The cloud had gathered quickly, obscuring the sun and darkening the day. The first spots of rain began soon after.

“Well, looks like you were right, Ellie,” Mal said, looking out of the open back door at the drops kicking dust.

Mrs Frye stood next to him, her face untroubled. “You need to learn to trust, Mal.” She smiled. “It’ll get bad, but you’ll be surprised at the speed it clears, considering there ain't gonna be any wind with it.”

“None?”

“Barely a breeze.” She held out a hand, letting it get damp. “Feel.”

Mal did the same. “Warm,” he commented, rubbing the rain between his fingertips. “Somehow I figured … Got warm rain sometimes on Shadow, but mostly it chilled things.”

“This will clean, but not cool.” She wiped her hands together.

“So how long? And consider I’m asking this in your professional capacity.”

She laughed, sounding exactly like her daughter. “I’m not a witch, Captain. But I’d say a fair few hours. Probably be around midnight ‘fore it goes.”

“Any suggestions what we do until then? I mean, apart from eat, which some members of my crew would do until the proverbial cows were heading over the horizon.”

“Well, I’m sure Eddie wouldn’t mind a hand or two of Tall Card.”

“Uh, no. No gambling.”

Ellie blushed. “Sorry. I’d forgotten about Hank.”

Mal put his arm around her and squeezed briefly. “It’s okay. I try and forget about Hank as much as possible too.”

She pushed him away good naturedly. “Well, we could always just have a party. The food’s ready, and the piano’s pretty much in key.”

“Piano?”

“Nothing the Fryes like so much as a good old fashioned singsong.”

He looked dubious. “Ellie, I ain’t sure that’s such a good idea …”

“I’m sure you can sing.” She twinkled at him. “Good looking man like you, I don’t doubt you’ve got the voice to go with it.”

“In the shower. Or to my kids, maybe. When they were small. Lullabies and the like. But that’s about it,” he insisted. “I don’t sing in public.”

“Not even when you’re drun