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           Thetenseatmospherehadslowlysubsidedintoacasualconversation;IguessedthatJasperwasusinghispeculiargifttocontrolthesituation.

           "What’syourhuntingrange?"Laurentcasuallyinquired.

           Carlisleignoredtheassumptionbehindtheinquiry."TheOlympicRangehere,upanddowntheCoastRangesonoccasion.Wekeepapermanentresidencenearby.There’sanotherpermanentsettlementlikeoursupnearDenali."

           Laurentrockedbackonhisheelsslightly.

           "Permanent?Howdoyoumanagethat?"Therewashonestcuriosityinhisvoice.

           "Whydon’tyoucomebacktoourhomewithusandwecantalkcomfortably?"Carlisleinvited."It’saratherlongstory."

           JamesandVictoriaexchangedasurprisedlookatthementionoftheword

           "home,"butLaurentcontrolledhisexpressionbetter.

           "Thatsoundsveryinteresting,andwelcome."Hissmilewasgenial."We’vebeenonthehuntallthewaydownfromOntario,andwehaven’thadthechancetocleanupinawhile."HiseyesmovedappreciativelyoverCarlisle’srefinedappearance.

           "Pleasedon’ttakeoffense,butwe’dappreciateitifyou’drefrainfromhuntinginthisimmediatearea.Wehavetostayinconspicuous,youunderstand,"Carlisleexplained.

           "Ofcourse."Laurentnodded."Wecertainlywon’tencroachonyourterritory.WejustateoutsideofSeattle,anyway,"helaughed.Ashiverranupmyspine.

           "We’llshowyouthewayifyou’dliketorunwithus-EmmettandAlice,youcangowithEdwardandBellatogettheJeep,"hecasuallyadded.