Not that she actually knew more than a handful of people—so maybe she didn’t have enough experience to—

And then, as if thoughts of her had called her, along came Jolene, sauntering around the corner Aunt Jinny had gone around, and onto Main Street.

She was not wearing the strangely patterned dress she had been when she’d given Anna her lesson—nor the extravagant gown Anna had first seen her wearing. This was a simple pale green with darker green gingham pattern, and her apron was the same pale green. She wore what could only be a store-bought hat, since no amount of careful stitching was going to produce that perfectly flat brim and perfectly circular, flat crown, particularly not with handmade straw braid. It was adorned with a dark green satin ribbon band and large, green satin ribbon roses. Her abundant hair had been gathered on the top of her head in a fashionable pompadour style. And she moved as if she was aware that every eye on Main Street was on her, though she gave no outward indication of this. She carried a shopping basket loosely in one hand; it was empty, and seemed more like an excuse, rather than a reason, for being on the street.

“Mornin’, Miz Jolene,” “Nice day, Miz Jolene,” “How do, Miz Jolene?” Every man on the street seemed determined to salute her, much to the annoyance of every woman they happened to be with, and she acknowledged these salutations with simple nods of the head, rather than in words. And all this was so exactly as Anna had imagined it, that if it were not for the fact that the people of Ducktown very clearly saw her, she’d have suspected she was daydreaming.

She did that little mental twist that allowed her to see the Glory, but made sure to be very cautious about it, remembering what had happened the last time she’d “looked” at Jolene in that way. It was just as well that she’d exercised that caution, because Jolene blazed up to her inner sight. But this time with a difference. She was surrounded by a shield so strong and so opaque that nothing of “her” was visible behind it.

Exactly as Anna had speculated.

Jolene ambled past, a sinuous gait that owed absolutely nothing to any corsetry ever made, and Anna didn’t call out to her. This was partly because she really didn’t want to attract the animosity of every female within earshot, but also because she didn’t want Jolene to ignore her salutation either.

But just as she came even with where Anna sat, Jolene cast a sidelong glance at her and winked, as if to say, Look at all these ridiculous people! Men acting like puppies eyeing a treat, and women acting like dogs defending a bone!

Then before Anna could respond, Jolene glided past and around the next corner and out of sight again.

Anna almost got up to see what was around that corner that might have some sort of attraction for Jolene, but then she remembered her promise to watch the wagon and its contents, and stayed where she was.