My heart leapt and skipped a beat and it seemed to stop in my chest. She was incredibly beautiful, gorgeous and glamorous, even wearing cowboy clothes... jeans pants, ranch riding boots, a red plaid flannel shirt and a cowboy hat that covered her beautiful white blond hair now combed in a ponytail held with a red cloth strip."Oh mother, mother" I thought "How much do I love you".She gave a perfunctory look at the place and looked at me disinterestedly when passing by my side as she asked for any. ’ She saw Jake’s jaw clench tightly as he put the key in the ignition. ‘Then I suppose it’s a good thing I came and not Heather. Maybe we’ll get lucky. If he’s home we can take turns beating the hell out of the creep.’ Cassie smiled, liking the idea and liking Jake even more for saying it. Heather really had lucked out, she thought. Too bad Jake didn’t have a twin, or an available brother she could sink her hooks into. Of course, as her conscience reminded her, he did have an eligible best. Nin giggled at me as I let out a deep breath."All good now. Worst is over."What? She can't be serious, I thought. The doors slid open on the topfloor and Nin pulled me out of the elevator as I was seriouslyconsidering staying in there. She held my hand as she checked the doornumbers until she found the one we were looking for. Nin adjusted my wigand straightened my dress a little."You look fine, just relax, they nice. Big smile as we go in. I dotalking, OK?"I nodded. I didn't think I could say. Alex doesn't like to be gagged, except for one special kind and then only for the few minutes it takes. Are you getting ready for Alex's hanging, Ma'am? Or do you have other things you want to do to Alex first? It sounds very interesting and exciting back there, Ma'am."Velma came back to the still-bent-over Alex, and sat on the bed in front of him. She had the coil of hemp rope in her hands."I'm going to grant your last request, but to get it you'll have to hang for me," she said, as her.