I try to look busy for a second, checking the place as she comes up beside me. Joey says hello. She answers him in a low alto voice—friendly, but with a hesitant sort of nervousness to it.

I didn’t put the nervousness there. She had it when I met her, so don’t blame me.

I’m not bothered by sky-eyes or fiery mountains now. The Boys are picking out one of my favorite silly tunes, “Old Joe Clark.”

I went down to Old Joe Clark’s, Never been there before. He slept on a feather bed, And I slept on the floor. Oh, fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, Fare thee well, I’m gone. Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark, Better be movin’ on!

She looks up at me.

“Hi.”

I look back down at her. “Hi, yourself. How’s the nursery?”

“Pretty good today, but we had a late afternoon rush. I hurried home and changed, but this saleslady came by and I couldn’t resist letting her show me some things. I bought some nice scents so… so… that’s why I’m late.”

She suddenly looks a little scared, as if she’s said something she shouldn’t have. Oh, yes. Chuck hasn’t got a sense of smell and hates to be reminded of it. It’s true I haven’t been able to pick up anything weaker than a six-day-dead steer in almost two years, but has Chuck really been so irritable that Elise should be frightened by a passing remark?

I shrug. “Have you eaten yet?”

“I had a snack earlier.” She looks relieved. “I can fry us up a couple of steaks when we get home, if you want me to.”

She wears her light brown hair in a permanent—swept around the ears like Doris Day. I always hated that style so Chuck tells her he likes it. She’s too damn pretty anyway. A flaw helps.

“Come on.” I grab her elbow and nod at Joey to take over watching the door. He’s flirting with a teenybopper but I take the hand stamp with me. No one gets brew here unless he’s been stamped. By me.