The timing of this turf war is just too perfect.”She nodded. “Indeed it is. I constantly find my attention diverted by it. I am ... researching av...nues to deal with Black Blood, options, but my thralls bombard me not with information of the spirit, but of Garry and Michael and their infuriating skirmishes. If they violate the Masquerade, I will need to squelch the issue, and I have been forever preparing to deal with those two if such a problem arises. It will get violent.”“I’ll do what I can.. It had been touch and go for a while, but when, after Allison's last superbly played safety, Jeanette table scratched, her three-rail shot just missing the two ball, Allison knew she had it won. With cue ball in hand, she took her time about planning the shots that would run the table out, and positioned the cue ball perfectly to set up the sequence.The sound of that nine ball dropping had sealed Jeanette's fate.As she passed her defeated opponent, Allison whispered, "Later, bitch!"Jeanette's. I mean, both of them wanting to watch two horses mate. Then, when I thought I was showing a little courtesy toward Darla, she got all puffed up about it. I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to say or do the right thing around a young woman, if they’re all as touchy her.“Mrs. McIntyre, that was about as good a meal as I’ve ever eaten.”“Darla cooked most of it, Joss. She’s learning all she can about cooking and housekeeping. She’s about to marry our neighbor’s boy in a few weeks.”“Darla, you sure. With the whips, there was a real ... incentive ... to learn to cook. Don’t you agree?” Then she smiled the warmest, most loving smile he’d ever seen — although he didn’t recognize her love for what it was.“But still, Barb ... Only sixty days!” He just shook his head.For dessert she prepared crèpes Suzette. Steve just savored the luscious pancakes. When she served coffee and brought out a platter of fruits and cheeses, he disappeared and came back with two snifters and a bottle of Louis XIII.