"Okay, Jennifer, I'm going back into Santa Fe," Jack called just before he closed the doors on the almost empty Sky Bus. Rafe and Carmen were sitting behind him and they waved cheerily.<br/><br/>Jennifer waved at them and stood in the cloud of dust watching the bus disappear. The red clay pueblos towered over her. Their staggered ladders leading to prehistoric apartments which had been modernized to an extent using glass windows and wooden doors.<br/><br/>http[youtube]://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4KIEEDaLRs&feature=related[/youtube]<br/><br/>Outside in the yard were mounds of red clay that looked like bee hives but were in reality ovens used to bake bread.<br/><br/>Inside the apartments, Jack had tossed the mattresses.<br/>"For now, you will each have your own place, but as others join us, we will have as many as four to a unit. The bathroom facilities are out back and water here is at a premium. Use water sparingly, Be mindful of its use. This is a beautiful harsh land that values water because it comes at a premium<br/><br/>Jennifer stared in dismay at the unit. It consisted of a large room, the mattress and a clay ledge around three sides of the room. The ledge was large enough to sit on, sleep on for one person or to store items off the floor. Jenn shrugged. It was utilitarian. It would do.<br/><br/>Olivia Desert Rose stopped in to assign Jennifer her daily task and to remind her of the rules.<br/><br/>"You will assist in baking bread. Just talk to the woman making the fire in the ovens. She will help you to understand your task. We rise at dawn and go to bed when the moon rides high in the sky. Everyone works. No one shirks. We have meditation three times daily and inspirational sharing at sundown. There will be silence much of the day. The only music will be from the mouth of nature. You will have three meals a day and unconditional acceptance. You are free to go when you wish, but you may not return here if you choose to leave. You will not raise your hand against another. Here you are free to allow your natural sensuality rein free. Explore your carnal nature if this helps you find your bliss. There are no social restrictions. No one is wrong for you. There are no rules on sensuality for this is the Mother's way. All are free to pursue love but there is no possessiveness among the Sky people."<br/>The dark haired woman drifted away.<br/><br/>Jennifer stared after her, She was beginning to wonder what she had signed up for. Oh, well, it really didn't matter. She was unloved. She wasn't entirely sure anyone could love her. She thought about the permission to have sex. There had been two times when sex was good and right but the other times. She shuddered.  but the two times. those later times, just right before she left,<br/><br/>She smiled. She hadn't thought of Frankie in a long time. But he was such a kid, a sullen little boy, really. but he had been sweet and he had brought her to orgasm several times in the two times they had snuck away. When that had happened, she hadn't even known that could happen. Jenn shrugged, maybe that was the difference between being raped and being willing.<br/><br/>After Jenn had made up her mattress which she had piled on the ledge, she went to find the baker lady.<br/><br/>"Hi, I'm Rachel." the red head said, retying her bandana around her curly hair. "I hear you are my assistant this time. We build up the fire now and when it is sundown, we put in the bread that has been rising all day. The fire will be down to coals and the kiva will be hot. The bread bakes all night so we have fresh hot bread for breakfast and ample bread for the day. You will help me mix and knead the bread. We have to punch it down around noon and then rub it down with butter. You will also help me make fresh butter. The boys gather wood but we make the fires and tend to them. There is enough to keep us busy but we have plenty of time for meditation and ...."<br/><br/>The woman cut her bright blue eys at Jenn.<br/><br/>"and " the woman stepped closer and her voice became husky,<br/>"and exploring our sensuality." she put her hand on Jennifer's shoulder.<br/><br/>Jennifer could scarcely breathe. She had felt this surge of wetness between her legs when Frankie and then Ashley had invaded her personal space but she had not known she could feel this way about a woman. Shaking her head, Jenn backed away.<br/><br/>"Uhh, okay. I will go put some wood on the fires." she said, stumbling over her own feet.<br/><br/>Rachel did not follow her nor did she press her for more attention.<br/><br/>Jennifer worked until after they had put the bread into bake, then ate some stew. She went to her room and sank onto her mattress. A knock on her door caught her attention.<br/><br/>"Time for inspiration. Meet at the fire circle."<br/><br/>With a sigh, Jennifer pulled on her hoodie and joined the others. The faces were black against a twilight sky, the fire, leaping fingers of yellow, orange and blue.<br/><br/>Olivia stood and said in her sultry voice.<br/><br/>"James Baldwin says. "To be sensual, I think, is to respect and rejoice in the force of life, of life itself, and to be present in all that one does, from the effort of loving to the making of bread."<br/><br/>Rachel caught her eye but Jennifer pretended not to see.<br/><br/>The group sat in silence allowing the music of the fire burning to send their worship into the heavens. Jennifer didn't notice it at first, but couples were melting away, one duet at a time. When she saw others leaving, she rose and went back to her unit. She heard footsteps scraping after her and thought she caught a voice murmuring,<br/>"Not yet, she is not ready."<br/><br/>Jennifer pulled the door tight and crawled up onto the ledge where she crawled under her blankets, fully dressed. Finally she had time to think about Max and how he walked away. Finally she let the tears come. There was no one to hear. She pulled her little teddy bear out from under the pillow and held him until her sobs subsided.