“Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God and Odin?”

“I do,” said Wraith. The court tittered. Judge Markan smiled just a bit, showing off her tiny white teeth. She knew damn well Bailiff De’Wayne Conroy was making sure Wraith told the truth, in his own way. The enormous bailiff slowly walked away. Wraith maneuvered into a seated position. Her back and neck still ached. Her occupational therapist was trying to kill her.

Leah Sakanski, a short, stocky woman with a cascade of brown hair and gray eyes, stood to ask Wraith questions —for the defense. She was wearing a tan suit that looked fabulous on her. Leah went over Wraith’s DEA, and being loaned out to the ATF, past.

“And what were you doing on March thirteenth of last year?”

“I was interviewing Roland Kasem, the defendant.”

“At what time was this?” asked Leah.

“From six o’clock at night to nearly eight,” said Wraith. The courtroom erupted. Judge Markan pounded her gavel. The courtroom quieted.

“Did you tell the District Attorney Ray Evars this was the case?” asked Leah.

“Four separate times,” said Wraith. “Once about two weeks after Rolly was arrested, and once I had the time of death from the newspaper, I called his office. I also sent over a fax of all my notes from that night. I then called his office three separate times over the next two weeks, and I was rebuffed all three times. I have the dates and times in the precis I gave you. I also spoke with ADA Rumin Kelis, and recorded both those interviews, with ADA Kelis’ permission.”

“Your Honor, if it pleases the court. Ex-DEA Special Agent Annika Jensen’s precis is a copy of all her notes, the receipt of the facts including dates and times, and transcriptions of the recordings of both discussions with ADA Rumin Kelis. I have it here, and I would like this marked as Peoples’ Exhibit D.”

“So ordered,” said the judge. She took a copy, and Leah passed them out to ADA Michael Kellers and his second chair, ADA Rudi Meyers, just two years out of law school. She also gave a copy to the jury.

“Can you give us a short synopsis of this interview?” asked Leah.

“I can,” said Wraith. “I can’t give away everything that was said. Some of the discussion was about names and leads the DEA and ATF are still pursuing, as far as I know. At the time, I was pretending to be someone doing Rolly’s job in another city. Essentially, Rolly was showing me his Rolex, and laughing, telling how he took it in payment for black tar heroin. He also told me his drug route, and some information about both his customers and his suppliers. I was trying to get the name of the person a level up or two, but I wasn’t having any luck.” Wraith took a drink of water and continued. “We bought liquor from a liquor store, and he went through most of a fifth of Jack Daniels. I pretended to drink from the bottle, but I did not. I did get the name of the person one level up before he tried to attack me sexually. I punched him in the stomach. He puked on the ground. I left. I found my microphone had been damaged by an altercation with a suspect I had earlier in the night. I wrote down everything I had heard, word for word. My partner at the time, Special Agent Dani Jenkins, was separated from me because the police got in a shootout with another suspect we were watching that night, and therefore, could not tell me that my mic was damaged.”

“So, the defendant, my client, Roland Kasem, was with you getting drunk when he was supposedly murdering his business rival, Wallace Rubrick, according to the prosecution’s timeline of events?”

“Yes,” said Wraith.

“The prosecution has already entered into evidence that my client says, over and over, during the interview when he was arrested, that he was, quote, ‘With the white-haired chick.’ Were you that white-haired woman?”

“I was,” said Wraith.

“Does Roland have any deal with the DEA to testify in any case?” asked Leah.

“I wouldn’t know,” said Wraith. “I was hit by a truck earlier this year, and I had no access to anything from the DEA. I eventually retired from the DEA when it was evident my injuries may be a liability in the field.”

“Are you brain damaged?” asked Leah. The crowd gasped.

“No, but I did have trouble talking when I recovered,” said Wraith. “I had a concussion and neck injuries. I had trouble moving because half my side was in a cast, or in traction. I recovered all of my faculties very quickly.”

“Do you remember the accident?” asked Leah.

“I remember the sirens,” said Wraith. “I also remember knowing my friends were looking for me.”

“Do you have any trouble remembering the facts of this case?”

“No, I do not,” said Wraith.

“I have no further questions at this time,” said Leah.

“Your witness,” said the judge.

ADA Michael Kellers proceeded to question every part of the precis. “Are you certain that was the day?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Wraith.

“Are you certain of the time?” asked Kellers.

“Yes,” said Wraith.

“What exactly did you talk about?”

Wraith went over it again, until Leah stood and said, “Objection! Asked and answered, twice!”

“Move along,” said the judge.

Kellers then tried to prove that Wraith was talking about the wrong liquor store. “How can you be sure it was the one on Martin Luther King, and not the one on Gower? Or Nellis?”

“First, we were within walking distance of Martin Luther King, one block off of it. That’s where I met him. Second of all, I keep all my receipts. I paid for the bottle of liquor that the defendant drank, and I kept the receipt. I keep all my receipts. There’s a copy in the information I faxed to your office. There’s also a copy in the precis I gave the defendant’s attorney.”

The courtroom was absolutely silent. But, Kellers wasn’t finished. “Isn’t it true that you would do anything to get the defendant off, that he’s testifying in other trials?”

“I have no idea what the man is or is not testifying to,” said Wraith. “I’m no longer with the DEA or working with the ATF.”

“Isn’t that convenient,” said Kellers.

Leah stood and said, “Objection! Asked and answered, twice!”

The judge gave Kellers a hard stare, making the dapper man actually sweat. “Move along,” said the judge.

“I have no further questions for this witness,” said Kellers, grinding out the words.

“Redirect, your Honor,” said Leah. The judge waved her hand, and Leah stepped forward. “So, you are not mistaken about the place or time,” said Leah.

“No,” said Wraith.

“What injuries are a liability?” asked Leah. “Concerning your retirement from the DEA?”

“I’m slower,” said Wraith, “Physically. I can get back close to where I was, but with the knee, not all the way. And the DEA is an all-or-nothing business. A millisecond is life and death there.”

“Why didn’t you arrest him?” asked Leah.

“No tape, and he only drank very legal alcohol in front of me,” said Wraith.

“He attempted to sexually assault you.”

“He did,” said Wraith. “Long enough for him to get a knee in the stomach. He was a little fish. The DEA have a big-fish point of view. I was working my way up the food chain.”

“What will happen to my client if he is released from prison?” asked Leah.

“In my opinion, he won’t live long,” said Wraith. The courtroom gasped. Rolly, who had lost most of his baby fat in prison, narrowed his raisin eyes at his savior. He had dark skin, and a five o’ clock shadow at a little after two in the afternoon. He looked older than he was; barely nineteen.

“Why?” asked Leah.

“Objection, calls for speculation,” said Kellers.

“Overruled,” said the judge.

“The prosecution keeps trying to paint him as someone testifying in another case. I’m surprised he’s survived prison so far, because he’s being painted in open court as a snitch. Also, he’s a drunken, drug addict. Prison may have sobered him up, and if so, that’s great. But, I have met many people like Rolly. He’s a low man on the totem pole, a small fish in a big pond. There’s always someone bigger, badder, meaner. Guys like him don’t often make it out of their twenties unless they work hard to turn their life around, and I don’t know if Rolly has the strength.” Rolly narrowed his eyes at Wraith. Wraith ignored him.

“The defense rests,” said Leah.

It took the jury all of two hours to let Rolly free. Wraith was in the gallery right behind them when Rolly shook Leah’s hand. “You’re wrong,” said Rolly. “I’m movin’ ta Reno. Gotta cousin there. Gonna stay alive, stay straight.” He pulled at his short hair. It used to be down to his shoulders.

“Prove it,” said Wraith. Then, his mom and his sister, both drug addicts cleaned up for the trial, embraced him tightly.

Leah shook Wraith’s hand. “Thank you,” she said.

“I told the truth,” said Wraith. “No more, no less.”

“I need to see the attorneys in chambers,” said the judge.

“Keller’s gonna get squished,” said Leah, gathering her papers and stuffing them into her briefcase.

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” said Wraith. “But, tell the judge I think District Attorney Ray Evars should also be held responsible. This farce wasted the court’s time and money.”

“Bye,” said Leah, chasing the judge out of her courtroom and into her chambers.

* * *

Wraith met Sigrun in the side lot at motorcycle parking. “I need me some baby love,” she said. “And with Saber in deep again, we have the time.”

“Sonic first?” asked Sigrun.

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” said Wraith. They went for the mozzarella sticks, fries, and peanut butter shakes.

“Who do you think did it?” asked Sigrun.

“I think it was the Rollin’ 90s,” said Wraith. “They were moving into that territory. I told Ray Evars that too, but he wasn’t listening.” She took another cheese stick.

“Why the fuck did they go through a trial?” asked Sigrun.

“Ray thought he could shake me as brain-damaged. Probably never saw the receipt. Also, I think he wanted to preempt the DEA from making cases on his turf, get Rolly to testify. I still have no idea if he is testifying to anything or not. I never arrested him.” Wraith took a sip of her shake and shivered with delight. “I am so glad I’m out of that business.”

“So am I,” said Sigrun.

They headed up to Pahrump. There was a hot wind pushing at them. They made good time. They went to see Xenia. They turned down their bikes to rumble rather than roar. They parked, got out, and went around back. Xenia nodded at the back door, and they let themselves in, very quietly. Xenia was on the phone, gesturing at someone on the other end.

Diana was asleep, her fist curled up at her mouth. They just stood there in their bike leathers, staring at that tiny face. Xenia beckoned Wraith, and she went over to the kitchen.

Xenia got off the phone. “Bob is testifying for our sister Freya today to get her an adoption license. She wants to adopt two girls, ones of us, really. If we get them, we’re pushing for immediate custody. Can you… can Sigrun watch Diana so we can go there? Bottles in the fridge. If you come, we’ll have an extra body to run around. I’ll take the company car.”

Wraith nodded. “On it.” She went over, told Sigrun, and watched Sigrun’s happy dance at being left alone to watch Diana. Her eyes shone.

They went out to the “company car” as silently as possible. “You’re going to have to get her one of those,” said Xenia.

Wraith nodded. “They know, but no one else does. The accident… kind of smooshed my insides. Maybe I can, maybe I can’t.” She waggled her hand.

“That sucks,” said Xenia, and she grabbed Wraith into a fierce embrace. “We’ve got several still that I’ve got on my list of orphans. We wanted Diana first, before taking in any new ones.”

“Well,” said Wraith. “Let’s go help our sister Freya get some off of Bob’s list, shall we?”

* * *

Bob and Freya stood at the counter at Children’s Protective Services. “Chance’s social worker is Elizabeth Denham,” said Bob. “Doubt she’s here. The woman’s always in a car.” He turned toward the harried woman on the phone, then back to Freya. “Rhodes used to have Mrs. Austin, but she got pregnant. Rhodes says no one has been by to see her in two months. Not a phone call, letter, nothing.”

“Well,” said Freya, “Let’s…”

Xenia and Wraith came in. There were hugs all around. “If you are done with your reunion,” said the woman, I’m now off the phone. She had long hair that could use some conditioner, no makeup, and a glare that could peel paint off a car.

“I’m Sheriff Bob Hunter,” said Bob.

“And I’m Sheriff Xenia Poloulakis,” said Xenia. “We’re here with Summer Cassis, who got her foster/adoptive parent license almost two weeks ago. We’re trying to find the status of the children she’s trying to adopt. We’re here to offer our services in helping the children get moved.”

“I can’t comment on…” said the woman.

“Getting the children into her house gives more room for other children, wouldn’t it?” asked Bob, in his best Sheriff Hunter voice.

“Well, it…” said the woman.

“Can you direct me to a supervisor?” asked Bob. “We know you’re busy. Or the caseworker Elizabeth Denham. I think Mrs. Austin is home with her new baby.”

“Died in childbirth,” said the woman. “Horrible. Baby made it, though. Boy, six pounds, two ounces.”

“Terrible,” said Bob.

“Horrible,” said Xenia. “Just had one myself. I know you’re busy…” The woman held up a finger and answered the phone.

A woman with caramel skin, dressed in a teal blouse and tan slacks came out. “Sheriff—Sheriffs!” said the woman. “What can I do for you?”

“This nice woman here got her foster-adopt license two weeks ago, and now wants to adopt two kids. We thought we’d help with the logistics,” said Bob.

“Come to my office,” said the woman. “Carolyn Quest,” said Carolyn, shaking Freya’s hand.

“A friend,” said Wraith. She sat down to wait.

The others went in. “Summer Cassis,” said Freya. “Here’s a copy of my license, and the data sheets on both girls.”

“Good-good,” said Carolyn. Carolyn went behind her desk, piled with six separate stacks of paper. “Sit, sit,” she said. Freya and Xenia sat. Bob lurked in a corner. “So,” she said, typing rapidly. “Oh, I see what happened. Horrible about Mrs. Austin.” Everyone agreed that it was, in fact, horrible. “We’ve been working on her more… difficult part of her caseload, you understand. The at-risk ones.” Bob and Xenia failed to mention that all the kids were “at-risk” or they wouldn’t be in the foster program. “Oh… okay. Now, the other one.” She changed papers. “Lizzie Denton’s off today, but I’m sure she’d want to see that little girl placed…” She worked for twenty minutes. The sheriffs worked on their phones. Freya meditated, afraid that if she went on her cell phone, she’d seem less interested in adopting the children.

“Well, normally, the children’s caseworkers move them, but since you’ve got… help…” She looked at the sheriffs. “I normally wouldn’t do this, but… can you…”

“Of course,” said both Bob and Xenia, in unison.

Bob and Xenia followed Wraith and Freya to Freya’s home to drop off the bikes and to pick up boxes and suitcases for the girls. Freya went with Bob, and Xenia with Wraith.

Chance met Xenia and Wraith at the door, took an empty box from Xenia, and said, “Follow me.” They followed her to a whitewashed room devoid of anything girly, with two bunk beds. A giant cross of a bleeding Christ was over each bed. Chance began opening drawers and dumping her things into the box.

Ms. Turtin came up the stairs, wheezing. “Chance, you know you can’t have anyone in your room.” She stopped in shock when she saw Wraith and Xenia.

“Sheriff Xenia Poloulakis,” said Xenia. “Here’s the order releasing Chance into our custody.” Chance worked faster, grabbing a light jacket, and her bookbag. She stepped around Ms. Turtin to go to the bathroom for her toothbrush. She came back and dropped it in the box. She only had a few changes of clothes, another pair of shoes, and a Sunday dress and an everyday dress, which she ignored in the closet.

“Don’t you want the dresses?” asked Ms. Turtin.

“Give them to the next girl, please,” said Chance.

Xenia took the paper back, and they went into the sheriff’s vehicle. “Won’t you stay for dinner?” asked Ms. Turtin.

“No thank you,” said Sheriff Xenia. “We have another stop.” They were off before Ms. Turtin could object.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Chance. “You my new mama, or is it the Freya person Sheriff Bob told me about?”

“Freya. She’s picking up your sister Rhodes.”

“Do I get my own room?” asked Chance.

“Yes, I’ve seen it,” said Xenia. “All your black clothes are hanging up in the closet.”

“Are you a Goth?” asked Wraith.

“Yes,” said Chance.

“Ooh, I can see a session in Hot Topic,” said Xenia, a store in the mall that catered to Goth girls.

Chance bounced up and down within the confines of the seat belt. “Way awesome.”

“Text Freya,” said Wraith, handing over her phone. “I’m sure Rhodes will want some stuff too.”

Bob and Rhodes were having a bit more trouble. Mrs. Filchrist wasn’t having any of Bob’s banter, or the paper he showed her giving him the right to transport Rhodes to her new home. He had to call, and get on the phone, Carolyn Quest. Carolyn explained to Mrs. Filchrist that Rhodes’ caseworker was dead, and that she was being transferred to a new home.

Mrs. Filchrist handed back the phone. “Why didn’t you just say so? I’ve had enough of that little terror.” She looked around. “Hey, where’s that black woman you brought with you?”

“That’s her new foster mother. And, I assume they’re packing.”

Mrs. Filchrist threw up her hands. “Great,” she said. “Just great.” A baby squalled, and Mrs. Filchrist ran to see what was up.

They managed to get Rhodes, whose brown hair now sported Valkyrie side braids done with Rhodes’ tiny fingers, into the vehicle. One box was entirely of books. The suitcase held clothes, a few shorts, shirts, and sandals.

“Got a text,” said Freya. Rhodes held her breath. “Wraith wants to meet us at the mall. Your sister Chance is a Goth who apparently needs Hot Topic more than life itself.”

Bob brayed a laugh. “My wife hates the mall. We’d better meet them, so she can go back and look after the baby.”

“You’ve got a damn cute baby,” said Freya.

Chance, who’d seen pictures, said, “Fuckin’ A.”

They met at the mall. The sisters sized each other up and did a fist-bump. Bob went to help Xenia unload her company car, put the things in his car, and go home. Wraith and Freya let the girls pick out what they liked. Now dressed head to toe in black, from a black T-shirt with a bunny on it, to black cargo shorts. Then, black sandals to black bracelets, Rhodes was truly happy.

Both girls got their ears pierced, something their foster parents over the years had condemned. Rhodes got black studs, and Chance got silver. They ate at the food court, and Bob took the females back to Freya’s place and unloaded the truck with Wraith’s help. Bob went back to work. The girls thundered to their rooms, unloaded their booty, and started pounding heavy metal.

“Someone found their iPod in the dock,” said Freya. Wraith hugged her and stayed for a very expletive-laden discussion on military tactics when the girls came out to grab sodas. They were both grinning from ear to ear. Wraith took a picture of the grinning family and sent it on to Bob.

They all had dinner together at a barbecue joint, after Freya ascertained that neither girl was a vegetarian. “That’ll change next week,” she texted Bob.

The barbecued chicken and fries were a huge hit. The girls got to meet most of the Valkyries; the Soldier Pack came along. Skuld and Rota introduced their daughter, Alvitr, to Rhodes and Chance. Chance admired Alvitr’s muscles, and her all-black T-shirt and jeans ensemble, and her silver jewelry, including silver feathers in her ears. Alvitr had been to Harley school in Colorado, and was now back home to take a much-needed break in between classes. The girls loved the idea of working on Harleys.

Herja narrowed her eyes. “Freya, you give and take at the same time. Giving me two baby Valkyries to raise, train in weapons and Harleys, at this time!”

“We’re learning fighting and Harleys?” Chance stage-whispered to Rhodes.

“Cool!” said Rhodes.

“Got enough trouble keeping the Soldier Pack from running off on me, setting up shop everywhere across the high desert. Got a new quad coming in on Sunday,” said Herja.

“Anyone we can pick up?” asked Skuld. “Kind of on a break, doing the daughter thing here.” Alvitr grinned and shook her side braids. The beads rang slightly, being made of real silver. She’d bought some of Triesta’s work when back home with her mothers.

“Got one in Idaho being picked up by a Gearhead, believe it or not. They’re threatening to get soldiers off the list,” said Freya.

“What is going on?” asked Rhodes.

“The Soldier Pack are ex-soldiers looking to learn a new trade. Some love the Harleys. Some end up in Vegas working for Bannon and Gregory. They’re both Nighthawks. One ended up on Henry’s hydroponics wing of his horse farm,” said Alvitr.

“Who’s Henry, and where’s the farm?” asked Rhodes, stealing a fry.

“Grandfather has a farm just outside Vegas that does what your mother is doing for you, and what my mothers did for me,” said Alvitr. “He and David —David’s the medicine man, they raise up some native kids from all over the western US. My mothers adopted me,” she said, pointing to Skuld, then Rota. “My cousins —I have so many now, Chayton and Nantan adopted four boys. Little Nico, Tam, Josh, and Nick. My aunts Inola and Bella have Ryder, and my aunts Ivy and Callie have Aiden and Kiya, the babies, and Grace and Hu. Hu spends half her time with Grace and half with her mom Bao, oh, and her new husband, Big Nico.”

Rhodes stared at her, then looked at her new mom. “I’m going to need a chart.” Everyone laughed.

Bob got Diana back, who had been sleeping in Wraith’s arms. Xenia seemed ready to fall over, and wanted to go home, nurse Diana, and go to sleep. He said goodbye to everyone, and then followed his wife home with the company car.

Everyone else said goodbye after ordering a dessert tray of apple pie, key lime pie, and a flourless, chocolate melting cake. Freya wisely ordered takeout for the next day, and brought two trays home, one of barbecued chicken and rosemary potatoes, and one of the apple pie the girls loved. They received another round of congratulations, and Freya and the girls piled into Freya’s non-descript silver car to head for home.

“Feel like a night ride?” asked Alvitr. Everyone else nodded and rode out. They went into the desert, pitched tents, and started a fire in a fire pit. They sat in front of the fire and sang the old songs.

In the tent, Skuld took her time with Rota. Rota loved the desert, and would be hiking come morning, on trails only she could see, while Skuld, the metal-band member, and studio mixer, would sleep in. They lived at different times, in different parts of the day, but the nights were theirs. Rota was greedy for touch, and Skuld gave that to her, from the beads in her hair, right down to her toes.

Skuld stroked, kissed, nibbled, licked, until even the greedy Rota was ready for release. She slipped her fingers in, and Rota writhed, sliding on the sleeping bag. She came gustily, but Skuld wasn’t finished. She went deeper with her fingers, and she used her tongue to flick Rota into another wild frenzy. She came, bowed her back, and juddered back and forth. She let go absolutely, and Skuld loved the ride to find her wife’s release.

“Skuld,” said Rota, stroking the side of Skuld’s left breast. “I want to… take some classes.”

“Parenting classes,” said Skuld. “I think the exact same conversation is happening in another tent.” She grinned. “I wanna little rock climber I can teach to rock out.” She played drums in the air.

“We can try,” said Rota. “I think I know just the place to look.”

* * *

Due to Wraith’s soreness, Sigrun took it slowly, with gentle caresses and kisses. She tied a scarf over Wraith’s eyes, and took her time going over every inch of Wraith’s body, with Wraith not allowed to move. She used her breath, her kisses, and the tips of her fingers to stroke Wraith all over. Wraith arched her back, then welcomed her fingers.

Finally, when she was hot enough, straining for more, Saber slipped into the tent. He touched Wraith first, using his fingers, calloused from neglect, and then sucking each breast, licking her. He slipped on a condom and slid into her, making her claw his back. He came inside her, barely able to control himself long enough to give her the pleasure of thrusting inside her for very long. She ripped off her improvised blindfold and gave him hungry kisses as he came and came again. Spent, he rolled off of her, laying still, gasping. Then, both Saber and Wraith loved Sigrun, until she came so many times she actually told them to stop. They laid gasping. Finally, Wraith cleaned them all up with wet wipes and put them into a plastic bag.

“Sorry I was late,” Saber said to Sigrun. “I had to bathe off the mountain-man stench, then I had to get past the sentries.” He grinned into her hair.

“You have to go back,” said Wraith.

“Not long now,” said Saber. “Just a hair more evidence, and these useless racist pricks go down.” He sighed. “I hate being Thai-American and being the lowly slave to these numbnuts. Running drugs, guns, and stolen girls.”

“Can we help?” asked Wraith.

“Nope, the girls never quite got where they were supposed to go. Nailed a county commissioner there, and his wife. Not pretty. They’re in a safe place until this blows over, and their families have been notified to act as if their daughters are still missing.”

They laid there, breathing in each other’s scents. “We need a baby,” said Sigrun.

“Yes,” said Wraith.

“Why the hell did I just use a condom, then?” Both women kissed Saber thoroughly, and then they all slipped into sleep.

Somewhere, in the middle of the night, both of them made love to him one more time. And, Saber didn’t use a condom.

The daddies got the pixies, and Henry and David took them horseback riding. They loved it. Chayton and Nantan rode another trail that crisscrossed. They met back at the Big House for tacos and sodas, then a movie marathon with popcorn. The daddies pretended to be Disney princesses, making the girls laugh and groan over having such lame men around. Robert took Damia upstairs when things got loud to paint by numbers, with a noise-canceling headset on. He brought the men up, one by one, to see her beatific smile. Henry and David stood in the doorway the longest, and they snapped pictures for Ivy and Callie. They had dinner; or breakfast for dinner, in the form of chocolate chip or strawberry pancakes. The smaller ones pooped out, and they turned to superhero flicks. They all imitated their favorite superheroes and kept up a lively dialogue as to which superhero was the best.

That morning, Ace helped Lily with Rose and Colin, then he kissed his wife, and vanished to go work the bar with Cougar. Ivy arrived with Aiden and Kiya and installed them into high chairs. “Quick, I want to talk jealously about Katya before she shows up,” said Lily. “Love the woman, she had our baby for us, but she makes being the mother of twins, plus mother of Elena, look so fu —freaking easy.”

“Agreed,” said Ivy.

“I mean, I’ve got Jake, the most loving wonder pug ever, and Maude, Eater of Shoes, best Yorkshire terrier in the world. Plus Ace, who adores us, and a small army of Wolfpack helping me, and delivering the food, and I still don’t sleep. She actually sleeps?”

“How did you get Maude to stop eating shoes?” asked Ivy.

“Doggy training, and she hates the smell of vanilla. A touch on the shoes, and no biting.”

“Wow,” said Ivy. “And, I sleep. Callie and I just keep trading off until we drop.” She stared down at her water glass. “I am still getting used to Damia going to live over the barn, and Hu going to live with her mom. Hu’s over all the time, and I see Damia every day. Getting really good at currying horses, too. And mucking out stalls. And filling feed bags. But, even with two babies and one very talkative Grace, the house still feels so quiet.”

“And, how’s Grace doing with Hu withdrawing from the Nighthawks school?” The server showed up, and they both ordered iced teas.

“She was really angry, sad, and upset,” said Ivy. “Kind of kicked her in the teeth that her behavior has consequences. Not stickers, not losing TV time, but real consequences. Losing friendships, or sisters. Driving people away from you who matter. Now, she is thriving at school without constantly competing with Hu for attention, and to be the ‘best.’ She’s started learning 3D printing. She’s more relaxed, smiles more. She actually pays attention to her Pomodoro timer and gets a lot more work done. She asks more questions. Callie says the other kids like her more, play with her more. Hu invites her over all the time to her house, giving us the same breaks we had before, bless Bao and Nico.”

The server brought rosemary bread and dipping oil. Ivy cracked black pepper on the oil, and dug in. “How is Nico handling being an instant dad?” asked Lily, in between bites.

“He’s fantastic,” said Ivy. “He’s teaching them to cook Italian and is the most perfect gentleman around them.” Ivy sighed. “If I weren’t married to Callie…”

Callie swung in, sat down. “Hey!” she said. “You planning an affair?”

Ivy laughed and kissed her. “No, love. I was explaining how Nico is with the girls.”

“And the babies!” said Callie, handing Aiden more Cheerios. “He keeps coming over and stealing them. He covers them with sunscreen, takes them out into the yard, and plays with them in the shade. He rolls a ball to them.”

“Ba,” said Aiden. All three women stared at him, and Callie teared up. “Mabba ba,” he said.

Callie sighed. “Not the first word. Good, because I wanted it to be Mama or Mom.”

Lily laid back her head and pretended to snore. “Methinks someone needs a Daddy Day,” said Ivy.

“Had one last week,” said Lily. “Slept all damn day. Wanted a massage, foot rub, nails done, but never got there.”

Callie laughed. “I’ve done the same thing.”

Katya showed up, the babies with cute koala backpacks on. The ladies helped strap them into high chairs. The babies each had snacks, diced soft fruit and tiny cheese crackers. Luka stared at everyone, and Ivan had eyes only for his food.

“She definitely slept,” said Callie. She looked at Katya. “And how are you sleeping?”

Katya waved her hand. “Gregory takes boys. He is excellent father. Am pregnant again, so he is very attentive. And, the Wolfpack are there many times. Clean house, feed me soup. They took my recipes for pierogis, and they gave me borscht.”

“Beet soup is not my thing,” said Callie.

“Very good in winter,” said Katya. “And good when pregnant.”

“Are the parents really excited?” asked Ivy.

“One or the other come to the doctor visits,” said Katya. “See baby, hear heartbeat. Go home crying. Very happy.”

Bella and Inola came with Ryder. Bella looked good, but tired. Ryder loved staring at the other babies and kept up a steady stream of speech that made the other babies talk as well. “Chatty bunch,” said Bella.

“Almost had a first word, but false alarm,” said Ivy. “Callie almost cried.”

“I cry at dog commercials,” said Callie. “Pass the bread. Hungry woman here.” The server came back, and they all ordered soup and salad. “Love the mushroom soup here,” said Callie.

“Half blue corn, half clam chowder,” said Inola.

Bella put her hand over her mouth. “No c-word,” said Bella. “The blue corn tortilla soup rocks, but no bivalves, please.”

“How is pregnancy going?” asked Katya.

“Fine,” said Bella.

“Liar,” said Inola. “She has morning sickness all day long.”

“Gee, thanks for telling everyone,” said Bella.

“And she’s cranky, too,” said Inola.

Bella stared lasers at Inola. “You are so loving and supportive… not.”

Inola grinned. “I am. I get up at oh-god-thirty, spend the morning with our lovely. You get up later.”

“Like us!” said Callie. “Ivy and I love being on swing in the summer. Things cool off at night.”

“Yeah, but you’re on the same schedule. We’re not,” complained Bella.

“You want to work part-time?” asked Ivy. “I already have you off closing.”

“Nope,” said Bella. “Love swing shift, and horses need someone up in the damn morning. But, now Robert and Damia do the morning chores. You can sleep in, love.” She snagged some bread and inhaled it in two bites.

“Hard to sleep in when you’ve been up at dawn since you were six,” said Inola. “I get your point, but I’m a morning person.”

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” said Ivy and Callie. Bella threw a paper straw cover at them. They laughed.

“We’re not fighting, we’re discussing,” said Bella, primly. “It is what it is. Two women, different schedules.”

Katya said, “My husband is very busy. But, I know it is good for us. I will go back to school online.”

“Whoa,” said Callie. “I’m not going back for a while,” she said. “Will survive getting my master’s, but it’s freaking difficult doing that with twenty-seven kids.”

Inola laughed. “We kind of do. Dog and lots of pretty horses and ponies. And, they’re all dependent on you. I am beyond happy that Damia and Richard are helping out, though. Leaves me a lot more time with our little one.”

“I think I need to exercise more,” said Callie.

“Carrying babies around IS exercise,” said Ivy.

“Lift some weights. If I weren’t worried about Grace deciding she wants to lift too, I would get them.”

Lily grinned. “Or just lift the babies and wander everywhere.”

“I would drop weights on my foot,” said Bella. “Be a bar back or bartender. That’s a lot of exercise, all of it standing up.” She laughed. “Or, be Ivy. She dances, sings, goes behind the bar, delivers drinks, talks with anyone. I’m surprised you’re not a stick.”

Ivy shook her shoulders, making her breasts jiggle. “No sticks here,” she said. All the women laughed, making the babies chortle.

Ivy sang a very slow version of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. They all sang the “hello” line. “Just work out until you get winded with some YouTube videos. FitnessBlender, Millionaire Hoy. Turn the sound down and blast your music. Get in some butt-jiggling dance moves. I like to salsa.”

She held out her arms and jiggled her breasts, making the women double over with laughter. The babies chortled, sensing merriment, except Aiden, who cried. Lily took point, took him to the bathroom with a diaper bag, and brought him back, changed and giggling.

They ate their food, passed around babies, danced a little, and went back to Katya’s house. Katya put on baby videos, Ivy put on some rock, and they danced with the babies, which wore them out. The rock was turned down low, and naptime ensued.

Gregory sent over two massage therapists, two manicure artists, and a pedicure specialist with a foot-soak tub. Two Wolfpack came for when the babies woke up, and they kept the women in drinks while they cleaned. The babies woke up, one or two at a time, and they all rotated the babies. The video went back on, the babies stared at each other and played with their toys, and everyone got their rotation. They fed the babies, and Ivy ordered delivery. Of crab-stuffed ravioli, pesto pizza, and stuffed mushrooms. They ate like pigs, and Katya broke out the wine. The men arrived to take their women home, except for Callie and Ivy, who went giggling into the night.

* * *

Bao watched over her daughter’s packing. Hu told her every step that she had learned in the video. “First, put your things in piles. Since we’re doing washing there, and probably getting more stuff, three underwear, three socks, three T-shirts, three shorts, jeans for the flight and a hoodie and warm socks. Airplanes are always cold,” she informed her mother. “Toothbrush and toothpaste in the little collapsible thing. Refillable water bottle, better than buying and trashing all that plastic. A towel that can be used as a blanket. One swimsuit. Sandals, I’m wearing sneakers on the plane. One nice pants and blouse, one nice dress. Or, I can buy a dress there.”

“Buy one there,” said Bao. The offending dress was removed and hung in a closet.

“I’ve got enough books and games to use on the flight,” said Bao. “And, a drawing kit. I thought about paint-by-numbers, but planes judder in the air, and the smell would offend people. I also brought a jewelry-making kit David put together for me. Passport, you have, and medicines, in case we get sick. Did I leave anything out?”

“No,” said Bao. “Now, how do you get all of this into your rolling case?”

Hu showed her mother how to roll up the clothes to conserve space, and how to put the shoes in a bag that would later be used for laundry. It left space at the top. “This space,” said Hu, “is for purchases. I also read that we can have them shipped back.”

“Excellent,” said Bao. “My intelligent daughter strikes again. Would you like to do the same with my packing? And, don’t worry. I sent the suits for my business meeting to the hotel, and I asked that they be pressed and hung up in our suite.”

“So, same deal,” said Hu. “Let’s do this.”

Bao grinned at her daughter’s can-do attitude. She had the added twist of having to add camisole bras and tampons, but she soon had her mother packed. This time, the pants and shirts were folded in amongst each other, and the rest rolled and laid on top. Bao explained a minimum makeup case, foundation/powder blend, eye shadow, mascara, and tinted lip gloss. She gave her daughter a lip moisturizer.

“Planes are notoriously dry,” she said. “And, let’s get some carabiners for the water bottles to attach to the outside.” They clipped them to the outside well. “Now, most hotel have shampoo and conditioner. I bring a tiny bottle of my conditioner with me because it’s the only one that works on my hair,” said Bao, showing her daughter her toiletries kit. “You can only bring three, one-hundred milliliter bottles on a plane. So, tiny deodorant, a scent in a cream… so I don’t stink.” Bao giggled.

“A tiny shampoo, and a face mask for sleeping.”

She handed a child-sized one to her daughter in the shape of a panda. Bao giggled again. “We’ve also got these travel wraps that wrap around you and hold up your head while sleeping. If you are reclining, fold it up and use it as a pillow.” She handed a red one to her daughter and wrapped a blue one around the handle of her suitcase. She also held out a pill bottle. “Diarrhea, constipation, and motion sickness medication, melatonin to help us sleep, and multivitamins.” She put it in the case.

“Good,” said Hu.

“Now, what shall we do for Nico?” asked Bao. Hu stared at his side of the closet, jeans and works shorts divided from slacks and jackets, to suits. “Don’t worry, little flower,” said Bao. “I have sent two suits and dinner jackets on ahead. What should we pack?”

“Jeans and socks for the plane,” said Hu, taking them out. Bao helped her; his jeans were heavy. “And another pair. Shorts, two pairs, he doesn’t wear them often. Board shorts for swimming. Underwear, undershirts.” All his underthings were brightly colored, blue and maroon and the occasional yellow with black diamonds. “Two slacks, no, three. He likes to dress for dinner.” She stared. “White shirts. He likes those to dress up in.”

“Someone has been paying attention,” said Bao. “Good. And jewelry?”

“Bad idea for the plane ride. Every article I’ve read said you have to take it on and off for Security, and you might lose something. Cufflinks. He wears them. Silver… black… silver goes with everything.” Hu took them out and put them on the bed. “And you… silver necklace and those drop-leaf earrings you like.” She ran over to her mother’s jewelry box and took out the delicate chain necklace, and to the hanging earring tree to take off the leaf earrings. Bao provided jeweler’s bags for both, and she laughed and clapped when Hu hid them in a pair of socks.

“Now, ugly fact of life, pantyhose. Men created them to torture women. I use silk, and like black ones.” They went into a laundry bag for the delicates. Bao put the bras into the bag as well. “I also use bras with a front clasp. Why break your arm putting something on?”

They surveyed the bed. “Think we’ve got it, Honored Mother,” said Hu, in very precise Chinese. “Let’s pack… wait, Nico likes real books.” She took two paperbacks from the to-read pile, then a third. All of that fit in two rolling bags, with plenty of space on top for purchases. “We could fit this in one,” said Hu.

“Give the man his space,” said Bao. They fist-bumped and got the rolling bags down the stairs.

“Are you okay to fly, with the being-pregnant thing?” asked Hu.

Bao laughed. “I’ve got some time left before we get nervous about that.” She kissed Hu’s cheek. “Now, passport, itinerary, and e-tickets,” she said. “I wear all of that around my neck. Harder to steal without grabbing my breast, which I’d notice.”

“Ewww,” said Hu, making Bao laugh again. Bao got the neck passport case, inserted all the passports. “Nico had to have a visa,” said Bao. She showed it to Hu. “The travel agent got it for him.” She then showed Hu the itinerary, Vegas to San Francisco, to China and onto a train to the small town where Bao grew up. They packed an itinerary in each case, and one around Bao’s neck.

Bao took a deep breath and called her mother. “Honored Mother,” she left on her answering machine, “you are still invited to go. Please let me know if you will go to China to visit your old friends. I must know to have the ticket ready for you when you arrive at the airport, or Nico can pick you up.” She hung up.

“That’s just mean, Mama,” said Bao. “She still can’t stand Daddy.”

“She’s got to learn to have a civil conversation,” said Bao. “He has always been kind and gentle with her.”

“But, she can’t learn the lesson all at once,” said Hu. “Baby steps.”

Bao put her hand to her heart. “Once more, my Honored Daughter educates me,” she said in Mandarin. Hu gave a little bow, and they both laughed.

They had dinner early, leftover puttanesca with little garlic knots, and flavored water. Nico checked out the packing job, pronounced himself amazed, and added only another set of cufflinks, the black ones, his own toiletries kit, and a book.

“Sorry about the toiletries kit, Dad,” said Hu.

Nico laughed. “You don’t need to shave your lovely face,” he said to Hu. “Now, we have to get to the airport and go through Security, enough excitement for anyone.”

Bao looked up from her phone, stricken. “My mother. Texted. She’s coming!”

Hu jumped up and down. “Let’s get her!” said Nico. “Stove off?”

“Check!” said Bao.

“Everything unplugged —computers, TV, blow dryers? Final check!” Everyone checked a room. All three were bringing their tablet computers. “Alright. Let’s put the lights on timers and hit the road!”

They turned on the timers, locked the door, filled up the Uber car driven by a copper-haired woman with a big smile, and rode away. Ivy, Callie, and the others didn’t come out to say goodbye; they’d said it at dinner the previous night.

Honored Mother was waiting in front of her triplex, head bowed as if she were waiting to be executed. Remarkably, she had only one bag, and it was a silvery-pink hard case. Bao got out to put it in the back, and Honored Mother practically leapt into the back seat with Hu.

“Hello, Honored Grandmother,” said Hu. “Welcome to the trip!” Hu kept up a steady chatter of how she learned to pack a bag on YouTube.

Bao’s mother sat in silence all the way to the airport, despite Hu’s bright chatter. They were there in less than half an hour. They checked in and went to the business lounge. They sipped flavored waters and snacked on canapes while waiting for their plane.

They were in business class, in little pods arranged in a herringbone pattern. Hu excitedly changed places with her grandmother to see the plane take off, then sat next to her mother when the pilot took off the seat belt sign. Even though it was evening, Bao correctly surmised her daughter would be too excited to sleep, and so she opened her laptop and banged out the copy for narration for a book based on the lovely “dragon wind,” with illustrations sent by her incredible illustrator, a woman in China that was putting her daughter through school.

Hu worked on a beaded bracelet. She put it away for the appetizer, scallops and pork, and the soup, a fig/pork/mushroom soup. Full of food, Hu slipped off to sleep. Bao grinned, put on a movie, and was surprised to see both her mother and husband already asleep. She watched a movie about two girls trying to go to see a waterfall with their boyfriends, and the attendant’s hijinks before they all ended up there, and both proposals that ensued at the waterfall. She turned it off, put away her laptop, and fell into sleep.

They awoke to a lovely breakfast of salmon and blinis and a goat cheese zucchini roll, a shrimp-walnut salad, a cheese plate, and breads. They all had strong, hot tea, and Nico had coffee. They stretched and walked around, and then played games or read until the plane landed in Shanghai.

They all freshened up in the restroom before getting through customs. Nico used a computer to check in, and since he had his marriage certificate to Bao, it took time in a long line, but it was not onerous. They waited for him, after their much faster check-through, at the baggage carousel.

They were shocked to be met, once out of the baggage area, by a limo and a news crew. Bao explained how she was delighted to be back in China, and of course her Chinese daughter wanted to see as much of China as she could. Hu answered questions in perfect Mandarin, and she was so cute that she pleased the cameras.

“Where are your friends?” asked the camerawoman.

“They are on a trip through the Sierra Nevadas,” said Bao. “We decided that, of course, we should go to China. I have a business that sells books teaching stories in Mandarin, to the Chinese and Taiwanese people, and they use the stories to teach Chinese as well.”

“This must be your mother,” said the interviewer, a stunning Chinese beauty with a black skirt and a yellow blouse. “It is very good to meet you.”

Honored Mother bowed. “As my daughter has said, we cannot help but to visit China.”

“And who is this?” asked the interviewer.

Hu answered. “My Honored Father died when I was only four. It was a terrible time. Now, my mother has married a man who treats me as wonderfully as Honored Father did. This is Nico, my wonderful daddy.” She smiled up at him and took his hand.

Nico smiled down at her. “My little Princess,” said Nico, in perfect Mandarin. “My wife is now pregnant with our little prince.”

The interviewer couldn’t wait to express her delight. “You must be so amazed and delighted.”

“We all are,” said Bao’s mother. Bao and Nico, who understood his mother-in-law perfectly fine, struggled to keep their faces relaxed.

The limo took them to the train station. “Don’t worry, Hu, we will spend more time here on the way back,” said Bao.

The interviewer had lots of questions about their previous trip to pick up Bao, who had been staying with Dragon Mother. Dragon Mother talked about the triplex and failed to mention that the rest of the family now lived out on a horse farm, away from her, unable to deal with her frosty reception and nasty comments to Bao. And about her not being Chinese enough, which threatened to spoil the wedding.

Hu picked up the thread, telling her own memories. The woman asked if they still lived together, and Hu said no, that Grace and the babies lived in another house. She talked about a farm being over the hill, with horses and ponies, and about Damia, the child who was a horse whisperer.

They got off at the train station and were wonderfully met by well-wishers who had loved the first broadcasts about Bao and Hu being reunited. Hu was gentle and kind, and took the little teddy bears she was offered graciously.

“Good,” said Bao. “We will need them.” They put them in the top of the suitcases and closed them back up.

They took the train, and Hu loved every minute. Bao and Nico held hands, while Dragon Mother came out of her shell and told Hu all about her childhood in China, glossing over the very-poor parts. Bao let her gloss over anything she wanted; Bao could set the record straight later.

The town was as they’d left it, a poor town on a hillside. Bao had rented a house and felt nearly no guilt at what was most-surely displacing a family, because she’d paid enough to have them pay all their bills for the next year. Hu became familiar with squat toilets, and with hiking up and down steep hills. The next morning, she took her daughter on the hour-long walk to her former school. Bao and Hu both gave lessons in English and talked about working hard to achieve goals. Bao had shipped books for all three hundred students, and had signed every one, personally. The camera crew found her, and they enjoyed the tale of a local woman giving back.

Then, they hiked back down to the taxi stand and to the train station, taking the train back to Shanghai. They had fun roaming the city, from Yu Garden, the Shanghai Museum with its treasures, shopping and eating on the Bund, to taking in the snacks and teas in the basement of the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. It was set up like a 1930s Chinese city. Hu had spent a lot of time in the small Vegas Chinatown with her mother, but this was complexity that hummed and moved in a seething mass that seemed to make sense of itself, somehow.

They made several stops for photo ops, with the same dogged reporter they found out was named Zhu Chen, who didn’t look too worse for wear from her time in the mountains. They endorsed tea and cookies, and they gladly talked about the museums and shops they had visited. Hu and Bao expressed joy at all they had seen. They had dinner at the lovely Plaza Riverside Shanghai Hotel, and they went up to their suite. Dragon Mother collapsed. Hu was still full of excitement, despite being tired, and she worked on her bracelet while watching TV. She finally slept in her bedroom.

The third bedroom sported a lovely bed. Nico shut the door, put on some low music, and took his time taking off his wife’s clothes. He took her to the deep bath, and crept in with her, making her laugh. He washed her hair, and conditioned it, enjoying the weight of all that silken hair in his hands. He put it in a knot and secured it with a chopstick, then he kissed his way down her neck. She used the water to position herself, pushed herself up on her hands, and put her knees at his hips. She rocked back and forth, making him groan as silently as he could, until he felt satiated. He came, trying not to thrash about and drown his wife. He slid out of her and helped her settle back.

Nico washed her from head to toe, and she floated. He washed himself, and then he drained the tub when it started to get chilly. He stepped out first, then helped her out. He dried her from head to toe, then dried himself. She dried her hair partway, and he braided it while it was still wet. He put lotion on all over her, while she put lotion on her face, delicately, with two fingers. He put her in the soft hotel robe, and then he led her to the bed. He put on his own robe and found her talking on the phone in rapid Mandarin, ordering a snack. He laughed to himself and prepared to open the door so as not to wake the sleeping females in the suite. The hotel staff delivered a fruit and cheese plate, with lovely chocolates on the side. He bowed, Nico tipped him, and the delivery man left. They shared the plate, brushed their teeth, and put on silken sleeping clothes.

They were awakened by a knock on the door. The chef was there to prepare breakfast. They ate fresh fruit, bacon, and croissants in their pajamas, and drank fresh orange juice, too. Nico tipped the chef, who stayed to clean up while everyone else got dressed.

A shocking-pink rolling bag was delivered, and they packed up to take the train. “What is the bag for?” asked Hu. “Are we meeting someone?”

“Yes,” said Nico, a gleam in his eyes. He held up his phone, and showed a picture of a young girl, about thirteen. “This is He Jie. She is lovely, and kind, and wonderful, but no one wants to adopt her because she is an older girl.”

“My… sister!” said Hu, jumping up and down. Dragon Mother looked absolutely stunned.

“We were looking at babies, but Jie caught our eye at once. She’s smart, and she speaks some English. We didn’t tell you because, well, we just got the final go-ahead yesterday. We were terrified of everything not falling through. Plus, we don’t want this on the TV cameras,” said Bao.

“Can we go? Can we go now?” asked Hu. “I want to meet her!”

“Yes, of course,” said Nico. “I have to shave, then do a final packing, then check out of the hotel. Then, it’s back to the train station.”

Hu danced the whole time that Nico shaved, Bao did a final check, and Dragon Mother sat on the stool in the immaculate kitchen. “Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Dragon Mother, hurt. “About your baby boy, and now a Chinese girl?”

“Normally they want a woman to wait a year after giving birth to adopt,” said Bao, “but, this is an older girl, and we already have one girl. So, they went ahead. We were very lucky. Delay is a bad idea. It will be terrible for her to age out of the system here. We didn’t have any idea how long it would take. So, we must go now, and get your new granddaughter.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” said Dragon Mother.

“You didn’t apologize, a real apology, to either Nico or myself for your terrible behavior, culminating with my wedding day. You can’t be a real part of our lives until you do.” Bao went to check on everything, and then came back. Hu was still dancing and singing with her laughing father.

Dragon Mother looked at her daughter, with big tears in her eyes. “I saw my old home, talked to my old friends. No one cared that Nico was not Chinese. They all said, ‘What a lovely Chinese daughter!’ I regret that your first husband’s parents are all ghosts. I would have wanted them to see her. I wanted to be in a Chinese past, one that does not exist. I don’t want to live on a hillside again. My bones are too old. And now…” Her eyes teared up. “Now, that beautiful girl and I could be living next door, and the hostility I was willing to embrace is in ashes now.”

“You cannot live with me ever again,” said Bao. “I am very sorry, but I cannot trust you. But, it is only a twenty-minute ride away.” Bao laughed. “I’ll even get you some sort of unlimited Uber pass, just so you can visit. But, you must call first.”

Dragon Mother bowed her head. It was the best offer she was likely to get. Nico realized that the heavy mother-daughter conversation was over, and he led the excited crew out into the hallway. The baggage woman came with her cart, and they went down to check out. Bao signed for the incidentals and handed back the keys. Bao gave a rousing endorsement of the hotel to the camera crew, with the understanding that the rest of their trip would be private, and they were ushered into a hotel limo for a ride to the train station.

They bought snacks for a hungry Hu, who finished her bracelet, well before the train ride ended. She turned to video games, then a movie, then a nap. They got off in a remote village in the north, near the Chinese/North Korean border. They met a herd of excited, exhausted parents, all with baby paraphernalia at the ready. They signed more papers, and the adoption people quizzed Dragon Mother. She said she was on board with the whole thing and happy to help. Bao donated rice and fruit to the orphanage, along with a cash donation.

He Jie was terrified. Hu went up, bowed, called her Older Sister, and gave her the bracelet she had been working on. Hu then introduced Dragon Grandmother, Honored Mother, and Honored American-Italian Father who spoke some well-practiced Mandarin. They signed a lot more papers, got back on the train, and Bao took Jie to the train bathroom. Jie was noisily sick, and Bao gave her wet wipes. They cut open the suitcase from its shipping wrap, and Jie went back to the bathroom to change. She came back in jeans, a pink top, and some lovely sandals. Her old clothes were carefully folded up, shoes on top. In a whisper of a voice, she asked that her old clothes be sent back to the orphanage for her friend, Mei. Bao nodded, took the clothes and put them in a bag, took out her laptop, handed Jie’s tablet to Hu to turn on for her, and extracted all the information about Mei she could from Jie.

Bao looked out of the corner of her eye at Nico, who gave a tiny nod. “I’ll text about adding on,” he said.

Dragon Grandmother watched the byplay, and knew she was getting yet another granddaughter. She wondered how she could have misjudged such a kind and generous man.

They went back to the same hotel, sleeping on the train. Hu held Jie’s hand in her own for almost the entire ride. They checked back in, and the girls slept together in the large bed until morning.

Breakfast was steamed pork buns with little pink pig ears and noses for Jie and Dragon Grandmother. Then, bacon, eggs, fruit, and croissants for the others, with more orange juice. Hu showed numerous pictures of the house to Jie. Jie was in shock, confused and saddened about leaving her friends, and excited about a new American life.

Bao applied Jie’s new passport, and did more paperwork, then they asked Jie if she wanted to go to the Disney Resort. She said yes, so they went to MouseLand. Dragon Mother took the day to shop and visit with friends instead. They wore black mouse ears, rode rides, ate lunch, saw a show, met some princesses, and had a wow of a good time. Jie showed signs of exhaustion, so Bao took her back, leaving Nico and Hu to enjoy daddy-daughter time together.

Jie burst into tears when she got back to the hotel. Bao held her, rang for tea, and got her a piece of paper and a pen. When the tears showed signs of slowing, she received the tea, tipped the server, and gave Jie some wet wipes and then the pen and paper.

“Write your friends. I know you wish you had them all here with you.” Jie wondered at this new mother who understood her. She nodded, drank tea, and wrote letters before falling into an exhausted sleep.

Bao took a short nap, then woke up, and had the chef make a delicious chicken-mushroom, rice concoction. The smell woke up Jie, who ate as if she’d never eaten before. She was thin, small, with her shoulder bones sticking out. They ate, drank tea, and Bao answered questions.

“You can go to the Nighthawks homeschool, or you can do what Hu does, which is go to school and learn many jobs, so she can decide what to do later on when it is time for college.” Jie burst into tears again. Bao took a moment to guess the reason, and then handed over more wet wipes while patting her back. “You didn’t think you were going to college,” said Bao. Jie could only nod. “Eat,” said Bao. “Your food is growing cold.”

It took more time for the paperwork and passport to go through. The girls went to the Oriental Pearl Tower with Nico and Dragon Grandmother, while Bao wrestled with the paperwork. They met up at Nanjing Road and had a lovely lunch and shopping adventure. They went to Tiananmen Square, then to the Shanghai Aquarium. Dragon Grandmother left before the aquarium, pleading exhaustion and time with friends. They got back, and they found the passport had been delivered to the hotel. They all did a happy dance.

Nico found a flight leaving that night, so they packed up and slept on the plane. It was a terrific idea, because Jie was terrified to fly. They put her in the middle and distracted her with snacks, sodas, and movies once she woke up. She spent her time with a sleeping mask on, her face in Bao’s shoulder, as they landed. They decided against the relatively short flight to Vegas, and spent a day wandering through Chinatown. Many people knew Bao because of her books, and she and Hu talked at two Chinese-speaking schools. They ended the day at the Wharf, and they all ate clam chowder out of bread bowls.

Jie deemed herself fit to fly, and so they took a very short night flight to Vegas. An Uber took them home, Dragon Grandmother first, and Hu took the girls up to the pods where she (and Grace, sometimes) slept. Jie loved her pink pod, and spent some time arranging her things the way she wanted it, her new little bears, school supplies, and new clothes all hung up.

Grace came running over, despite the hour, to meet her new sister. They sat on the floor on beanbag chairs, and they talked in Mandarin together. They ate popcorn and drank flavored waters and giggled. Bao peeked in the door, Nico on her heels. They stood there for a long moment, watching their family coalesce and stick together, like planets around a warming sun.

Entrance

Inola watched Damia with the pony. The girl who used to be terrified of her own shadow, unwilling to leave her own mind, rode a painted pony named Trix. She did so as if she was born on the back of a horse. She didn’t think about her moves anymore, just let them flow. Ivy stood there, watching her daughter, a very pregnant Bella at her side.

“It’s really not freaking you out,” said Bella, digging her thumbs into her lower back to relieve the baby pressure.

“What?” asked Ivy. “Oh, Damia doing tricks in the saddle. She’s been doing that for months now. Tiny tricks, leading to bigger ones. The ponies do anything she asks them to. They’d break their hearts for her. So, yes, it made me insane at first, but now the girl stands up and rides, and she smiles.” She hugged Bella. “She actually smiles. So, if she wants to ride horses in the way that gives me a heart attack, then bring it on. Inola’s got an IED machine in the barn to shock my heart back to life.”

“Tough woman,” said Bella. “You going to work?” she said.

“What gave it away?” asked Ivy, flashing her a horned Rock On salute. Bella flashed it back.

“I think we’ve lost Grace to Hu and Jie,” said Bella.

“Field trip,” Ivy said in a sing-song voice. All the girls were off with Henry and the other Nighthawks kids on an identify-the-desert-plants trip.

“Works for me,” said Bella.

“Take a nap,” said Ivy, and kissed Bella’s cheek.

“Hey, don’t scare the horses,” said Inola. They laughed and waved.

“I’m restless for some reason,” said Bella. “Not hungry, not thirsty, no urge to mess around on the computer. Just turned in three book covers, so I’m set for the week. Coming up on baby-time in a few weeks, kind of clearing the decks, and ever since the doc said no lifting heavy crap…”

“You’re home. Sorry. Miss you at work. Love ya, gotta go.” Ivy hugged Bella, and speed-walked toward her bike.

Bella wandered a bit, taking a slow walk around the paddock. She realized she was distracting Inola at a time she shouldn’t be doing so, so Bella turned and headed for the barn. Maybe she would steal a soda from the little refrigerator in there, and get out of the sun. If she went in the main house, Vi would feed her, fuss over her. Sometimes fuss was fun, but not today. She wanted to be alone. So, that left out the greenhouse and the Wolfpack; they would be knee-deep in picking and packing.

Alo wasn’t there in the barn, he’d obviously taken off to make a delivery of animal feed, she supposed. She watched the achingly-cute rabbits and fed them some rabbit pellets. They ate right out of her hand, making her feel… tired. She went into the barn, took down a tack blanket and put it on a pile of hay, got out a lemon-lime soda, and relaxed. Robert and Triesta went out, waved at her, and left, probably to get more silver wire. They were putting out stuff like crazy, going back and forth between jewelry and the last of the bikes for Henry.

Bella sat on the blanket, and read a book, sunlight dappling her feet. She rolled over onto her side, falling slowly like a tree. She made a pillow of her arms and went into sleep. She didn’t hear when Inola and Damia came in, to watch her sleeping, then go to the main house for a snack and some Vu stories.

She awoke to wetness, and pain, a pulsing pain, then a crushing one, then a pulsing one again. She knocked her cell phone down and couldn’t bend over to reach it. She groaned, leaning into the pain. She groaned again, riding the crest of the wave, the trough, the wave again. Finally, free from the cramp, she kicked the phone over, and reached for it. She could touch the top with the tips of her fingers, but not grasp it. She kicked it again and ran her fingers down the straw to reach it. She just had it when the pains hit again, and she blew out breath, dropped the phone, and groaned.

It took two more pains until she had the phone. She laid back on the blanket, groaning. She tried screaming, but her breath wouldn’t come, and she couldn’t see the phone through her tears. She finally let out a small scream, then a somewhat larger one. She felt like bearing down. Wait, that wasn’t right, couldn’t be right, she thought, dimly. Didn’t that take hours? Days, even? She did more groaning, breathed in, and finally let out a thin scream. She pulled in more air and screamed again.

She heard pounding feet through her tunnel of pain. “Bella!” It was Nantan. He did something, pushed buttons. She felt him tear off her panties. Fat people’s panties, she thought. “Oh, shit,” she heard him say, then he yelled through the phone.

“Ahhhh,” said Bella.

“Stay with me, Bella,” he said. “Stay… breathe. Puff, puff, puff, wheeze. Puff, puff, puff, wheeze.” She did the weird breathing, unable to remember a thing from the pregnant-people-popping-out-babies class. She breathed more.

Inola settled in behind her and clasped both her hands. Bella grabbed on, and half-crushed her wife’s hands. Henry said things she didn’t understand, something about a basin and water, and a pair of scissors and something else. Nantan was at her knees, rubbing gently, making little guttural noises that somehow made sense to her.

She felt a hand… there, and heard Nantan say, “Puff, puff, wheeze. That’s good. Almost…” A basin was there, in-between her legs. A blue one. She almost laughed, but it hurt too much. Puff, puff, wheeze. “Honey,” said Nantan. “Push, now. No way the paramedics are going to be here on time.” She pushed, groaning, then another groan. She rested, puffing. Someone wiped her face with a cool cloth. David. David was singing, low and slow. “Push again,” said Nantan. “Good, good.” He grinned. “Puff, puff, push!”

There was a rush, a liquid rush, and Nantan had something red and blue and pink in his hands. He took a wipe from Henry, and he wiped out the nose and mouth. A cry, thin; then angry. He put the baby onto her stomach.

“Oh, wind and rain and stars, he’s beautiful,” said Inola, guiding their hands down, down, to soft flesh. Vi was there, with a blanket, Ryder’s third-favorite, the yellow one. More cries. Nantan did something with the scissors and then handed them back to Henry.

Bella felt herself clawing at the top of her preggers dress, and Inola laughed as Henry ripped the fabric so she could get to her maternity bra. Inola got the clasp off, then their baby was at her breast. He rooted, then he caught hold. Two rushes of liquid, then, after a wide, long cramp, the afterbirth went into the basin, and the baby sucked milk into his little mouth. Bella tried to speak, faltered, just got her elbow up, her arm under the spine, the legs waving, kicking at her.

“Tarak,” said Bella, finally able to get out a word, still trying to take in air.

“Tarak,” said Nantan, his eyes shining. “Apache. For star.”

“Tarak Henry David,” said Inola. All three men clasped hands. David was still singing, this time a wide joy in his song.

Henry canceled the 911 call. He hung up, and said, “I’m calling Doc Rial. She can do the weighing and immunizations and genetic testing here.” Inola nodded. Bella held the baby close.

Henry and Nantan cleaned up, then they supported her, as they walked slowly, slowly. They got Bella and the baby up the stairs, and into the shower, and washed both baby and mama in warm water. They got Bella into bed; Ryder was already asleep in her crib. Bella started crying then, with great fat tears of joy.

“Thank you,” she said, to David, Henry, and Nantan. Vi went back downstairs to cook the celebration dinner. Numa came in and sang over the baby and mother. The doctor came, took blood for the tests, gave the immunizations, weighed the baby —five pounds, six ounces. She checked out Bella and pronounced everyone healthy. She left them to relax.

“Come here,” Bella said to Nantan. He sat on the side where Inola was not. “Come, hold our son.” He held the baby.

Chayton came rushing up the stairs and saw them all. Tears fell out of his eyes. “Our son,” he said. He stepped forward and knelt at Nantan’s side.

“Tarak,” choked out Nantan. “He fell, right into my hands.”

“I’m sorry, I was at the store…” said Chayton. Nantan put a finger on his lips, and they smiled down at the baby. Numa finished her song, and Chayton and Nantan sang in Apache, tears running down their faces. They kissed Tarak. He looked up at them with huge eyes.

“He knows his fathers,” said Henry. Then, they turned, and left the parents to love on their baby.

“We need a bigger bed,” said Bella. They all laughed.

The party went on for the rest of the day. Everyone took turns helping —cooking, taking out every folding chair and table, setting up tables, and groaning with food. People were allowed to sneak up and meet the new baby in small groups. There were fish tacos, chicken enchiladas in a mouthwatering sauce, two roasted chickens, two fried chickens, chips, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, cheese biscuits, butter and honey, two green salads, a corn salad, and six pies —apple, peanut butter, French silk chocolate, cherry, peach, and plum. They took food up to the mamas and daddies, and they set a cot up next to the bed, so they could all be together. Richard kept an eye on the boys —Little Nico, Tam, Josh, and Nick, keeping them from running off with their newborn brother.

Ryder was brought down from her nap, and she thought the party was for her. David told her the party was to celebrate her getting a baby brother of her very own. She thought that was very funny. Nighthawks showed up with more food and drink, pizzas, barbecued pork and chicken, sodas, juices, and flavored water. The music was light, to let the new family rest. Bao and Nico brought over the girls and manicotti, Callie brought over Aiden and Kiya, and the babies were passed around. Lily came with Rose and Colin, and more baby-passing ensued.

Gregory brought over a very pregnant Katya, with the boys Luka and Ivan, and Mimi and Ree. Luka and Ivan were walking, and ran around like monkeys, getting into everything. Jie was terrified at first, but the pizza and babies won her over. She played on the floor with Ryder, and then stole Kiya and wouldn’t give her back. The music was soft and calming. The Owl Pack went up to see the baby and were then waited on hand and foot after being given the best seats.

Spontaneous soccer and baseball games broke out outside, simultaneously, bringing the noise inside to a dull roar. Gregory took Luka and Ivan outside to practice with their own miniature soccer ball, and they were soon running and yelling, just like real soccer players. Nantan and Chayton came downstairs, proclaiming both the mothers and the new baby (Tarak) asleep. Everyone congratulated them, and they went outside to relieve Gregory with the little boys. Tam and Little Nico were with them, flush with the knowledge they were now big brothers. Katya fell asleep on the recliner. Elena played soccer, then came in to meet Jie. They sat on the floor, and played with the babies, giving the moms a break.

Ivy and Ace got out early, leaving the bar in Cougar’s capable hands. They met the sleeping infant, ate like pigs, and circulated. Ace took his own Rose Ivy, and he played with her on his lap until she slid into sleep. He repeated this with Colin, who hated the entire concept of sleeping; he might miss something, of course. Ivy sat with Lily, Callie, Bao, and Katya, who were engrossed in a recitation of who got the most Mommy Points that week.

“That’s a thing?” asked Ivy.

Lily laughed. “Rose Ivy tried to eat a button, Colin never sleeps. Two points.”

Katya joined in. “I’ve got more. Ivan is very quiet, but very sneaky. He get into trouble when you are not looking, no?” All the moms nodded. “Luka talks more. He is very honest and gentle, but he doesn’t want to get his brother into trouble. So, when Luka goes silent, I know Ivan is in very big trouble. A week ago, Ivan wanted to go on top of refrigerator to find cookies.”

“Did anyone fall?” asked Lily, aghast.

“No, caught him trying to balance second chair on first. Told him we are not family of acrobats. Took them both to tumbling lessons while Elena is in school. Now, I have pads on floor, they are rolling around like soccer balls. I tell my Gregory, no need to buy soccer balls, we will just use the children.” Everyone laughed until they had tears in their eyes.

“That’s at least four points,” said Lily.

Callie jumped in. “Yesterday, I had Aiden try to climb directly over his sister. Kiya licked him. Not bit, licked. He screamed as if she’d nibbled off his leg.” They all laughed at the image. “Wait, there’s more. The girls decide to-finally, I might add, for Grace —to make glitter glue lava lamps in water bottles. So, rather than drink the water like normal people in the desert, they dumped off the excess in the sink, then started pouring in six kinds of glue glitter on my table with no mat down. No newspaper, no plastic, nothing. Hu finally figured it out that they were making a mess. Damia tried to clean it up, but she got blue glitter glue in her hair. Ever try to wash that stuff out?”

Ivy cringed. “I came in to see Grace with a scrub pad, Damia crying her eyes out, Hu trying to calm Damia down, and Jie thinking she’d entered the crazy circus.” She grinned. “And my wife here gets all the mommy points, because she got the glue out with peanut butter, she took her time to wash Damia’s hair, and got everyone else to finish the project.” She pointed over at the girls, who were on floor pillows, engaged in an Uno card game. Beside each girl was a water bottle filled with blue, pink, purple, or silver sparkles.

“Oo, pwitty,” said Ryder. She slid out of Aunt Callie’s lap, ran over, grabbed the purple one, and turned it over and over, making the water sparkle. Luckily, she took Hu’s bottle. Hu had an identical one at home and gave it to the excited Ryder.

“Just remember to tape the tops with sparkly tape as well as gluing them shut,” said Callie. “Or you get that stuff all over your kid and your couch. Not yay.”

“Where’s Mimi and Ree?” Ivy asked Katya. Katya pointed with her chin. April fed Ree Cheerios while Mimi told April something, hands waving, in the kitchen.

“Are present from Gregory,” said Katya. “Gregory will make sure that the bad woman who hurt little one will not come for us. We will take guardianship of girl, raise her and little Ree.” She smiled dreamily. “Ree is very funny. When first come, girl afraid of shadow of mouse. Now, she wants to walk everywhere, wants to do everything herself. ‘I am big girl,’ she says. Spend time in park with her mama Mimi and April, take boys too, and one more Wolfpack. Spend much time in sun, get stronger.”

“Ryder loves her,” said Callie. “They sit on the floor and play with blocks and horses and dollies, for hours. They build farms and make the dollies take care of the horses, like Inola does.”

“Is not enough room in house for her to stay here,” said Katya. “Plus, babies love other babies. She tries to read to the dollies and to Ivan and Luka as if she is mama.”

“That one’s a smart one,” said Inola. They all scooted over and made room on the couch for Inola. April wiped off Ree, and Ree came running, hands up. Katya picked her up, squeezed her, and kissed her. The girl giggled, squealed, and ran off to see Inola.

Inola picked her up, and Ree turned her face to Inola. “You have baby?” asked Ree.

“Yes,” said Inola. “Two.” She held up two fingers. “Ryder, and Tarak.”

Ree grinned, put her head down on Inola’s shoulder, and went to sleep.

“Good heavens, another baby whisperer,” said Callie.

Bao grinned. “True. Ivy does it with her singing, Inola with her secret Paiute magic.”

Inola laughed. “Wish they worked on Ryder. That girl likes to go to sleep at dawn.” Ryder was now attempting to learn Uno, but would rather eat the cards, not play.

Henry ran over, picked Ryder up, gave her the new glitter bottle in exchange for the Uno card, and flew her about the room. She giggled, making everyone smile. He flew her upstairs with Numa for her bath and, one would hope, bed. Inola hoped their singing would be enough to make her active daughter sleep.

Gregory’s head fell forward in sleep, a child in each arm, also dead asleep. Katya got up, got Luka from his father, and brought the sleeping child over. Luka attempted to wake up, then Ivy sang, Rock a bye. She then went into John Mayer’s Daughters, and Ace fell asleep with Kiya on his stomach, and Colin finally slipped toward sleep on his shoulder. She then sang Reba McIntyre’s I Hope You Dance, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Soon the games were completed, and the girls were excited and had story time outside with Henry, Vu, and David. The Wolfpack went home to program more video games, then play them. Babies fussed, then fell asleep again. Then the mothers stole out to the fire, to sing and drum the joy of a new child into the night. They came back in, scooped up their sleeping infants, and went home, leaving the Big House quiet. And then, Tarak woke up, hungry and wet, and that was the last time the house was truly quiet, for quite some time.

* * *

Gregory and Henry left at dawn for the distant reservation. They had their Harleys, and a paper drawn up giving Gregory full custody of both Mimi and Ree, until Mimi was old enough to leave and support her daughter. Both men were tired; Tarak was a trial, and Ree excited Ivan and Luka. Both boys bid for her attention and were just as happy to do that by hair-pulling and squalling than by any other means.

Ree had joined the boys’ tumbling class, and now the mats in the corner of the playground were nearly constantly in use. It was a long ride; they had lunch in Pahrump at Tallee and in Kema’s diner.

Sheriff Bob was having lunch with a wide-eyed Dee, Kema’s daughter. “Girl just turned seven,” said Bob, proudly. “Gets her first slice of pie.”

Dee shook her head. “Already had pie.”

“Oh, my goodness. Whatever shall we do?” asked Bob, his hands to his face. Dee giggled.

Henry and Gregory slid in. Kema came over and handed out menus. “What’s good?” Gregory asked Dee.

She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Who are you?”

“Gregory, at your service,” he said, and held out his hand. She took it gravely.

“This is Henry,” said Bob. “They’re the Nighthawks. Motorcycle club. Friends of the Valkyries, and thus, my wife.”

“Henry has a farm, with real horses,” said Gregory.

They both ordered sandwiches, Gregory a Reuben, and Henry a BLT, and Cokes for their throats, parched from the dry and dusty road.

“Can I see?” asked Dee. “The horses?”

“Don’t see why not,” said Henry. He took out his phone and showed a laughing Damia astride a painted pony.

Dee watched the video closely. “Who is the girl?” she asked, when their Cokes came. Dee got another glass of juice.

“That’s Damia, my granddaughter,” said Henry. “And the woman standing there with her, that’s Inola,” said Henry. “She’s related to me a little distantly by blood, but I think of her as my daughter.”

“How can she be your daughter, if she’s not your daughter?” asked Dee, very curiously.

“Families can be born into, or you can make your own,” said Gregory.

“Darn straight,” said Bob. “I married my wife and got a lot of wild women with braids in half their hair, and who are now my sisters,” he said.

“I resemble that remark,” said Herja. She pulled up a chair, sat down, stole a fry from Henry, and shook Gregory’s hand. “Herja,” she said to him. “You’re Katya’s.”

“Yes, I am,” said Gregory, proudly.

“Hear you’ve got the fattest, healthiest babies ever,” said Herja. She ordered a BLT and a Coke.

“Absolutely,” said Gregory. He pulled up pics on his phone, and they passed them around.

“Hear your daughter Elena wants to be one of us when she grows up,” said Herja. Her Coke came, and she sipped it.

Gregory said, “That’s her path. She’s a Nighthawks girl now, but we’ll see what she wants. She’s a hell of a soccer player.” He got his phone back and showed the pictures.

“Excellent,” said Herja. They ate for a while. “Whatcha doin’?” asked Herja.

“Mission of mercy,” said Gregory.

He showed the “before” and “after” pictures, including the bruises on Ree, how both Mimi and Ree had been horsing around at the dinner table, and Ree at a tumbling class. Then, Mimi grinning when she passed a class, her hands in the air in the “I win” gesture.

“Ree’s grandma is the culprit, and I want custody until Mimi is old enough and strong enough to live on her own, pay the bills, and have time for Ree.”

“I’m coming with you,” said Herja. She sent a text to someone and finished her sandwich. They washed up, took some colas to go, and hit the road.

It was a blazing-hot, dry, dusty road. They stopped twice more for drinks and snacks. Finally, they entered the res. The trailer was on the far end. It was rusted, looked like it would blow away in a stiff wind. A woman with tangled black hair that hadn’t been washed in a while, sat there, at a round plastic table, on a hard, plastic chair, drinking Jim Beam straight from the bottle.

“You Tassee Lodgepole?” asked Henry.

“Who the fuck wants to know?” said the woman. Her face was lined like a roadmap, her fingers jittery on the bottle’s neck. “You the Child Protective Services people who took my Mimi?”

“Sort of,” said Henry. “Gregory here has them, and they’re safe and dry, and cool in summer, warm in winter. Wife’s got more, too.”

Tassee nodded. “How much you willin’ ta give me?”

Gregory went over and showed the pictures of Ree’s bruises to the woman. “How about not putting you in jail for five to ten for child abuse?” he asked. He took the bottle away from her and stepped back.

Henry stepped forward, a paper in one hand, a pen in another. “Suppose you’re bopping Mimi,” said the woman, glaring past Henry out into the desert. “Girl always was a whore.”

Herja stepped forward so quickly that she was around Henry and in the woman’s face, a blade to the woman’s right eye, before anyone else could react. “That girl is a person. Not trash. You’re the trash, hitting a little defenseless girl. What’s wrong? Life make you angry? Poor fucking baby. You took it out on an innocent, and that I cannot forgive. Now sign the fucking paper before I take off one arm, beat you with it, and then the other. Make a bloody mess of you, and then you won’t be able to sign anything, having bled to death in this desert heat.”

Henry slipped the pen into the astonished woman’s grasp, then put the signature page under the pen. Herja made the knife disappear. Tassee signed and gestured toward the bottle. Gregory put it down gently on the table, his face showing that he wanted to beat her with it.

Just for a moment, Tassee looked up at the cold rage in his eyes, and quailed. “You think you’re so much better than me,” she said. “Try raising a whore with nothin’ out here.”

Gregory stepped back and wiped his driving glove off on his pant leg. “Girl is not a whore. You raised her with no love, so she sought it out, looking for anyone who would treat her with the milligram of humanity you don’t possess. And her name is Mimi.” He stepped into her line of sight. “She has a name. To me, you do not. You are not human. A human could not strike a child again and again.”

Herja twirled the knife, then made it disappear again. “If anyone asks, Child Protective Services took them away.” She looked out at the desert all around. “You don’t have long on this earth, anyway,” Herja said. “You’re turning yellow-eyed, got a distended liver. You’re going to die screaming, holding onto a hospital bed, if you bother to go. Chances are you’ll die out here, where no one can hear you scream.”

They all turned away. Henry gave the paper to Gregory, who folded it up and put it in the hidden pocket in his Harley jacket. The woman kept up a steady stream of curses as they put on their helmets, got on their bikes, and then they were gone, out into the desert for the long ride home.

They ate dinner in the diner. This time, Sheriff Xenia was there. Freya had Xenia’s daughter (Diana) in her arms and was making the girl giggle by blowing on her stomach. Dee was doing her homework in the next booth down, along with Chance and Rhodes, who were apparently learning Latin.

“Latin?” asked Henry, sitting his road-weary ass down in the booth next to Xenia.

“They want to read Marcus Aurelius in the original Latin,” said Freya. She rocked the baby Diana, and then started humming an Old Norse lullaby.

“Can’t fault the girls,” said Herja, who sat down next to Freya, forcing Gregory to pull up a chair.

“Your mission of mercy go well?” asked Xenia.

“Got the paper,” said Gregory, patting his pocket.

“She wouldn’t have lasted long anyway,” said Herja. She took a menu and ordered the clam chowder and a chicken salad sandwich. The men ordered pulled-pork sandwiches and the mushroom soup. “Woman’s got end-stage alcoholism. Only thing that would save her is a liver transplant, and I don’t know who’d give an active alcoholic one.”

“Good, because the situation left Bob in a bind. Has to investigate, you know?” Xenia said.

Kema came up and poured coffee. “You save those girls?” she said.

“Of course,” said Gregory. “Had a Valkyrie on the case.”

“Apple pie’s on the house,” said Kema, and she walked away.

“Well,” said Herja, “That ended well. You guys have more Soldier Pack? One of ours moved to Hemet, California. Said she liked being in a quiet place. Another one married one of your guys, is moving north, to just past Reno. Cycling two more through, thinking about a third if we can get Tito to find and rehab us another house.”

“It’s a good late-fall project,” said Henry, “But, nothing soon. They’re so busy, they’ve hired two new subcontractor teams, both companies run by women. One of ‘em specializes in rehabbing apartments, one in houses.”

“Tito and Nico both need clones,” said Gregory. “Or time travel.”

Henry groaned. “Me too.”

“I’m being pressured to go back to work,” said Xenia. “Not by the brass, but from my own people.”

“The girls are too old for the playroom,” said Freya. “Thought I was adopting younger before I caught wind of those two,” she said, gesturing over her shoulder to her daughters behind her. “We can set up a crib, and I can watch Diana part-time while these sharp-brained girls work their magic in school,” said Freya. “Rhodes wanted to transfer to her sister’s school. Now, they are helping each other with their studies, and doing a metric ton of make-up work to get them caught up from moving around so much.”

“Two hours a day to start,” said Xenia. “Don’t know how I can get through that long. Then, bit by bit, a little more until I’m at six hours. Two hours is doing paperwork, and I’m gonna do that at home.”

“Or put her in the station house under your desk,” said Herja.

Xenia laughed. “No one would do anything, just pass her around like a football. Great for morale, poor for the work getting done.”

“Sounds like you could use our Voice,” said Gregory.

“Better than ‘Spider,’” said Henry.

“Who?” asked Xenia. “Oh, Wraith. Heard she cleaned your security company up, exceptionally well.”

“She did. We run far more efficiently. Frighteningly so,” said Gregory. “She could get you cleaned up in no time, but she’s mine. You can borrow her, but you can’t have her.”

“And then Robin will steal her from me,” said Xenia. “Give us a proposal. Something really short, like a week or so. Things chill out a bit in the fall right before the holidays. Too cold to be starting shit. That’s a good time.”

“I’ll ask,” said Gregory.

“No, I will,” said Xenia. “As a Sister, I have some pull.”

“Woman power,” said Herja, and they all touched fists in the middle of the table.

“I have never figured out why women aren’t ruling the world,” said Henry.

“Me neither,” said Gregory. “They’re far more dangerous.”

“Lying has consequences. Sometimes telling the truth has worse consequences. Tell the truth anyway.”