When I finally followed her to the counter, both the other shopkeepers had joined the first one. They quickly sorted through what looked like enough g...ar to start our own business.“Several of the items M’lady has selected are quite expensive, especially when purchasing twelve of them. May I suggest putting a few back? With them your total would come to about 750 gold, and-”Ciarra interrupted him without a word, summoning 75 nobles from storage. Even though it was her, I couldn’t help flinching. Jenkins didn't want to move with my Colt in his face so I whacked him on the forehead with the barrel and then holstered it. There were plenty of the Colonel's hands standing around, but none of them made a peep.The Colonel was embarrassed, I knew, and he turned to me intending to apologize."Don't worry about it Colonel, if I'd had to apologize for every fool I'd let work for me in the past, I'd still be at it," I said."I hadn't thought of it that way but you're certainly right. I've never. "Kind of a fun one, if a little unbelieveable in parts, but let's not get into that now, or it'll take all night. Can you peel your top up over your arms?" Sure," Sharon conceded, but didn't let go of her amazement. "Hannah, you've been shocking me all evening. I can't really believe you're doing this, let alone enjoying it!" Well, there was a time I never thought it would happen," Hannah smiled. "Like I said, there's more to it than what you've seen so far, but I was surprised to discover that. James's father Joe offered his own as well as his son's help with moving her things into the house she was renting, while Sherry, James's mother, concentrated on cooking up a fine meal for the four of them. Over the next few months Carol drew closer to the Mantle family, whom made her feel so welcome. Sherry became almost like a second mother to her, always inquiring about her day, what was going on in her life, and if she was happy in their little town. Joe, on the other hand, was a bit.