Right now she was frightened. Who knew what those old men would do about her theft?It was too dark to see who the individual men were. There was a smo...y fire burning in the fire pit, but it was mostly coals. Every once in a while a disembodied hand appeared over the coals and dropped some herbs into the fire. Sweet and somehow scary smells came from those herbs, and they made Loni's head spin. She had wanted her mother to come with her to the council, but she'd refused. She'd said something. This needs explanation: Military pilots are often bold and some of them are foolish. There are countries where talent is not as important as political favoritism. Some sons of important people are given positions they are unqualified to assume ... and those in such positions have a genetically inherited superiority complex that insists on being the best when the talent to be the best is so nonexistent as to be on the dark side of the moon."I can fly better than anyone," is an attitude that must. That partnership, which includes Mary Beth and me, owns both the Alexander ranch and the Bell ranch, and all the nearly 4,000 head of cattle here.”“Whoa! Angus? You don’t own your ranch?”“I sold to Mary Beth and Cole last winter when they bailed us out. He’s telling you the truth, Chet. He has the resources to last and we’ll all be here to help.”“Let’s see. You and Mary Beth formed a partnership and bought the ranch. Then you made Ashley a one-third owner in it as well?” Chet asked. “How does. Alicia did not want me to."Darling," I said. "As embarrassed as your son is going to be by getting the birds and bees conversation from Robin, can you imagine what I felt during that little talk with my mom?" Oh God!" she said putting a hand over her mouth to cover a laugh."I would have preferred Robin," I said laughing with her."She wants to get together again," Alicia said suddenly."Robin?" I asked."Yes," she replied delivering the last message she needed to before getting up to leave.Robin.