I intended to stay on the place, do a bit of farming, get some re-enactors running around to teach the kids something on their field trips and continu... writing.I dropped my extended documentation on the table in front of Mr. Bolt, the old codger that was involved with my case from Price, Smith and Bolt. He thumbed through it, taking in the costs and the results of the improvements. He nodded here and there and raised an eyebrow at a couple of other things. (I think he found the pictures of the. The Black Stigmata were growing more powerful, their influence acting with greater speed than before. Barely a week and a half had passed by and more than a dozen bodies had been found. This had reached epidemic levels and now the BSC was sealing off the city of Portland. Under the guise of both a terrorist warning and the arrival of a new virus, public notices were being put out for all citizens to keep alert for suspicious activities. Anyone showing signs of heightened violence or. I'll see you tomorrow." When he turned away, I dared to touch his arm. "Thank you, Mr. Preston." Again, he had that look like he was laughing at me. "At this point, I think I'd be more comfortable if you called me Daniel." I smiled. "Thank you, Daniel." # That evening, I tried to read my Bible. I was working on Numbers when I got to chapter five. It was the trial of bitter water, which was what they did to women who were even accused of infidelity. It made me mad. The Bible never made me mad. I. Just teasing my love, my man.My man...a real man, not a Sean! I adore thinking that because I am your woman now. I wouldn't dream of changing you because you are so damn stubborn, and so patient and so kind and gentle, and oh... so frustrating at times...but full of surprises, like poetry, our daffodils, our special love poem to be sure." (Beth sighs, rolls over and snuggles closer to her love) I would have never imagined that you knew poetry when we first met underneath our trees.... did I.