“What?” Daisy demanded.
“It’s just that so many of the men around here spend so much time trying to get Daisy to see them naked. Imagine someone trying to prevent it,” she joked.
“Oh, hush you,” Daisy scolded.
They had a second short dip in the pool before drying off. The women showed Amy to a series of closets along one side of the building. There they presented her with a kimono-style robe in green. They promised to have her overalls washed and returned later.
The robe was brilliant green with a silver dragon embroidered on it. Unused to such finery, she had to take the women’s word that it matched her eyes perfectly. They all seemed to think it looked very good on her. Daisy helped her get her hair brushed and pulled up.
Judging from the strange reaction the boys gave her when she left the bathhouse, the women must have been right. After a long, awkward pause, Luke managed, “You look nice.”
The other boys looked at her like she had sprouted wings. “Who’da thought?” Mark muttered as he passed her.
The men disappeared into the shower house. Shortly afterward, there was an angry shout. The young man, Ravencloud, came running out, eyes wide. “I don’t think they want help,” he said panting.
“No, they don’t,” Amy told him. “It’s okay. They just aren’t used to your customs.”
“You didn’t react like that,” he said.
“It’s different for me,” she told him.
I did inwardly,
she thought,
I just kept it too myself.
Lorn appeared in the doorway. “I have shown them where everything is,” he said. “I expect that is all the help they want or require.”
The men didn’t take nearly as long. Soon they were strolling out one by one.
They didn’t even try the pool
, Amy decided. They had all spurned the robes set out for them. Luke and Patrick had at least had the foresight to get clean clothes out of their packs. The others just put their old clothes back on. Shawn looked like he had forgotten to towel off first. Amy was embarrassed for them, though nobody commented.
Michael and Lorn led them across to the community hall. The land about them was rapidly falling into shadow as dusk gave way to night. The doors of the community hall stood open; noise and the smell of roasting meat and vegetables spilled out into the night. Amy’s stomach lurched and grumbled loudly, reminding her that she had not eaten since lunch.
She followed just behind Luke as he entered the hall. The noise died down as their entrance was noticed. Amy looked nervously over a hall-filled room of strange faces and fancy robes, gowns, and jackets. Everything and everyone glittered and glowed with decorations. There was brilliant embroidery on every piece of cloth. Earrings, necklaces, and rings were worn by almost everyone. Amy was unsure what to expect from people who called themselves pagan, but it certainly wasn’t this bright gaudiness.
“Visitors have come seeking shelter after a long, harsh trip, help after much struggle, and company after much solitude,” Michael intoned in a rich, deep voice.
A woman stood at the head of the hall. She was tall with raven black hair that hung loose past her waist. Long streaks of gray did nothing to mar its beauty. She had a strong, lean face with sharp, dark eyes. She wore a flowing, red dress that was tied with a gold braid. It showed her impressive figure well. Unlike most of the crowd, she wore no ornamentation.
“Do they come in peace and goodwill?” she asked. Her voice was rich and showed long familiarity with public speaking. She could project it clear across the room as if she were next to you, without sounding loud.
There is no need to ask who the leader is
, Amy thought, impressed. She had never seen a woman with such an obvious aura of power and respect.
“We come in peace and goodwill,” Luke replied.
“Then may you find warmth and rest here,” she replied. “I am Sapphire Greenbowe, and I offer you the hospitality of my tribe. All blessings of love and light be yours.”
“And yours,” Luke replied.
There was a cheer, and they were led forward. Amy and Luke were led up to the front table and sat opposite Lady Sapphire.
“Tomorrow we will discuss the detail of your mission,” Lady Sapphire said before Luke could open his mouth. “Tonight we feast and celebrate your arrival.”
A bottle and a platter of bread were set before the lady. She uncorked the bottle and poured a measure of amber liquid into a shallow cup. She held it up and then presented it to the man on her left. “May you never thirst,” she said.
He drank and then passed the cup to the person on his left with the same phrase, “May you never thirst.”
Luke took the cup when it reached him and nodded appreciatively as he passed it to Amy with the same words. The amber liquid was sweet and rich, and it left a burn at the back of her throat that told her it was alcoholic.
Once the cup had made its way back to the lady, she broke the bread. The aroma of the dark loaf was intoxicating. It went around with the words, “May you never hunger.” That was, thankfully, the extent of the ceremony.
At a gesture from the lady, the table was piled with a dozen different platters, bowls, and tureens. Amy’s stomach gave another loud grumble as she followed the lady’s example of helping herself to whatever was in reach. She piled her plate high, even though she couldn’t identify half of the dishes.
“What was that drink?” she asked between mouthfuls.
“Mead,” the lady answered. “Surely you’ve had it before?”
Amy shook her head.
“No?” the lady responded. “Most unusual. Bear can tell you much more than I can.” She gestured at the man on Amy’s left.
With long, brown hair, a shockingly long beard braided into two forks, and dark brown eyes, Bear was aptly named.
There is enough hair on him to comfortably cover the entire expedition with some to spare,
Amy thought. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he turned toward her.
“I have been known to make a batch or two of the stuff,” he said. This was greeted by many chuckles across the table.
“Just a few,” a voice joked from farther down the table.
“Not that we haven’t appreciated your effort,” Lorn called out, raising his glass. There was a cheer, which Bear acknowledged with a small bow.
Amy spent the rest of feast hearing about the differences between wine, mead, and beer. Bear told her much about the brewing process, punctuated by stories and anecdotes about memorable batches and how they had affected certain tribe members.
She understood little of what was said. She was unfamiliar with most of the ingredients. Other than one story about Lexa and one about Lorn, she knew none of the people mentioned. She didn’t care, however. Bear’s genial humor reminded her of her father in the old days, before her mom died.
Once during the feast she wondered where the others were. Other than Luke, who was seated next to her and deeply engrossed in a conversation with someone on their other side, none of the others were seated at their table.
Craning her head around, she spied them at a long table not far away. The conversation looked lively, and they seemed to be having no problems fitting in.
Lexa was harder to spot. Finally she heard Lexa’s distinctive tinkling laugh. She was seated toward the back with a brown-haired man who could have passed for Bear except for the fact that he was twice as big.
Must be Luther, she thought, remembering Lexa’s descriptions. Lexa looked almost comically small as she sat on the man’s lap, laughing and feeding him bits of food. A blond toddler stood on his chair and reached up to help feed the man.
Another bottle was passed Amy’s way, and she forgot about the others for a long time. She had a mug of water at her place—everyone did—but the bottles of mead were also being passed around freely. Despite Amy’s proclamation that she wouldn’t imbibe alcohol again, every time a bottle went past, Bear would make some comment about it, and to be polite, she’d have a taste. So far her water was mostly untouched. Truthfully, the sweet warm liquid was far more to her liking than beer, and her head was starting to swim.
Later, she could never quite remember how long the feast had gone on or how many bottles had passed her by. At last there was a hand on her shoulder. It was Daisy. “We’re claiming this one,” she said to Lady Sapphire.
There was a brief look between Sapphire and Lorn. Then the lady nodded her consent. Amy looked at Daisy in confusion.
“Each family will put up one of the expedition members,” Daisy explained. “To spread out the task and privilege of playing host to all of you. I just stepped in a little early to have my say as to who we would have.”
Amy rose and left the hall with Daisy. She was fighting an odd battle to keep a straight line. Daisy turned to her. “Lexa has already told us a great deal about you, especially your ranch’s views on things. You’ll not be propositioned in my house, unless you want to be, of course.”
Amy giggled. Daisy stared hard at her a minute then grinned. “You’re drunk.”
“Am not,” Amy insisted. “Much.”
“Luther, come here,” Daisy called and the big man bounded up from somewhere with Lexa on his heels. “She’s drunk.”
“I am not,” Amy continued to insist. She stumbled and fell into the man. Before she could open her mouth again, he swept her off her feet. Amy was no slight girl. The number of men she had met who could lift her easily was exactly zero, until now. It was a strange sensation, to be carried like she was a little girl again, in her father’s arms.
What would it be like to spend the night in this man’s massive arms?
she wondered dully.
Stop it,
she told herself fiercely,
you are acting like one of those silly women in your sister’s romance novels.
Still, her mind kept returning to the same thought.
Luther, however, was a perfect gentleman. Amy soon found herself deposited safely on a low couch. Lexa’s face swam into view. She was holding a small cup in her hands. “Drink this,” she said.
“What is it?”
“It’s one of Merlin’s hangover remedies. Believe me, you are going to have one whopper of a headache tomorrow without it,” she explained. “Bear’s mead sneaks up on you.”
Despite the tea, Amy woke with a horrendous headache. She peered around the room, disoriented. She had only a dim recollection of being helped in here. The room was small and made of the same earthen material that was so common down here. Light streamed through a small window that was opposite the bed. A wardrobe and a dresser took up the rest of that side of the wall.
The door on the wall facing the foot of the bed burst open, and Lexa came bustling in carrying a tray. “Rise and shine, sleepy head.”
She sat down beside Amy. Amy rolled over with a groan and realized she was naked. She pulled the covers up to her neck as she sat up. Lexa offered her a cup. Amy eyed it suspiciously. “Just water,” Lexa told her, “best thing for a hangover.”
Amy moaned again and held her head with her free hand.
Lexa laughed. “Don’t fret, honey. We’ve all been there a time or two. You don’t think Merlin came up with his hangover remedy by accident, do you? Drink the water first; then try some food.” The tray contained fruit, apples, pears, and some bread and jam.
“My clothes?” she asked, looking down.
Lexa giggled. “I take it you don’t remember puking then?”
She did now. They’d helped her clean up and get back to bed.
How embarrassing.
Lexa patted her cheek. “It was your first encounter with mead. It will be better next time, you’ll see. You’ll know how much is enough.”
Amy shook her head and moaned. “No, never again, not ever.”
“The times I have said that! If it makes you feel any better, you were not alone last night. That was quite a feast. Most of the boys and quite a few of our own people overdid it. Sort of makes you want to run around the community with a gong, doesn’t it?”
Amy groaned.
“Just teasing.” Lexa rose and opened the wardrobe. “Clothes for your stay, compliments of Winnie; she’s about your size. Mostly long sleeves for outside work; someone with your fair complexion shouldn’t risk too much sun.”
Amy peered at the closet. It overflowed with long, flowing dresses, colorful blouses, and long skirts, which seemed to be common apparel at this community. She was pretty sure she’d even seen more than one man wearing such garb last night. She’d have to find her pack pronto.
Lexa left her to drink and eat. After drinking the water, she did feel better, and she ate some fruit as well. She went to the wardrobe and picked out a floor-length, green broomstick skirt and matching cotton top. A wide-brimmed straw hat completed the ensemble.
Amy made her way to the main room at the front of the house. Daisy and Lexa were waiting for her there. “The first order of business is a bath,” Daisy declared.
Amy happily agreed. The thought of a warm soak was irresistible. She could almost hear Minister Posch saying, “You are giving in to decadence and sin, girl.”
Shut up, you old git.
She followed the two women out.
When they got to the bathhouse, they found Willowshade and another woman already there. Soon all five women were soaking together in the bath and discussing last night’s feast. With the warmth slowly seeping into her back and her joints, Amy felt much better.
As they soaked, an old man wandered in and began to undress. Amy looked around nervously, but the other women took no notice. Then she remembered that both sexes usually used the bath together here.
As he shuffled across the shower room, Willowshade noticed him and called out, “Hang on there, Sal. I’ll come help you.” She climbed out and went to the man.
Amy tried not to watch. She feared they would think she was being rude. Yet, it was hard not to. There was something about the scene, the young woman ignoring her own nakedness as she helped the old man onto the low seat. As she scrubbed his back, he hummed in contentment.
Amy felt something stir inside her. She fought for the correct word to describe the scene but failed. The two were beautiful, but not in a sexual way, and the concept of sensuality was not familiar at the ranch.