But as she emerged from the woods, she stopped in her tracks at the sight of someone waiting for her. There, in the middle of the lane, clearly expecting her, was Jolene.

Wearing that dress of mottled green, and her pale green apron, she looked as if someone had just set her down in the middle of the lane, rather than looking as if she’d walked here. There was no dust on her feet, and not a hair out of place. She was as cool and composed as a statue, without a sign that the heat bothered her, nor of impatience. How long had Jolene been waiting? A minute? An hour? And why was she here in the first place?

On an impulse Anna did the little twist in her mind that allowed her to see the Glory. And golden light erupted in her face, as if the sun had taken Jolene’s face.

Anna fell back a pace with a gasp, nearly blinded, before she managed to shut the vision out. When she could see again, Jolene was still standing there in her pretty green dress and apron, regarding Anna with her head tilted to the side.

Better say somethin’ afore she thinks I’m a-bein’ rude. “Arternoon, Miz Jolene,” she stammered. “Aunt Jinny sent me out fer flares.”

“So I see. And your aunt showed you how to see magic as well, didn’t she?” To Anna’s relief, Jolene sounded faintly amused rather than irritated, or worse, angry. “I can show you how to do much, much more than she can ever teach you, you know,” she added abruptly.

“I’m certain-sure y’all knows more’n Aunt Jinny ever could,” Anna temporized, trying to gain some time to think, and a little breathless with what felt like rising panic. Just a few weeks ago, the worst she had to worry about was whether her aunt would be happy with how she did the chores! Now, suddenly, there was magic in her life, and an extremely powerful person interested in her. And that made her nervous, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate.

Why would Jolene make such an offer? She didn’t know Anna. She wasn’t kin. Had she actually made an offer at all, or was it just a boast about what she could do if she cared to?

Better not reckon on eggs what ain’t been laid, much less hatched.

But if she had actually offered to teach Anna more magic than Aunt Jinny could, what would she demand of Anna for such learning?

“Ain’t no doubt,” Anna agreed, trying to draw Jolene out more. “Aunt Jinny’s a good Root Woman, but ain’t no doubt y’all knowed more’n her.”

Jolene continued to regard her with that unsettling lack of expression on her face. “I am willing to teach you,” she elaborated.

Anna felt queasy. It seemed rude to refuse. It seemed ill-advised to accept without knowing all the strings that were attached. “I dunno why y’all’d spend time doin’ setch a thang,” she replied, ducking her head shyly. “It’d be mighty kind of y’all, but I’m jest one liddle gal that ain’t nothin’ t’ nobody. I cain’t even pay y’all back—”