I knew that my best play was to just stay quiet and try to nap while they discussed, whatever it was they planned to fight about as we headed east...I... was almost four hours to the minute when we pulled into the parking lot of the Wrightsville Beach fishing pier. The two of them unloaded the bicycles and trailers, while I removed the small plastic trash bags with our personal items from the truck's interior.Marty had done his research. The purpose of the plastic trash bags was to keep our few. "Yeah, well." He sat down, running his hands through his hair. "I give." He gestured for me to sit before continuing. "I figure, if your going to drive me insane, I might as well enjoy the experience and be around you."I know I had the dumbest look on my face. Whatever I'd thought he had to say, it wasn't this."What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, confused."It means that I'd like to be friends, for now." He clasped his hands together and waited."Okay." His eyes lightened and a crooked smile. .." Corporal..." the AI interjected.Pete stopped, frowning. "What?" The situation with the other concubine differs markedly. Observe." The AI displayed June's scores on Elliott's PDA.Pete eyed them -- they were a vast improvement over Phyllis'. "Oh. Okay, Doc -- your call." There is an additional factor," the AI added. "Doctor, the subject exhibits marked changes in physiology in your presence. These changes are indicative of what you would call an emotional attachment."Elliott whirled on June,. He understood the logic but emotionally he didn’t feel it was right. A man should stand up for himself, he thought. At 17 Josh was considered a man as were most young men living in the hill country of southeastern Missouri. By the time a lad reached 17 he was expected to do a man’s work and help his family survive. The young men would work side by side with his father on the family farm or hire out to someone like a blacksmith, all to make it a little easier for his family. The youngsters.