"Rory didn't like the idea but I didn't give him the opportunity to argue with me. I needed somebody watching my back out here and I didn't need a you...g kid tagging along with me while I went toe-to-toe with the local thug. Besides, as I pointed out to him, I was leaving him to protect Caitlin.I put Caitlin up on the rampart with the bow that I'd given her. From that vantage point she could protect the gate from being retaken from without and cover us from within if the need arose. With her bow. Jesse was a nice girl and she was sorry that she was going to have such a hard night of it tomorrow, she had felt a little sorry when she first heard and the guilt of saying nothing had increased with time. She knew that the auction had elicited a lot of interest; men had travelled in from many miles away – she had initially assumed that this young man had come from Beka Valley for the same reason. Jeb was already making a good profit from the extra trade – as was the Golden Chariot which was. But Rachel had just skipped all that. She didn’t grovel or stutter or try to squirm away. She owned it and threw it back at him. Tyler smirked. That was Rachel, God love her. She was such a paradox. She could be talked into doing anything with seemingly no effort but at the same time she’d stand up to anyone and back them down with authority. But she did have a weakness. And he knew. Rachel had a tell. A sign. Tyler knew her well enough to know when she was aroused. When she was hot. And he. Every now and then I catch my breath for no apparentreason, and he'll start to chuckle. Opening my eyes I start a murmured conversationthat anyone around us would take as sweet nothings, but is really somethingaltogether different. 'You could just turn them off during the lessons.You won't be there to enjoy the effect anyway, and their presence will be badenough.' 'That wouldn't be a good idea. Not only would itgo against the spirit of the game, you'd also start to feel really sore. It'sfor.