"And this one's Corn Woman."

It was something he had grown up with and he was surprised that everyone didn't know this.

Jake cocked his head, his dark eyes bright, curious.

"Don't you have them?"

She shook her head.

"No, all I had were Barbie And Ken."

She grinned at him as she handed the figure back to Jake.

"I like these, though."

Jake stared down at the figure in his hand, debating.

He thrust the one he'd referred to as Corn Woman toward her.

"You can keep this one, if you like. While you're here," he

qualified.

She wondered if he understood that he was attempting to bribe her.

Probably.

He might be young but he was shrewd.

Like his father.

She smiled at him, touched by the offer and what it represented.

"Thank you."

Caitlin looked down at the figure in her hand.

"I'm afraid I'll hurt it, though."

She offered Corn Woman back to him.

"Would you keep it safe for me?"

He accepted the figure with all the solemnity of a soldier charged with

guarding a dignitary.

If Gray had married her all those years ago, they might have had a son

like this now.

She felt cheated and sentimental all at the same time.

"Would you mind very much if I hugged you?" she asked softly.

Jake looked at her, obviously surprised by the question.

Why?

Not your typical child, she thought.

But then, being Gray's, she wouldn't have expected him to be.

"Because I'd very much like to."

He seemed to be thinking it over, then shrugged.

"Okay."

He set down the wooden figurea so that neither they nor she would be

hurt.

Caitlin encircled his slight shoulders and drew him into her arms.

It felt wonderful to hold the child, to hold a part of Graham that he

deemed precious.

He felt like heaven in her arms.

Very slowly she released him.

They smiled at each other, both shy over the feelings that had passed

between them.

"You smell good."

She laughed, rising to her feet.

"Thank you."

A soft, chanting sound wafted through the window.

It seemed to be coming from the yard just behind Jake's room.

The song didn't sound like anything she'd ever heard before.

Caitlin looked at the boy, puzzled.

"What's that?"

"Grandma."

Seeing that Caitlin didn't quite comprehend, Jake scrambled to his feet

and took her hand.

"C'mon, I'll show you."

He took Caitlin through the house to the back door, which led into

their yard.

A high wooden fence, long since bleached by the sun, ran along the perimeter, keeping out uninvited eyes.

Caitlin felt a little like an intruder.

Lily Redhawk was in the backyard, wearing the dress that Caitlin had

seen her packing earlier.

She was chanting words Caitlin didn't understand.

They melded with the air and became one with the land.

As Caitlin watched, the woman carefully sprinkled colored mineral

powders down on what looked to be a layer of sand.

Beneath the colorful spray, figures were forming in the sand.

Caitlin bent and whispered into Jake's ear.

"What is she doing?"

"Sand painting," he told her matter-of-factly.

He shook his head at Caitlin's ignorance.

He forgave her because she was pretty.

"She's singing a Blessingway song. Grandma's a medicine woman," he

told Caitlin proudly, his voice low.