I kissed her on the cheek, two, three times as she heaved a sob and I recognized, close-up, those few precious freckles on her nose. We held each other. Jamie was trembling and so was I. When she broke away, tears were streaking her eyes. In one hand was a roll of parchment; her free hand searched a dress pocket. “Oh, where’s my handkerchief? My kingdom for a handkerchief!” Not finding one, Jamie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and then she reached out and dabbed my tears from my cheekbones. “I told myself a hundred times coming up the river that I wouldn’t fall apart,” she began. “Look what I’ve done. It’s not like me.” I wasn’t even sure I could speak. “I knew you’d be here, Jason. Right here waiting for me, like you said you would. Who’s this? It looks like you’ve found a friend.” For a moment I was confused, then I followed her eyes to the bent tail rapping the ground. “That’s Burnt Paw,” I replied. “I can see he’s favoring that front right paw.
