He still didn’t know what horrible things had been done to her, but there were faint scars on her otherwise pristine skin, burn marks that made him ...ince in sympathy, even if they had been done long, long ago. He raged that someone could be so callous, so cruel, and often day dreamed about what he would do if he ever got his hands on them.Times like that, when Marta saw the rage in his eyes, she would pet and stroke him, kiss him and hold him. She would bring him back again, and, often as not,. "Are we allowed to call you Beth again, too?" was all she asked. "Or is that reserved."Beth laughed."Mom, I'm sorry I was a brat," she said. "Dad was right. That sort of attitude might serve me in Boston, but it won't fly down here. R.J. did a pretty nice job of putting me in my place last night, too."Beth and I got along very well and the tension in the Ferguson house was lessened greatly.Without the constant griping, the laughter and fun I'd grown to enjoy returned — and Beth joined right in. As long as New Mexico is a territory, the Federal government makes the decisions. As soon as we became a state, the citizens will make the decisions locally for the state, through the state legislature, and nationally by their representatives in Congress.”The discussion with questions and answers went on a little longer. When there was a lull, Yolanda stood up.“Steve, thank you for explaining all of that and for answering all the questions. If any of you have more questions for Steve, he’ll be. She hadn’t slept for the rest of the night, worried he might have another nightmare.Making love with him last night had been very different. For the first time she’d felt his love, his arms holding her carefully, his actions tender, kisses soft, and his whisper, “Ayasha,” had sent tremors through her. Climaxing together had felt wonderful; as if they were one body, souls joined. Hunter loved her. She had no doubt. None. Thank God. She couldn’t imagine living with her love for him not being.