Frustrated I kicked her hard in the belly. Her whole body flexed athletically as she drew in her pained abdomen, I then stared at the dirty imprint of...my boot on her yellow jersey. I hated myself for feeling good after that! Twice more I kicked her in the belly, harder each time, so she continued to twist and writhe with muffled sobs for several more minutes before lying almost still again with just her chest heaving in time with barely audible sobs. I knew I needed more than that now. The sun. My thoughts turned directly to Barb. She was an attractive woman forty-nine years old, keeping herself toned and groomed. But then I kept myself that way too. Neither one of us would have any trouble finding another companion. Wait, she had already found hers. It was only me that would be looking. As I sat there still thinking about her, I decided that I didn't feel the same about her as I did just two hours ago. It was a big loss and it left a hole in my heart, but I hoped that would close. I never knew that I was named after someone in thefamily. So, Gabriella is a ghost here?" We've had guests who have heard her crying. She never speaks to any ofthem, just glides in and out of the rooms as though she's searching forsomething. We think she's looking for Leigha." What about Garrett? Has anyone ever seen him?"Grandpa shook his head again. "No. I'm not sure why, but he doesn'tseem to be here. The only other ghost is Clarence." Gabriella's father?" Yes. He's seen on the front porch. I am a defender. I can manipulate matter, I can rip heads off with my bare hands. I come back to the conversation only to discover the two men watching me with a certain pensiveness in their eyes."What?" I ask folding my arms over my chest and sit up straighter."I think someone needs to do some asking of her own." Saul says dryly."I think someone needs to respect his elders." I toss back I don't bother to keep the harshness out of my tone."Oh, do stop being silly Chronos." Nimrod pats his lap.