I push the saloon style wooden door open and I find they are not in the throes of murder. They are in fact not saying anything and standing and sitting where I left them. I put the blanket around Carmen’s shoulders and she jumps from the contact. Her eyes are open and wild and she looks scared.

“Hey….its me……its me…..you are all right……you’re safe…..I got you….”

“Oh Shane…..every time I close my eyes……”

“Shuuuushh…..I got you….you’re safe…….”

Carmen cries on my shoulder. Big mouthfuls of sighs and sobs. A break, down in her resolve to make herself strong. Helena for the first time looks concerned. Like maybe this wasn’t an act. She looks at me and I can’t read her expression, she looks at Carmen almost as if she didn’t recognize her. She looks off into the distance.

“Shane I need a word with you alone.”

I let Carmen go and I kiss the top of her head. I follow Helena outside and notice for the first time how chilly is it tonight. I wanted to get back into the kitchen with Carmen. Helena didn’t speak for a few seconds. There was something on her mind.

“Shane…I can’t and shouldn’t be present in this inquiry into what happened with Carmen. She will not talk with me present. I understand that. I understand that she has gone through a trauma that for most part surpasses her own evil deeds. I am placing a fair amount of trust in you to question her as well as ascertain whether this threat is closer to us than we realize. There is something more to this….I am sure you sense it as well. She has a curious reaction to you that borders on love and desire and oddly… fear…..I would like to know what happened. And that brings me to the trust part. I am fully aware of your feelings for each other. It’s quite evident in the way you are with her and she with you. I am trusting you to get the information. I am trusting you to reveal everything you find to me personally. No amount love you have for each other overrides the oath you have taken to defend the safety of our getaway. I am trusting you Shane. If this conflicts with any plans you might have now is the time to speak.”