"It was like a gift from God," Dad reminisced. "To think we could get within 30 yards before she even moved!"Colin spoke up. "She was so big! I didn't...realize how big she was at a distance, but I was getting nervous as we got nearer. What if she'd turned on us?" What were you thinking, Jeremy?" I knew I was getting too close. I couldn't wait much longer." That was the truth in more ways than one. "I could feel my heart beating so hard." I had one hand tangled in Aunt Marie's hair, moving her. "To be honest I thought you were gay all this time," I retorted. He smiled and laughed a hearty laugh. "Not at all," he said with meaning behind it. I stared at him, hoping maybe if I glared at him enough he'd be scared and run away. He didn't. I rejected him six more times before my shift was over. I dragged myself to work the next day, feet dragging, grumbling to myself, upset with the god damn world, when I spotted Mr. Desperate sitting contently at a table closest to the counter. I moaned. "Jack, what's Bill's situation?" Well, Cap'n, hit looks lak Bill wuz awful lucky. That there arrow jus' broke a couple of ribs, but didn't penetrate beyond that. That there wound's gonna hurt lak hell, but hit ain't gonna kill 'im ifen he don't aggravate hit too much." Thank God fer that! Ya go ahead an' reload. It looks like we still got a few minutes afore they try again." Shiply picked up the two guns from the dead man and used that man's supplies to reload them. He gave one to Jack to use. "She knows that she is needed here for a long time. I hate cities like Dallas. Too many people. Hell, I even hate the Cowboys." And I hate the Texans," she managed a half-hearted laugh. "On the way in, I saw a pawn shop. Lets go there to get my ring." Your ring! I was going to buy you a nice one." I only want a plain old cheap one," they reached the car. "No more diamonds or costly jewelry from now on. I've got my diamond here," she lifted the hem to her plain cotton blouse to show her navel.