“Not enough,” she murmured.
Henry crossed the foyer toward me with Julian a step behind him. “Bishop, Julian Loxley. Julian, Bishop Black.”
“Mr. Black,” he said with an English accent I hadn’t expected.
“Bishop is fine.”
“Julian’s got yourkey,” said Henry.
“Ohkwari. Third camp in the clearing, with the easiest access to the main camp,” he said, handing me the key. “The fire’s been laid, and the wood box is full. There’s more stacked under the eave on the lake side if you run through it.”
“Thank you.”
“Ma’am.” He nodded at Beacon and stepped out of the doorway of the main room.
“Bear Camp,” Anna murmured.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Ohkwari means bear.”
“I like it,” I said.
“It fits,” Beacon muttered. I wasn’t sure if she meant it as a compliment, but I’d take it that way.
“I should get our gear. Where are you?” I asked her.
She turned to Henry.
“I thought you’d like to be in the main camp. If you want to make a change, we can do that in the morning.”
Beacon shook her head. “This is where I want to be.”
“Mom and Aunt Polina are on this level, as is Givre. I thought the ground floor would be easier on her.”
“Thank you,” she said from the kitchen doorway where she stood.
“I’ll get your things,” I said, leaning closer to Beacon, as though I intended to kiss her. It was instinct, not intentional, as was the way I jerked myself away when she looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
After taking her things to the second floor, I said good night to those still in the great room, then found my camp.
I tossed my bag on the floor, brushed my teeth, toed off my boots, and climbed under the Hudson Bay point blanket fully clothed. Tomorrow, I’d light a fire to warm this place up. Tonight was all about keeping my eyes open long enough for my head to land on the pillow.
10
BLACKJACK
Iwas up at zero five hundred and cursed myself for not lighting a fire the night before. On my way to the bathroom, with the blanket wrapped around me, I noticed the thermostat set at fifty degrees and chuckled. I cranked it up to seventy but still lit the logs that had been laid in the hearth. God knew what kind of insulation these camps had, and I doubted if it got much above forty.
Once it was warm enough to make a shower bearable, I took a quick one, dressed, put on my boots and heavy jacket, then went to see if there were any signs of life in the main camp.
Lights were on in the kitchen, and the pathway I was on led to a door.
Henry’s vehicle was still in the clearing when I crossed from Ohkwari. He stood with Mrs. Eggers, whom he was taking toSyracuse this morning.
The front door of the main camp was open. Anna stood with both of the woman’s hands in hers. Polina was beside her. Mercury had her arm around Mrs. Eggers’ shoulders. Beacon stood behind them.
Mrs. Eggers, Anna, Polina, and Mercury were choked up as they said their goodbyes. Beacon’s face showed almost no emotion at all.
