One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 4, page 5

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Vata Kılímí hobbled down the hallway toward the front room, her deerskin slippers scuffing the thick, blue carpet with each slow step. Sometimes she wished she could heal all the little aches and pains in her hips, back, and knees, but she knew it wouldn’t be proper. It wasn’t what Névazhíno would want.

The animals were ready. She’d prepared a dog and a horse. It was unlikely they’d need a horse, but it was always possible the gunman had good aim. And if the horse wasn’t required, she could just sleep off the tranquilizers and go back to her stable in the morning.

Pí‘oro was taking too long, but Vata wasn’t worried. She could feel his presence alive and well. Something must be occurring out front, or else he would have been back in bed by now. Perhaps Vata could help him with whatever the trouble was, perhaps not. But she should at least offer.

Almost to the tile-floored entryway, Vata sensed something awry in the back yard. The animals were suddenly skittish, especially their other horse. Was it just a strong gust of wind, or was someone outside?

Vata started across the carpeted front room, angling between the sofa table and Pí‘oro’s well-worn leather armchair, toward the kitchen and its back door. Pí‘oro could handle whatever was happening out front. Vata had to take care of the animals.

And if someone was sneaking around in the back yard, just perhaps they needed assistance. And so Vata would offer help.

Maybe the person was dangerous. Maybe they’d shoot Vata dead when she opened the door. But she didn’t hesitate. Névazhíno had given her a purpose in life and she was not about to fail Him tonight.

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