A nonbinary vixen feeling trapped in a rural Kansas town meets a size-shifting tiger, and learns of an enigmatic club for outsiders.

Today’s story is the first of two parts of “Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, the author of the novels Goddess and Saida & Autumn, both published by FurPlanet. You can find more of her stories at her website.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

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https://thevoice.dog/episode/regulars-by-arilin-thorferra-part-1-of-2

Speaker: 00:00:00

You’re

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listening

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to

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The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and

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Today’s

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story

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is

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the

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first

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of

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two

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parts

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of “Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, the

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author of the

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novels

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Goddess

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and

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Saida &

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Autumn,

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both

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published

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by

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FurPlanet.

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You

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can

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find

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more

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of

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her

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stories

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at

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her

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website.

Please

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enjoy


“Regulars”

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by Arilin

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Thorferra,

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Part 1

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of 2

“This

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is

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my

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daughter,

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Harper.”
Harper

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tensed as

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the

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tiger

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took

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in

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the

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fox’s

appearance: 00:00:41

grey

appearance: 00:00:42

blazer,

appearance: 00:00:43

pink

appearance: 00:00:43

trousers,

appearance: 00:00:44

purple

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ascot

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tie,

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auburn

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hair

appearance: 00:00:47

tied

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back

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in a

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tight

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ponytail.

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A

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variant

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of

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such

appearance: 00:00:51

a

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mannish

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style

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for

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a

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beautiful

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young

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lady

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inevitably

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followed,

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even

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though Harper

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was

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neither

appearance: 00:00:56

beautiful

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nor

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young,

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and “lady”

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could

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be

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debated.
Instead,

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though,

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he

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merely

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nodded. “Pleased

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to

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meet

appearance: 00:01:04

you.”
Elsie

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appeared

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faintly

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disappointed

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that

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her

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prospective

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handyman

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hadn’t

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engaged in

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any

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witty

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repartee

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at

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her

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child’s

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expense,

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and

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simply

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waved

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them both along the

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side

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of

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the

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house. “Let me

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show

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you

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the

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work

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that

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needs

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to

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be

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done.”
The tiger

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nodded

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again.

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Harper

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trudged

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afterward.
“You

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did

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work

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for

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the

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Bradleys

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over

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on Ford

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Court,

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didn’t

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you,

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Owen?”

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she

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prompted. “You

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come

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highly

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recommended.”
“Yes,

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ma’am.

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Cut

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down

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a

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dead

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oak

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in

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the

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backyard

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and

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replaced

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some

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fencing.”
“It’s

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the

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tree

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work

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we’re

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interested

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in.

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I’m

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interested

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in.

appearance: 00:01:42

I

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love

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these

appearance: 00:01:43

trees

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so

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much,

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all

appearance: 00:01:44

the

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flowers

appearance: 00:01:45

I’ve

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put

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in,

appearance: 00:01:46

but

appearance: 00:01:46

Harper

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doesn’t

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care

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much

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about

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these

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things.”
Thank

appearance: 00:01:50

you,

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mother.

appearance: 00:01:51

Harper

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contemplated

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turning

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around

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and

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heading

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back

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into

appearance: 00:01:53

the

appearance: 00:01:54

house.

appearance: 00:01:55

No,

appearance: 00:01:55

the

appearance: 00:01:55

fox

appearance: 00:01:56

hadn’t

appearance: 00:01:56

grown

appearance: 00:01:56

up

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here

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in

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Central

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Nowhere,

appearance: 00:01:58

hadn’t

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grown

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up

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with

appearance: 00:01:59

the

appearance: 00:01:59

trees,

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but

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that

appearance: 00:02:01

wasn’t

appearance: 00:02:01

the

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same

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as

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being

appearance: 00:02:02

utterly

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unconcerned

appearance: 00:02:03

with

appearance: 00:02:03

them.

appearance: 00:02:04

It

appearance: 00:02:04

wasn’t

appearance: 00:02:04

as

appearance: 00:02:05

if

appearance: 00:02:05

Elsie

appearance: 00:02:05

had

appearance: 00:02:05

grown

appearance: 00:02:05

up

appearance: 00:02:06

with

appearance: 00:02:06

them,

appearance: 00:02:06

either.

appearance: 00:02:07

She

appearance: 00:02:07

and

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Arthur

appearance: 00:02:07

had

appearance: 00:02:07

moved

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out

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of

appearance: 00:02:08

Overland

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Park

appearance: 00:02:09

the

appearance: 00:02:09

year

appearance: 00:02:09

Harper

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graduated

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from

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boarding

appearance: 00:02:10

school

appearance: 00:02:11

and

appearance: 00:02:11

entered

appearance: 00:02:11

college.
Elsie

appearance: 00:02:13

stopped

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as

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they

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reached

appearance: 00:02:14

the

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back, and

appearance: 00:02:15

she

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pointed

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up

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at a

appearance: 00:02:16

tall

appearance: 00:02:16

laurel

appearance: 00:02:16

oak. “You

appearance: 00:02:18

can

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see

appearance: 00:02:19

how

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most

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of

appearance: 00:02:20

its

appearance: 00:02:20

canopy

appearance: 00:02:20

is

appearance: 00:02:21

right

appearance: 00:02:21

over

appearance: 00:02:21

the

appearance: 00:02:21

house,

appearance: 00:02:22

how it’s grown

appearance: 00:02:23

this

appearance: 00:02:23

way,

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and

appearance: 00:02:24

how

appearance: 00:02:24

a

appearance: 00:02:24

few

appearance: 00:02:24

of

appearance: 00:02:24

the

appearance: 00:02:24

limbs

appearance: 00:02:25

are

appearance: 00:02:25

dying.”
The

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tiger—Owen—nodded

appearance: 00:02:28

once

appearance: 00:02:29

more,

appearance: 00:02:29

and

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walked

appearance: 00:02:30

around

appearance: 00:02:30

the

appearance: 00:02:30

tree,

appearance: 00:02:30

looking

appearance: 00:02:31

up

appearance: 00:02:31

at

appearance: 00:02:31

it,

appearance: 00:02:32

crouching

appearance: 00:02:32

to

appearance: 00:02:32

examine

appearance: 00:02:33

its

appearance: 00:02:33

base.

appearance: 00:02:35

Harper

appearance: 00:02:35

studied

appearance: 00:02:35

him.

appearance: 00:02:36

He

appearance: 00:02:36

looked

appearance: 00:02:37

sculpted

appearance: 00:02:37

out

appearance: 00:02:38

of

appearance: 00:02:38

pure

appearance: 00:02:38

muscle,

appearance: 00:02:39

sinews subtly

appearance: 00:02:40

rippling

appearance: 00:02:40

under

appearance: 00:02:41

his

appearance: 00:02:41

fur

appearance: 00:02:41

as

appearance: 00:02:41

he

appearance: 00:02:41

moved.

appearance: 00:02:42

Handsome,

appearance: 00:02:43

if

appearance: 00:02:43

you

appearance: 00:02:43

liked

appearance: 00:02:43

that

appearance: 00:02:43

sort

appearance: 00:02:44

of

appearance: 00:02:44

look.

appearance: 00:02:45

If

appearance: 00:02:45

Mother

appearance: 00:02:46

hadn’t

appearance: 00:02:46

been

appearance: 00:02:46

nattering

appearance: 00:02:47

about

appearance: 00:02:47

the

appearance: 00:02:47

pain

appearance: 00:02:48

of

appearance: 00:02:48

losing

appearance: 00:02:48

these “dear

appearance: 00:02:49

old

appearance: 00:02:49

trees”

appearance: 00:02:50

for

appearance: 00:02:50

literally

appearance: 00:02:50

months,

appearance: 00:02:51

Harper

appearance: 00:02:51

would

appearance: 00:02:51

be

appearance: 00:02:51

suspicious

appearance: 00:02:52

this

appearance: 00:02:52

was

appearance: 00:02:52

a

appearance: 00:02:52

devious

appearance: 00:02:53

way

appearance: 00:02:53

to

appearance: 00:02:53

set

appearance: 00:02:53

up

appearance: 00:02:53

another

appearance: 00:02:54

date.
“With

appearance: 00:02:56

the

appearance: 00:02:57

storms

appearance: 00:02:57

lately,

appearance: 00:02:58

I’m

appearance: 00:02:58

worried

appearance: 00:02:59

that

appearance: 00:02:59

if

appearance: 00:02:59

this tree falls…” She gestured at the

appearance: 00:03:01

house.
“I

appearance: 00:03:03

understand,

appearance: 00:03:04

ma’am.

appearance: 00:03:05

And

appearance: 00:03:05

the

appearance: 00:03:05

tree’s

appearance: 00:03:05

starting

appearance: 00:03:06

to

appearance: 00:03:06

rot.” He

appearance: 00:03:07

traced a

appearance: 00:03:07

claw-tip

appearance: 00:03:08

along

appearance: 00:03:08

the

appearance: 00:03:08

base. “It’s

appearance: 00:03:09

beautiful,

appearance: 00:03:10

but

appearance: 00:03:10

I

appearance: 00:03:10

agree

appearance: 00:03:11

leaving

appearance: 00:03:11

it

appearance: 00:03:11

up

appearance: 00:03:11

is

appearance: 00:03:11

a

appearance: 00:03:12

risk.”
“I

appearance: 00:03:13

bought

appearance: 00:03:14

this

appearance: 00:03:14

property

appearance: 00:03:15

for

appearance: 00:03:15

the

appearance: 00:03:15

trees,

appearance: 00:03:15

you

appearance: 00:03:15

know.

appearance: 00:03:16

Well,

appearance: 00:03:17

my

appearance: 00:03:17

husband

appearance: 00:03:17

and

appearance: 00:03:17

I

appearance: 00:03:17

did,

appearance: 00:03:18

but

appearance: 00:03:18

I

appearance: 00:03:18

wanted

appearance: 00:03:19

this

appearance: 00:03:19

lot,

appearance: 00:03:20

this

appearance: 00:03:21

land.

appearance: 00:03:22

I’ve

appearance: 00:03:22

been

appearance: 00:03:22

here

appearance: 00:03:22

about

appearance: 00:03:23

fifteen

appearance: 00:03:24

years…”
Oh,

appearance: 00:03:26

good,

appearance: 00:03:26

let’s

appearance: 00:03:26

launch

appearance: 00:03:27

into

appearance: 00:03:27

a

appearance: 00:03:27

story

appearance: 00:03:27

that

appearance: 00:03:27

the

appearance: 00:03:28

handyman

appearance: 00:03:28

neither

appearance: 00:03:29

cares

appearance: 00:03:29

about

appearance: 00:03:29

nor

appearance: 00:03:29

needs

appearance: 00:03:30

to

appearance: 00:03:30

know

appearance: 00:03:30

for

appearance: 00:03:30

his

appearance: 00:03:30

work.

appearance: 00:03:32

Harper

appearance: 00:03:32

tried

appearance: 00:03:33

not

appearance: 00:03:33

to

appearance: 00:03:33

clench

appearance: 00:03:33

their

appearance: 00:03:33

teeth

appearance: 00:03:34

too

appearance: 00:03:34

obviously.

appearance: 00:03:35

It’s

appearance: 00:03:35

simply

appearance: 00:03:36

the

appearance: 00:03:36

way

appearance: 00:03:36

Mother

appearance: 00:03:36

was. (Was it

appearance: 00:03:38

the

appearance: 00:03:38

way

appearance: 00:03:38

she had

appearance: 00:03:38

always

appearance: 00:03:39

been?

appearance: 00:03:40

When

appearance: 00:03:40

the

appearance: 00:03:40

subject

appearance: 00:03:40

was

appearance: 00:03:40

ever

appearance: 00:03:41

broached—whether

appearance: 00:03:42

gently,

appearance: 00:03:42

or in

appearance: 00:03:42

frustrated

appearance: 00:03:43

anger—that

appearance: 00:03:44

was

appearance: 00:03:44

the

appearance: 00:03:44

dismissive

appearance: 00:03:45

response. It

appearance: 00:03:46

didn’t

appearance: 00:03:46

match

appearance: 00:03:47

Harper’s

appearance: 00:03:47

memory,

appearance: 00:03:47

but

appearance: 00:03:48

most memories

appearance: 00:03:48

of

appearance: 00:03:48

their

appearance: 00:03:48

youth

appearance: 00:03:49

had

appearance: 00:03:49

truthfully

appearance: 00:03:50

grown

appearance: 00:03:50

foggy.)
Owen

appearance: 00:03:52

listened

appearance: 00:03:53

patiently,

appearance: 00:03:54

or

appearance: 00:03:54

at

appearance: 00:03:54

least

appearance: 00:03:54

gave

appearance: 00:03:54

the

appearance: 00:03:55

appearance

appearance: 00:03:55

of

appearance: 00:03:55

doing

appearance: 00:03:55

so,

appearance: 00:03:56

then—surprise of

appearance: 00:03:57

surprises—nodded. “I

appearance: 00:04:00

can

appearance: 00:04:00

do

appearance: 00:04:00

the

appearance: 00:04:00

work

appearance: 00:04:00

on

appearance: 00:04:01

Thursday

appearance: 00:04:01

if

appearance: 00:04:01

you’d

appearance: 00:04:01

like,

appearance: 00:04:01

ma’am.

appearance: 00:04:02

It’ll be

appearance: 00:04:02

sixty

appearance: 00:04:03

dollars.”
The

appearance: 00:04:05

older

appearance: 00:04:05

vixen

appearance: 00:04:05

frowned. “That

appearance: 00:04:06

seems

appearance: 00:04:07

rather

appearance: 00:04:07

steep, Owen.”
“Most

appearance: 00:04:10

tree

appearance: 00:04:10

services would

appearance: 00:04:11

charge

appearance: 00:04:12

you

appearance: 00:04:12

closer

appearance: 00:04:12

to

appearance: 00:04:12

one

appearance: 00:04:13

hundred.

appearance: 00:04:14

They’d have to

appearance: 00:04:14

bring

appearance: 00:04:14

out

appearance: 00:04:15

three

appearance: 00:04:15

men,

appearance: 00:04:16

ladders,

appearance: 00:04:17

probably

appearance: 00:04:18

a crane.”
“But

appearance: 00:04:20

you

appearance: 00:04:21

won’t?”
“I don’t have to,

appearance: 00:04:23

ma’am.

appearance: 00:04:24

I’m

appearance: 00:04:24

a

appearance: 00:04:24

size-shifter.”
Harper’s

appearance: 00:04:26

attention

appearance: 00:04:27

stopped

appearance: 00:04:27

drifting

appearance: 00:04:28

and

appearance: 00:04:28

snapped

appearance: 00:04:28

back

appearance: 00:04:28

to

appearance: 00:04:29

the

appearance: 00:04:29

tiger.
Mother’s

appearance: 00:04:31

ears

appearance: 00:04:31

lowered. “Yes,

appearance: 00:04:34

the

appearance: 00:04:34

Bradleys

appearance: 00:04:35

did

appearance: 00:04:36

mention

appearance: 00:04:36

that,”

appearance: 00:04:37

she

appearance: 00:04:38

said

appearance: 00:04:38

in

appearance: 00:04:38

a

appearance: 00:04:38

tone

appearance: 00:04:38

that

appearance: 00:04:38

suggested

appearance: 00:04:39

she

appearance: 00:04:39

hadn’t

appearance: 00:04:40

thought

appearance: 00:04:40

it

appearance: 00:04:40

through.
Harper

appearance: 00:04:42

glanced

appearance: 00:04:42

at

appearance: 00:04:42

Mother.

appearance: 00:04:43

She

appearance: 00:04:44

knew

appearance: 00:04:44

he

appearance: 00:04:44

was

appearance: 00:04:44

a

appearance: 00:04:44

size-shifter

appearance: 00:04:45

and

appearance: 00:04:45

called

appearance: 00:04:45

him

appearance: 00:04:45

anyway?

appearance: 00:04:47

Well, she did

appearance: 00:04:47

fancy

appearance: 00:04:48

herself

appearance: 00:04:48

progressive,

appearance: 00:04:49

despite

appearance: 00:04:49

finding

appearance: 00:04:50

her

appearance: 00:04:50

child

appearance: 00:04:50

so

appearance: 00:04:50

exasperating.
“Well.”

appearance: 00:04:54

The older vixen

appearance: 00:04:54

shrugged. “If it helps,

appearance: 00:04:57

it

appearance: 00:04:57

helps.

appearance: 00:04:58

I’ll

appearance: 00:04:58

see

appearance: 00:04:58

you

appearance: 00:04:59

Thursday,

appearance: 00:05:00

then.

appearance: 00:05:00

Morning

appearance: 00:05:01

or

appearance: 00:05:01

afternoon?”
“Morning’s

appearance: 00:05:03

best.

appearance: 00:05:03

Around

appearance: 00:05:04

eight

appearance: 00:05:04

o’clock?”
“That’s

appearance: 00:05:06

fine.”

appearance: 00:05:07

She

appearance: 00:05:07

headed

appearance: 00:05:07

back

appearance: 00:05:08

toward

appearance: 00:05:08

the

appearance: 00:05:08

house,

appearance: 00:05:08

waving a

appearance: 00:05:09

hand

appearance: 00:05:09

at

appearance: 00:05:09

Harper. “Harper,

appearance: 00:05:11

be

appearance: 00:05:11

a

appearance: 00:05:11

good

appearance: 00:05:11

hostess

appearance: 00:05:12

and

appearance: 00:05:12

get

appearance: 00:05:12

Owen

appearance: 00:05:13

a

appearance: 00:05:13

glass

appearance: 00:05:13

of

appearance: 00:05:13

iced

appearance: 00:05:13

tea

appearance: 00:05:14

before

appearance: 00:05:14

he

appearance: 00:05:14

leaves.”
Owen

appearance: 00:05:18

started

appearance: 00:05:18

to

appearance: 00:05:18

shake

appearance: 00:05:18

his

appearance: 00:05:18

head,

appearance: 00:05:19

but

appearance: 00:05:19

stopped

appearance: 00:05:20

as

appearance: 00:05:20

the

appearance: 00:05:20

vixen

appearance: 00:05:20

walked

appearance: 00:05:21

away

appearance: 00:05:21

without

appearance: 00:05:21

waiting

appearance: 00:05:22

for

appearance: 00:05:22

a

appearance: 00:05:22

response. “I

appearance: 00:05:25

don’t

appearance: 00:05:25

need

appearance: 00:05:25

any

appearance: 00:05:26

tea,”

appearance: 00:05:27

he

appearance: 00:05:27

said,

appearance: 00:05:28

to

appearance: 00:05:28

Harper

appearance: 00:05:29

rather

appearance: 00:05:29

than

appearance: 00:05:29

her

appearance: 00:05:29

mother.
“Do

appearance: 00:05:32

you

appearance: 00:05:32

want

appearance: 00:05:32

any?

appearance: 00:05:33

We

appearance: 00:05:33

have

appearance: 00:05:33

a

appearance: 00:05:33

pitcher

appearance: 00:05:34

made.”

appearance: 00:05:35

And

appearance: 00:05:36

if

appearance: 00:05:36

you

appearance: 00:05:36

don’t

appearance: 00:05:36

come

appearance: 00:05:36

and

appearance: 00:05:36

get

appearance: 00:05:36

a

appearance: 00:05:36

glass,

appearance: 00:05:37

Mother

appearance: 00:05:37

will

appearance: 00:05:37

be—
“And

appearance: 00:05:38

if

appearance: 00:05:38

I

appearance: 00:05:39

don’t

appearance: 00:05:39

get

appearance: 00:05:39

a

appearance: 00:05:39

glass,

appearance: 00:05:39

your

appearance: 00:05:40

ma

appearance: 00:05:40

will

appearance: 00:05:40

think

appearance: 00:05:40

you’re

appearance: 00:05:40

a

appearance: 00:05:40

bad

appearance: 00:05:41

host.”
Harper

appearance: 00:05:43

looked

appearance: 00:05:43

up

appearance: 00:05:43

at

appearance: 00:05:43

him,

appearance: 00:05:44

startled,

appearance: 00:05:44

then

appearance: 00:05:45

strode

appearance: 00:05:45

toward

appearance: 00:05:45

the

appearance: 00:05:45

side

appearance: 00:05:45

entrance to the

appearance: 00:05:46

kitchen,

appearance: 00:05:46

waving

appearance: 00:05:47

him to follow. “A size-shifter and

appearance: 00:05:49

a

appearance: 00:05:49

mind-reader.”
“Just

appearance: 00:05:51

observant.”
“You

appearance: 00:05:53

picked

appearance: 00:05:53

up

appearance: 00:05:53

on

appearance: 00:05:54

the

appearance: 00:05:54

subtle

appearance: 00:05:54

tension

appearance: 00:05:55

between

appearance: 00:05:55

Mother

appearance: 00:05:55

and

appearance: 00:05:56

me,

appearance: 00:05:56

then,

appearance: 00:05:56

did

appearance: 00:05:56

you?”

appearance: 00:05:57

Harper

appearance: 00:05:58

held

appearance: 00:05:58

the

appearance: 00:05:58

door

appearance: 00:05:58

open

appearance: 00:05:59

for

appearance: 00:05:59

him,

appearance: 00:05:59

then headed to

appearance: 00:06:00

the

appearance: 00:06:00

cupboard to

appearance: 00:06:00

get

appearance: 00:06:01

down

appearance: 00:06:01

a

appearance: 00:06:01

glass.
“Saw

appearance: 00:06:03

the

appearance: 00:06:03

way

appearance: 00:06:03

your

appearance: 00:06:03

shoulders

appearance: 00:06:04

tensed

appearance: 00:06:04

up

appearance: 00:06:04

a couple

appearance: 00:06:04

times. When she

appearance: 00:06:06

said

appearance: 00:06:06

you

appearance: 00:06:06

didn’t

appearance: 00:06:06

care

appearance: 00:06:06

about

appearance: 00:06:07

the

appearance: 00:06:07

trees,

appearance: 00:06:07

and

appearance: 00:06:08

when

appearance: 00:06:08

she

appearance: 00:06:08

introduced

appearance: 00:06:09

you.”
“Ah, yes,

appearance: 00:06:11

when

appearance: 00:06:11

you

appearance: 00:06:11

were

appearance: 00:06:11

looking

appearance: 00:06:12

at

appearance: 00:06:12

my

appearance: 00:06:12

outfit

appearance: 00:06:12

and

appearance: 00:06:12

thinking ‘why,

appearance: 00:06:13

that’s

appearance: 00:06:13

not

appearance: 00:06:14

very

appearance: 00:06:14

feminine.’”
“I

appearance: 00:06:15

wasn’t

appearance: 00:06:16

thinking

appearance: 00:06:16

that.”
“Mmm.”

appearance: 00:06:19

The

appearance: 00:06:19

fox

appearance: 00:06:19

got

appearance: 00:06:20

down

appearance: 00:06:20

another

appearance: 00:06:20

glass,

appearance: 00:06:21

walked to

appearance: 00:06:21

the

appearance: 00:06:21

icebox,

appearance: 00:06:22

scooped

appearance: 00:06:23

cracked

appearance: 00:06:23

ice

appearance: 00:06:23

into

appearance: 00:06:23

both,

appearance: 00:06:24

and filled them up

appearance: 00:06:24

from

appearance: 00:06:25

the

appearance: 00:06:25

iced

appearance: 00:06:25

tea

appearance: 00:06:25

pitcher

appearance: 00:06:25

on

appearance: 00:06:25

the

appearance: 00:06:26

counter. “I’d

appearance: 00:06:27

ask

appearance: 00:06:28

what

appearance: 00:06:28

it’s

appearance: 00:06:28

like

appearance: 00:06:28

to

appearance: 00:06:28

be

appearance: 00:06:28

a

appearance: 00:06:28

size-shifter,

appearance: 00:06:29

but

appearance: 00:06:29

I’d

appearance: 00:06:29

guess

appearance: 00:06:29

that’s

appearance: 00:06:30

both

appearance: 00:06:30

an

appearance: 00:06:30

obvious

appearance: 00:06:30

question

appearance: 00:06:31

and

appearance: 00:06:31

a

appearance: 00:06:31

silly

appearance: 00:06:31

one.”

appearance: 00:06:33

Harper

appearance: 00:06:33

held

appearance: 00:06:33

out

appearance: 00:06:33

one

appearance: 00:06:33

of

appearance: 00:06:33

the

appearance: 00:06:33

glasses.
Owen

appearance: 00:06:36

took the

appearance: 00:06:36

glass and lapped at

appearance: 00:06:37

the drink. “That’s

appearance: 00:06:39

good

appearance: 00:06:39

tea.

appearance: 00:06:41

It’s

appearance: 00:06:41

an

appearance: 00:06:41

obvious

appearance: 00:06:42

question.

appearance: 00:06:43

I

appearance: 00:06:43

don’t

appearance: 00:06:43

know if it’s

appearance: 00:06:44

silly,

appearance: 00:06:45

but

appearance: 00:06:45

I

appearance: 00:06:45

don’t

appearance: 00:06:46

know

appearance: 00:06:46

how

appearance: 00:06:46

to

appearance: 00:06:46

answer

appearance: 00:06:47

it.”
“I’m

appearance: 00:06:49

not

appearance: 00:06:49

good

appearance: 00:06:49

at

appearance: 00:06:49

small

appearance: 00:06:49

talk.

appearance: 00:06:50

No

appearance: 00:06:50

size

appearance: 00:06:50

joke

appearance: 00:06:51

intended.”
He

appearance: 00:06:52

laughed,

appearance: 00:06:53

and

appearance: 00:06:53

tilted

appearance: 00:06:53

his

appearance: 00:06:53

head. “Did

appearance: 00:06:54

you

appearance: 00:06:55

grow

appearance: 00:06:55

up

appearance: 00:06:55

around

appearance: 00:06:55

here?”
“Do

appearance: 00:06:57

I

appearance: 00:06:57

act

appearance: 00:06:57

like

appearance: 00:06:57

I’m

appearance: 00:06:57

from

appearance: 00:06:58

somewhere

appearance: 00:06:58

else?”
“A

appearance: 00:07:00

little,

appearance: 00:07:00

yes.

appearance: 00:07:01

But

appearance: 00:07:01

your

appearance: 00:07:01

ma

appearance: 00:07:02

said

appearance: 00:07:02

she’d

appearance: 00:07:02

moved

appearance: 00:07:02

here

appearance: 00:07:03

about

appearance: 00:07:03

fifteen

appearance: 00:07:03

years

appearance: 00:07:03

ago.”
“We lived in

appearance: 00:07:06

Overland

appearance: 00:07:06

Park,

appearance: 00:07:07

but

appearance: 00:07:07

I

appearance: 00:07:08

got

appearance: 00:07:08

sent

appearance: 00:07:08

off

appearance: 00:07:08

to

appearance: 00:07:09

boarding

appearance: 00:07:09

school

appearance: 00:07:09

in

appearance: 00:07:10

upstate

appearance: 00:07:10

New

appearance: 00:07:10

York

appearance: 00:07:10

when

appearance: 00:07:11

I

appearance: 00:07:11

was

appearance: 00:07:11

thirteen.

appearance: 00:07:12

I

appearance: 00:07:12

stayed

appearance: 00:07:12

there

appearance: 00:07:13

for

appearance: 00:07:13

college,

appearance: 00:07:14

and…”

appearance: 00:07:15

A

appearance: 00:07:15

shrug. “Stayed

appearance: 00:07:16

there

appearance: 00:07:16

after

appearance: 00:07:16

college,

appearance: 00:07:17

too,

appearance: 00:07:17

in

appearance: 00:07:17

Brooklyn.

appearance: 00:07:19

I

appearance: 00:07:19

came

appearance: 00:07:19

back

appearance: 00:07:20

last

appearance: 00:07:20

year

appearance: 00:07:20

to

appearance: 00:07:20

help

appearance: 00:07:20

take

appearance: 00:07:21

care

appearance: 00:07:21

of

appearance: 00:07:21

the

appearance: 00:07:21

house.

appearance: 00:07:22

Mother’s

appearance: 00:07:23

getting

appearance: 00:07:23

on

appearance: 00:07:23

in

appearance: 00:07:23

years,

appearance: 00:07:24

and

appearance: 00:07:24

I

appearance: 00:07:24

suppose

appearance: 00:07:24

there’s

appearance: 00:07:24

no

appearance: 00:07:24

one

appearance: 00:07:25

else.”
“So

appearance: 00:07:26

you

appearance: 00:07:27

should

appearance: 00:07:27

be

appearance: 00:07:27

hiring

appearance: 00:07:27

me,

appearance: 00:07:28

not

appearance: 00:07:28

your

appearance: 00:07:28

ma.”
“She

appearance: 00:07:30

has

appearance: 00:07:30

both

appearance: 00:07:31

the

appearance: 00:07:31

money

appearance: 00:07:31

and

appearance: 00:07:31

the

appearance: 00:07:32

strong

appearance: 00:07:32

opinions.”
Owen

appearance: 00:07:34

looked

appearance: 00:07:34

down

appearance: 00:07:35

at

appearance: 00:07:35

Harper

appearance: 00:07:35

speculatively. “You

appearance: 00:07:37

have

appearance: 00:07:37

your

appearance: 00:07:38

own

appearance: 00:07:38

strong

appearance: 00:07:38

opinions,

appearance: 00:07:39

I

appearance: 00:07:39

expect.”
Harper

appearance: 00:07:42

instinctively

appearance: 00:07:42

bristled.

appearance: 00:07:44

Was

appearance: 00:07:44

this

appearance: 00:07:44

stranger

appearance: 00:07:45

needling

appearance: 00:07:45

her,

appearance: 00:07:45

too?

appearance: 00:07:47

If

appearance: 00:07:47

he

appearance: 00:07:47

wasn’t,

appearance: 00:07:47

what

appearance: 00:07:47

was

appearance: 00:07:48

he

appearance: 00:07:48

doing? Prompting?

appearance: 00:07:50

Let

appearance: 00:07:50

it slide

appearance: 00:07:50

off

appearance: 00:07:50

you. “I

appearance: 00:07:52

have

appearance: 00:07:52

opinions

appearance: 00:07:53

about

appearance: 00:07:53

what

appearance: 00:07:53

makes

appearance: 00:07:53

good

appearance: 00:07:54

bourbon,

appearance: 00:07:54

sharp

appearance: 00:07:55

clothes,

appearance: 00:07:55

and

appearance: 00:07:55

how

appearance: 00:07:55

to

appearance: 00:07:55

smoke

appearance: 00:07:56

cigars.

appearance: 00:07:56

Not

appearance: 00:07:56

about

appearance: 00:07:57

trees.”
“What

appearance: 00:07:59

do

appearance: 00:07:59

you

appearance: 00:07:59

think

appearance: 00:08:00

about

appearance: 00:08:00

bourbon,

appearance: 00:08:00

clothing,

appearance: 00:08:01

and

appearance: 00:08:01

cigars?”
“Respectively,

appearance: 00:08:04

they

appearance: 00:08:05

should

appearance: 00:08:05

be

appearance: 00:08:05

high

appearance: 00:08:05

rye,

appearance: 00:08:06

well-tailored,

appearance: 00:08:06

and

appearance: 00:08:06

smoked

appearance: 00:08:07

far

appearance: 00:08:07

away

appearance: 00:08:07

from

appearance: 00:08:08

me.”
Owen

appearance: 00:08:10

laughed

appearance: 00:08:10

again,

appearance: 00:08:10

then looked

appearance: 00:08:11

to

appearance: 00:08:11

the

appearance: 00:08:11

side,

appearance: 00:08:11

seemingly

appearance: 00:08:12

lost

appearance: 00:08:12

in

appearance: 00:08:12

consideration.
Harper

appearance: 00:08:15

tilted

appearance: 00:08:15

their

appearance: 00:08:15

head. “Hmm?”
“I

appearance: 00:08:18

think

appearance: 00:08:18

I’m

appearance: 00:08:18

out

appearance: 00:08:19

of

appearance: 00:08:19

small

appearance: 00:08:19

talk

appearance: 00:08:19

myself.”

appearance: 00:08:22

The

appearance: 00:08:22

tiger

appearance: 00:08:22

finished

appearance: 00:08:22

the

appearance: 00:08:23

rest

appearance: 00:08:23

of

appearance: 00:08:23

his

appearance: 00:08:23

tea

appearance: 00:08:23

and

appearance: 00:08:23

set

appearance: 00:08:24

the

appearance: 00:08:24

glass

appearance: 00:08:24

down

appearance: 00:08:24

by

appearance: 00:08:24

the

appearance: 00:08:24

sink. “I

appearance: 00:08:26

should

appearance: 00:08:26

be

appearance: 00:08:27

on

appearance: 00:08:27

my

appearance: 00:08:27

way.

appearance: 00:08:28

I

appearance: 00:08:28

have

appearance: 00:08:28

some

appearance: 00:08:28

carpentry

appearance: 00:08:29

work

appearance: 00:08:29

to

appearance: 00:08:29

do

appearance: 00:08:29

this

appearance: 00:08:30

afternoon.”
“As

appearance: 00:08:32

a

appearance: 00:08:32

giant?”
“Some

appearance: 00:08:33

of it.”

appearance: 00:08:34

He

appearance: 00:08:34

grinned. “Will I see you Thursday?”
“I

appearance: 00:08:38

don’t

appearance: 00:08:38

go

appearance: 00:08:39

anywhere

appearance: 00:08:39

except

appearance: 00:08:39

Saturdays.”
“What

appearance: 00:08:41

happens

appearance: 00:08:41

on

appearance: 00:08:41

Saturday?”
“My

appearance: 00:08:43

day

appearance: 00:08:43

off.”
“Mmm.

appearance: 00:08:46

Then I’ll

appearance: 00:08:46

see

appearance: 00:08:46

you

appearance: 00:08:46

then.

appearance: 00:08:47

Thursday,

appearance: 00:08:47

I

appearance: 00:08:47

mean.”
The

appearance: 00:08:50

fox

appearance: 00:08:51

held

appearance: 00:08:51

the

appearance: 00:08:51

door

appearance: 00:08:51

open

appearance: 00:08:51

for him

appearance: 00:08:52

again. “You

appearance: 00:08:53

know,

appearance: 00:08:53

you

appearance: 00:08:54

never

appearance: 00:08:54

called

appearance: 00:08:54

me ‘miss.’”
“Pardon?”
“You

appearance: 00:08:58

called

appearance: 00:08:59

my

appearance: 00:08:59

mother ‘ma’am’

appearance: 00:09:00

all

appearance: 00:09:00

the

appearance: 00:09:00

time,

appearance: 00:09:00

but

appearance: 00:09:00

never

appearance: 00:09:01

called

appearance: 00:09:01

me

appearance: 00:09:01

that,

appearance: 00:09:01

or

appearance: 00:09:02

called

appearance: 00:09:02

me ‘miss.’

appearance: 00:09:02

Why?”
“It

appearance: 00:09:04

didn’t

appearance: 00:09:05

seem

appearance: 00:09:05

to

appearance: 00:09:05

me

appearance: 00:09:05

as

appearance: 00:09:06

if

appearance: 00:09:06

you’d

appearance: 00:09:06

want

appearance: 00:09:06

me

appearance: 00:09:06

to.

appearance: 00:09:07

Was I

appearance: 00:09:08

wrong?”
Harper

appearance: 00:09:10

stared at

appearance: 00:09:10

him

appearance: 00:09:11

for

appearance: 00:09:11

several

appearance: 00:09:11

long

appearance: 00:09:12

seconds. “No,”

appearance: 00:09:14

they

appearance: 00:09:14

said

appearance: 00:09:15

at

appearance: 00:09:15

length.
He

appearance: 00:09:17

nodded

appearance: 00:09:17

one

appearance: 00:09:17

last

appearance: 00:09:17

time,

appearance: 00:09:18

and

appearance: 00:09:18

turned

appearance: 00:09:18

around.

appearance: 00:09:19

They

appearance: 00:09:20

kept

appearance: 00:09:20

staring

appearance: 00:09:20

at

appearance: 00:09:20

him

appearance: 00:09:20

as

appearance: 00:09:21

he

appearance: 00:09:21

walked

appearance: 00:09:21

off,

appearance: 00:09:22

but

appearance: 00:09:22

he

appearance: 00:09:22

didn’t

appearance: 00:09:22

look

appearance: 00:09:22

back.
When

appearance: 00:09:25

the

appearance: 00:09:25

tiger

appearance: 00:09:25

had

appearance: 00:09:25

stepped

appearance: 00:09:26

out

appearance: 00:09:26

of

appearance: 00:09:26

sight,

appearance: 00:09:26

Harper

appearance: 00:09:26

washed

appearance: 00:09:27

the

appearance: 00:09:27

dishes

appearance: 00:09:28

and

appearance: 00:09:28

headed

appearance: 00:09:28

back

appearance: 00:09:28

into

appearance: 00:09:28

the

appearance: 00:09:28

house.

appearance: 00:09:30

Mother

appearance: 00:09:30

had

appearance: 00:09:30

switched

appearance: 00:09:30

on

appearance: 00:09:31

the

appearance: 00:09:31

radio,

appearance: 00:09:32

listening

appearance: 00:09:32

to

appearance: 00:09:32

the

appearance: 00:09:32

news

appearance: 00:09:33

hour as

appearance: 00:09:33

she

appearance: 00:09:33

played

appearance: 00:09:33

a

appearance: 00:09:33

game

appearance: 00:09:33

of

appearance: 00:09:34

solitaire

appearance: 00:09:34

in

appearance: 00:09:34

the

appearance: 00:09:34

sitting

appearance: 00:09:35

room.

appearance: 00:09:36

At

appearance: 00:09:36

least,

appearance: 00:09:36

they

appearance: 00:09:36

assumed

appearance: 00:09:37

it

appearance: 00:09:37

was

appearance: 00:09:37

the

appearance: 00:09:37

news.

appearance: 00:09:38

It

appearance: 00:09:38

wasn’t

appearance: 00:09:38

easy

appearance: 00:09:38

to

appearance: 00:09:38

hear

appearance: 00:09:39

the

appearance: 00:09:39

announcer

appearance: 00:09:39

over

appearance: 00:09:39

the

appearance: 00:09:40

vixen

appearance: 00:09:40

responding

appearance: 00:09:40

back

appearance: 00:09:41

to

appearance: 00:09:41

every

appearance: 00:09:41

other

appearance: 00:09:41

line

appearance: 00:09:42

with her

appearance: 00:09:42

opinion,

appearance: 00:09:43

which

appearance: 00:09:43

was

appearance: 00:09:43

often

appearance: 00:09:43

nothing

appearance: 00:09:43

more

appearance: 00:09:44

than “Idiots!”

appearance: 00:09:45

repeated

appearance: 00:09:46

with

appearance: 00:09:46

varying

appearance: 00:09:46

levels

appearance: 00:09:47

of

appearance: 00:09:47

disgust.
“What were

appearance: 00:09:49

you

appearance: 00:09:49

and

appearance: 00:09:49

Orson

appearance: 00:09:50

talking

appearance: 00:09:50

about?”
Harper

appearance: 00:09:53

stopped

appearance: 00:09:53

on

appearance: 00:09:53

their

appearance: 00:09:53

way

appearance: 00:09:53

across

appearance: 00:09:54

the

appearance: 00:09:54

room. “Owen.

appearance: 00:09:56

Just

appearance: 00:09:56

small

appearance: 00:09:56

talk.”
“Do you

appearance: 00:09:58

like

appearance: 00:09:58

him?”
“So this was

appearance: 00:10:00

secretly

appearance: 00:10:01

an

appearance: 00:10:01

attempt

appearance: 00:10:01

to

appearance: 00:10:02

set

appearance: 00:10:02

me

appearance: 00:10:02

up

appearance: 00:10:02

with

appearance: 00:10:02

a

appearance: 00:10:02

date

appearance: 00:10:03

after

appearance: 00:10:03

all?”
Elsie

appearance: 00:10:05

rolled

appearance: 00:10:05

her

appearance: 00:10:05

eyes. “I’m

appearance: 00:10:06

only

appearance: 00:10:06

asking

appearance: 00:10:07

what

appearance: 00:10:07

you

appearance: 00:10:07

thought

appearance: 00:10:08

of

appearance: 00:10:08

him.

appearance: 00:10:09

I

appearance: 00:10:09

know

appearance: 00:10:09

better

appearance: 00:10:10

than

appearance: 00:10:10

to

appearance: 00:10:10

try

appearance: 00:10:10

to

appearance: 00:10:10

make

appearance: 00:10:10

you

appearance: 00:10:11

do

appearance: 00:10:11

anything

appearance: 00:10:11

you

appearance: 00:10:11

don’t

appearance: 00:10:11

want

appearance: 00:10:12

to,

appearance: 00:10:12

not

appearance: 00:10:12

since

appearance: 00:10:13

the

appearance: 00:10:13

dancing

appearance: 00:10:13

lessons.”
“I

appearance: 00:10:15

don’t

appearance: 00:10:15

remember

appearance: 00:10:15

dancing

appearance: 00:10:16

lessons.”
“That’s

appearance: 00:10:17

because

appearance: 00:10:18

you

appearance: 00:10:18

wouldn’t

appearance: 00:10:18

take

appearance: 00:10:18

them.”
Harper

appearance: 00:10:21

rubbed

appearance: 00:10:21

their

appearance: 00:10:21

temples.
“Not

appearance: 00:10:23

everything

appearance: 00:10:23

has

appearance: 00:10:24

to

appearance: 00:10:24

be

appearance: 00:10:24

a

appearance: 00:10:24

fight,

appearance: 00:10:24

Harper.”
One

appearance: 00:10:26

would

appearance: 00:10:26

think

appearance: 00:10:27

that,

appearance: 00:10:27

yes.

appearance: 00:10:29

They came

appearance: 00:10:29

close,

appearance: 00:10:30

so

appearance: 00:10:30

close,

appearance: 00:10:30

to

appearance: 00:10:31

saying

appearance: 00:10:31

it

appearance: 00:10:31

out

appearance: 00:10:31

loud,

appearance: 00:10:32

but

appearance: 00:10:32

they

appearance: 00:10:32

knew

appearance: 00:10:32

that

appearance: 00:10:33

would

appearance: 00:10:33

be

appearance: 00:10:33

churlish.

appearance: 00:10:34

Harper

appearance: 00:10:35

settled for

appearance: 00:10:35

just

appearance: 00:10:35

looking

appearance: 00:10:36

away

appearance: 00:10:36

again.
Elsie’s

appearance: 00:10:39

ears

appearance: 00:10:39

folded

appearance: 00:10:39

down,

appearance: 00:10:40

and

appearance: 00:10:40

she shook

appearance: 00:10:40

her

appearance: 00:10:40

head,

appearance: 00:10:40

turning

appearance: 00:10:41

back

appearance: 00:10:41

to

appearance: 00:10:41

her

appearance: 00:10:41

cards.

appearance: 00:10:43

Harper

appearance: 00:10:43

headed down

appearance: 00:10:44

the

appearance: 00:10:44

hall to

appearance: 00:10:44

their

appearance: 00:10:44

study.
After

appearance: 00:10:47

they’d

appearance: 00:10:47

known

appearance: 00:10:47

they’d have

appearance: 00:10:48

to

appearance: 00:10:48

leave

appearance: 00:10:48

New

appearance: 00:10:48

York

appearance: 00:10:48

City

appearance: 00:10:49

but

appearance: 00:10:49

before

appearance: 00:10:49

they’d

appearance: 00:10:49

moved

appearance: 00:10:49

back,

appearance: 00:10:50

they’d envisioned

appearance: 00:10:50

this

appearance: 00:10:51

room

appearance: 00:10:51

as

appearance: 00:10:51

their

appearance: 00:10:51

space,

appearance: 00:10:52

filled

appearance: 00:10:52

with

appearance: 00:10:53

their

appearance: 00:10:53

furniture and

appearance: 00:10:54

their

appearance: 00:10:54

books

appearance: 00:10:54

and

appearance: 00:10:54

their

appearance: 00:10:55

art.

appearance: 00:10:56

To

appearance: 00:10:56

a

appearance: 00:10:56

degree,

appearance: 00:10:57

it

appearance: 00:10:57

was,

appearance: 00:10:57

but

appearance: 00:10:58

Elsie

appearance: 00:10:58

simply

appearance: 00:10:59

owned

appearance: 00:10:59

too

appearance: 00:10:59

much.

appearance: 00:11:01

So

appearance: 00:11:01

Harper’s

appearance: 00:11:02

old

appearance: 00:11:02

desk

appearance: 00:11:02

sat

appearance: 00:11:03

catty-corner to

appearance: 00:11:03

bookshelves

appearance: 00:11:04

filled

appearance: 00:11:04

mostly

appearance: 00:11:05

with

appearance: 00:11:05

Elsie’s

appearance: 00:11:06

books.

appearance: 00:11:07

Their

appearance: 00:11:07

old

appearance: 00:11:07

sofa

appearance: 00:11:07

sat

appearance: 00:11:08

awkwardly

appearance: 00:11:08

next to

appearance: 00:11:08

one

appearance: 00:11:09

of

appearance: 00:11:09

Elsie’s

appearance: 00:11:09

antique

appearance: 00:11:10

tables

appearance: 00:11:10

with

appearance: 00:11:11

too

appearance: 00:11:11

much

appearance: 00:11:11

sentimental

appearance: 00:11:11

value

appearance: 00:11:12

to

appearance: 00:11:12

get

appearance: 00:11:12

rid

appearance: 00:11:12

of.

appearance: 00:11:13

The

appearance: 00:11:13

art

appearance: 00:11:14

on

appearance: 00:11:14

the

appearance: 00:11:14

walls

appearance: 00:11:14

was

appearance: 00:11:14

nearly

appearance: 00:11:14

all

appearance: 00:11:15

Elsie’s,

appearance: 00:11:15

garden-themed

appearance: 00:11:16

paintings

appearance: 00:11:17

and

appearance: 00:11:17

photographs

appearance: 00:11:18

and

appearance: 00:11:18

memorabilia

appearance: 00:11:18

from

appearance: 00:11:18

trips

appearance: 00:11:19

Harper

appearance: 00:11:19

hadn’t

appearance: 00:11:19

been

appearance: 00:11:20

on.

appearance: 00:11:21

Even “study”

appearance: 00:11:21

wasn’t

appearance: 00:11:22

Harper’s

appearance: 00:11:22

word.

appearance: 00:11:24

By

appearance: 00:11:24

the

appearance: 00:11:24

tenth

appearance: 00:11:24

or

appearance: 00:11:24

eleventh

appearance: 00:11:25

time

appearance: 00:11:25

their

appearance: 00:11:25

mother

appearance: 00:11:25

had

appearance: 00:11:25

complained

appearance: 00:11:26

about

appearance: 00:11:26

the

appearance: 00:11:26

word “den”

appearance: 00:11:27

being

appearance: 00:11:27

too

appearance: 00:11:27

masculine,

appearance: 00:11:28

too

appearance: 00:11:29

uncouth,

appearance: 00:11:30

they’d

appearance: 00:11:30

given

appearance: 00:11:30

in

appearance: 00:11:31

and began

appearance: 00:11:31

using “study.”

appearance: 00:11:33

It

appearance: 00:11:33

didn’t

appearance: 00:11:34

fit

appearance: 00:11:34

the

appearance: 00:11:34

room’s

appearance: 00:11:34

aesthetic—or

appearance: 00:11:35

Harper’s—but

appearance: 00:11:35

it

appearance: 00:11:36

wasn’t

appearance: 00:11:36

a

appearance: 00:11:36

hill

appearance: 00:11:36

worth

appearance: 00:11:36

dying

appearance: 00:11:37

on.
Sighing,

appearance: 00:11:40

Harper

appearance: 00:11:41

stretched

appearance: 00:11:41

out

appearance: 00:11:41

on

appearance: 00:11:41

the

appearance: 00:11:41

couch

appearance: 00:11:42

and

appearance: 00:11:42

paged

appearance: 00:11:42

through

appearance: 00:11:43

a

appearance: 00:11:43

weekly

appearance: 00:11:43

magazine

appearance: 00:11:44

without

appearance: 00:11:44

truly

appearance: 00:11:45

looking

appearance: 00:11:45

at

appearance: 00:11:45

it.

appearance: 00:11:46

Sometimes,

appearance: 00:11:46

everything

appearance: 00:11:47

snapped

appearance: 00:11:47

into

appearance: 00:11:47

focus

appearance: 00:11:48

and

appearance: 00:11:48

this

appearance: 00:11:48

became

appearance: 00:11:49

their

appearance: 00:11:49

space.

appearance: 00:11:50

Their sofa,

appearance: 00:11:51

their

appearance: 00:11:51

radio,

appearance: 00:11:52

their

appearance: 00:11:52

record

appearance: 00:11:52

player.

appearance: 00:11:53

And

appearance: 00:11:53

it

appearance: 00:11:53

wasn’t

appearance: 00:11:54

as

appearance: 00:11:54

if

appearance: 00:11:54

they

appearance: 00:11:54

had

appearance: 00:11:55

much

appearance: 00:11:55

art

appearance: 00:11:55

of

appearance: 00:11:55

their

appearance: 00:11:55

own to

appearance: 00:11:55

hang up

appearance: 00:11:56

anyway.

appearance: 00:11:57

It

appearance: 00:11:57

was

appearance: 00:11:57

no

appearance: 00:11:58

longer

appearance: 00:11:58

merely

appearance: 00:11:59

the

appearance: 00:11:59

place

appearance: 00:11:59

they’d

appearance: 00:11:59

returned

appearance: 00:12:00

to

appearance: 00:12:00

annually

appearance: 00:12:00

for

appearance: 00:12:00

Christmas,

appearance: 00:12:01

but

appearance: 00:12:01

it both

appearance: 00:12:02

was

appearance: 00:12:02

and

appearance: 00:12:02

wasn’t

appearance: 00:12:03

truly

appearance: 00:12:03

home.
And,

appearance: 00:12:06

yes,

appearance: 00:12:06

possibly

appearance: 00:12:06

they

appearance: 00:12:06

were

appearance: 00:12:07

too

appearance: 00:12:07

impatient with

appearance: 00:12:07

their

appearance: 00:12:07

mother,

appearance: 00:12:08

too

appearance: 00:12:08

quick

appearance: 00:12:09

to

appearance: 00:12:09

take

appearance: 00:12:09

things

appearance: 00:12:09

the

appearance: 00:12:10

wrong

appearance: 00:12:10

way.

appearance: 00:12:11

Possibly.

appearance: 00:12:12

But

appearance: 00:12:12

possibly

appearance: 00:12:13

it

appearance: 00:12:13

was

appearance: 00:12:13

hereditary.
So

appearance: 00:12:16

Owen

appearance: 00:12:16

was

appearance: 00:12:16

a

appearance: 00:12:16

size-shifter,

appearance: 00:12:18

living

appearance: 00:12:18

out

appearance: 00:12:18

here

appearance: 00:12:18

at

appearance: 00:12:18

the

appearance: 00:12:18

edge

appearance: 00:12:18

of

appearance: 00:12:19

Leavenworth

appearance: 00:12:19

County.

appearance: 00:12:20

Why?

appearance: 00:12:21

Did

appearance: 00:12:21

he

appearance: 00:12:21

move

appearance: 00:12:22

here?

appearance: 00:12:23

If

appearance: 00:12:23

he

appearance: 00:12:23

grew

appearance: 00:12:23

up

appearance: 00:12:23

here,

appearance: 00:12:24

why

appearance: 00:12:24

stay?

appearance: 00:12:25

Harper’s

appearance: 00:12:26

parents

appearance: 00:12:26

had

appearance: 00:12:26

bought

appearance: 00:12:26

out

appearance: 00:12:27

here

appearance: 00:12:27

when a

appearance: 00:12:27

landlord

appearance: 00:12:28

evicted

appearance: 00:12:28

them,

appearance: 00:12:28

four

appearance: 00:12:29

years

appearance: 00:12:29

after

appearance: 00:12:29

the

appearance: 00:12:29

landlord

appearance: 00:12:30

of her

appearance: 00:12:30

childhood

appearance: 00:12:30

home

appearance: 00:12:30

outside

appearance: 00:12:31

Kansas

appearance: 00:12:31

City

appearance: 00:12:32

had

appearance: 00:12:32

done

appearance: 00:12:32

the

appearance: 00:12:32

same.

appearance: 00:12:33

Elsie had

appearance: 00:12:34

declared

appearance: 00:12:34

that

appearance: 00:12:34

would

appearance: 00:12:35

never

appearance: 00:12:35

happen

appearance: 00:12:35

again,

appearance: 00:12:36

so

appearance: 00:12:36

they

appearance: 00:12:36

bought

appearance: 00:12:36

land

appearance: 00:12:37

and a

appearance: 00:12:37

house where

appearance: 00:12:37

they

appearance: 00:12:38

could

appearance: 00:12:38

afford

appearance: 00:12:38

it—here,

appearance: 00:12:39

on

appearance: 00:12:40

the

appearance: 00:12:40

outskirts

appearance: 00:12:40

of

appearance: 00:12:40

the

appearance: 00:12:40

barely-a-town

appearance: 00:12:41

of

appearance: 00:12:42

Basehor.
But

appearance: 00:12:44

being

appearance: 00:12:44

a

appearance: 00:12:44

size-shifter

appearance: 00:12:45

stuck

appearance: 00:12:45

here was—well,

appearance: 00:12:47

like

appearance: 00:12:48

being

appearance: 00:12:48

someone

appearance: 00:12:48

who’d had a

appearance: 00:12:48

taste of

appearance: 00:12:49

true

appearance: 00:12:49

cosmopolitan

appearance: 00:12:50

life

appearance: 00:12:50

stuck

appearance: 00:12:51

here.

appearance: 00:12:52

The

appearance: 00:12:52

whole

appearance: 00:12:52

state

appearance: 00:12:52

was

appearance: 00:12:53

conservative

appearance: 00:12:53

compared

appearance: 00:12:53

to

appearance: 00:12:54

New

appearance: 00:12:54

York.

appearance: 00:12:55

Surely,

appearance: 00:12:55

Owen

appearance: 00:12:56

had

appearance: 00:12:56

to

appearance: 00:12:56

travel

appearance: 00:12:56

to

appearance: 00:12:56

Kansas

appearance: 00:12:57

City

appearance: 00:12:57

to

appearance: 00:12:57

be

appearance: 00:12:57

himself.
“Or

appearance: 00:12:59

maybe

appearance: 00:13:00

you’re

appearance: 00:13:00

projecting,”

appearance: 00:13:01

they

appearance: 00:13:01

muttered

appearance: 00:13:01

out

appearance: 00:13:01

loud,

appearance: 00:13:02

setting

appearance: 00:13:03

the

appearance: 00:13:03

magazine

appearance: 00:13:03

aside.
#
On

appearance: 00:13:10

Thursday

appearance: 00:13:10

morning,

appearance: 00:13:10

Harper had

appearance: 00:13:11

just

appearance: 00:13:11

finished

appearance: 00:13:12

brewing

appearance: 00:13:12

coffee

appearance: 00:13:12

and

appearance: 00:13:12

bringing

appearance: 00:13:13

two

appearance: 00:13:13

cups

appearance: 00:13:13

out

appearance: 00:13:13

to

appearance: 00:13:13

the

appearance: 00:13:14

dining

appearance: 00:13:14

room

appearance: 00:13:14

when

appearance: 00:13:14

they

appearance: 00:13:15

heard

appearance: 00:13:15

Owen

appearance: 00:13:15

walking

appearance: 00:13:15

past.
The

appearance: 00:13:17

older

appearance: 00:13:18

vixen

appearance: 00:13:18

looked

appearance: 00:13:18

to

appearance: 00:13:18

the

appearance: 00:13:18

window

appearance: 00:13:19

in

appearance: 00:13:19

alarm. “Who

appearance: 00:13:20

is—is

appearance: 00:13:21

that

appearance: 00:13:21

Orson?

appearance: 00:13:22

Is

appearance: 00:13:22

it

appearance: 00:13:23

Orson,

appearance: 00:13:23

or

appearance: 00:13:23

Owen?”
“It’s—”
“Why

appearance: 00:13:25

is

appearance: 00:13:25

he

appearance: 00:13:25

here

appearance: 00:13:25

today?

appearance: 00:13:26

He

appearance: 00:13:26

was

appearance: 00:13:26

supposed

appearance: 00:13:26

to

appearance: 00:13:26

come

appearance: 00:13:27

on

appearance: 00:13:27

Friday.”
“Owen.

appearance: 00:13:29

No,

appearance: 00:13:29

it’s

appearance: 00:13:29

today.”
“Are

appearance: 00:13:30

you

appearance: 00:13:30

sure?”
“Yes.

appearance: 00:13:31

That’s

appearance: 00:13:32

what

appearance: 00:13:32

you

appearance: 00:13:32

agreed

appearance: 00:13:32

on

appearance: 00:13:33

with

appearance: 00:13:33

him,

appearance: 00:13:33

remember?”
Her

appearance: 00:13:34

mother’s

appearance: 00:13:35

ears

appearance: 00:13:35

folded

appearance: 00:13:36

down, and

appearance: 00:13:36

she

appearance: 00:13:36

looked

appearance: 00:13:37

away,

appearance: 00:13:37

plaintively

appearance: 00:13:38

pouting. “Don’t

appearance: 00:13:39

talk to

appearance: 00:13:39

me

appearance: 00:13:39

like

appearance: 00:13:39

you think I’m

appearance: 00:13:40

losing

appearance: 00:13:40

my

appearance: 00:13:40

mind.

appearance: 00:13:41

I

appearance: 00:13:41

can

appearance: 00:13:41

hear

appearance: 00:13:41

it in

appearance: 00:13:42

your

appearance: 00:13:42

tone.”
“I

appearance: 00:13:43

didn’t

appearance: 00:13:44

say—”
“I

appearance: 00:13:45

should

appearance: 00:13:45

make

appearance: 00:13:45

sure

appearance: 00:13:45

he

appearance: 00:13:46

knows

appearance: 00:13:46

what

appearance: 00:13:46

tree

appearance: 00:13:46

to

appearance: 00:13:47

work

appearance: 00:13:47

on.”

appearance: 00:13:48

She

appearance: 00:13:48

hurried

appearance: 00:13:48

toward

appearance: 00:13:48

the

appearance: 00:13:48

side

appearance: 00:13:49

door,

appearance: 00:13:49

coffee

appearance: 00:13:49

forgotten.
Harper

appearance: 00:13:52

sighed. “He

appearance: 00:13:53

knows,”

appearance: 00:13:54

they

appearance: 00:13:54

said, following Elsie

appearance: 00:13:56

with

appearance: 00:13:56

their cup in hand.
Owen wore

appearance: 00:13:59

only

appearance: 00:14:00

canvas

appearance: 00:14:00

work

appearance: 00:14:00

shorts,

appearance: 00:14:01

carrying a

appearance: 00:14:02

toolbox

appearance: 00:14:02

with

appearance: 00:14:02

him.

appearance: 00:14:03

Harper had

appearance: 00:14:04

dressed

appearance: 00:14:04

more

appearance: 00:14:04

casually

appearance: 00:14:05

today, a

appearance: 00:14:05

denim

appearance: 00:14:06

skirt

appearance: 00:14:06

daringly

appearance: 00:14:07

cut to

appearance: 00:14:07

show

appearance: 00:14:07

their

appearance: 00:14:07

legs to

appearance: 00:14:08

the knees,

appearance: 00:14:09

coupled with a man’s

appearance: 00:14:10

short-sleeved

appearance: 00:14:10

flannel

appearance: 00:14:11

shirt. (Her

appearance: 00:14:12

mother

appearance: 00:14:13

had

appearance: 00:14:13

accused

appearance: 00:14:14

Harper

appearance: 00:14:14

of

appearance: 00:14:14

doing

appearance: 00:14:14

that

appearance: 00:14:14

to

appearance: 00:14:15

keep

appearance: 00:14:15

the

appearance: 00:14:15

ensemble

appearance: 00:14:15

from

appearance: 00:14:16

looking

appearance: 00:14:16

too

appearance: 00:14:16

femme.

appearance: 00:14:17

She

appearance: 00:14:17

was

appearance: 00:14:17

right.) “Good

appearance: 00:14:19

morning,

appearance: 00:14:19

Mrs.

appearance: 00:14:20

Summerfield.

appearance: 00:14:21

Harper.”
“Good

appearance: 00:14:23

morning,

appearance: 00:14:24

Owen.”

appearance: 00:14:25

The

appearance: 00:14:25

older

appearance: 00:14:25

vixen

appearance: 00:14:26

looked

appearance: 00:14:26

disapproving

appearance: 00:14:27

of

appearance: 00:14:27

his

appearance: 00:14:27

relative

appearance: 00:14:27

state

appearance: 00:14:28

of

appearance: 00:14:28

undress,

appearance: 00:14:29

but

appearance: 00:14:29

said

appearance: 00:14:29

nothing

appearance: 00:14:29

about

appearance: 00:14:30

it. She

appearance: 00:14:31

headed

appearance: 00:14:32

toward

appearance: 00:14:32

the

appearance: 00:14:32

tree,

appearance: 00:14:32

ahead

appearance: 00:14:33

of

appearance: 00:14:33

Harper,

appearance: 00:14:33

starting

appearance: 00:14:34

to

appearance: 00:14:34

repeat

appearance: 00:14:34

a

appearance: 00:14:34

variant

appearance: 00:14:35

of

appearance: 00:14:35

the

appearance: 00:14:35

We

appearance: 00:14:35

Bought

appearance: 00:14:36

The

appearance: 00:14:36

Property

appearance: 00:14:36

For

appearance: 00:14:36

The

appearance: 00:14:36

Trees

appearance: 00:14:37

story.
All right,

appearance: 00:14:40

he

appearance: 00:14:40

absolutely

appearance: 00:14:40

was

appearance: 00:14:40

handsome,

appearance: 00:14:41

wasn’t

appearance: 00:14:41

he?

appearance: 00:14:42

As

appearance: 00:14:43

disinterested

appearance: 00:14:43

in

appearance: 00:14:44

sex

appearance: 00:14:44

and

appearance: 00:14:45

romance

appearance: 00:14:45

as

appearance: 00:14:45

Harper tended

appearance: 00:14:46

to

appearance: 00:14:46

be,

appearance: 00:14:46

they

appearance: 00:14:46

weren’t

appearance: 00:14:47

insensate.
As Mother

appearance: 00:14:50

finished

appearance: 00:14:51

the

appearance: 00:14:51

story,

appearance: 00:14:51

she

appearance: 00:14:51

pointed,

appearance: 00:14:52

unnecessarily. “It’s

appearance: 00:14:54

this

appearance: 00:14:54

one.”
He

appearance: 00:14:56

nodded,

appearance: 00:14:56

without

appearance: 00:14:56

giving

appearance: 00:14:57

any

appearance: 00:14:57

sign

appearance: 00:14:57

that

appearance: 00:14:57

he’d

appearance: 00:14:57

heard

appearance: 00:14:57

the

appearance: 00:14:58

story

appearance: 00:14:58

before

appearance: 00:14:59

or

appearance: 00:14:59

already

appearance: 00:14:59

knew

appearance: 00:14:59

which

appearance: 00:15:00

tree

appearance: 00:15:00

to

appearance: 00:15:00

work

appearance: 00:15:00

on. “Got

appearance: 00:15:02

it,

appearance: 00:15:02

ma’am.

appearance: 00:15:02

It

appearance: 00:15:02

should

appearance: 00:15:03

be

appearance: 00:15:03

about

appearance: 00:15:03

an

appearance: 00:15:03

hour.”
“All right.”

appearance: 00:15:06

Her

appearance: 00:15:06

tail

appearance: 00:15:07

swished. “I

appearance: 00:15:08

don’t

appearance: 00:15:08

think

appearance: 00:15:08

I

appearance: 00:15:09

can

appearance: 00:15:09

watch.”

appearance: 00:15:10

She

appearance: 00:15:10

looked

appearance: 00:15:11

toward

appearance: 00:15:11

Harper.
“I

appearance: 00:15:12

will,”

appearance: 00:15:13

the

appearance: 00:15:13

younger

appearance: 00:15:13

fox

appearance: 00:15:14

said.
It was

appearance: 00:15:16

Elsie’s

appearance: 00:15:16

turn to furrow

appearance: 00:15:17

her

appearance: 00:15:17

brow. “Well.

appearance: 00:15:19

If

appearance: 00:15:19

Or—Owen

appearance: 00:15:21

wants

appearance: 00:15:21

anything,

appearance: 00:15:22

please

appearance: 00:15:22

get

appearance: 00:15:22

it

appearance: 00:15:22

for

appearance: 00:15:22

him.”

appearance: 00:15:23

She

appearance: 00:15:24

headed

appearance: 00:15:24

back

appearance: 00:15:24

inside.
Owen

appearance: 00:15:27

looked

appearance: 00:15:27

at

appearance: 00:15:27

Harper. “Have

appearance: 00:15:29

you

appearance: 00:15:30

ever

appearance: 00:15:30

seen

appearance: 00:15:30

someone

appearance: 00:15:30

at a

appearance: 00:15:31

giant

appearance: 00:15:31

size

appearance: 00:15:32

before?”
“Yes,

appearance: 00:15:34

I

appearance: 00:15:34

saw

appearance: 00:15:34

it

appearance: 00:15:34

in

appearance: 00:15:34

the

appearance: 00:15:34

City,

appearance: 00:15:35

fairly

appearance: 00:15:36

often.”

appearance: 00:15:37

What did he

appearance: 00:15:37

think the

appearance: 00:15:37

fox

appearance: 00:15:38

was,

appearance: 00:15:38

an

appearance: 00:15:38

utter

appearance: 00:15:39

bumpkin?

appearance: 00:15:40

He

appearance: 00:15:40

might

appearance: 00:15:40

be

appearance: 00:15:40

the

appearance: 00:15:40

sole

appearance: 00:15:41

shifter

appearance: 00:15:41

in

appearance: 00:15:41

this

appearance: 00:15:41

backwater,

appearance: 00:15:42

but

appearance: 00:15:42

any

appearance: 00:15:42

city

appearance: 00:15:42

had

appearance: 00:15:43

dozens,

appearance: 00:15:43

if

appearance: 00:15:43

not

appearance: 00:15:43

hundreds. “No

appearance: 00:15:45

one

appearance: 00:15:45

as tall as

appearance: 00:15:46

that

appearance: 00:15:46

tree,

appearance: 00:15:46

though,

appearance: 00:15:47

except

appearance: 00:15:47

in

appearance: 00:15:47

photographs,”

appearance: 00:15:48

they

appearance: 00:15:49

admitted

appearance: 00:15:49

after

appearance: 00:15:49

another

appearance: 00:15:49

moment.
“Fairly

appearance: 00:15:51

often?”

appearance: 00:15:53

He

appearance: 00:15:53

grinned. “Most size-shifters

appearance: 00:15:55

can’t

appearance: 00:15:55

change

appearance: 00:15:55

their

appearance: 00:15:55

clothes

appearance: 00:15:56

with

appearance: 00:15:56

them, so

appearance: 00:15:57

that

appearance: 00:15:57

makes

appearance: 00:15:57

me

appearance: 00:15:57

wonder

appearance: 00:15:57

if

appearance: 00:15:58

New

appearance: 00:15:58

York

appearance: 00:15:58

City

appearance: 00:15:58

is

appearance: 00:15:58

even

appearance: 00:15:59

more

appearance: 00:15:59

libertine

appearance: 00:16:00

than

appearance: 00:16:00

folks

appearance: 00:16:00

say.”
Oh,

appearance: 00:16:02

please. “Less

appearance: 00:16:03

than

appearance: 00:16:04

what

appearance: 00:16:04

folks

appearance: 00:16:04

here

appearance: 00:16:04

say, at

appearance: 00:16:05

the

appearance: 00:16:05

least.

appearance: 00:16:06

Any

appearance: 00:16:07

giant

appearance: 00:16:07

in

appearance: 00:16:07

public

appearance: 00:16:07

I

appearance: 00:16:08

saw

appearance: 00:16:08

was

appearance: 00:16:08

clothed, so

appearance: 00:16:09

either

appearance: 00:16:09

they were

appearance: 00:16:09

one of the

appearance: 00:16:10

lucky

appearance: 00:16:10

few

appearance: 00:16:11

or they

appearance: 00:16:11

changed

appearance: 00:16:11

into

appearance: 00:16:12

an

appearance: 00:16:12

appropriately

appearance: 00:16:12

scaled

appearance: 00:16:13

outfit

appearance: 00:16:13

before

appearance: 00:16:14

I

appearance: 00:16:14

saw

appearance: 00:16:14

them.”
Owen

appearance: 00:16:16

circled

appearance: 00:16:17

the

appearance: 00:16:17

tree

appearance: 00:16:17

again,

appearance: 00:16:18

studying

appearance: 00:16:18

it. “And

appearance: 00:16:19

in

appearance: 00:16:20

private?”
“I

appearance: 00:16:22

took

appearance: 00:16:22

an

appearance: 00:16:22

art

appearance: 00:16:22

class

appearance: 00:16:23

with

appearance: 00:16:23

nude

appearance: 00:16:23

subjects,

appearance: 00:16:24

one

appearance: 00:16:25

of

appearance: 00:16:25

whom

appearance: 00:16:25

was

appearance: 00:16:25

a

appearance: 00:16:25

giantess.

appearance: 00:16:27

And

appearance: 00:16:27

I’ve

appearance: 00:16:28

been

appearance: 00:16:28

to

appearance: 00:16:28

a

appearance: 00:16:28

few…rather

appearance: 00:16:29

bacchanalian

appearance: 00:16:31

parties.”
He

appearance: 00:16:33

looked

appearance: 00:16:33

back

appearance: 00:16:33

at them at

appearance: 00:16:34

that. “Huh.”
Harper

appearance: 00:16:37

tilted

appearance: 00:16:38

their

appearance: 00:16:38

head

appearance: 00:16:38

in

appearance: 00:16:38

return,

appearance: 00:16:38

eyes

appearance: 00:16:39

narrowing.
“Interesting

appearance: 00:16:41

to

appearance: 00:16:41

learn

appearance: 00:16:42

about

appearance: 00:16:42

people.”

appearance: 00:16:43

He

appearance: 00:16:43

stepped

appearance: 00:16:43

back

appearance: 00:16:44

from

appearance: 00:16:44

the

appearance: 00:16:44

tree. “You

appearance: 00:16:46

might

appearance: 00:16:46

want

appearance: 00:16:46

to

appearance: 00:16:46

steady

appearance: 00:16:46

yourself.

appearance: 00:16:47

There’s

appearance: 00:16:47

going

appearance: 00:16:48

to

appearance: 00:16:48

be

appearance: 00:16:48

a

appearance: 00:16:48

blast

appearance: 00:16:48

of

appearance: 00:16:48

wind

appearance: 00:16:49

when

appearance: 00:16:49

I

appearance: 00:16:49

change.”
“All

appearance: 00:16:51

right.”

appearance: 00:16:52

Harper

appearance: 00:16:52

shifted

appearance: 00:16:52

their

appearance: 00:16:53

stance. “Ready.”
All

appearance: 00:16:56

at

appearance: 00:16:56

once,

appearance: 00:16:56

Owen

appearance: 00:16:57

became

appearance: 00:16:57

huge.
The tiger

appearance: 00:16:59

hadn’t

appearance: 00:17:00

undersold

appearance: 00:17:00

the

appearance: 00:17:00

wind.

appearance: 00:17:01

Harper

appearance: 00:17:01

staggered

appearance: 00:17:02

back,

appearance: 00:17:02

nearly

appearance: 00:17:02

losing

appearance: 00:17:03

their

appearance: 00:17:03

balance.

appearance: 00:17:04

When

appearance: 00:17:04

they

appearance: 00:17:04

recovered,

appearance: 00:17:05

they

appearance: 00:17:05

couldn’t

appearance: 00:17:05

stop

appearance: 00:17:05

themself

appearance: 00:17:06

from

appearance: 00:17:06

gaping up,

appearance: 00:17:06

muzzle

appearance: 00:17:06

open.

appearance: 00:17:07

Owen stood at least as tall as the tree. His knee

appearance: 00:17:10

stood

appearance: 00:17:10

more

appearance: 00:17:11

than

appearance: 00:17:11

twice

appearance: 00:17:11

the

appearance: 00:17:11

height

appearance: 00:17:11

of

appearance: 00:17:11

the

appearance: 00:17:12

fox’s

appearance: 00:17:12

ear

appearance: 00:17:12

tips;

appearance: 00:17:13

they

appearance: 00:17:13

had to tilt

appearance: 00:17:13

their

appearance: 00:17:13

head

appearance: 00:17:14

back,

appearance: 00:17:14

far,

appearance: 00:17:15

to

appearance: 00:17:15

meet

appearance: 00:17:15

his

appearance: 00:17:15

leaf-green

appearance: 00:17:15

eyes.

appearance: 00:17:16

He

appearance: 00:17:17

looked

appearance: 00:17:17

akin

appearance: 00:17:17

to

appearance: 00:17:17

an

appearance: 00:17:17

ancient

appearance: 00:17:18

god

appearance: 00:17:18

returned

appearance: 00:17:19

to

appearance: 00:17:19

the

appearance: 00:17:19

mortal

appearance: 00:17:19

world.
At

appearance: 00:17:21

least,

appearance: 00:17:21

until

appearance: 00:17:21

he

appearance: 00:17:21

spoke,

appearance: 00:17:22

as

appearance: 00:17:22

casually

appearance: 00:17:23

as

appearance: 00:17:23

before

appearance: 00:17:23

despite

appearance: 00:17:24

the

appearance: 00:17:24

new,

appearance: 00:17:24

deep

appearance: 00:17:24

bass

appearance: 00:17:25

undertone

appearance: 00:17:25

rumbling

appearance: 00:17:25

through

appearance: 00:17:26

the

appearance: 00:17:26

ground. “You all

appearance: 00:17:28

right?”
“Guh. I’m.

appearance: 00:17:32

Fine.

appearance: 00:17:32

Yes.

appearance: 00:17:32

I’m

appearance: 00:17:33

fine.”
He

appearance: 00:17:34

smiled,

appearance: 00:17:34

which

appearance: 00:17:35

made

appearance: 00:17:35

Harper’s

appearance: 00:17:35

ears

appearance: 00:17:36

burn.

appearance: 00:17:37

Was

appearance: 00:17:37

this

appearance: 00:17:37

sudden

appearance: 00:17:38

rush

appearance: 00:17:38

what

appearance: 00:17:38

other

appearance: 00:17:39

people (as

appearance: 00:17:40

in “why

appearance: 00:17:40

can’t

appearance: 00:17:41

you

appearance: 00:17:41

be

appearance: 00:17:41

more

appearance: 00:17:41

like

appearance: 00:17:41

other

appearance: 00:17:42

people”)

appearance: 00:17:42

called

appearance: 00:17:43

attraction?

appearance: 00:17:44

It

appearance: 00:17:44

wasn’t

appearance: 00:17:45

as

appearance: 00:17:45

if

appearance: 00:17:45

Harper

appearance: 00:17:45

couldn’t

appearance: 00:17:46

tell

appearance: 00:17:46

when

appearance: 00:17:46

someone

appearance: 00:17:46

was

appearance: 00:17:46

attractive,

appearance: 00:17:47

but

appearance: 00:17:47

this

appearance: 00:17:47

was

appearance: 00:17:47

qualitatively

appearance: 00:17:48

different.

appearance: 00:17:49

This

appearance: 00:17:50

was

appearance: 00:17:50

a

appearance: 00:17:50

sensation

appearance: 00:17:50

they

appearance: 00:17:50

would

appearance: 00:17:50

have

appearance: 00:17:51

to

appearance: 00:17:51

sit

appearance: 00:17:51

with

appearance: 00:17:51

later

appearance: 00:17:51

and

appearance: 00:17:51

think

appearance: 00:17:52

deeply

appearance: 00:17:52

on.
“Good.”

appearance: 00:17:56

The tiger

appearance: 00:17:56

crouched,

appearance: 00:17:57

setting

appearance: 00:17:57

the now

appearance: 00:17:57

truck-sized

appearance: 00:17:58

toolbox

appearance: 00:17:59

down. “Are

appearance: 00:18:00

you

appearance: 00:18:00

afraid

appearance: 00:18:00

of

appearance: 00:18:00

heights?”
“I

appearance: 00:18:03

don’t

appearance: 00:18:03

think

appearance: 00:18:03

so.

appearance: 00:18:04

Why?”
“I

appearance: 00:18:05

can

appearance: 00:18:05

offer

appearance: 00:18:06

you

appearance: 00:18:06

a

appearance: 00:18:06

shoulder

appearance: 00:18:06

perch.”
“That

appearance: 00:18:09

sounds

appearance: 00:18:10

daring.”
“It’s safe.

appearance: 00:18:13

I

appearance: 00:18:13

have

appearance: 00:18:13

wide

appearance: 00:18:13

shoulders.”
Quite,

appearance: 00:18:16

even

appearance: 00:18:16

in

appearance: 00:18:16

scale.

appearance: 00:18:18

Harper

appearance: 00:18:18

let

appearance: 00:18:19

another

appearance: 00:18:19

moment

appearance: 00:18:19

of

appearance: 00:18:19

deliberation

appearance: 00:18:20

pass

appearance: 00:18:20

before

appearance: 00:18:20

nodding. “I’d

appearance: 00:18:22

like

appearance: 00:18:22

that.”
Owen held out

appearance: 00:18:24

a

appearance: 00:18:24

hand,

appearance: 00:18:25

flat,

appearance: 00:18:25

palm

appearance: 00:18:26

pad

appearance: 00:18:26

up.
Harper

appearance: 00:18:27

stared

appearance: 00:18:28

for

appearance: 00:18:28

a

appearance: 00:18:28

moment.

appearance: 00:18:29

Well,

appearance: 00:18:29

how did

appearance: 00:18:30

they

appearance: 00:18:30

think

appearance: 00:18:30

they

appearance: 00:18:30

were

appearance: 00:18:30

going

appearance: 00:18:30

to

appearance: 00:18:30

get

appearance: 00:18:30

up

appearance: 00:18:31

to

appearance: 00:18:31

the

appearance: 00:18:31

giant’s shoulder?

appearance: 00:18:33

They

appearance: 00:18:33

took

appearance: 00:18:33

off

appearance: 00:18:33

their

appearance: 00:18:34

sandals—it

appearance: 00:18:35

must

appearance: 00:18:35

be

appearance: 00:18:35

impolite

appearance: 00:18:36

to

appearance: 00:18:36

walk

appearance: 00:18:36

on

appearance: 00:18:36

someone in

appearance: 00:18:36

shoes—and

appearance: 00:18:37

slid,

appearance: 00:18:38

as

appearance: 00:18:38

gracefully

appearance: 00:18:39

as

appearance: 00:18:39

they

appearance: 00:18:39

could

appearance: 00:18:39

manage,

appearance: 00:18:39

onto

appearance: 00:18:40

the

appearance: 00:18:40

broad

appearance: 00:18:40

pad.

appearance: 00:18:41

It was

appearance: 00:18:42

like

appearance: 00:18:42

sitting

appearance: 00:18:42

on a pink velvet divan.
Once they settled,

appearance: 00:18:46

Owen

appearance: 00:18:46

lifted

appearance: 00:18:46

the

appearance: 00:18:46

hand

appearance: 00:18:47

up

appearance: 00:18:47

to

appearance: 00:18:47

his

appearance: 00:18:47

opposite

appearance: 00:18:47

shoulder.

appearance: 00:18:48

He

appearance: 00:18:48

couldn’t

appearance: 00:18:49

keep

appearance: 00:18:49

his

appearance: 00:18:49

palm

appearance: 00:18:49

perfectly

appearance: 00:18:50

level,

appearance: 00:18:50

so

appearance: 00:18:51

Harper

appearance: 00:18:51

tilted

appearance: 00:18:51

back

appearance: 00:18:52

against

appearance: 00:18:52

the

appearance: 00:18:52

shoulder

appearance: 00:18:52

until

appearance: 00:18:53

they

appearance: 00:18:53

climbed

appearance: 00:18:53

up

appearance: 00:18:53

on

appearance: 00:18:53

it.
“Feeling

appearance: 00:18:55

stable?”

appearance: 00:18:57

the tiger

appearance: 00:18:57

rumbled.
Not

appearance: 00:18:59

for

appearance: 00:18:59

years,

appearance: 00:18:59

ha ha. “Yes.”
He

appearance: 00:19:02

took

appearance: 00:19:02

what

appearance: 00:19:02

had

appearance: 00:19:03

been

appearance: 00:19:03

a

appearance: 00:19:03

small

appearance: 00:19:03

bow

appearance: 00:19:03

saw

appearance: 00:19:04

out

appearance: 00:19:04

of

appearance: 00:19:04

the

appearance: 00:19:04

toolbox

appearance: 00:19:05

and

appearance: 00:19:05

slowly

appearance: 00:19:05

stood

appearance: 00:19:05

up.

appearance: 00:19:06

The

appearance: 00:19:06

changing

appearance: 00:19:07

view

appearance: 00:19:07

made

appearance: 00:19:07

Harper

appearance: 00:19:07

think

appearance: 00:19:08

of a

appearance: 00:19:08

ferris

appearance: 00:19:08

wheel.

appearance: 00:19:09

When was

appearance: 00:19:09

the

appearance: 00:19:10

last

appearance: 00:19:10

time

appearance: 00:19:10

they’d

appearance: 00:19:10

been

appearance: 00:19:10

on

appearance: 00:19:10

one?

appearance: 00:19:12

When

appearance: 00:19:12

they

appearance: 00:19:12

were

appearance: 00:19:12

eight,

appearance: 00:19:12

possibly,

appearance: 00:19:13

at

appearance: 00:19:13

the

appearance: 00:19:13

State

appearance: 00:19:14

Fair,

appearance: 00:19:14

wearing

appearance: 00:19:15

a

appearance: 00:19:15

painfully

appearance: 00:19:15

frilly

appearance: 00:19:16

dress

appearance: 00:19:16

too

appearance: 00:19:16

hot

appearance: 00:19:16

for a

appearance: 00:19:17

Kansas

appearance: 00:19:17

summer.

appearance: 00:19:18

It had been

appearance: 00:19:19

impossibly

appearance: 00:19:19

high

appearance: 00:19:19

to

appearance: 00:19:20

a

appearance: 00:19:20

young

appearance: 00:19:20

kit,

appearance: 00:19:20

but

appearance: 00:19:21

the

appearance: 00:19:21

tree-sized

appearance: 00:19:21

tiger

appearance: 00:19:22

might

appearance: 00:19:22

well

appearance: 00:19:22

have

appearance: 00:19:22

stood

appearance: 00:19:23

taller.
“What

appearance: 00:19:26

do

appearance: 00:19:26

you

appearance: 00:19:26

think?”
“I

appearance: 00:19:28

think

appearance: 00:19:28

I

appearance: 00:19:28

regret

appearance: 00:19:29

I’m

appearance: 00:19:29

not

appearance: 00:19:29

a

appearance: 00:19:29

size-shifter

appearance: 00:19:30

myself.”
“I

appearance: 00:19:32

can

appearance: 00:19:32

show

appearance: 00:19:32

you

appearance: 00:19:32

what

appearance: 00:19:33

it’s

appearance: 00:19:33

like

appearance: 00:19:33

sometime.

appearance: 00:19:34

If

appearance: 00:19:34

you

appearance: 00:19:34

want.”

appearance: 00:19:36

Owen’s

appearance: 00:19:36

eyes

appearance: 00:19:37

were on

appearance: 00:19:37

the

appearance: 00:19:37

tree

appearance: 00:19:37

now,

appearance: 00:19:38

studying

appearance: 00:19:38

it.

appearance: 00:19:39

He

appearance: 00:19:39

grabbed

appearance: 00:19:40

one

appearance: 00:19:40

of

appearance: 00:19:40

the

appearance: 00:19:40

top-most limbs, right

appearance: 00:19:41

about

appearance: 00:19:41

at his eye

appearance: 00:19:42

level,

appearance: 00:19:42

and

appearance: 00:19:42

set

appearance: 00:19:43

the

appearance: 00:19:43

bow

appearance: 00:19:43

saw

appearance: 00:19:43

against

appearance: 00:19:43

it.
“More

appearance: 00:19:45

than

appearance: 00:19:45

you

appearance: 00:19:45

already

appearance: 00:19:46

are?”
“I mean

appearance: 00:19:48

I

appearance: 00:19:48

can

appearance: 00:19:48

change

appearance: 00:19:48

your

appearance: 00:19:49

size,

appearance: 00:19:49

too.”
The fox’s

appearance: 00:19:51

eyes

appearance: 00:19:52

widened. “Oh.”
Owen

appearance: 00:19:57

kept

appearance: 00:19:58

sawing,

appearance: 00:19:58

cutting

appearance: 00:19:58

through the

appearance: 00:19:59

limb

appearance: 00:19:59

completely,

appearance: 00:20:00

turning, and

appearance: 00:20:00

lowering

appearance: 00:20:01

it

appearance: 00:20:01

down

appearance: 00:20:01

to

appearance: 00:20:01

his

appearance: 00:20:01

hip

appearance: 00:20:02

height

appearance: 00:20:02

before

appearance: 00:20:02

dropping

appearance: 00:20:02

it

appearance: 00:20:03

onto

appearance: 00:20:03

an empty

appearance: 00:20:03

section

appearance: 00:20:04

of the lawn.
“Can you

appearance: 00:20:06

shrink

appearance: 00:20:06

what you’re

appearance: 00:20:07

cutting

appearance: 00:20:07

off

appearance: 00:20:07

down

appearance: 00:20:08

with

appearance: 00:20:08

you?”
“Yes,

appearance: 00:20:10

but

appearance: 00:20:11

until

appearance: 00:20:11

it’s

appearance: 00:20:11

dead,

appearance: 00:20:12

it’ll

appearance: 00:20:12

return

appearance: 00:20:12

to

appearance: 00:20:12

normal

appearance: 00:20:13

after

appearance: 00:20:13

maybe

appearance: 00:20:14

half

appearance: 00:20:14

a

appearance: 00:20:14

day

appearance: 00:20:15

unless I’m

appearance: 00:20:15

babysitting it.”

appearance: 00:20:17

He

appearance: 00:20:18

moved

appearance: 00:20:18

the

appearance: 00:20:18

saw,

appearance: 00:20:18

beginning

appearance: 00:20:19

to

appearance: 00:20:19

cut

appearance: 00:20:19

the

appearance: 00:20:19

next

appearance: 00:20:19

limb.
“That’s

appearance: 00:20:21

odd.”
“Lots

appearance: 00:20:23

of

appearance: 00:20:23

things

appearance: 00:20:23

about

appearance: 00:20:23

changing

appearance: 00:20:24

size

appearance: 00:20:24

are.”
“I

appearance: 00:20:26

suppose

appearance: 00:20:26

so.

appearance: 00:20:27

Starting

appearance: 00:20:28

with

appearance: 00:20:28

changing

appearance: 00:20:28

size.”
He

appearance: 00:20:30

nodded,

appearance: 00:20:30

grinning a

appearance: 00:20:31

moment.

appearance: 00:20:32

Those

appearance: 00:20:33

were

appearance: 00:20:33

tail-curling

appearance: 00:20:34

chompers

appearance: 00:20:34

at

appearance: 00:20:34

this

appearance: 00:20:34

scale.
Harper

appearance: 00:20:37

watched

appearance: 00:20:37

him work

appearance: 00:20:37

on

appearance: 00:20:38

the

appearance: 00:20:38

next

appearance: 00:20:38

limb in

appearance: 00:20:38

silence,

appearance: 00:20:39

until

appearance: 00:20:39

they

appearance: 00:20:39

couldn’t

appearance: 00:20:39

contain

appearance: 00:20:40

the

appearance: 00:20:40

question

appearance: 00:20:41

that had

appearance: 00:20:41

come

appearance: 00:20:41

to

appearance: 00:20:41

mind

appearance: 00:20:41

earlier—one

appearance: 00:20:42

they

appearance: 00:20:43

probably

appearance: 00:20:43

should

appearance: 00:20:43

have

appearance: 00:20:43

asked

appearance: 00:20:44

in

appearance: 00:20:44

the

appearance: 00:20:44

first

appearance: 00:20:44

small-talk

appearance: 00:20:45

conversation

appearance: 00:20:46

when

appearance: 00:20:46

Owen had

appearance: 00:20:47

asked

appearance: 00:20:47

about

appearance: 00:20:47

their

appearance: 00:20:47

background. “Why

appearance: 00:20:50

are

appearance: 00:20:50

you

appearance: 00:20:50

here?”
Owen

appearance: 00:20:53

dropped

appearance: 00:20:53

the

appearance: 00:20:53

next

appearance: 00:20:53

limb

appearance: 00:20:53

on

appearance: 00:20:53

the

appearance: 00:20:54

ground. “I’m

appearance: 00:20:55

tempted

appearance: 00:20:56

to

appearance: 00:20:56

say ‘to

appearance: 00:20:57

cut

appearance: 00:20:57

down

appearance: 00:20:57

this

appearance: 00:20:57

tree.’ Do

appearance: 00:20:59

you

appearance: 00:20:59

mean

appearance: 00:20:59

in

appearance: 00:21:00

Basehor?

appearance: 00:21:00

Kansas?”
“Yes,

appearance: 00:21:03

to

appearance: 00:21:03

both.”
“I

appearance: 00:21:07

live

appearance: 00:21:07

a few miles west of here. Kind of at

appearance: 00:21:09

the

appearance: 00:21:10

halfway

appearance: 00:21:10

point

appearance: 00:21:11

between

appearance: 00:21:11

Lawrence and

appearance: 00:21:11

Kansas

appearance: 00:21:12

City.

appearance: 00:21:13

It’s

appearance: 00:21:13

cheap

appearance: 00:21:13

and

appearance: 00:21:14

it’s

appearance: 00:21:14

quiet

appearance: 00:21:14

and

appearance: 00:21:14

it’s

appearance: 00:21:14

still

appearance: 00:21:15

close

appearance: 00:21:15

enough

appearance: 00:21:15

to

appearance: 00:21:15

big

appearance: 00:21:16

cities to

appearance: 00:21:16

get

appearance: 00:21:16

there when I want to.”
“Lawrence is not a

appearance: 00:21:20

big

appearance: 00:21:20

city.

appearance: 00:21:21

Kansas

appearance: 00:21:21

City

appearance: 00:21:22

isn’t,

appearance: 00:21:22

either.”
“It

appearance: 00:21:24

might

appearance: 00:21:24

not

appearance: 00:21:24

be

appearance: 00:21:24

New

appearance: 00:21:25

York

appearance: 00:21:25

City

appearance: 00:21:25

big,

appearance: 00:21:26

but

appearance: 00:21:26

it

appearance: 00:21:26

has

appearance: 00:21:26

one

appearance: 00:21:26

of

appearance: 00:21:27

the

appearance: 00:21:27

best

appearance: 00:21:27

jazz

appearance: 00:21:27

scenes

appearance: 00:21:28

in

appearance: 00:21:28

the

appearance: 00:21:28

country.

appearance: 00:21:29

And

appearance: 00:21:29

Lawrence,

appearance: 00:21:30

it’s

appearance: 00:21:30

eclectic.”
“I

appearance: 00:21:33

haven’t

appearance: 00:21:33

been

appearance: 00:21:34

there

appearance: 00:21:34

often,”

appearance: 00:21:34

they

appearance: 00:21:35

admitted. “Kansas

appearance: 00:21:37

City

appearance: 00:21:37

is…it’s

appearance: 00:21:38

fine.”
“What

appearance: 00:21:40

are

appearance: 00:21:40

you

appearance: 00:21:41

looking

appearance: 00:21:41

for?”
“I

appearance: 00:21:42

don’t

appearance: 00:21:42

know.

appearance: 00:21:42

What

appearance: 00:21:43

are

appearance: 00:21:43

you

appearance: 00:21:43

looking

appearance: 00:21:43

for?”
“Somewhere

appearance: 00:21:45

that

appearance: 00:21:45

feels

appearance: 00:21:45

like

appearance: 00:21:45

home.”
Harper

appearance: 00:21:48

fell

appearance: 00:21:48

silent a

appearance: 00:21:49

few

appearance: 00:21:49

seconds. “I’m

appearance: 00:21:51

not

appearance: 00:21:51

sure

appearance: 00:21:51

if

appearance: 00:21:51

I

appearance: 00:21:51

know

appearance: 00:21:52

what

appearance: 00:21:52

makes

appearance: 00:21:52

a

appearance: 00:21:52

place

appearance: 00:21:52

feel

appearance: 00:21:53

like

appearance: 00:21:53

home.”
He

appearance: 00:21:55

took off another limb. “So that’s

appearance: 00:21:57

not

appearance: 00:21:58

this

appearance: 00:21:58

house,

appearance: 00:21:58

even

appearance: 00:21:59

though

appearance: 00:21:59

your

appearance: 00:21:59

mom

appearance: 00:21:59

lives

appearance: 00:22:00

here.”
“It

appearance: 00:22:01

is and

appearance: 00:22:02

it

appearance: 00:22:02

isn’t.

appearance: 00:22:03

I

appearance: 00:22:03

didn’t

appearance: 00:22:03

grow

appearance: 00:22:04

up

appearance: 00:22:04

here,

appearance: 00:22:05

and

appearance: 00:22:05

New

appearance: 00:22:05

York

appearance: 00:22:05

feels

appearance: 00:22:06

more

appearance: 00:22:06

like

appearance: 00:22:06

home

appearance: 00:22:06

to

appearance: 00:22:06

me

appearance: 00:22:06

than

appearance: 00:22:07

Kansas

appearance: 00:22:07

now.”

appearance: 00:22:09

Harper

appearance: 00:22:09

looked

appearance: 00:22:09

out

appearance: 00:22:09

over

appearance: 00:22:09

the

appearance: 00:22:10

roofs of

appearance: 00:22:10

the

appearance: 00:22:10

neighborhood.

appearance: 00:22:11

Kansas

appearance: 00:22:12

was

appearance: 00:22:12

just

appearance: 00:22:12

so

appearance: 00:22:13

flat. “What

appearance: 00:22:15

makes

appearance: 00:22:15

somewhere

appearance: 00:22:16

feel

appearance: 00:22:16

like

appearance: 00:22:16

home

appearance: 00:22:16

to

appearance: 00:22:16

you?”
“Friends,”

appearance: 00:22:19

he

appearance: 00:22:19

said

appearance: 00:22:19

without

appearance: 00:22:20

hesitation. “Finding

appearance: 00:22:22

my

appearance: 00:22:22

people.”
“I don’t think

appearance: 00:22:24

I

appearance: 00:22:24

have

appearance: 00:22:24

people,

appearance: 00:22:25

beyond

appearance: 00:22:25

Elsie.

appearance: 00:22:26

My

appearance: 00:22:26

mother.”

appearance: 00:22:27

Their

appearance: 00:22:27

ears

appearance: 00:22:28

lowered. “And

appearance: 00:22:29

I

appearance: 00:22:29

don’t

appearance: 00:22:29

know

appearance: 00:22:29

how

appearance: 00:22:30

much

appearance: 00:22:30

of ‘my

appearance: 00:22:30

people’

appearance: 00:22:31

she

appearance: 00:22:31

is.

appearance: 00:22:31

I

appearance: 00:22:32

love

appearance: 00:22:32

her,

appearance: 00:22:32

and

appearance: 00:22:32

she

appearance: 00:22:33

tells

appearance: 00:22:33

me

appearance: 00:22:33

I’m

appearance: 00:22:33

her

appearance: 00:22:33

best

appearance: 00:22:34

friend.

appearance: 00:22:34

But

appearance: 00:22:35

she

appearance: 00:22:35

doesn’t

appearance: 00:22:35

know

appearance: 00:22:35

me

appearance: 00:22:36

as

appearance: 00:22:36

well as

appearance: 00:22:36

she

appearance: 00:22:36

thinks

appearance: 00:22:36

she

appearance: 00:22:36

does.”
“I

appearance: 00:22:39

expect

appearance: 00:22:39

there

appearance: 00:22:43

are

appearance: 00:22:43

things

appearance: 00:22:43

you

appearance: 00:22:43

don’t share with her.”
“I expect there are things you don’t

appearance: 00:22:44

share

appearance: 00:22:44

with

appearance: 00:22:44

your

appearance: 00:22:44

parents,

appearance: 00:22:45

either.”
“True

appearance: 00:22:46

enough.”

appearance: 00:22:48

Another

appearance: 00:22:48

section

appearance: 00:22:48

of

appearance: 00:22:48

tree

appearance: 00:22:49

fell. “What

appearance: 00:22:50

about

appearance: 00:22:51

New

appearance: 00:22:51

York

appearance: 00:22:51

City?”
“What

appearance: 00:22:53

about

appearance: 00:22:53

it?”
“Did

appearance: 00:22:55

you

appearance: 00:22:55

have

appearance: 00:22:55

people

appearance: 00:22:56

there?”
Harper

appearance: 00:22:58

deliberated

appearance: 00:22:59

on

appearance: 00:22:59

that,

appearance: 00:22:59

staying

appearance: 00:23:00

silent

appearance: 00:23:00

through

appearance: 00:23:01

Owen sawing

appearance: 00:23:01

another

appearance: 00:23:02

piece

appearance: 00:23:02

of

appearance: 00:23:02

tree

appearance: 00:23:02

off

appearance: 00:23:02

and

appearance: 00:23:03

letting

appearance: 00:23:03

it

appearance: 00:23:03

hit

appearance: 00:23:03

the

appearance: 00:23:03

ground.

appearance: 00:23:04

He’d dismantled

appearance: 00:23:05

most

appearance: 00:23:05

of the

appearance: 00:23:05

tree’s

appearance: 00:23:06

canopy

appearance: 00:23:06

by

appearance: 00:23:06

this

appearance: 00:23:06

point,

appearance: 00:23:07

and was

appearance: 00:23:07

starting

appearance: 00:23:07

to

appearance: 00:23:07

take

appearance: 00:23:07

down

appearance: 00:23:08

lower

appearance: 00:23:08

limbs

appearance: 00:23:08

and

appearance: 00:23:08

the

appearance: 00:23:08

main

appearance: 00:23:09

trunk,

appearance: 00:23:09

section

appearance: 00:23:10

by

appearance: 00:23:10

section. Their

appearance: 00:23:11

housemate

appearance: 00:23:12

had been a

appearance: 00:23:12

person

appearance: 00:23:13

there

appearance: 00:23:13

for

appearance: 00:23:13

them,

appearance: 00:23:13

hadn’t

appearance: 00:23:15

he?

appearance: 00:23:15

Also,

appearance: 00:23:15

the

appearance: 00:23:16

friend

appearance: 00:23:16

who’d taken

appearance: 00:23:16

the

appearance: 00:23:16

fox

appearance: 00:23:17

clothes

appearance: 00:23:17

shopping

appearance: 00:23:17

years

appearance: 00:23:17

ago

appearance: 00:23:18

when

appearance: 00:23:18

the

appearance: 00:23:18

dress

appearance: 00:23:19

and

appearance: 00:23:19

the

appearance: 00:23:19

skirts

appearance: 00:23:19

had

appearance: 00:23:19

become

appearance: 00:23:20

suffocating. “Maybe

appearance: 00:23:22

two.”
“Have

appearance: 00:23:24

you

appearance: 00:23:24

looked

appearance: 00:23:24

for

appearance: 00:23:24

more

appearance: 00:23:25

here?”
“I…”

appearance: 00:23:28

Harper

appearance: 00:23:29

shook

appearance: 00:23:29

their

appearance: 00:23:29

head,

appearance: 00:23:29

and

appearance: 00:23:29

leaned

appearance: 00:23:30

against

appearance: 00:23:30

the

appearance: 00:23:30

tiger’s

appearance: 00:23:30

massive

appearance: 00:23:31

neck. “I

appearance: 00:23:32

don’t

appearance: 00:23:32

feel

appearance: 00:23:32

like

appearance: 00:23:32

I’ve

appearance: 00:23:33

had

appearance: 00:23:33

time.

appearance: 00:23:35

Isn’t

appearance: 00:23:35

that

appearance: 00:23:35

funny? I

appearance: 00:23:36

haven’t

appearance: 00:23:36

had

appearance: 00:23:36

a

appearance: 00:23:36

job

appearance: 00:23:37

since I’ve

appearance: 00:23:37

moved

appearance: 00:23:37

back,

appearance: 00:23:38

yet

appearance: 00:23:38

I

appearance: 00:23:38

don’t

appearance: 00:23:38

have

appearance: 00:23:38

any

appearance: 00:23:39

spare

appearance: 00:23:39

time.

appearance: 00:23:41

Maybe

appearance: 00:23:41

I’ve

appearance: 00:23:41

forgotten

appearance: 00:23:42

how

appearance: 00:23:42

to

appearance: 00:23:42

look.

appearance: 00:23:43

For

appearance: 00:23:43

people.

appearance: 00:23:44

Or

appearance: 00:23:44

time.

appearance: 00:23:45

Or

appearance: 00:23:45

both.” This

appearance: 00:23:46

felt—strange.

appearance: 00:23:48

But

appearance: 00:23:48

comfortable.

appearance: 00:23:50

That might

appearance: 00:23:50

be

appearance: 00:23:50

part

appearance: 00:23:50

of

appearance: 00:23:50

the

appearance: 00:23:51

strangeness.
“I’m

appearance: 00:23:53

about

appearance: 00:23:54

done

appearance: 00:23:54

with

appearance: 00:23:54

the

appearance: 00:23:54

tree.”

appearance: 00:23:56

Owen

appearance: 00:23:56

crouched

appearance: 00:23:57

down,

appearance: 00:23:57

sawing through

appearance: 00:23:58

the

appearance: 00:23:58

trunk

appearance: 00:23:58

at

appearance: 00:23:58

the

appearance: 00:23:58

base.

appearance: 00:23:59

A

appearance: 00:24:00

massive,

appearance: 00:24:00

postcard-perfect

appearance: 00:24:01

log about

appearance: 00:24:02

three

appearance: 00:24:02

times

appearance: 00:24:02

Harper’s

appearance: 00:24:03

height

appearance: 00:24:03

fell

appearance: 00:24:03

against

appearance: 00:24:04

one

appearance: 00:24:04

of

appearance: 00:24:04

the

appearance: 00:24:04

tiger’s

appearance: 00:24:04

hands.

appearance: 00:24:06

He

appearance: 00:24:06

set

appearance: 00:24:06

down

appearance: 00:24:06

the

appearance: 00:24:06

saw and

appearance: 00:24:07

guided it

appearance: 00:24:07

gently

appearance: 00:24:07

the

appearance: 00:24:07

rest

appearance: 00:24:08

of the way to

appearance: 00:24:08

the

appearance: 00:24:08

ground. “What

appearance: 00:24:11

are

appearance: 00:24:11

you

appearance: 00:24:11

doing

appearance: 00:24:11

on

appearance: 00:24:11

your

appearance: 00:24:12

day

appearance: 00:24:12

off

appearance: 00:24:12

tomorrow?”
“Nothing.

appearance: 00:24:15

That’s

appearance: 00:24:15

how

appearance: 00:24:15

days

appearance: 00:24:15

off

appearance: 00:24:16

work.”
“Since

appearance: 00:24:18

you don’t

appearance: 00:24:18

have

appearance: 00:24:19

a

appearance: 00:24:19

job, ‘day

appearance: 00:24:20

off’

appearance: 00:24:21

must

appearance: 00:24:21

be

appearance: 00:24:21

different

appearance: 00:24:21

to

appearance: 00:24:22

you.”
Beautiful

appearance: 00:24:24

giant

appearance: 00:24:25

muscular

appearance: 00:24:25

men

appearance: 00:24:25

simply

appearance: 00:24:26

shouldn’t

appearance: 00:24:26

be

appearance: 00:24:26

as

appearance: 00:24:26

perceptive

appearance: 00:24:27

as

appearance: 00:24:27

Owen

appearance: 00:24:27

kept

appearance: 00:24:28

being. “I

appearance: 00:24:29

find

appearance: 00:24:30

somewhere

appearance: 00:24:30

to

appearance: 00:24:30

go

appearance: 00:24:31

be

appearance: 00:24:31

by

appearance: 00:24:31

myself.”
“If

appearance: 00:24:35

you

appearance: 00:24:36

want to

appearance: 00:24:36

be

appearance: 00:24:36

by

appearance: 00:24:36

yourself

appearance: 00:24:37

around

appearance: 00:24:38

other

appearance: 00:24:38

people

appearance: 00:24:38

sometime, you’re

appearance: 00:24:39

welcome

appearance: 00:24:39

to

appearance: 00:24:40

drop

appearance: 00:24:40

by

appearance: 00:24:40

the

appearance: 00:24:41

Outside

appearance: 00:24:41

Lodge.”
“A

appearance: 00:24:43

lodge?

appearance: 00:24:44

Is it

appearance: 00:24:45

anything

appearance: 00:24:45

like

appearance: 00:24:45

the

appearance: 00:24:45

Freemasons?”
“I’ve

appearance: 00:24:47

never

appearance: 00:24:47

been

appearance: 00:24:48

to

appearance: 00:24:48

a

appearance: 00:24:48

Mason

appearance: 00:24:48

lodge,

appearance: 00:24:49

but

appearance: 00:24:49

I’d

appearance: 00:24:49

be

appearance: 00:24:49

surprised.”
“Is

appearance: 00:24:52

it

appearance: 00:24:52

really

appearance: 00:24:52

outside?”
“If

appearance: 00:24:53

you’re

appearance: 00:24:54

in

appearance: 00:24:54

the

appearance: 00:24:54

backyard.

appearance: 00:24:55

Which

appearance: 00:24:55

many

appearance: 00:24:55

of

appearance: 00:24:55

us

appearance: 00:24:55

are,

appearance: 00:24:56

when

appearance: 00:24:56

the

appearance: 00:24:56

weather’s

appearance: 00:24:56

nice.

appearance: 00:24:57

It’s

appearance: 00:24:57

pretty

appearance: 00:24:57

private.

appearance: 00:24:58

Want a

appearance: 00:24:59

hand

appearance: 00:24:59

down?”
“I

appearance: 00:25:00

don’t

appearance: 00:25:01

think

appearance: 00:25:01

jumping

appearance: 00:25:01

would

appearance: 00:25:02

be

appearance: 00:25:02

safe.”
He

appearance: 00:25:04

held

appearance: 00:25:04

up

appearance: 00:25:04

a

appearance: 00:25:04

hand

appearance: 00:25:05

by

appearance: 00:25:05

his

appearance: 00:25:05

shoulder. “You

appearance: 00:25:06

could

appearance: 00:25:06

climb.”
Harper

appearance: 00:25:09

crawled

appearance: 00:25:09

onto

appearance: 00:25:09

his

appearance: 00:25:09

hand

appearance: 00:25:10

and

appearance: 00:25:10

sat

appearance: 00:25:10

on the

appearance: 00:25:10

soft

appearance: 00:25:11

center

appearance: 00:25:11

pad

appearance: 00:25:11

again. “You’d

appearance: 00:25:12

have

appearance: 00:25:12

to

appearance: 00:25:12

buy

appearance: 00:25:13

me

appearance: 00:25:13

dinner

appearance: 00:25:13

before

appearance: 00:25:13

that.”
“Now

appearance: 00:25:15

you’re

appearance: 00:25:15

trying

appearance: 00:25:16

to

appearance: 00:25:16

make

appearance: 00:25:16

my

appearance: 00:25:16

ears

appearance: 00:25:17

color.”

appearance: 00:25:18

Owen

appearance: 00:25:18

lowered

appearance: 00:25:19

them

appearance: 00:25:19

to the

appearance: 00:25:19

ground. “Okay,

appearance: 00:25:21

another blast

appearance: 00:25:21

of wind’s coming.”
“Ready.”

appearance: 00:25:24

This

appearance: 00:25:24

time

appearance: 00:25:24

Harper

appearance: 00:25:24

crouched.
Owen

appearance: 00:25:28

shifted

appearance: 00:25:28

position,

appearance: 00:25:29

putting

appearance: 00:25:29

his

appearance: 00:25:29

hands

appearance: 00:25:30

on

appearance: 00:25:30

the

appearance: 00:25:30

logs and

appearance: 00:25:30

limbs

appearance: 00:25:31

he’d

appearance: 00:25:31

cut

appearance: 00:25:31

off,

appearance: 00:25:32

and

appearance: 00:25:32

returned

appearance: 00:25:32

to

appearance: 00:25:32

his

appearance: 00:25:33

normal

appearance: 00:25:33

size,

appearance: 00:25:33

again

appearance: 00:25:33

all

appearance: 00:25:34

at

appearance: 00:25:34

once.

appearance: 00:25:35

The

appearance: 00:25:35

wind

appearance: 00:25:35

blew

appearance: 00:25:35

toward

appearance: 00:25:36

him

appearance: 00:25:36

rather

appearance: 00:25:36

than

appearance: 00:25:36

away

appearance: 00:25:37

this

appearance: 00:25:37

time.
Standing

appearance: 00:25:39

up,

appearance: 00:25:40

Harper

appearance: 00:25:40

leaned

appearance: 00:25:40

over

appearance: 00:25:40

the

appearance: 00:25:40

pile

appearance: 00:25:41

of

appearance: 00:25:41

what

appearance: 00:25:41

might

appearance: 00:25:41

as

appearance: 00:25:41

well

appearance: 00:25:41

be

appearance: 00:25:41

twigs

appearance: 00:25:42

and

appearance: 00:25:42

branches. “I

appearance: 00:25:44

thought

appearance: 00:25:44

you

appearance: 00:25:44

said

appearance: 00:25:44

that’d

appearance: 00:25:44

all

appearance: 00:25:45

return to

appearance: 00:25:45

normal

appearance: 00:25:45

size.”
“It

appearance: 00:25:47

will,

appearance: 00:25:48

but I’ll have

appearance: 00:25:48

enough

appearance: 00:25:48

time

appearance: 00:25:48

to

appearance: 00:25:48

get it

appearance: 00:25:49

to the

appearance: 00:25:49

lumberyard

appearance: 00:25:49

before

appearance: 00:25:50

then.”
As

appearance: 00:25:52

they

appearance: 00:25:52

walked

appearance: 00:25:52

back

appearance: 00:25:53

toward

appearance: 00:25:53

the

appearance: 00:25:53

house

appearance: 00:25:54

to

appearance: 00:25:54

get

appearance: 00:25:54

Elsie,

appearance: 00:25:54

Harper

appearance: 00:25:55

said, “Where’s

appearance: 00:25:56

the

appearance: 00:25:57

Lodge?”
“North Lawrence,

appearance: 00:26:01

corner

appearance: 00:26:01

of

appearance: 00:26:01

Seventh

appearance: 00:26:02

and

appearance: 00:26:02

Ash,

appearance: 00:26:02

on

appearance: 00:26:02

the

appearance: 00:26:02

river bank.

appearance: 00:26:03

You’ll

appearance: 00:26:04

know it

appearance: 00:26:04

when

appearance: 00:26:04

you

appearance: 00:26:04

see

appearance: 00:26:04

it.

appearance: 00:26:05

When

appearance: 00:26:05

someone

appearance: 00:26:06

answers

appearance: 00:26:06

the

appearance: 00:26:06

door,

appearance: 00:26:07

say ‘chartreuse.’”
“Like

appearance: 00:26:09

a

appearance: 00:26:09

password?”
He

appearance: 00:26:11

nodded. “Right.”
“When’s

appearance: 00:26:14

it

appearance: 00:26:14

open?”
“There’s

appearance: 00:26:16

always

appearance: 00:26:16

something

appearance: 00:26:16

happening

appearance: 00:26:16

on

appearance: 00:26:17

Saturdays.”
“I

appearance: 00:26:19

don’t

appearance: 00:26:19

know

appearance: 00:26:19

about

appearance: 00:26:19

that,

appearance: 00:26:20

then.

appearance: 00:26:21

I

appearance: 00:26:21

don’t

appearance: 00:26:21

like

appearance: 00:26:21

it

appearance: 00:26:21

when

appearance: 00:26:21

things

appearance: 00:26:22

happen.”
Owen

appearance: 00:26:24

looked

appearance: 00:26:24

back

appearance: 00:26:24

at

appearance: 00:26:24

Harper,

appearance: 00:26:25

raising

appearance: 00:26:25

a

appearance: 00:26:25

brow

appearance: 00:26:25

and

appearance: 00:26:26

smiling. The

appearance: 00:26:27

fox

appearance: 00:26:28

tried

appearance: 00:26:28

not

appearance: 00:26:28

to

appearance: 00:26:28

smile

appearance: 00:26:28

back,

appearance: 00:26:29

but

appearance: 00:26:30

did

appearance: 00:26:30

anyway.



This

appearance: 00:26:34

was

appearance: 00:26:34

the

appearance: 00:26:34

first

appearance: 00:26:35

of

appearance: 00:26:35

two

appearance: 00:26:35

parts

appearance: 00:26:35

of “Regulars” by Arilin Thorferra, read for you by Rob

appearance: 00:26:40

MacWolf,

appearance: 00:26:40

Werewolf

appearance: 00:26:41

Hitchhiker.

appearance: 00:26:42

Tune

appearance: 00:26:42

in

appearance: 00:26:43

next

appearance: 00:26:43

time

appearance: 00:26:43

for

appearance: 00:26:43

Harper’s

appearance: 00:26:43

trip

appearance: 00:26:44

to

appearance: 00:26:44

the

appearance: 00:26:44

mysterious

appearance: 00:26:45

Outside

appearance: 00:26:45

Lodge.

As

appearance: 00:26:47

always,

appearance: 00:26:47

you

appearance: 00:26:48

can

appearance: 00:26:48

find

appearance: 00:26:48

more

appearance: 00:26:48

stories

appearance: 00:26:48

on

appearance: 00:26:49

the

appearance: 00:26:49

web

appearance: 00:26:49

at

appearance: 00:26:49

thevoice.dog,

appearance: 00:26:50

or find the

appearance: 00:26:51

show

appearance: 00:26:51

wherever

appearance: 00:26:51

you

appearance: 00:26:51

get

appearance: 00:26:52

your

appearance: 00:26:52

podcasts.

appearance: 00:26:54

Thank

appearance: 00:26:54

you

appearance: 00:26:54

for

appearance: 00:26:54

listening

appearance: 00:26:55

to

appearance: 00:26:56

The

appearance: 00:26:56

Voice

appearance: 00:26:56

of

appearance: 00:26:56

Dog.