“ Kate has been in here every few days for the past eighteen months or so. Helped him behind the counter on many occasions. They flirt shamelessly with each other, and threaten to leave me and Amelia be… Rysa Walker
“ Even though I can’t hear or see it from this distance, I know that Katherine and my younger self are currently having a brief, nearly silent squabble over who goes through the window first. I’d promis… Rysa Walker
“ You see, I’ve read Mr. Grumbine’s treatise on auras, and while it does depend on the shade, a green aura can be a mark of deception or dishonesty. I shoot Kiernan a smug glance. While I’m certain this… Rysa Walker
“ And I’m just thinking he doesn’t have the right to guilt-trip me about this when he says, I’m not out to make you feel bad. You were upset, and it’s only natural you’d seek out comfort. It’s just . .… Rysa Walker
“ Kate, please. You have to focus. I’ve pulled up a stable point, love. Just slide your fingers over it and go. I’ll be right behind you. I promise. That promise is a lie in one sense, but hopefully, sh… Rysa Walker
“ And then I had to jump back and get my gun. I thought it was in your room. I glare at him. gun was in my room. Yours wasn’t, because this afternoon. Because I couldn’t find it in your— Rysa Walker
“ I nearly miss it, given Tate’s need for speed, but as we zip by the guy in the alley, I catch a brief glimpse of his face. It’s Kiernan. How did he get out before we did when he was behind us? A few s… Rysa Walker
“ We both look up as Katherine, Connor, and Dad enter the kitchen. Kiernan tries to be polite and stand, but I’m on the outside of the bench, and the table has him wedged in, so the most he can manage i… Rysa Walker
“ You need one of those recap sequences, Trey says. Like, ‘Hi, I’m Kate. Here are a few things you might need to know.’ Charlayne smiles. Previously on . Or, Ben says, ‘ The Timeline So Far,’ like on . Rysa Walker
“ As I suspected, innuendo is even more effective at bringing on her blush, but the sly grin that follows close behind is a surprise. You weren’t supposed to be married back when you met her in 1776. Wh… Rysa Walker
“ I’m not following any of this, you know. Beecher who? Henry Ward Beecher. Another slug from the bottle. He’s a preacher. Hey, that rhymes. Well, that answers any questions about whether the alcohol is… Rysa Walker
“ I’m not sure why he’s flustered until I realize there are now five of us and the table is set for four. Pru waves her hand dismissively. Don’t bother. The dark-haired one is just my bodyguard. He can… Rysa Walker
“ Charlayne is in front of me, holding a rifle identical to the one in my hand, raised to shoulder height and pointed at Kiernan, who’s sitting on the bed. He looks more bored than afraid. Rysa Walker
“ But oh, me mom is gonna be madder’n bloody hell. It clicked then, with his last two words, and I realized why I’d had the touch of déjà vu earlier when he rubbed his temples. I probably would have rec… Rysa Walker
“ I pull my T-shirt over my face and am about to plunge in when it occurs to me that I’m approaching this, as Kiernan would say, far too linearly. Rysa Walker
“ I always dreamed ’bout ridin’ the big wheel, Mick added, looking down at his shoes with a plaintive expression. But me mom needs all the money I c’n make. He glanced around at the others and then back… Rysa Walker
“ And don’t get all pissy if they laugh at you. Why should I take it personally? I didn’t pick this costume, so they’ll be laughing at you, not me. A faint ghost of his old grin surfaces, but disappears… Rysa Walker
“ So why didn’t he vanish? Charlayne nods toward Kiernan. After Max took his key, he should have disappeared, right?I would have, Kiernan says, except someone was wise enough to give me a backup when I… Rysa Walker
“ The mistakes of one generation build upon the mistakes of the next and you get a society that no one really wanted. Rysa Walker
