He was also a detective, but at the moment, he was merely the object of all her gratitude. While she waited, trying not to pant, she glanced around for Shelley, who had disappeared and was probably hiding from her. And well she should. Shelley had volunteered the two of them, not only for the reenactment, but for a couple weeks' worth of time at the museum.

Mel returned with a huge plastic cup full of lemonade and another of ice water. Jane knocked back a few big swallows of the lemonade in a most unladylike way, then fished an ice cube out of the water to rub on her neck.

“I don't think you'd have been suited to the pioneer life," Mel said mildly, watching her make a dripping mess of herself.

“It was nice of you to come out and watch. What are those people doing, staying out in the field?" she added. A group of soldiers and the women who had been behind her and Shelley during the early part of the reenactment were huddled in a knot. Some were kneeling.

Mel looked in that direction for a minute; then Jane noticed him stand a little straighter.

“I think there's something wrong," he said quietly.

Jane stood up and could see that there was someone or something lying on the ground. "Uh-oh. Do you think someone really did have a heat stroke?”

As she spoke, one of the women in the group suddenly broke away and started running toward them. She was tearing along at full tilt and as she got near where Jane and Mel were standing, she tripped over her skirts. Mel grabbed her to break her fall.

“I have to call an ambulance!" she cried.

“Sit down here before you collapse," Mel said, leading her to the chair Jane had abandoned. "I'll call for you." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a mobile phone Jane hadn't known he was carrying.

“What happened?" Jane asked.