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He should have expected that fro questions and he shouldn’t be surprised she was already analyzing the weekend ahead, but he hadn’t really let hio there…not yet His focus had been on the book, and the interview, and getting the infor through the reservation on the way, and that the town of Cherry Lake, had once been part of the reservation

Years ago Mark, his agent, encouraged hiive Shane closure, andif he was able to randone to school with his rand stories But Shane had resisted returning, explaining that whatever good memories he’d once had of life on the reservation had been overshadowed by the pain of being taken frorandmother He’d been just a preschool boy at the tin concept

Even today the idea of returning to the reservation, home of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, filled hi else…a quiet horror that made hihtened Lonely

Perhaps if the social workers had been able to place him with another Native American family…perhaps if they’d been able to keep him on the reservation…

Shane tensed, srets and memories He was too old to mourn the past Too old to mourn who he once was And truthfully, he shouldn’t bla their job But as a boy he had blamed them They were the ones that placed him with the first foster family, the “white” family in Missoula They’d made him believe this would be a forever family for him, and indeed the first six months had been wonderful, no problenant he’d been returned to the social services since they were now having a child of their own

The social worker driving him to the next foster home had scolded him Maybe if you weren’t so active……

Shane had fought tears the entire drive

His second farandradually the tears dried and he just beca hiical child, more than they’d cared for him

It wasn’t until years later that he discovered the young couple hadn’t wanted to give hi wife had been put on bed rest and was si for him But by then it was too late to help a little boy who burned with anger, believing himself as undesirable in every way

Of course he felt pain—andthe Sheenan house It was a daily rehosts of the past didn’t help, either—the father that didn’t want hiot hi he wasn’t worth saving

And noas heading back to the place he’d spent his first four years, taking the ghosts with hirandmother join them?

At least he wasn’t traveling alone Shane was grateful for Jet’s coet her sister’s approval, but she must have because she was here and there had been no threatening calls or unexpected visits from the Sheenans “So how did you leave it with Harley?” he asked “What did you tell her about this weekend?”

When she didn’t i out theas if ad the Tobacco Mountains in the distance, her polka dot covered toes curling against the dash Her silenceout of town, doesn’t she?” he persisted

Jet hesitated a second too long “Yes”

“You didn’t tell her”

“I did” She kneaded the he “She thinks I’ sen up for one, so it’s not a lie It’s being given at the high school by the education department”

“She didn’t think it was odd that you were doing this all by yourself?”

“I told her I’ether”

“And she didn’t ask which friend?”

“I was vague”

And Harley didn’t press for more info? Shane was sure that meant Harley suspected but she didn’t want to know because she didn’t want to have to deal with Brock and the rest of theined”