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Jesse looked at her lovely face How could he have known her for, what, just a couple of days? He felt as if he’d known her all his life As if he’d known her forever

And maybe he had Maybe the old stories weren’t stories at all

“Jesse Please, tell e”

“I don’t know all that much”

“Whatever you do know, then Tell me”

Eyes steady on hers, he told her some of the stories he’d been raised on “Fairy tales, you know?” he said, s a little “The Rabbit and the Elk Unktomi—the Spider—and the Arrowheads An Indian kid’s version of Hans Christian Andersen”

She nodded “Legends Myths Ancient tales passed froeneration”

“My beautiful anthropologist,” he said softly

Thatfrom her eyes

“My dad was a scholar, as well as a rancher He taught me all kinds of stuff about his people”

“Your people,” Sienna said softly, touching a hand to his cheek

He caught her hand and kissed it “That’s what an scoffing at the stories ‘These are your people, too, Jesse,’ she’d tell me And the truth was, I loved the stories—especially the ones that were really outrageous Stories about that ledge The sacred stone And shamans”

“Wise ic”

“So the stories claim”

His tone was cynical, but Sienna understood She’d always held such beliefs in great respect, but to believe in them, to believe in the supernatural…

“Go on,” she said softly

“The stories hinted at a kind of hole in time, an emptiness that could draw life in”

“And?”

Jesse shook his head “That’s all I know,” he said softly

Sienna nodded She bowed her head Her shoulders slumped He cursed, reached for her and drew her into his lap

“I wish I knew more,” he said, “but I don’t”

“That must be what happened to me” Her voice wobbled “It sounds impossible, but there’s no other explanation”