Star Wars - Kenobi

said, snickering.
    Annileen scooted over and felt Rooh’s abdomen. “How long have you had her?”
    Ben shuffled. “Er—I don’t recall. I bought her some time ago.” His brow furrowed. “You don’t think this—er, happened at the oasis, do you?”
    Kallie burst out laughing.
    Annileen smiled, too, but looked down so as not to embarrass Ben any further. “Eopie gestation times are a bit longer than that. It looks like you got two for the price of one on that purchase.”
    “One cannot cast blame in matters of love,” Ben said. “Or whatever.” He cracked a smile, in spite of himself, and knelt. He rubbed the animal’s face. “You’ve been keeping secrets, my little friend!”
    “Congratulations, Grandpa,” Annileen said.
    With Kallie’s help, Annileen removed the harness from Rooh’s back. Freed, the animal stood up and resumed chomping on the weed. Annileen looked at the coolant unit. “Pretty beat up,” she said.
    “It’s seen use,” Ben said.
    “In the Great Hyperspace War, maybe.” Annileen shook her head. “I’ve never seen a coolant pump this old.”
    Ben cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I was hoping they’ve seen one at the repair shop in Bestine.” He gestured to the east.
    “You’re going to another store ?” Kallie said, eyes filling with dismay.
    “People are like that, sweetie,” Annileen said. “Give them a discount once and they’ll never respect you again.”
    A snarky voice bellowed from inside the darkened window of the LiteVan. “You won’t get that fixed in Bestine!”
    Ben looked at Annileen and raised an eyebrow.
    Annileen rolled her eyes. “My son. The other hermit.” She walked to the speeder truck and slapped the window frame. “How do you know that, Jabe? You haven’t even seen it!”
    Jabe peeked out at them. “The supply shop in Bestine is closed. The Geelers’ son is getting married. They’ll be gone for a week.”
    Ben looked worriedly up at the suns and then down at the damaged unit. He swallowed. “A week, you say?”
    “Or more,” Jabe said, vanishing back into the darkness of the backseat. “The wedding is on Naboo. They decided to make a vacation of it.”
    “How wonderful for them,” Ben said, deflated.
    Kallie grabbed at her mother’s arm, nearly knocking her down. “Mom! Ben can come into Mos Eisley with us!”
    “Mos Eisley?” Ben’s face froze. He looked to the east, his expression apprehensive. “I don’t need to go to Mos Eisley!”
    Jabe’s voice called out again. “Hear that? He doesn’t need to go to Mos Eisley.”
    “You hush,” Annileen said. She looked back at the coolant pump. “You can get same-day service there,” she said.
    Ben waved his hands. “No, no. I’m sure you’re on a supply run. You’ll need room—”
    Kallie bubbled with enthusiasm. “No, it’s fine! We’re not carrying anything!”
    “You’re not?”
    “No! No!” Annileen’s daughter found the document in her pocket and thrust it toward Ben. “Read this!”
    Without taking the slip from the girl’s hand, Ben read aloud the hand-printed words. “To Annie: This certificate is good for a SoroSuub JG-8 luxury landspeeder, at Delroix Speeders of Mos Eisley. Ask for Garn. Sorry for all the trouble with your family speeder, hope this makes up for it.” Ben paused before concluding: “Happy birthday. Love, Orrin.”
    Ben looked back at Annileen, his eyebrow slightly raised. He smiled, gently. “Does this mean—”
    “I don’t know. Orrin’s been like this lately. How should I know what it means?”
    Kallie clapped her hands, elated. “I know what it means. It means I’m getting a new landspeeder. Mom’s old one, as soon as Gloamer fixes it!”
    “Like blazes!” Jabe yelled out from the LiteVan. “We haven’t settled that!”
    Annileen shrugged. “We’re still negotiating a distribution of assets. Maybe they’ll both get it.”
    “Is that wise?” Ben asked.
    “Oh, yes,” Annileen said. “This way, when they finally decide to run away from home, they’ll get farther. Now, come along with us.”
    “No, really, that’s not necessary,” he said. Ben pointed to a pair of figures by a tower on a distant northern ridge. “I’ll just ask the folks whose land this is for help.”
    Annileen squinted. “Don’t bother,” she said, recognizing them. “This is Wyle Ulbreck’s spread we’re on. After the Tuskens ripped him off yesterday, his sentries are probably chained to the vaporators.”
    “Anything to