"She swung the knife at me. But like a true amateur she swung her whole body instead of just her arm. That left a big opening that I took advantage of... I had stepped back out of the knife swing then I stepped ahead and delivered a soccer styled kick to her abdomen using the side of my foot instead of the point of the foot. The difference being the point would have had enough of an impact to rupture internal organs whereas the side knocked the wind out of her and still hurt like hell.As if once. Her body is still buzzing from her workout and her shower, and she now seriously starts to wonder whether she might be close to having her first Western man. They are sitting at the bar, her smooth brown legs crossed over and facing him, and as he gestures to emphasise something he's said, his hand brushes against her leg. But then he puts his hand on her knee and leaves it there. She feels a thrilling jolt, and then he says, would you like to come upstairs with me? She doesn't know what to. The cranes and slings had been Jimmey’s idea, and he built and tested the first one.Once the Oregon railroad was complete, our family made the trip to Portland. It was odd seeing Oregon for the first time, knowing that I had initially planned to settle there. In Portland, we took a steamboat across the Columbia River to Vancouver where we finally located Emma and Belle’s parents and the rest of their siblings.Naturally, they were excited to see each other again. “Even though the girls write to. "What is this, a fucking convention?" I asked.Randi plastered herself to my side and rubbed my chest. "It could be."I moved her away gently. "What's your story?" I asked Brandi."I'd rather not say."Brandi probably hid in a closet somewhere until sufficient time had passed. Too bad I couldn't follow up on her mother's instructions and take her to bed. "You all can't stay here. Saroya, you have to go back before you're missed."The twins moved towards the door. "Where do you think you're going?".