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“You knew she’d bring the buggy.”

“He couldn’t get into one of the trucks with his leg like that. The buggy was low enough, and I knew Maisie could drive it.” She wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. “I got him out of the restraints and found him some crutches. We waited for her to come.”

Maisie had stood outside the clinic with her basket, furious about her buggy and worried about Julia. We’d all been worried about Julia.

“And then you let us take care of you while he drove off.”

She looked down. I wanted her to argue, to tell me I’d misunderstood that part. She stayed quiet.

There was nowhere useful to go in this room. I could leave Julia with Nezara or sit down and hear the rest of it. I pulled my chair back into place, leaving more room between us this time.

“Where was he going?”

“Back to the ship. He said it was repairing itself. We just had to wait until it was ready.” She glanced at me. “He needed food. And something to keep warm.”

I sat still. “Our dorm.”

“I didn’t know where else to send him.”

“We lived there, Julia.”

“I know.” She bent forward with her hands over her face. “I know, but he didn’t have anything, and then they moved us to the farm. I was supposed to get away and meet him. I didn’t know how I was going to get back from there.”

Rauf had taken us in because we’d thought we were in danger. I’d been angry with him for wanting to keep us on the property. Meanwhile, Julia had known who’d been through our things and where he was hiding. She’d sat in the same house as me and kept that to herself.

“So he came for you.”

Julia lowered her hands. “I didn’t want him to shoot at you.”

“I saw you trying to stop him.” I’d seen her grab his arm before the buggy pulled away. I was grateful for that much, even now. “But you just told me he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

She started crying again. I stayed in my chair. I couldn’t promise her that nothing would happen to Jason, and I wasn’t prepared to keep comforting her while she explained why the rest of us shouldn’t be angry.

“I’m going to tell Nezara what you’ve told me.”

“Will they let us go?”

“I don’t get to decide that.” I stood and went to the door. “I’ll tell them you want to go home.”

Julia wiped her face and nodded. I opened the door to find Nezara still on the bench. She got up when she saw me, and I was relieved to have someone else take over.

A few minutes later, once the men had finished with Jason, we gathered in an empty office. Julia sat beside me while I explained the situation to Rauf, Korfas, and Nezara. She didn’t interrupt or correct anything. By the time I’d finished, she was staring at the floor again.

“Jason said much the same, though with stronger language. But what do we do?” Korfas looked at Nezara, then at Rauf.

Rauf was already moving toward the door. He paused with one hand on the frame.

“That’s your problem. We’re keeping the man’s ship. It’s on farm property and we can use the parts. Besides, we’ll need to clean up his mess. I don’t want more animals sickened. The rest of it is your problem.”

“But—”

“Deal with it, deputy.”

Rauf stepped into the hall before Korfas could come up with another objection.

I watched him go. We’d barely had a moment together since I’d woken up in his bed, and none of those moments had involved an explanation of why he’d left it.

I wanted to talk to him. Preferably somewhere that didn’t have Julia and her brother in it.