"Goddamn, the little bitch can really put up a fight," Cash exclaimed in near admiration as they entered the living room again."See, what did I tell y...," Sylvia chided in a loud shrill voice, a look of self-satisfaction on her face. "Ya can't trust the stuck-up slut two feet."Ellen began weeping in frustration and fright, turning away from the figures that were pulling on trousers and shirts and still brushing the signs of sleep from their eyes.Billy looked at Ellen without malice. He knew why. We’d closed off an entryway to the studio so the kids could come in and go upstairs without disturbing the taping. We should have done it years ago instead of hanging curtains. It gave us a space to greet audience members and hang coats, as well.The entire loft of the old barn was now referred to as the Corazón Academy. Cassie was the principal teacher for the first and second graders. In addition to Ellie and Matthew, three other children had enrolled in the Academy this fall. I thought it was. ”She sighed. “I need to tell you all this, but not here, not now. Take me to bed, please, honey?”I locked my bedroom door, assuming we’d more than likely have small and curious visitors early in the morning, knowing I’d rather be at least partially dressed when they were admitted.We piled our clothes neatly on the chair, then Mel rummaged in the bags and pulled out our sleep wear. A cheeky grin. “No point in putting it on only to have to take it off again, hey, honey?”“Leave it handy for when. Cool conditions meant we,d each worn a sweater over shirts and jeans with hiking boots to stop our feet getting too wet, but by mid morning the temperatures began to rise a bit. Fishing has been slow to start but the walleyes liked our live minnow baits with flashy spinners to attract them and by lunch time we,d caught four and three respectively, the largest a fat five pounder by Angel. My usual luck fishing against females. We stopped to eat our sandwiches with a nice piece of apple pie.