Talk to you later.”The Construction Site at the RetreatThe next morning, the construction supervisor called his assistant into the office. As he ent...red, the assistant motioned toward the outside. “Snow’s starting to melt and it’s much warmer this morning. Looks like we’re heading into spring.”The supervisor shrugged. “Don’t bet on spring just yet – not this high in the mountains. Oh, we might have a few days with temps above freezing in the daytime, but I’d be amazed if this is the last of the. That would become, in fact, her means of procuring both husbands and willing servants for the estate. Of course the wages she offered were less than modest, at least at first. In some cases, men were predisposed to agree because she had been such a pleasant influence in their lives. Stephan and Charley were in that category. Others, like Nigel and Hugh, she captured through giving them unfettered access to women they could not resist. And of course she was not above engendering shame in a man. We won't watch. It'll be easier than having everyone here get up." Th- Thanks." I take the bottle. They want to keep me here in this room. They know I'll escape if I can. They've all got knives too. There's no way past them. Maybe if I just play along, I can watch for an opening. But how can I eat my best friend like this? I mean, she smells absolutely delicious, but she was my friend. This is insane."Sarah," Steve asks, holding up a carving knife, "Jessie wanted you to have the first. Now is not the time for us to be together again." I know," I agreed, wondering at the ease with which I did. "But now I can go on, knowing that it is possible, some day that we will." I will wait for the day, and wish it could be sooner than it will, but Gaen will do what Gaen does, and things will work out as they must and when they must." I will miss holding you in my arms until then," I said with soft resignation."And I wish I could hold you in my arms," she answered. "All I can do is ease.