Becky collapsed on the bed. Kate took off the other woman's shoes and drew the bedclothes over her.* * * When Becky woke it was still dark outside. Sh... needed to pee. She stumbled to the bathroom. Halfway there, the headache kicked in. By the time she reached the toilet she was nauseous as well. Her stomach made a few feeble attempts to expel its contents, but nothing came up. Becky swallowed a few aspirin, swearing that she would never get drunk again. She sat down on the toilet, relieved her. When I explained, though, I think both of them were relieved they wouldn’t need to be married there. I sat for a long time at the campfire that night and Brian sat companionably with me. He was, indeed, the leader of this entire clan, what they called their patrón. I think I met every person living on the ranch and that must have been everyone in the clan. They’d even collected a few who hadn’t gone to high school with them. They were part of a clan, yes, but more than that, they were friends.. ? Mrs. Myers called from her car in the parking lot. "I was off to the super market and thought I?d swing by to pick you up. That way we can do the shopping together like you love.??You?ll make some man such a great homemaker.? Amy giggled as Trish went to the locker room to shower and change into a skimpy shoulder strap dress that just reached her hips before heading off to the supermarket. She was surprised that her mother would be wearing pink male style pajama bottoms and bedroom slippers. As soon as the bay was re-pressurized Mallet strode confidently down the lander's extended ramp. "Cromartie!" he called out as he went. He was, as Meiersdottir had predicted, by himself. But his hand lingered suspiciously near a pocket in his suit."Mallet only," said Cromartie on the bridge into his communicator. He was observing the bay on the monitor."Go' i'," MacPherson's voice responded."OK," came Igwanda's whisper; he had greater need for silence.They watched on the monitor as Mallet moved.