“Nyx and I can help you keep the animals complacent to some extent,” Tolya said, smiling.

Joe thought about the weak-smelling humans who had disembarked at Bennett when Tolya and Nyx arrived. Sanguinati looked like smoke but didn’t smell like smoke in their other form. Would bison see them in the dark? Would they sense any danger when that smoke curled around them and drew blood through the skin?

“You boys going to stand out there all day, or are you going to let our guest come in and have something to drink?” Jesse Walker stepped out of her store. “Tobias, you should fill up that truck while you have a chance.”

“Fuel truck’s not going anywhere for a while,” Tobias said.

<Dominant female?> Jackson asked.

<Yes,> Joe replied. <Tobias is her pup.>

<Ah.>

“Did that package arrive for me?” Jesse asked.

“I’ve got it,” Tobias answered.

“Then bring it in here, since half the items are going on to the Lakeside Courtyard with Mr. Wolfgard and Nyx.”

“They are?” Jackson looked at Joe.

“I’m just helping you with the bison. The rest?” Joe shrugged.

Tobias unloaded the box and brought it into the store. The four terra indigene followed. Joe barely got out of the way before the door opened again and two females entered. He recognized Shelley Bookman but didn’t know the other female.

“Did they come?” Shelley Bookman asked. “We saw Tobias’s truck and wanted to see.”

“The box is exciting?” Nyx asked, eyeing the two women.

“Introductions first,” Jesse said. “This is Shelley Bookman, our town’s librarian. And Abigail Burch is the person experimenting with bison tallow for making soaps and candles.”

That explained why she smelled a bit like bison. Should he mention that?

“Do I need to know what’s in the box?” Tobias asked.

“Doubt it would interest you,” Jesse replied, using a box cutter to slice the packing tape.

“Then I’ll get in line for gas.” Tobias looked at Joe. “I’ll stop by on my way to the ranch, in case you want a ride back to the settlement.”

“Okay.” Somehow he’d been pushed to the back of the crowd watching Jesse open the box. Didn’t need to look now. If Jackson was taking things to Lakeside, he could look when they hauled the box to the motel room.

“Cards?” Tolya sounded puzzled. “I think stores in Lakeside sell cards for games.”

“These are fortune-telling cards,” Jesse said, holding up two sealed boxes that had different drawings. “There are several different decks of cards. I’m keeping a set of the decks here.” She looked at Jackson. “The other set goes to Lakeside with you for Meg Corbyn’s use. I have a feeling these may help her find a way for at least some of the blood prophets to see visions of the future without cutting their skin.”