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to get back to the business at hand. Did you find out anything that would help me get home?"
Viloula shrugged, reaching for her now lukewarm cup of tea. "More of de same."
Lainie shoved a hand through her messy hair. "I've read religious and pseudoreligious dogma from voodoo to Catholic to Muslim?even a bunch of half-baked cults I'd never heard about. None of them even mention the possibility of my situation. Only the Eastern religions seem to have any answers. And they're all the same, spouting the same ridiculous platitudes about karma, rebirth, second chances, and life lessons."
"At leas' we know dat you and Killian are lovers from de past and dere will be a great change."
Lainie rested her elbow on the chair's arm and rubbed her eyes again. "Oh, yes. At least we know that. This is some grand, cosmic classroom in which I'm to learn the lesson that God?a man?believes I need to learn."
"I'm not sure God is male or female. I t'ink?"
"Yeah, I care. The point is, we've found all we're going to find here."
In a jerking, angry motion, Lainie downed the dregs of her tea and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She was on her own, as usual.
r /> Viloula made a soft, clucking sound with her tongue. "You are not alone, Alaina."
Alaina paled and stared at Vi for a second, then she slammed her tin cup down. "Don't read my mind, Vi. It's irritating."
"We will get you home, child."
Lainie laughed derisively. "Yeah? How? You got a crib sheet there that outlines my failed lesson in this life?"
"In trut', I have one last idea. I fought?"
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"Get out here, girl!" A man's voice rang through the camp.
Viloula glanced at the closed door, frowning. "Dat's Mose's voice."
Lainie skidded back and got to her feet so fast, the wobbly chair crashed to the floor beside her. "Mose?"
Vi looked at her sharply. "You know him?"
"He wanted to kill me ... to save time in the long run."
"Dat is Mose, all right."
A thundering knock rattled the thin door. The little cabin shuddered and groaned at the onslaught. Dust showered down from the rough-hewn rafters.
Viloula got to her feet and moved protectively beside Lainie.
The door swung open and Mose strode inside, then backed against the corner. Hat drawn low on his forehead, he stared at Lainie through narrowed, suspicious eyes, his small, mean mouth obscured by a huge handlebar mustache.
Purty sauntered in behind his friend, arms hanging relaxed at his sides. A good-natured grin curved his lips and sparkled in his rheumy eyes. "Evenin', Miss Viloula." He turned to Lainie, his grin broadening. "Miss."
Killian brought up the rear, moving silently in beside Purty. Lainie instantly noticed the hardness in his gaze and the way his right hand hovered at his gun belt. He kept the wall at his back. He was looking for trouble, that much was obvious. The question was, would he stop it or start it?
Mose cleared his throat. "We want some answers, lady."
Lainie drew herself upright and stared hard at Mose,
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not giving an inch, masking her fear behind a cocky, defiant stance.
