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She’s horrid, I thought But I said, "She’s always the saht me the bowl "No," she said, her voice amused "I don’t suppose she does"

She folded her arms on the table and watched me eat I felt her pleasure -- probably every bit asthe wonderful red soup

"Did anyone teach you to cook?" she said

"No" I reached for the tall blue glass of water she’d poured ed with minerals and an icy metallic aftertaste

"The water co out back," she said, "After lunch I’ll take you around"

"I can cook a little," I said, thinking of na "And I can ride a bike, and swim"

"Can you row a boat?" she asked

"No"

"Do you kno to grow an organic garden? Can you sew your own clothes? Can you drive a car?"

"No" I wanted to iht I can hear thoughts

She cleared the table, saying over her shoulder, "I have my work cut out for ray fur and with pale green eyes strolled into the kitchen It sniffed ainst me

"May I touch it?" I asked

Mãe looked up from the sink "Hello, Grace," she said to the cat "Of course," she said to me "Haven’t you ever had a pet?"

"No"

"Well, here you’ll have several"

Grace sauntered over and sniffed my hand Then she turned her back on me Clearly, I’d have to prove I orthy

The three of us, Grace trailingblue building behind the house, each stall e of sweet hay

Mãe had four horses, grazing in a paddock She called their names: Osceola, Abiaka, Billie, and Johnny Cypress The horses came to her, and she introduced me to them

"May I touch thes

"Of course"

She stroked Osceola’s neck, and I petted Johnny Cypress He was the sray coat and blue eyes The others’ coats ranged from pure white to ivory to cream

I asked about their names, and she said they cauess you haven’t learned about them?" she said

I shook my head

"Native Americans ere never conquered Osceola led theainst the United States And you don’t know much about horses?"

"I soo early in theyou and your father?"

"No I had a friend Her name was Kathleen She was murdered"

I told her what I knew about Kathleen’s death She put her arms around ht?" she asked

"Not so far as I know" For the first time in months, I wanted to call home

"Raphael doesn’t know you’re here" She said it flatly, as if she knew it

"I left a note" I didn’t want to o to some conference in Baltimore, and I felt -- I wanted to find you"

"Baltimore? He left in January?"

I nodded

"Soe"

Osceola whinnied, and she said to hiht"

"Could I ride one of them, someday?"

"Of course" She took my hands in hers, and examined them "Have you ever ridden?"