“We’ll definitely have to drink another of these before we leave,” Jere Joe added.“Just when are you leaving? We never thought to ask,” Mich... said.“We were hoping to ride over to our grandfather’s village with all of you, now that we have met and become friends,” he told her with a smile that brought a pretty grin to Michi’s face as well.When they had finished their drinks, Eli paid for all of them as they were about to leave.“Eli, let’s take those horse breeders’ money. I brought enough to bet. Thank you for coming this morning, but yes, he gets some say in who he works with.”“So if I’d come in and buttered him up with gifts and flattery and promised him pretty girls, we’d all be going to lunch together as pals?” he sneered.“You can’t afford me,” I said bluntly. “I have so much money right now that I don’t know what I’ll do with it all. What gift do you think you can afford that’ll impress me? And you REALLY didn’t do any of the assigned reading if you think you can reel me in with. Is it good for you?" "Oh, yes, anything with you, Sara, would be just wonderful. You've been so nice to me, I hope I'm making it up to you now." "Mmm, you're doing just fine, Ben, just fine. This is so much nicer, I think we're both more relaxed now, don't you?" "You really were understanding at the beginning and I'll never forget that, Sara, and, yes, it's a lot more normal now, more relaxed. I'd love to do this any time you want." "Well, I don't have a boyfriend and this is so good that I do. So, please, I shouldn't have mentioned it!" "Scarlett, " he paused, "maybe it's time for me to talk toyour father, about us!" "Oh, I don't think so, dear, all this talk about a warafter the last election is upsetting him!" "But how will we get together? We could run away, go west toCalifornia!" "Oooh, but dearest, I just couldn't leave Father. It would hurthim so much!" "Darling, if war comes I'll have to serve and it might be yearsbefore... or, maybe I won't even be coming back. .