?You are now a fine Nubian princess, you have the rings of slavery of your master, but you should wear them with pride. Let’s feel your neck here, m...m, quite a bit of room already. Well, why don’t we add another ring now???Oh no, please not another ring, please.? She sobbed.?Now there, number 1, I had hoped you were now resigned not to fight this, mmm?? This silenced poor number 1 and Emma approached with another steel ring. Michelle tenderly raised number 1’s chin, whispering something. “Hasad had a family emergency and asked me to take over for him. You need equipment and we must hurry. It gets dark early and I do not wish to be on the road after sundown. This is not safe country.”“What do you mean?” Maddie asked.“The PKK, Kurdish resistance, has been pushing west from its normal territory,” the driver answered. “It is safer not to be on the roads after dark.” Relieved that the driver seemed to be taking their safety seriously, Keith held out his hand.“I’m Keith Drucker,” he. It was a long walk back to town and she could only hope that she could make it there and onto a bus before Luke found her…if he even bothered to look, that is. Hopefully, if he even realized who she was, he knew that they were all much better off without her. After Ben finally drove off, after he promised to get back in touch with Luke about a couple of colts, Luke dropped down onto the porch step and buried his face in his hands. What had started out as I twinge behind his eyes, had quickly. She is who I learned to play from. That is a lullaby she'd play for me when I couldn't sleep. Sappy, I know. But, it was the first real piece I learned, once I knew how to play.” “Both my kids learned through me as well. It was a real bonding time. Both still play from time to time, but they don't have the same kind of passion for it as I do. Your mother is very talented, Isaac.” “Oh, she knows. Though she loves being told so, she adores when people stroke her musical ego. Though she isn't.