She put the money in what was really a coin purse in the little handbag that was draped over her shoulder, both were tacky little affairs, hemp and em...roidery. I thought to myself what a woman I could turn Kelly into given a little time and a decent budget from the generous people at the other end of her rather impressive money transfer. “I was wondering if you could do me a favor,” Kelly said as she joined me.“Sure,” I said, intrigued.“Would you mind giving me a ride back to my camp? I hiked. “Strange things are afoot in the forest this fine evening,” Sean said.Liam said, “It looks like Clea found a little friend.”Sean’s mother said, “It is nice to see Max smiling again. His mother was complaining the other day that he seemed rather sad all of the time.”“I must admit that he did look happy,” Sean said.“Well, I guess I’ll follow along and make sure that they don’t get in too much trouble,” Liam said looking in the direction that the pair had headed.“Watch them closely,” Sean. One shimmering drop remained on her lower lip, a temptation he couldn’t resist. When he pulled her back to lick it off, her arms snaked about his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. With a fierce growl, he reached out, bringing his hand down to snuff out the candle. In the next instant, he was on his feet, tossing her over his shoulder and bounding up the stairs to his room. *** It was the plaintive call of some night bird that woke Camille. She didn’t move for a moment, trying to get her bearings. In her…possible condition, not a rare occurrence of late for Kate, but this was no work of nature. The man her father introduced her to was short, plump, soft all over, and his beady eyes were glued to her bosom, pushed high and forward by the damn corset. All around her were her father’s friends, or people who wanted to be close to him and his money. They wished her well without meeting her eyes, bored holes into her back with their stares. McMasters told everyone she had been away at.