Chapter Twenty-Three
Beautimus spent her days leading to the trial teaching classes, writing, swimming in the river, and talking with Lucas on the Crystal Interface for hours on end. She visited with Samuel and Lizzy, and regularly checked in on Rhianna. The old crane suffered from some mysterious malady, even though it became apparent that her feathers were growing out, but whenever Beautimus brought up the subject of her health, Rhianna cut her off.
“How are you doing, Lady Rhianna? You look a little tired.”
“I’m fine, Bea. Tell me more about Lucas.”
That’d be it.
Things progressed between Samuel and Petunia. Samuel still pretended to be a “skirt hound,” but since that afternoon when Beautimus saw them getting cozy on the silver mulga tree, Beautimus never noticed Samuel so much as
