I waved at the people on the coach and they waved back, but that wasn't enough to keep me fully awake for very long.Shit, about 10 miles from Santa Fe... I came to a crossroads, and there was one of those local versions of what would eventually evolve into a full service motel. If nothing else, I could use a beer! It was a little after noon, and I was hot. So was my horse, so I figured to take the rest of the day off and relax in the saloon with my beer. There was an attached restaurant and. It meant so much to me during that last cycle when she insisted Patrick comfort me in the way I was dying to have him. It was so selfless of her, especially since she didn't realize the significance. But things were suddenly unbearably hard for me. It was one thing, not having Patrick but realizing, truly believing that it was coming one day. It was another to live that dream, then have it jerked out from under you. Was that it? Was fifteen years all Eric had foretold? If the cycles were. Ben opened the door and admitted Jock. He gave Rachel a package. "I bought something for you to wear."She took the package and left it on the sofa. Then she and Jock greeted each other by hugging and kissing. The three sat on the sofa and chatted for a while. Rachel brought drinks for him and her son.Jock told Rachel, "Brandon phoned me. He asked me to come over and chat with Ben and you frequently." I'm glad, Jock. So, you must come often."Jock took the package he had brought and offered it to. But she no longer struggled the tubes. She shook and tried to work for more distraction from her pain. Although, it interested me that she didn’t seem to take comfort in her distractions when she heard Nina’s voice. In fact, I noticed that she heard Nina’s voice and struggled... only to change her direction when she heard my voice. She sniffled blindly and contorted in her heavy bondage, whimpering. Her head turned as best it could with her tubes to my voice and I studied the reaction.