When we left the restaurant, I took my family back to the general store. I gave them some money to do some shopping and reminded them we would be retu...ning to the ranch that afternoon. I also told them they should buy whatever we would need to set up housekeeping. They should also pick up whatever they felt might help Red Cloud’s people in relocating their camp to the ranch. Then I left them busy in the store and went back to the office to receive today’s patients. When I arrived, I found a. Karlie had obviously come into her own with the time she spent around Allie, Shelly and Sarah."I guess I could share my bed, too, now that I think about it," Trinity stated with a shrug."Don't even say it, Adam," Shelly warning with faux menace. "And don't even think of it."Adam put on his best "I'm so innocent" look and Shelly stuck out her tongue at Trinity."OK, we have plenty of space," Sean said. "I was just asking so I knew who to give the extra keys to. I can say, as far as I'm concerned,. I'd say it's La Mesa butter from Lakeside cream, probably a July 1965 vintage. Very good."I reached over and messed Jaz's hair as he was giggling.Mom came over with the bacon and started piling it on our plates. She put that pan away and did the same with eggs. She seemed to have a better appetite than most mornings.The food was fantastic. The bacon was from the half pig we had in the freezer, the bread was from Dudley's bakery in Ramona and the eggs had been laid yesterday. And the butter had. I really had no idea why I never spoke to her. “You …know… what… I…mean, Billy.” The evenly spaced words cut right through my bullshit, leaving no option but to address her question directly. “Tell me, Billy….I want to know.” What could I say? How could I tell her that I had withdrawn from her after that day so long ago because… I liked her? I suddenly started thinking of some excuse to leave, to return to the storm outside where it would be safer. I stared at her legs, her muscular dark legs.