It was her second day at Fort Des Moines, and Captain Kathleen Hartley was still learning her way around. Stepping inside a building she’d thought was the beauty shop, she was dismayed to find it was the library. Turning back abruptly, she ran headlong into a towering stack of hardback books obviously being carried by someone several inches taller than she was. The mass swayed dangerously and she was equally off balance, her brain urging her to move out of the way before her body had finished its recovery from the collision. She knew she was falling, and it looked quite likely she’d end up under the books. Before she could even manage a scream, the texts soared off to the left and strong hands grasped her waist even as she flailed wildly, knocking into something that moved as her arm passed by. Her body was whisked to the right so vigorously that her hat went flying. The thud of cascading publications seemed louder even than the beating of her heart, until her eyes found the face of her rescuer. She felt dizzy, as if she was still whirling through the air, anchored only by deep, incredibly dark eyes radiating concern. She couldn’t catch her breath.
“Are you all right?”
The quiet voice was low and melodic, and she became aware of warm hands at her waist steadying her carefully. For one crazy second, she wanted to say no, to pretend another loss of balance and make that firm, gentle pressure continue.
Blinking rapidly in an attempt to regain her usual poise, she managed a reply. “I—I think so, yes.”
She focused again. The face was unusual, angular and strong, with a tanned, almost reddish-tinted complexion under dark bangs, the expression troubled. Then, quite suddenly, the hands were gone and the form straightened to attention. The voice became entirely formal. “My apologies, Captain. I wasn’t prepared for you to turn toward me. It was entirely my fault, ma’am.”
Kathleen managed to expand her gaze to a wider view, observing a chevron on her rescuer’s sleeve. This was a sergeant, she realized, which accounted for why the woman was taking the blame for an accident that was clearly Kathleen’s fault. She looked back over, not exactly sure how the tumbling books had missed her, and saw there were two hats on the ground. Reclaiming one seemed the sensible thing to do, but when she put it on her head, it was much too big and slipped over her ears. She glanced up into the woman’s face, noting those eyes were now fixed on the distant horizon. Not a muscle moved in her face, but Kathleen thought she detected a slight hitch in her breathing that might have been a chuckle.
Sniffing slightly, she said, “Is it reading that’s made your head this big, Sergeant?”
By way of reply, the other woman smoothly retrieved the hat that was still on the ground, holding it stiffly in Kathleen’s direction. “Again, my apologies, Captain. But with your permission, I’d like to recover the rest of my uniform now, please, ma’am.”
They’d been standing face-to-face until the sergeant had bent to get the other hat. At that instant, Kathleen had gotten a glimpse of a beautifully long, thick braid trailing down the sergeant’s back. Speechless, she removed the larger hat, accepting hers in return. In a movement clearly well practiced, the sergeant wound the plait tightly on the top of her head, ensuring a thin band of shorter hair was visible on her neck before securing the hat firmly in place. Then she resumed her official stance. Kathleen was quite sure the sergeant would not move until she was dismissed, or speak again unless asked a direct question. She had dozens of those, but it was obvious this woman was a by-the-book type and personal questions probably wouldn’t go over well at this time. Things at the Florida base hadn’t been quite as spit and polish, but she certainly knew how to follow protocol when the situation called for it. “What is your name, Sergeant?”
“Rains, ma’am.” Something in the doleful tone of her short answer made Kathleen wonder if Rains was anticipating that some kind of punishment was forthcoming.
“At ease, Sergeant Rains.” Rains obeyed, but her posture did not relax. “I’m Captain Hartley, Kathleen Hartley.” She wasn’t sure why she’d added her first name, but she pressed on. “I only arrived on base yesterday and I was looking for the beauty shop. But perhaps I should visit the optometrist too, because running into you was entirely my fault.” She grabbed a book from the disheveled pile and extended it toward Rains, letting her voice warm as she added, “I hope we can at least exchange reading lists sometime. I’m told the winter nights here are perfect for settling in with a good book.”
Rains’s eyes flicked to her so briefly that she would have missed it if she hadn’t been watching. After a quick second, she accepted the volume, and her eyes returned to the horizon. “Thank you, Captain Hartley.”
That was it. No friendly banter taking her up on her request or even a real second look. Kathleen took advantage of the moment to look Rains over again. To her initial impression of height, she added a tight, sinewy body. The hands that gripped the hardback were large and sure. A strange quivering sensation rippled through her stomach, accompanied by a single thought: I’d like to get to know her. She opened her mouth, but common sense—and her Army training—returned in a rush, and she only answered, “Very good, Sergeant Rains. Carry on,” before stepping around Rains and starting away, down the sidewalk.
“Captain Hartley?” The question in Rains’s voice sounded slightly less formal, so Kathleen looked back over her shoulder. Rains was pointing toward a building in the opposite direction. “The beauty shop is in there.”
Kathleen couldn’t help smiling. “And the optometrist?”
There might have been the slightest tug at the corner of the sergeant’s mouth. “All medical offices are housed in the third building east of here, ma’am.”
She knew that, of course. It was where Whit worked.
For weeks after that, Kat’s new protocol and publicity duties kept her busy on base while she and Whit worked on their new home in their off hours. Even so, her encounter with the dark-eyed sergeant hovered in the corner of her mind until she began to feel rather guilty for not saying anything to Whit about her current preoccupation. In the past, she would have eagerly anticipated her lover’s skill at making the object of her distraction into a wonderfully exciting fantasy for them both, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this one was different somehow. However, on the rare occasions when their paths crossed, Sergeant Rains simply saluted Captain Hartley like any other officer, with absolutely no hint of recognition. Kathleen’s pride wouldn’t let her believe that Rains didn’t remember her, so she concluded it must be something else. Perhaps the very thing that made her interested in Rains was what made the sergeant keep her distance—from everyone, apparently—as anytime she wasn’t with her squad she was always alone.
Finally, when she couldn’t stand it any longer, she told Whit about the book incident, making it sound as if it had only just happened, and embellishing it slightly to make sure that Whit would see Rains as she recently had—as a potential kindred spirit, as they called their like-minded acquaintances. But nothing more came of it, until a chance encounter when she’d met up with Rains pacing somewhat restlessly outside a classroom. With very little prompting, Rains had eagerly informed her to expect a larger-than-normal appearance of the moon that evening. Normally, she wouldn’t have given the information a second thought, but it had seemed important to the tall, intense woman, so she and Whit had gone out to watch. Before then, she’d never really thought about their view of the night sky, but the evening was wonderful and the moon spectacular. When the show was over, they’d gone inside and had the best sex since moving to Des Moines.
Enough of that, Kathleen chided herself, patting her hair one last time. You have guests. She straightened her shoulders and rejoined the group.
* * *
They’d been talking base gossip, along with the most recent developments in the war, for about fifteen minutes when the doorbell rang again and Whit answered. There was a great deal of commotion as two more women entered the room with several bags in hand. Hugs were exchanged and then one of the women turned back toward the outside. “Hurry in, honey. It’s cold outside.” A little girl about four years old with brown eyes and curly brown hair entered the room. She was holding a stuffed horse. She and Rains saw each other at the same time. They both smiled. The little girl walked right over, stopping a few feet away. “Who are you?” she asked.
Rains squatted down to her height. “I am Rain,” she said quietly. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lilly.” Because Rains was closer to the ground, her glass did not shatter when it hit the floor. She had already finished her club soda, so only a few ice cubes fell out. “It’s okay,” Lilly said, watching Rains scoop them hastily back into the glass. “You didn’t make a very big mess.”
Rains mopped the few remaining drops of moisture on the floor with her handkerchief. “Thank you, Lilly. I’m usually more careful. But I…I knew a family of flowers once.” Rains took a breath, looking into Lilly’s eyes. “I never dreamed I’d meet another.”
The room quieted gradually, and now all of the adults were watching them. “This is amazing,” one of the women whispered. “Lillian is usually very shy.”
So is Rain, Bett was thinking. “She’s darling. Is she yours?”
“Yes.” The woman smiled before mouthing the word adopted.
Bett nodded, turning her gaze back to the child. “That’s wonderful.”
“It is,” the woman agreed.
Lilly had moved a little closer to Rains. “Are you an Indian?”
Kathleen Hartley gasped.
“Yes,” Rain answered. “How did you know?”
“I heard my mommies talking.” One of the women groaned. Lilly pointed at Rains’s head. “Your hair is longer than mine.”
“Yes. Do you like it?” Lilly nodded enthusiastically. Rains sat cross-legged on the floor and brought her braid over her shoulder. Lilly climbed into her lap, running her hand timidly along its length. They smiled at each other again.
The adults stared at them. “Does she have children too?” the other woman asked Bett softly. Bett shook her head. Not that I know of! she told herself, unsettled by the sudden awareness that she actually knew only a fraction of the woman with whom she’d been sharing her bed…and her life.
Rains tugged on her braid. “This hair has been growing for a long, long time. My hair may be older than your pony,” she added, and Lilly giggled. “What’s his name?”
“His name is Racer, because he wins all the races.” Lilly said, displaying the toy proudly.
“I’ll bet he does. I’m sure he could beat my pony. He is called Sage. He never was very fast and he’s getting older now.”
“Where is he?” Lilly asked, looking around. “Can we go see him?”
Rains sighed. “No. He lives very far from here. I hope I can see him soon, because I miss riding him.”
Lilly’s eyes lit up. “Could I ride him too?”
Rains looked into Lilly’s face. “Since you are such a nice little girl and you take such good care of your pony, Racer, I’m sure Sage would let you ride him. Would you like for me to ask him?”
Lilly only nodded solemnly, adopting Rains’s manner. Rains looked at the ceiling and asked Sage if Lilly could ride him, speaking in Lakota.
Lilly’s eyes got wide. “Is that how horses talk?”
Rains closed her eyes, unable to answer. Lilly touched her face. “Why are you sad, Rain?”
Rains became aware of the silence in the room, realizing that everyone must be watching them. She cleared her throat and quickly swiped at her eyes before opening them. “You remind me of someone I have been missing for a long time. But maybe if we could be friends, I wouldn’t have to miss her so much.” She stood, bringing Lilly and Racer with her.
“Come here, Lillian,” one of the mothers said, walking over with outstretched arms.
The little girl didn’t move, but asked, “What time is it?”
“Uh, that’s my cue, excuse me,” Whit said, going out of the room.
“Okay, Lilly, but only once,” the other woman told her firmly.
“I want to show Rain,” Lilly insisted, holding on to Rains’s shirt.
Whit came back in. “It’s almost time!” she said excitedly, waving everyone along. “Hurry!”
They went into a study where there was another fireplace. On the mantel was a large cuckoo clock that had been reset to twelve o’clock. As Lilly pointed, the little bird came out on its perch and began to chirp as the hour chimed. Rains looked at Lilly with her mouth open in shock and then they watched together. When it was over, Lilly laughed and clapped. “I knew you would like it!” Everyone cheered.
As conversation started again in the room, Rains carried Lilly over to her mother. “Thank you for showing me that, Lilly.”
Lilly hugged Rains and said, “We can be friends, if you won’t be sad anymore.”
Rains made a sign on her palm and said, “I promise.” She set Lilly back on the floor and they smiled at each other again.
Lilly’s mother stroked her daughter’s hair before offering her hand. “I’m sorry we didn’t get properly introduced before my daughter stole you away. I’m Sophie Lucero.”
“Gale Rains.” They shook hands.
“Gale, you obviously have a way with children. Lilly’s usually not this outgoing with people, especially the first time she meets them.”
“I believe Lilly and I have met before,” Rains explained. “In her last life.”
Sophie looked startled for a second, and then began to laugh. “There’s obviously no other explanation,” she agreed.
Bett came over and put her arm through Rains’s. Rains introduced her to Sophie and then felt a tug on her pants. She squatted down to Lilly again. “Pick me up, Rain.” Rains did.
“Lilly, I want you to meet someone special to me,” she said. “This is Bett.”
Lilly acted shy and hid her face in Rains’s shirt.
“Now, that’s the Lilly I know,” Sophie said. Her glance found the woman she had come in with. “Patrice! Come get your daughter.” But the other woman was engaged in conversation with Kathleen and didn’t hear her.
Rains gestured with her head for Bett to say something. “It’s nice to meet you, Lilly,” Bett said, pleasantly. “I hope we can be friends too.”
Lilly looked over with one eye. “You talk funny,” she said.
Bett shot Rains an exasperated look. Shifting Lilly to the other arm, Rains walked with her back toward the clock. Bett was telling Sophie about going to school in England. “Is there another way you could have said that, Lilly?” she asked. “You might have hurt Bett’s feelings.” Lilly looked around, as if thinking. “And let me explain something else,” Rains went on. “When I said Bett was special to me, I didn’t mean she was more special than you.”
Lilly’s eyes came back to Rains. “You like the way she talks, don’t you?”
Rains smiled. “Yes, I do. But I also like the way you talk.”
“Okay,” Lilly decided. “I’ll like her too.”
“Thank you, Lilly.” They walked back over to Bett and Sophie.
Lilly reached out her arms and hugged Bett’s neck. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Bett,” she said in a small voice. “You’re very pretty.”
Bett gave Lilly a kiss on the head. “Thank you, Lilly. You’re very pretty too.”
“I know,” Lilly said, and they all laughed.
“Come on, sweetie, let’s get your dinner,” Sophie said, reclaiming her daughter. She looked back at Rains. “After the war, maybe you should think about going into teaching.” She separated Patrice from her conversation with Kathleen, and everyone else began moving back into the den.
Rains grinned at Bett, who was looking at her expectantly. “After my years as a drill instructor, I believe I’ve done all the teaching I want to do.”
“But it would be different with little ones, wouldn’t it?” Bett questioned. Before Rains could answer, she added, “I had no idea you were so fond of children.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rains asked, genuinely puzzled.
Bett tried to recall where she’d gotten that impression. Perhaps because during basic training, it would have been impossible to envision her cool and controlled drill instructor sitting on the floor with a child on her lap. But then, there were many ways she saw Rains differently now. She herself adored babies and planned on having one or two someday—although she hadn’t quite worked out the details of that yet, and she and Rains had never discussed it. She took a breath. “Would you ever want children of your own?”
“No,” Rains said shortly. Her answer was finite and her tone so absolute that it made Bett cock her head and raise an eyebrow in question. “But just because I don’t want one doesn’t mean I don’t like them,” Rains explained, reading her expression perfectly, as she often did. “I am waáwaŋglakA, which is like a guardian to my brother’s twins. It is a very serious responsibility and one I would not have accepted if I didn’t like children.”
“Your brother Thomas?” Bett asked, amazed at the way Rains’s language rolled off her tongue. She had a degree in linguistics and a flair for imitating other people’s accents, but she couldn’t have repeated that word on a bet. “He has twins?”
Rains nodded. “A boy and a girl.” Her eyes became distant. “Children’s lives are incredibly fragile. It would take someone very brave to bring one into the world. I don’t have that kind of courage.” Bett’s hand stroked her back, and when she looked back down, her lover was smiling at her warmly. “What?” Rains asked.
“Sometimes the things you say surprise me, and I want you to know it means a lot to me when you share something like that,” Bett said and kissed her on the cheek.
Rains seemed relieved as she offered Bett her arm. “I wouldn’t do this at your mother’s house, but it seems okay to do it here, don’t you think?”
Bett leaned into Rains’s tall, solid body. She’d never in her life been happier to be with someone. “Oh, yes.”
* * *
When they were all seated at the table, Rains was a little disappointed to see Lilly had already been put to bed. As they ate, a great deal of the conversation was about each couple’s history. Everyone seemed aware that Bett had been Rains’s squad leader, and Rains was grateful to be spared telling that story. Whit and Kathleen had first met four years ago in Chicago, where Kathleen and her father were attending a benefit for the police of the city. Whit’s father was among those being honored, and they’d made what Whit referred to as “significant eye contact,” but that had been the end of it. Telling of her delight in running into Kathleen again at Daytona Beach after her basic training, Whit made her pursuit sound like a military operation. Kathleen interrupted to amend the account, insisting, “I let her chase me until I caught her,” causing laughter all around. After living together for about a year and a half, they had both been transferred to Des Moines when the Florida base had closed early in 1944. They talked about buying this house and everyone complimented them on their find. Kathleen was obviously pleased, while Whit stated they’d been fortunate that the place had needed very little work beyond basic cleaning.
Sara told how she and Miriam had both been with other people when they met at a house party, and there was much drama to the account of them getting together. They had separate living arrangements and Rains sensed they both preferred it that way. Neither Sophie nor Patrice was in the service. Patrice was a lawyer in town and Sophie was a journalist. “I do sometimes write about things happening on the base,” she said. “In fact, I did an interview with Miriam about munitions right after we were introduced.” Boudreaux nodded vaguely. “What department are you in, Bett?”
“Cryptography. Absolutely hush-hush, I’m afraid,” Bett replied.
“Gale, how about you?”
“I’m over the motor pool now.”
Sophie pursed her lips. “There hasn’t been much on that since Fort Des Moines first opened to the WAAC in 1942. I bet another story on the women mechanics would do well. Could I come by sometime soon for an interview?” When Rains didn’t answer right away, she added, “I could bring Lilly and we could have lunch at some point. How does that sound?”
Rains nodded and Sophie pulled a small notebook from her jacket pocket and wrote for a few seconds.
Bett turned to Patrice. “What kind of law do you practice?”
“Oh, family stuff. Wills, property settlements, divorce, adoption—that kind of thing.”
“I went to her when my husband and I were looking to adopt. For some reason, I thought a woman lawyer would do a better job,” Sophie explained.
“For some reason,” Patrice, Kathleen, and Whit recited. Everyone else laughed. Rains understood they had heard this explanation before.
“I promise you, I’ve never had as many consultations with a single client before,” Patrice said with a grin. “First it was those hour-, two-hour, and three-hour meetings. Then a few lunches. Then long, romantic dinners. Then—”
Sophie colored slightly and interrupted. “Yes, so about six months after Lillian came into our family, Patrice handled my divorce. During that time, we rarely saw each other…just in case.” She shifted a bit, as if uncomfortable with the memory. “Luckily, my husband decided he was well rid of an ambitious working woman, promptly remarried, and has since moved away. That was almost four years ago.” She smiled at Patrice in a way that made Rains feel good. “Ironically, I’m home a lot more now than I used to be. But it feels different, not as suffocating. And Patrice does more than her share of the parenting as well as an occasional load of laundry, so no complaints there.”
“Gee, thanks, honey,” Patrice cracked, and everyone laughed again.
“Are you in a big firm or is it only you?” Bett asked Patrice.
“It’s me and a guy I’ve known since law school. I ran into him at our five-year reunion about the time I was ready to make a move from Cincinnati. Can’t imagine how I would have ended up in Des Moines otherwise,” Patrice explained. “But it works well for us. There’s not really enough business here to support a bigger firm.”
Throughout the meal, Rains had been watching the others, noticing their use of the silverware and following Bett when she got lost. It wasn’t quite as difficult as she had imagined. Whit served the food for each course while Kathleen Hartley brought the drinks. When she first offered wine, Rains had put her hand on top of the glass to block the pour.
“You don’t need to use your hand, Gale. Simply tell me ‘No, thank you,’” she said in a quiet voice, close to Rains’s ear. “But you’ll have to tell me more than once, because the waitstaff will offer again with each course. By the end of the meal, though, they will presume your answer will be no, and won’t come in as close. But they’ll always ask, not because they are trying to tempt you, but because that’s how they are trained.”
Rains nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Cap—uh, Kathleen.”
Hartley smiled and poured for Bett. Everyone else drank, and Miriam most of all. When the meal was over, she stood unsteadily. Kathleen glanced at Whit and frowned slightly before saying, “We didn’t know if you two would like to play rummy or hearts or spades. Or there’s Twenty Questions or Monopoly.”
When Bett glanced in her direction, Rains shook her head. She’d never played any of the things that Kathleen had named, although she’d seen other girls enjoying cards or board games during her time in the service. She only knew the tricks that she’d learned from the Lost Boys when she’d first returned to the reservation—ways to make the cards work in your favor to get a free drink. After she’d learned the techniques, the Boys always let her work the sleight of hand if someone unsuspecting came into the bar. At first she thought it was because she was a girl, and therefore less suspicious to a newcomer. Later, when she’d stopped drinking and was learning to live her life differently, she heard that they’d told others she was the best at understanding the cards because she was most like them—able to be seen from two different sides. Thinking of that always gave her a pang of homesickness.
Kathleen looked between them. “Or maybe you’d rather not play at all?”
“I’m sure we’re good for whatever everyone else would like, but do you suppose we could play as a team?” Bett asked, and Rains nodded, relieved.
“If you’re not playing for money, count me out,” Miriam called as she weaved into the den, settling heavily into a chair across the room.
“Miriam prefers poker, but I think that’s a bit intense for your first time.” Kathleen smiled reassuringly. “Sure, we can play in teams.”
They worked out a system where everyone else played with someone new except Bett, who stayed with Rains. Patrice paired with Sara, Kathleen with Sophie, and Whit played alone. “We can rotate the solo chair,” Kathleen offered, but Whit shuffled the cards with a flourish and answered, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll take you all on!”
They started with rummy, Bett briefly explaining the idea. Rains nodded, and Bett let her pick which card to put back as she built their hand. But Patrice picked up each discard, and she and Sara won twice. Bett made a face as she added up their score, playfully complaining, “We should get to give you some of these points, since we’re giving you everything you need.”
“You certainly are,” Patrice agreed. “We wouldn’t have won either hand without your cards.”
“Are we not to help each other win?” Rains asked, blushing when everyone laughed.
Bett squeezed her arm. “No, this is more of a competition. We want to be the only winners.”
At that, Rains watched carefully as it was Bett’s turn to deal. They got good cards to start with and Patrice hesitantly picked up only one of their discards. They won so quickly it almost evened out the score for the first two hands. The next hand their cards were equally good, and they were ahead. The group decided to break for fresh drinks.
“I liked the ‘helping each other win’ game better,” Patrice joked as she headed toward the kitchen.
Whit got up too, stretching. “Good thing you weren’t dealing either of those two hands, Gale, or I’d be mighty suspicious.” She thumped Bett’s shoulder lightly. “I guess I should have watched for this one dealing off the bottom.”
“I didn’t know you could do that,” Rains said after Whit had left the room. “You must be very good at it.”
Bett laughed. “I wasn’t and I’m not. Whit was teasing me.”
“Is it allowed?”
“Of course not. That’s cheating.”
Rains made that sound that meant she wasn’t sure but didn’t want to argue. Bett cocked her head. “Are you secretly a card shark, Lieutenant?”
Rains grinned, because Bett’s tone had been playful. “Maybe.”
But her face sobered when Bett raised an eyebrow, obviously wanting her to continue. “Tell me,” she ordered.
“There were some…some men I knew on the reservation who taught me a bit about cards and dice. They said I had napiyuzA, which is like power or control of those objects. For…uh…” She trailed off as Boudreaux approached them. They’d both forgotten she was in the room.
“You wouldn’t have a chance at Bourre,” Boudreaux said, weaving slightly. “I play it with some Cajun friends of mine back home. Won big a couple times. You ever win big at your games?”
Rains looked away without answering. Bett knew she was trying not to show how much she didn’t like Boudreaux.
“What, you shy now?” Boudreaux taunted. “How about you and me play a simple game? Let’s make a bet on cutting cards. Unless you’re scared I’m gonna embarrass you in front of your woman?” When Boudreaux’s face turned to hers, Bett felt a jolt of dread. “How ’bout best three out of five wins a kiss from the prettiest lady here?”
Oh God, say no, Beloved. Bett tried to shake her head furtively but Rains’s eyes were fixed on the stout lieutenant. “I would never bet on whether someone would want to kiss you, Boudreaux, since I’ve heard there’s no accounting for taste.” Bett managed a smile, as this was one of the things Rains had heard her say on many occasions.
Boudreaux’s lip curled into a sneer and she reached for her wallet, sloshing her drink. “Then I bet you five dollars that the bayou can beat the reservation.”
Rains pulled out the pouch around her neck and took out a five-dollar bill. She nodded.
Everyone else had made their way back into the room. “What’s going on?” asked Kathleen, arriving last.
“Gale and Miriam have made a bet about cutting cards,” Bett explained.
Kathleen looked at the money on the table. “Oh dear,” she said. Everyone gathered around.
“Could we ask for a fresh deck?” Rains said. “Boudreaux may say I’m cheating since Bett was the last to touch these.”
“Who you want to shuffle?” Boudreaux asked heatedly, while not denying the accusation.
“One of our hostesses?” Rains suggested. It was decided Whit would do the honors. A new deck was brought and shuffled. Rains nodded at Boudreaux. “After you.”
Boudreaux cut a ten of spades. She smiled confidently. Rains cut a jack of hearts. She didn’t smile. No else one made a sound.
“Shuffle again,” Boudreaux ordered fiercely. Whit did. Boudreaux watched the cards. Rains watched Boudreaux. “You first this time,” Boudreaux said to Rains. Rains’s card was the queen of hearts. Boudreaux’s card was the nine of spades. Boudreaux looked up at Rains. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Rains’s face showed no emotion. Bett could feel the tension mounting in the room as Miriam downed her drink.
Whit shuffled again without being asked, placing the deck in front of Boudreaux when she was done. Miriam waited for a long moment with her eyes closed, hand hovering over the cards. Then she drew the queen of spades. As everyone gasped, Rains’s hand went immediately to the deck and turned over the king of hearts. The gasps changed to oohs and ahhs and clapping.
Miriam Boudreaux flipped the queen in Rains’s direction and stood, breathing furiously.
Sara said, “I can’t even begin to calculate the odds of Gale drawing three hearts, especially those three.”
“Shut up, Sara,” Miriam ordered, grabbing her empty glass on the way to the kitchen. Kathleen motioned her head to Whit, who headed out of the room after Boudreaux.
Rains felt Bett’s hands on her shoulders. “I want to play you.”
“Of course,” Rains said. “Would you shuffle these?” she asked Patrice, who was standing nearest the table. As Patrice began to shuffle, Bett came around the chair, sat on Rains’s lap, and started kissing her. Everyone else was laughing and clapping.
“How long do you think they can keep this up?” Patrice asked, shuffling repeatedly. In answer, one of Rains’s hands slapped the table. Patrice stopped shuffling and Rains and Bett were both laughing as they came apart.
“I wanted you to play fair,” Bett said, sitting opposite her.
“You call that fair?” Rains answered, smiling.
Bett drew the queen of diamonds. Rains drew the two of clubs.
“Rain!” Bett said, her tone somewhere between amused and accusing.
“What?” Rains held up her hands innocently. Everyone clapped again.
“All right, enough cards for one night.” Kathleen swept in, taking them off the table. “Everyone get a drink and we’ll play Twenty Questions.” Bett kissed Rains on the cheek as she went into the kitchen. Rains stood and went over at the fire, rubbing her head.
Sara came over and said, “I’m very interested in what happened there. Could you talk to me about it for a moment?”
“I shouldn’t have done that,” Rains said, not looking at her. “Please make sure Miriam takes her money back.” The two fives were still lying on the card table.
“No, I don’t care about the betting.” Sara gestured toward the bills. “I’m sure she bullied you into it, the way she does. But I have a genuine interest in the paranormal and mind over matter.” She gave a little laugh. “Ironically, it was one of the things that first interested me in Miriam. If you don’t want to talk tonight, I understand. I’m sure you’re tired. But could I call you? We could have lunch.”
Rains looked at Sara then, trying to gauge the true nature of her invitation. “I don’t know what I could tell you, really,” Rains said slowly. “I was—” She cut herself off. She didn’t know Sara well enough to speak of her drinking and the nights when the Lost Boys had filled the nights with tales of those with special powers and how they could command objects around them. She suspected that her knowledge of simple card tricks was not what Sara wanted to discuss. “I’m not sure of the words in English.” She shrugged.
“Well, think about it when you can and I’ll call you next week, if that’s all right.” She looked at Rains hopefully.
Rains nodded reluctantly, wanting to talk to Bett about this. Sara started away and then turned back. “I hope this doesn’t make you change your mind, but I’m not going to say anything to Miriam about us having lunch. Even though she’s a huge flirt, she gets ridiculously jealous if I even look sideways at another woman.” Sara shrugged. “It’s just the way she is.”
“Perhaps if someone else joined us, it wouldn’t look so suspicious.”
“Of course.” Sara glanced nervously toward the kitchen. “I’ll call you.” She went off in that direction.