Meadowlark Prairie the lady of the house

His lips barely moved, though she thought she saw, "Okay." Then he began hobbling toward her, so Towhee knew he meant to do as she asked. She waited for him to come closer and felt a strong impulse to reach out and touch him. She glanced at his shoulder and felt a heat beneath her skin, an echo of the anger she'd felt toward him for weeks. It faded, though she remained still.

Slowly, she pivoted on a heel, revolving until she faced the caldera again. Towhee began to shuffle toward home, moving slowly. She turned her head sideways to say, "There's something I have to tell you."