The pills had really worn off now and she felt jangled. "Take it easy, Jessie. You're at the ranch. It's almost midnight, and everything's fine." Jessica stretched and looked around. It was dark but stars shone overhead. There was a fresh smell in the air, and she could hear the whinny of horses somewhere in the distance. And just to their right was a large stone house with bright yellow shutters. The house was well lit and a door stood open. Astrid had slipped inside for a moment with her mother before waking Jessie. Her mother was not shocked or even surprised. She had been through crises before, with Astrid, with friends, with family years before. Things happened to people, they were shaken for a while, but most of them survived. A few didn't, but most did. And the ranch was a good place to recover. "Come on, sleepyhead, my mother has some hot chocolate and sandwiches waiting, and I don't know about you, but I'm starved." Astrid stood next to the open car and Jessica ran a comb through her hair with a rueful grin.
