Jimmy shifted his weight, feeling very awkward. Emma grabbed him by the collar and fixed his shirt. “Stand up straight,” she whispered.

Jimmy stood straighter and waited as Emma rapped on the Washington’s front door. “This might go better without me,” he whispered back.

“I am not deceiving the man,” Emma informed him. “You are going to be a big part of Teaspoon’s ceremony. I will not hide that from him.”

Lorna opened the door, still shouting. “I said to feed the chickens and I meant now!” She turned and glared at Jimmy and Emma. “What?”

Jimmy stared at her. Lorna was normally sweet and composed. Obviously doing everything Priscilla used to do was taking its toll.

“We are here to see your father,” Emma told her calmly. “If this is a bad time, we can come back.”

“It’s always a bad time,” Lorna grumbled, opening the door wider. “Have a seat,” she added wearily. “Father,” she yelled, “visitors.” She went out the door, muttering to herself about chickens and useless people.

Emma sat on the settee and Jimmy took a spot next to her. Michael Washington hurried in, a dish towel in his hands and some kind of green vegetable sticking to a tuft of hair. Emma made a pulling motion on a lock of her own hair.

Michael reached a hand upward and felt the sticky mess there. He quickly wiped it off with the dishtowel. “I’m sorry. Feeding John his lunch is always an adventure.”

He sat down in an overstuffed chair across from them. “Can I help you?” he inquired, as polite as always.

“Maybe we can help you,” Emma told him.

Michael looked at her questioningly.

“Teaspoon has an idea to help Priscilla,” Emma continued. She went on to briefly describe the concept of soul loss and what it entailed.

“Lorna can help you find some items that mean a great deal to Priscilla,” Michael said thoughtfully.

“So you don’t object?” Emma asked hopefully. Clearly she had been expecting a bigger fight.

“Frankly, I am at my wit’s end,” Michael admitted. “It won’t hurt her, will it?”

“She will be in a sweat lodge with Mr. Spoon.” Emma paused. “And Jimmy.”

“Jimmy?” Michael’s eyebrows shot up.

“Jimmy cares for Priscilla,” Emma’s words came tumbling out in a rush. “Mr. Spoon feels it is important, it is part of the ceremony, to have someone there who cares about her.”

“Then I should be there,” Michael exclaimed. “Emma,” he continued, straining to remain composed. “Priscilla was hurt badly a year ago.”

“Kevin,” Jimmy interrupted. “Cill told me about him dying.”

Michael gave him a look that was both surprised and irritable. “Sean O’Brian broke her heart,” he said, ignoring Jimmy’s look of surprise. How could he not know, Jimmy thought? Sean was nothing to her.

“And now she has been physically harmed,” Michael added.

“Jimmy did not hurt her,” Emma retorted sharply.

“I don’t mean to insult you,” Michael said, obviously trying to placate Emma who had taken on her mama bear role. “But your riders live a dangerous life.” He shook his head. “And that danger follows them outside the job. I thought,” he continued quietly, “that Jimmy was just another rider, that dime store novels were harmless -”

“They are trash.” “None of it is true.” Emma and Jimmy erupted simultaneously.

“But all this happened because of them,” Michael exclaimed.

Not really, Jimmy thought. But was the truth any better?

Emma frowned, and Jimmy knew she was thinking about the various predicaments the riders had gotten into. “Many of those situations were not of their making,” Emma said finally. “And some were to right a wrong. You can’t fault them for that?”

“I’m not faulting them, Emma,” Michael said sadly. “I just don’t want my daughter to suffer because of it. Suffer more,” he added softly.

Emma sighed. “Michael,” she said patiently, “Priscilla has been here, under your care, for more than a month. Mr. Spoon wants to try something else. And he believes Jimmy’s presence will help her. Can’t you just let him try?”

Michael’s eyes darted back and forth, between Emma, Jimmy and the stairs leading upstairs. He was obviously weighing Emma’s words. “One condition.”

“What is it?” Emma asked warily.

“If Priscilla recovers, Jimmy stays away,” Michael announced.

“What?” Jimmy exploded. “If I help her, I should stay away?”

“Do you want her hurt again?” Michael asked.

“That’s not fair,” Emma said.

“No one said life is fair. But if he truly cares for her, Jimmy will put her well being first,” Michael declared.

“Michael, how will that help -” Emma protested.

“I’ll do it,” Jimmy interrupted.

“Even if she comes to you, you will push her away?” Michael asked.

“I just want her whole,” Jimmy said, his voice breaking.