Jackson walked toward a man dressed in a checked shirt and jeans who was standing beside the smoke. The three rough-looking men stepped out of his way, but one of them said in a low, harsh voice, “Gonna nail your fucking hide to a barn wall, Wolf.”

The smoke took human form when Jackson reached that spot. The Sanguinati smiled, showing a hint of fang. “I’m Tolya. We met at the Lakeside Courtyard.”

Jackson nodded. “I remember you.”

“This is Tobias Walker, the foreman of the Prairie Gold ranch.”

Walker. Same name as the Jesse female.

“Jesse is expecting a package. I’ll check and see if it’s come in.” Tobias looked at Jackson. “Anything in the baggage car that I can pick up for you?”

Jackson held up the carryall. “No. This is all I brought with me.”

“Will you be all right fetching the package on your own?” Tolya eyed the three men who still lingered on the platform.

“I should be fine. Why don’t you wait for me by the truck?” Tobias went inside the station.

“This way.” Tolya led Jackson to the pickup truck.

“Where is Joe?” Jackson asked, dumping his carryall in the pickup bed.

“He is escorting the earth native fuel truck to Prairie Gold,” Tolya replied. “The last fuel shipment didn’t arrive—at least, the allotment of fuel designated for Prairie Gold didn’t arrive—so we made other arrangements.”

We? Jackson wondered, lowering the tailgate when he saw Tobias hurry out of the station carrying a box big enough to fill his arms. Trailing behind were the three rough-looking men who had been on the platform.

After helping Tobias load the box, Jackson said, “I can ride in the back.”

“There is room for the three of us in the cab,” Tolya said with a pleasantness that made it hard for Jackson not to shift to Wolf. “And Tobias feels more comfortable when there is someone between him and me.”

He noticed Tobias Walker didn’t deny that observation, so he took the middle position on the seat.

“Please drive around the town square,” Tolya said.

“Not a good idea,” Tobias protested. “There’s a bad feeling in the air today.”

“I feel it too,” Jackson murmured.

“Please drive around the town square,” Tolya repeated. “I’ve been instructed to look at the businesses.”

Clearly unhappy, Tobias put the truck in gear and obeyed.

“What would you say are essential businesses?” Tolya asked. “The railway station, of course, for transportation and to send and receive food and merchandise. The gas station because vehicles would need fuel and servicing. The bank. What else?”

Jackson wasn’t sure if the question was for him or the human.

“People need a place to buy supplies,” Tobias said. “Hardware store is useful. And someplace that sells feed as well as ranch and farm supplies and equipment.”