Ghost Medicine by Aimée and David Thurlo Page B

in.
    “It’s good to have you home for dinner,” he said. “You’re planning to join us, right?”
    “Yes, but I have to work later tonight, so I won’t be able to stay for long.” She still had to talk to Clifford, then meet Dan at that Farmington bar so they could try to track down Harry’s mystery date. If they ended up having to go bar hopping in order to find her, she might not make ithome until after the local bars closed.
    “Here, eat,” Herman said, offering her a serving. The large plate was filled with a saucer-sized piece of puffy fry bread, pinto beans, spicy salsa, shredded lettuce, green chile, and the whole thing was sprinkled with grated cheddar cheese.
    “Thanks,” she said, realizing suddenly how hungry she was. Ella took the plate.
    “So, where are you going tonight,Mom? Do you already have a suspect?” Dawn said, then seeing Rose’s stern look, cringed and stared at her plate.
    Ella, knowing her mother didn’t like that kind of talk at the table, lowered her voice and leaned closer to her daughter. “Let’s not discuss that right now, okay, beanstalk?” Dawn was growing by leaps and bounds, and was nearly five foot seven and a half now. In another year, she’dbe wearing Ella’s jeans.
    Dawn laughed. “You managed to find a nickname even worse than ‘pumpkin.’”
    “You’re growing like a weed, but I thought you’d resent being called ‘tumbleweed,’” Ella said, grabbing her fork and digging in to her meal.
    Rose joined them at the table with her own plate and looked at Dawn. “I’m glad that you finally emptied the trash in your bathroom, but you haven’t cleanedin there yet. No more excuses, granddaughter. It gets done before you go to bed tonight.”
    “But tonight’s—,” Dawn began.
    “You heard your shimasání, daughter,” Ella said firmly. “Now, eat your food while it’s warm.”
    About twenty minutes later, while sipping the last of her iced tea with her family, Ella’s cell phone rang. Seeing it was from Clifford, she excused herself and answered the callin the living room.
    Ella spoke to her brother quickly and, in hushed tones, agreed to meet him at his home in a few minutes rather than talk over the phone. Though she hated to leave the family dinner early, she took her plate and utensils to the sink and said good-bye, giving Dawn’s shoulder a quick squeeze.
    Five minutes later, she was in her pickup driving west to Clifford’s home. The drivewas short and as she pulled up, she saw him attaching a windshield wiper blade to his pickup on the passenger side. He waved, then walked over to meet her.
    “Hey, brother, how’s your family doing up at the sheep camp?” Ella greeted.
    “My son’s a much better camper than my wife. She’s supposed to be a Traditionalist, but she’s lost without her gas stove. Cooking in a Dutch oven over an outdoorgrill makes her nervous. She’s too much of a perfectionist these days.”
    Ella smiled. She and Loretta had never gotten along. Though Loretta had turned out to be the perfect wife for her brother and a good mother to Julian, Ella felt no sympathy for her sister-in-law, who had a tendency to act superior at times.
    “How is your son’s hataalii training going these days?” Ella asked. Though only sixteen,Julian continued to express an interest in continuing his father’s work.
    “He’s just now realizing how much time and work it’s going to take to become a Singer. He also knows that in today’s world, he’s going to need a second job if he wants to be able to provide for a family. Not many Navajos are still following the Way. That means learning a trade or attending college, and probably leaving thereservation for some time at least. You walked the same path, sister.”
    “True, but your kid’s more grounded than I was at his age. He knows what he wants. My primary goal back then was to get away from what I didn’t want.”
    “Or thought you didn’t want,” he said. “Now, here you are,