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parted in the middle and tied simply at the base of her neck with a blue scarf. She was wearing faded jeans, brown boots and a hooded blue sweatshirt. She carried a navy rain jacket slung over one long, slim arm.
    Eli and Michael were hoisting her grocery bags and talking a mile a minute, and he saw her smile at them. Her smile transformed her narrow face with its aristocratic long nose and full lips from almost plain to—he thought pretty and then changed his mind to beautiful. But only when she smiled.
    She looked foreign. Pale, exotic, fragile. Silas made a dismissive sound in his throat and turned away from the window.
    She wouldn’t last long. He’d bet the council would be hiring another doctor within six weeks. Strength and endurance were essential in this wild, remote location. Fragile flowers didn’t thrive in Ahousaht.
    J ORDAN HAD JUST FINISHED hanging her jacket in the small closet and was assessing how much space the drawers of the rickety chest gave her when she heard a knock at the door. She hurried to open it, hoping it was Billy with her suitcases, but Christina stood there, navy shirt accentuating the dramatic angles of her high cheekbones.
    â€œWelcome, Jordan,” she said with a wide smile. She handed her a bouquet of wild roses in a glass canning jar.
    â€œHey, Christina, thank you so much. Come in. I met your adorable son and his friend. Thanks for sending them to escort me from the boat.”
    Jordan put the flowers in the middle of the table.
    â€œI wanted to be there myself, but there was a minor emergency. Did the boys give you the rundown on the entire population?”
    â€œOnly their immediate families and everyone we passed. I can’t wait to pump them for more.”
    â€œThey’re nosy little demons. I just hope they never find out about blackmail.”
    Jordan waved an arm at the walls. “Thanks for the paint job, I love the color.”
    â€œLambskin duvet, just like I promised.” Christina glanced at the grocery bags. “I hope you didn’t make lunch yet. Mom wondered if you’d like to come and eat with us?”
    Jordan glanced at her watch, suddenly aware that it was past noon and nerves had kept her from having anything but coffee that morning.
    â€œThanks, Christina. I’d love to, but I’m waiting for Billy to bring my suitcases. He should be here any minute. Can you wait?”
    â€œSure. No rush. Mom’s serving stew, it’ll keep.”
    â€œPlease, sit.” Jordan gestured at the brown tweed couch. “Do you want to call her? I have my cell phone—”
    Christina grinned and shook her head. “Mom’s pretty easygoing. She’ll expect us when we get there.”
    Jordan sank into a stuffed armchair across from the couch and then gave a startled squeak when her bottom almost hit the floor. The springs were gone.
    â€œOops.” Christina put a hand over her mouth and giggled. After a moment of stunned silence, Jordan began to laugh too, and then she couldn’t stop. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she pressed her fists against her mouth, willing herself to regain control, losing it more with each passing moment.

CHAPTER FIVE
    C HRISTINA GOT UP after a moment and knelt in front of Jordan.
    â€œLet it come,” she said in her soft, slow voice. “Let it out, it needs to escape now.” She laid a small hand gently on Jordan’s head and stroked her hair.
    Ashamed, but too far out of control to do anything about it, Jordan wailed, gulping out strange guttural noises.
    â€œThat’s the way,” Christina encouraged her. “Let ’er out.”
    It took what felt like forever before Jordan regained control.
    Christina went to the bathroom for a tissue, then pressed it into Jordan’s hand.
    â€œOh, dammit, I’m so sorry,” Jordan said when she could speak again. “What an idiot, having a meltdown like that.” She blew her nose hard and