I’m offering you a life with some responsibility and dignity, more than the rest. You would do well to take it.”She looked at him with a flash of ...isdain, but there was less heat in her hazel eyes than before, and a touch of surrender as well. Her face fell as the grim realities of her situation set in, and with a face full of anxiety and fear, nodded to him.“I’ll do it,” her words were barely more than a whisper.“Good,” Levan reached out to caress her cheek, and she didn’t pull away, “You made. The bastards were going to pay for what they had done to my mother. I slipped out and into the night and began to hunt.I did not have broadheads on the arrows but they were not blunt and would still kill a man. I caught two of the Watch beating and stealing from a merchant and moved closer. I put the first arrow through one's spine and then put a second to the string as his partner continued to assault the merchant. I shot him through the spine like the first but low.I moved out of the shadows. They thought Butte was all mined out, but he found a new vein anyway. The old Erin would be beaming with pride for the both of them. But the Erin we know now will not know nor care." I should have seen this coming but I was so taken by her I didn't see it creeping up on us. I should have known the first time I heard her speak that baby talk of hers. But I took it as a cute thing and at first she used it for us to have sexual relations. Later the real truth came out." I baby talked a little to. And, oh my, how I madeher suffer! I cruelly whipped her into unconsciousnessover a very protracted and sustained period of time. Then I asked Susan to reviveher, which she did with a wet sponge. After I had let her rest for a short timeto regain her strength, I recommenced lashing her with increased severity untilshe passed out again. As I was lashing the poor girl, I imagined my husband waswatching me, even giving me his amorous attentions. To young Susan?sgratification and amusement, I came.