you have my weapons?â
âNo, Sheriff Crow took them. Donât worry, sheâll give them back.â
âPoint out where she is. Iâll get them on my way out.â
Mia flapped her hands frantically. âNo, no, no! I have to study your book some more! Please donât go! Do you have somewhere you need to be?â
Ross had never in his life had somewhere he needed to be. âI have to take my book and go.â Before someone decides to keep my book and get rid of me, he finished silently.
âHowâs your arm?â
âFine.â
She offered him a wrench. Confused, he held out his right hand to take it.
She shook her head. âLeft hand.â
His shoulders tensed. She knew he couldnât use it. She could turn that to her advantage if it came to a fight. He said warily, âWhat do you care?â
âSheriff told us how you warned her. My father can help with your hand, if you stick around a while.â
âBut they wouldnât let me stay here . . . would they?â
âSure,â Mia said cheerfully. âThatâs why we put you in the guest room. Why not?â
âThereâs this guy after me. The one who shot me. How long was I out, anyway?â
Mia pursed her lips. âOne night.â
His hand went to the scar over his ribs.
âDad healed you,â she explained. âWhoeverâs after you, no oneâs seen them, and no one can sneak into Las Anclas. And if you stay, we can have a dance! The mayor always holds a dance if someone new comes.â
Ross had considered a number of possible outcomes as heâd headed for the cottage, several involving his own death. This was not one of them. âI donât know how to dance.â
âYouâll learn.â Mia smiled. âHey. About learning. Weâve got a schoolhouse here. And my best friendâs the teacher.â
âYou have a school?â He couldnât keep the longing out of his voice. It had been years and years since his grandmotherâs lessons; all he could remember was her teaching him, not what sheâd taught.
âA library, too. Itâs got three hundred and nine books, and twenty-two of them are artifacts. Not all of them are complete, though. But you could sit there and read all you liked, once you learned how.â
Ross felt as if heâd tunneled into some unpromising-looking rubble heap and found a treasure trove.
âWell?â Mia asked. âWould you like to go to school?â
âI guess so,â he said slowly. âBut I donât want people to know about my book. Donât tell anyone about it.â
âI wonât,â she assured him. Her brown eyes widened hopefully. âIf you stay, will you let me look at it? You could keep it here, at my place.â
That roused his suspicions. On the other hand, the easiest way to get the book would have been to simply let him die and take it. But her father had healed him instead. Still, it didnât feel right to walk out the door, leaving his book behind.
âYou can take it back with you, if you like,â she offered. âBut unless you carry it all the time, itâs safer here. And if you do take it, everyone will wonder why youâre always hauling your backpack around.â
She had a point. Besides, it would take seconds to search the room he was staying in, while her cabin was full of hiding places.
âLetâs make a deal,â he said. âIf you donât tell anyone, Iâll let you look at it as for long as Iâm in town.â
âDeal,â Mia said formally, holding her hand out flat.
Ross laid his palm against hers. She had calluses in the same places he did. âDeal. Guard it for me.â
She smiled radiantly at him and then at the book. âWhy donât you go back and get some rest? Got a big day ahead of you tomorrow.â
â¢Â â¢Â â¢
Ross next woke to the pale