“Yes, she's showering and changing," Shelley said.

“She's okay, then? Good." He put out his hand to Jane, who was closest to him. "Jumper Cable," he said.

Jane took his hand. "I'm sorry — I have no idea where you'd find a jumper cable."

“No, that's me."

“You're a jumper cable?" Jane asked with alarm, gingerly freeing her hand. Had the heat made everyone crazy? Or perhaps she was crazy and imagining this conversation. Soon she'd be thinking she was Napoleon.

“I'm sorry. Tom Cable. People call me Jumper.”

Relieved, Shelley and Jane introduced themselves. Jumper said, "I just wanted to make sure Sharlene was okay. Tell her I came by, would you?”

And with that, he was gone. A second later, Sharlene emerged from the bathroom. She had on a denim skirt, a sleeveless white blouse, and sandals; a towel was wrapped around her head. She held her "pioneer woman" clothes in her arms. She was obviously feeling better, at least physically. "I'm sorry. It was rude of me to rush in first like that. I probably used all the hot water, too."

“I hope you have," Shelley said. "I want a cold shower. Oh, a boy calling himself Jumper Cable came to see if you were okay.”

Sharlene blushed. "He's not a boy. Tom Cable is the museum's attorney. Thanks for telling me."

“Attorney?" Jane asked. "He looked barely old enough to vote!"

“He does look young," Sharlene said a bit defensively, "but he's thirty-three years old. Last May twelfth.”

Shelley picked out her own grocery sack and took her turn in the bathroom. She came out a few minutes later, looking as fresh as new paint. Her short, dark hair was already half dry and as tidy as always. Sharlene went to hang up all their pioneer clothes while Jane got cleaned up. There was no hot water left, as Sharlene had predicted, but the cool shower was refreshing and putting on clean, lightweight cotton clothes was even more so. Jane was still combing out her wet, dark blond mop of hair when Mel arrived.