"How long you figure this business of yours will take?"
"I'm not sure. A couple days maybe."
"You kids are more than welcome to stay here until you're ready to head out." Mr. Pryde took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. "Unless you got other plans."
Both Prudence and Wendell stopped eating, smiles breaking out across their faces. Samantha didn't need to ask them to know how much they wanted to stay here. Nor did she need more than an instant to make her own decision. "We'd love to stay," she said. "If you don't mind, that is."
"Of course not. Kind of nice to have company for a change. I'm sure Joey won't mind either."
"I don't know how we can ever repay you for everything."
"Don't worry about it. I ain't done nothing no one else around here wouldn't do." Mr. Pryde stood up from the table, his face turning red. "I best go out and make sure the car runs if I'm going to take you into town. If you kids want some fresh clothes, I got some in the hall closet you can borrow."
"Thank you, Mr. Pryde," Samantha said. Prudence and Wendell chimed in with their thanks. Mr. Pryde mumbled something and then hurried outside.
Samantha opened the door to the closet in the hallway to find boxes stacked to the ceiling. She pulled down one box labeled 'Shoes' in black ink. The box was filled with women's shoes of different types-pumps, flats, sneakers, and boots. Samantha thought of Jonas Pryde's cellar on Eternity with its array of different shoes all taken from his victims. These, however, were all the same size. Samantha tried on a pair of sneakers, finding them tight on her big feet.
She took down another box, labeled 'Clothes', finding it loaded with women's clothes. She held up a black T-shirt with the word 'Nirvana' printed on it in blue. A pair of black jeans looked as though they would fit. She found a denim jacket like Mr. Pryde's to replace her tattered coat. "I don't suppose there's anything in there to fit me," Prudence said.
"I'm not sure, let me look," Samantha said.
"We could probably find a tent and cut a hole in it," Wendell teased. He blushed when Samantha shot him a dirty look. She turned back to the closet, scanning the labels. Near the top she found one labeled, 'Maternity.' She took down the box, keeping the label facing away from Prudence, and pulled out a turquoise dress with a lacy white collar.
She handed the maternity dress to Prudence, who held it up to her body. "It matches your eyes," Samantha said. Prudence looked skeptical. "Try it on."