It only took two days, and she was at my door in her widow's weeds, heavily veiled and, much to my pleasure, begging for help. "He won't let me stay, ...on't let me take anything, not even my jewelry."I led her to the library, sat her down and poured her some single malt. "I will see to it, my dear."She gave me a tiny smile."Have you buried him?"She nodded. "I thought you might be there."I shook my head. "He owes me a great deal, several thousand. Will his brother pay?" I think so. He was already. In the meantime, the new people were fed from the community larder, just like anyone else.They picked up several more families before the Gathering was closed that year, including one family, with husband, from a third village. Doug feared that this would cause ill will, but nothing happened before they left the Gathering.The Mammoth Hunt farce was held that year, just as in previous years, but the Firm Friends community declined to participate. Doug had done a hard sell campaign before they. “I think she is finally awake,” said the nurse.The policeman approached. “Little girl, what happened to you? You were found nude outside the Emergency room door, beaten and bloody. Were you raped?”I tried to talk but found it difficult to speak. The pain in my side was trumped only by the pain in my head. Finally, I was able to get some words out, but just above a whisper. “No not really. A girl beat me up to save herself. She had no choice.”“What’s your name?”“Fat Ass Faye. I mean Faye Elliott. “Thank you Aaron; I love you,” she said. My dad’s smile was a mile wide, mine, less so; well, I wasn’t actually smiling.“And, Sam, your apology is accepted. And I think now would be a good time to say that I apologize too for all of the hurt I put on you with the divorce, my words, my tone of voice. I still love you my man, on some level I do in spite of everything. And, I know you want a larger role with the children. I will be working on that. Okay?” she said.“Yeah sure,” I said. I don’t know.