as though amused by the contrast between my boots and baggy faded jeans and Nichele’s crisp summer attire topped by perfect hair and makeup.

  I made the necessary introductions and Moonbeam turned to study Nichele with the slightly unfocused gaze that indicated she was reading an aura. I imagined my steel door rolling down in front of me, feeling a little foolish for believing in it but too uneasy not to.

  Moonbeam’s smile brightened as she wrapped Nichele in a hug. “You have a lovely aura, dear. Welcome to our home.”

  Then she stepped back and reached into one of the folds of her caftan for one of the ubiquitous hemp and wood beaded bracelets. She gently captured Nichele’s hand and tied the bracelet onto her wrist.

  Looking deeply into Nichele’s eyes, she said, “This bracelet gives you the protection of the Earth Spirit as long as you are here. Wear it always. From now on, you’ll be known as Blaze Featherwind, the name the Earth Spirit has bestowed on you. Go forth in peace, tolerance, and harmony. The blessings of the Earth Spirit are upon you.”

  “Um… thanks.” Nichele gave me a sideways look before turning a questioning expression on Moonbeam. “Am I supposed to… What’s the right way to say I accept?”

  Moonbeam smiled. “You don’t need to say anything, but if you’d like, you could return the blessing by saying ‘And upon you, too’.”

  “Oh.” Nichele gave her a sparkling smile and an impulsive hug. “And upon you, too.”

  “Thank you, dear. Now I’ll show you your tent, and at four o’clock Aurora Peace Rain will explain the rituals of the Earth Spirit to you.”

  To my relief, Nichele’s tent turned out to be tucked into the village of tents, far from mine. At least I’d be able to sneak around without worrying that she’d hear me leaving my tent.

  Once she had moved in I took her on a tour of the commune, excluding the garage and ending up in the kitchen for a snack.

  Crunching the last of my apple, I glanced at my watch and stood. “Sorry, Nichele, but I’m going to have to leave you on your own for a while. I’m due up the garage to help Skidmark work on the truck.”

  Nichele swallowed her last bite and rose with me. “I’ll come along.” She shot me a mischievous look. “I’m dying to meet Skidmark. And Orion. Your boy-toys.”

  I snorted. “Skidmark, a boy-toy? Yeah, right. Wait’ll you see him. And smell him.” I hesitated. I really didn’t want her up at the garage in case Ratboy was there. “You probably don’t have time,” I added. “Don’t forget you have to meet Aurora here in twenty minutes.”

  Nichele waved that away. “I have time. I can always jog back. I could use the exercise.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “Who are you and what did you do with my couch-potato friend?”

  Nichele giggled. “I’m just trying to fit in. Everybody seems all healthy-granola here. It’ll be good for me.”

  “Bad news about that fitting-in thing…” I made a gesture that encompassed her impeccably polished fingernails, perfect hair and makeup, and bountiful cleavage displayed by her snug tank top. “You stick out like a peacock in a chicken farm.”

  She pulled a solemn face, slightly marred by the impish twinkle in her eyes. “Buk-buk-buk…” She planted her hands on her hips and flapped her elbows, jerking her head forward in a creditable chicken imitation while she clucked. “Buk-buk-buk…”

  I laughed. “Okay, Chicken Little, let’s go.”

  Striding along the path while Nichele chattered gaily beside me, I sent a mute entreaty skyward. Please don’t let Ratboy be there. If he made a crack, Nichele wouldn’t hesitate to take him on like a little terrier who thought she was a Rottweiler.

  And where was Orion and what was he doing? Nearly four hours had passed since I’d seen him. That had to be some kind of record. The only thing that worried me more than having him pop up behind me was not having him pop up behind me.

  What if he was making a move on Moonbeam and Karma? If I had to rush off to defend them, Nichele would surely follow me. Then I’d have three innocent civilians to protect. And if I had to pull my gun, it’d blow my cover sky-high…

  I sighed and Nichele shot me a look. “You’re really quiet. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I summoned a smile. “Just figuring out my timetable between working on the truck and the bookkeeping stuff I have to do.”

  “Well, don’t let me interrupt,” Nichele said. “I need some time to think anyway. And you said Aurora was really nice, so maybe I can hang with her a while.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I looked away quickly before she could see my guilty expression. I hadn’t mentioned Aurora’s voice.

  Chapter 20

  When Nichele and I arrived at the garage I drew a deep breath, equal parts worried and relieved by the sight of Orion and Ratboy standing on the opposite side of the clearing. At least now I knew where they were, but I’d really been hoping to avoid Ratboy.

  Skidmark lounged in a chair against the garage, eyes half-closed and joint in hand. He looked up at the sound of our footsteps and brightened at the sight of Nichele’s lush curves. Dropping the front legs of the chair to the ground, he rose and smiled so widely I actually glimpsed a gold tooth through his tangle of facial hair.

  “Well, hello, Sugar-Loaves!” he greeted Nichele’s chest. He turned his leer toward me. “See, if you dressed like that, guys wouldn’t think you’re a dude in women’s clothes.”

  “Hello, pencil-dick,” Nichele retorted. “If you kept your mouth shut, girls wouldn’t think you have a teeny weenie.”

  Skidmark’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open. Then he wheezed laughter until he doubled over coughing and staggered backward to fall into the chair, still convulsed.

  Nichele shot me a look of concern while he hacked and gasped, but I shook my head. “Don’t worry, he’s fine. As fine as he ever gets, anyway. Meet Skidmark. Not that you’d want to.”

  At last the paroxysm passed and Skidmark sprawled weakly on the chair, wiping his streaming eyes. “Sugar-Loaves,” he croaked. “You and her gotta be sisters. Storm here made a crack about my family jewels, too.” He straightened and scowled with mock indignation. “You peeked.”

  I snickered. “Yep, I couldn’t help myself. You’re just that hot.”

  “That’s the righteous truth.” Skidmark nodded gravely before jerking his chin toward Nichele. “Who’s the foxy chick?”

  “Blaz
e Featherwind,” I answered for her.

  “That’s ‘ma’am’ to you,” Nichele corrected with a lift of her chin.

  “Very pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Skidmark offered her the half-smoked joint with a courtly bow. “Toke?”

  Nichele grimaced. “No thanks.”

  Orion had drifted over during the exchange, and I did the honours. “Blaze, this is Orion Moonjava. Orion, Blaze Featherwind.”

  “Blaze,” Orion murmured. “Lovely name. It suits you.” He accepted her proffered hand and brought it to his lips, his eyes locked on hers.

  “Oh…” Nichele blinked before retrieving her hand and offering a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Orion.”

  His luscious mouth curved up, his green gaze full of hot sin. “The pleasure is mine.”

  If I hadn’t known Nichele so well, I might have missed her instant of breathlessness before she straightened and gave Orion a cheeky grin. “You’d better believe it would be your pleasure. Too bad you’ll never find out.”

  He laughed. “Too bad, indeed.”

  As they exchanged a few more words of banter, my attention shifted to Ratboy. He was still standing on the opposite side of the clearing, his gaze devouring Nichele, his lips twisted in a spine-chilling smile. I shifted casually to block his line of sight, resisting the urge to drape my jacket over Nichele’s sexy top.

  His cold black gaze met mine and fear tightened my throat as his teeth glittered. I might be able to beat him in a fight, but even though Nichele’s small frame held the heart of a lion, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

  “…anyway, I’ve got to go and meet Aurora,” Nichele was saying. “See you later.”

  I plastered a smile on my stiff lips. “Yeah, see you. I’ll meet you for supper at the main building.”

  She jogged off, her considerable attributes bouncing under her tank top in a way that made Skidmark’s eyes glaze over.