”“Immortality comes at a price. That’s one of the first rules of magic.” Emily had stiffened up, withdrawing from the shadow.“That is correc.... However, this game pre-dates the rules of magic. It creates a loophole, as you would call it.”Emily bit her lip, then looked at the stairs behind her. Mike imagined that she was picturing Yuki, asleep on their bed and blissfully unaware of what was about to happen next.“I can feel your love for her. It is a warmth that I crave for myself, but will never. I figure that if he has what it takes to become a Town Marshal and raise a son like Elfego, then I couldn’t go wrong trying him out as a US Deputy Marshal.”“I can see that,” Tom said, nodding his head. “Okay, what about Frank?”“You know that organization I had the old ones set up for the kids on the Estancia?” I asked Tom.“Sure. That’s done a lot of good. The kids really like it, the old ones have been kept busy with something useful, and the testing they’ve come up with to make that last rank. "Guys! What about me?" Claire asked as she stood there."We're still newly moved in... and we don't have a guestroom. You can sleep on the couch though." Jan told her with his sleepy eyes as he looked at Claire. "No way! I'm not sleeping on the couch." "Let her sleep here with us in the bed, Jan. It's alright." Laura said with a yawn. "Okay, come on, Claire, you heard the lady." Jan said as he turned off the light of the lamp on the nightstand. Claire got undressed all the way and slid right. I quickly finished my second beer and ordered a third. All throughout that meal I found myself shooting furtive glances at the attractive stranger at the end of the bar. And I swear I caught him doing the same a couple of times. I also found myself drinking the beers I was ordering far faster then I normally would have.About the time I ordered what I decided should be my last beer of the evening, the handsome stranger got up and left the bar. I found myself slightly disappointed and.