I also need to know the going pay rate around here," I said."The colonel has pretty much set the rate, for cowhands anyhow. It seems a little high to ...e, but then again he don't have trouble finding men to work," Frank said."Then I guess you know what that rate is?" He pays top hands thirty a month and found. Saddle trash like that Jenkins you had to deal with get twenty a month and found, but he don't hire many like that. I'd say he was cheating himself on Jenkins but ones like him don't stay. " Ben's complaint was half way to being a whine.Turning his shoulder toward the church Joyce chided. "You heard Hobson tell me to insert my earpiece." She pointed at her ear. "It's a secret. I cannot tell you, but we need to go to the church." The deflection worked; soon they were heading away from their home.The view of space shifted from the planet to the star field, Ensign Anya Kampar began to panic. The Sandgate began rotating on its own. There were small asteroids in the systems, but the. You’re her daddy not me. I’m resigned to it,” I said.“But you’ve got it wrong,” he said.“Really. I’m her father not you and she, they, were celebrating Father’s Day with you. Kinda hard to get that one wrong.”“But you managed to do it,” he said.“Okay?” I said, waiting.“They planned, Penelope and Zoey, to come over here tonight with cake and ice cream to honor you on Father’s Day. Yes, they did me first because it was convenient. But they were not neglecting you. That’s the truth,” he said.“Hmm,. ”“We’ll see.” We came to a bench set on a low mound beside the towpath and she guided me to sit on it. She half-turned to me and very deliberately unzipped my jacket and slipped her hand inside, covering my breast with her long fingers over the sweater. She looked, very directly, into my eyes. “I owe you an apology. I have to go away for a while.”The news stung me like a slap in the face. “Why.”“Just something I need to do. I don’t know how long I will be gone.”“You’re dumping me?”“Don’t be.