But this day she did not rush to rise. She lay still, swaddled in the twisted sheets, her mind consumed by the fierce embrace that William had laid on...her last evening. She knew he should not have given into his temptation, but she forgave him that easily.She was however harsher on herself. She had been brought up to know better. She knew the fate of the adulteress, yet it was not the warning fires of hell that warmed her blood. No to her shame, it was William's urgent touch. The thoughts faded. But the only thing between him and his dream was his girlfriend Riya. She had always feared that long distance would spoil their relationship. It had happened to one of her friends. But Mayank was too ambitious to let that happen. She rang the doorbell again, twice this time, but to no avail. Dejected, she started to leave. As soon as she turned, she heard a click on the door. Mayank was standing there against the door. ‘Riya’, he said with delight in his voice. He had half expected to see her. "You kill him?" Lucy asked, comforting her sobbing sister."Doubt it," I said. "What's going on?" I asked the trembling girl who was sniffing and wiping her eyes."They's wild today," she said. "Two a'them hauled Jenny up to her room first thing then that feller made a grab for me. Momma's mad as can be." Bob, where the bloody hell are ya?" someone yelled from the inn."Get him to come back here," I whispered to Lonnie, and she went to the open barn door and beckoned, smiling broadly and looking. ’ She didn’t play games. It was one of the things he liked most about her. ‘Yeah. About that. I’ve been thinking.’ ‘Hmm. Sounds ominous.’ A single eyebrow arched up, and the corner of her mouth twitched. Joe breathed a little easier. ‘Not at all. I think you’re gonna like it.’ ‘Oh?’ Joe took a breath. Here goes. ‘Would you like to go out with me to Santa Rosa tomorrow night?’ ‘What, like, on a date?’ ‘Yeah. A proper date. Dinner and a movie. Or dancing. Would you like to go dancing.