They were better horses than I figured but then again, men who rode outside the law couldn’t really afford a slow horse. I took them, stopping on th... trail to remove my saddle and bridle from Blackie. It hurt me to see him layin’ there. He’d been a good hoss, carrying me all the way from Texas without complaint. They’d taken my rifle and emptied my saddlebags. There were a few shotgun shells scattered on the ground and I reloaded immediately. There were a couple of Winchesters on the outlaw’s. She wasfurious. "Didn't think I'd notice, did you!" She shouted. "Didn'tthink I'd be able to tell the difference between the pictures of youbarefoot and those of you in nude nylons?" "I'm sick of you treating me like a witch you wish to see burned atthe stake." Alex snapped back. "You're acting like you'd rather seeme dead than get a sex change operation. Just so you don't have tobe embarrassed." "Shhh..." Alex's mother hushed him. "Don't bring up the "W" wordin this house. The government. Being aroused... wanting you... wanting to hold you so fiercely... I had no idea how peaceful it would be... I had no idea... how strong the feelings would be... how much I would want you..." Cindy gasped as she whispered, "want you inside me..."Jim opened his eyes and gazed at her in love. "Cindy..." he whispered. He was almost crying tears and the words just wouldn't come."Hush. I know. It's okay..." Cindy smiled and sat up and petted his head for a moment. "You know, the all-powerful. " What of the Craebh Ruadh, my Mage?" I asked."We do nothing, John. Gilles must not suspect we are here and Operation Able Archer will last for ten days and I cannot see the Craebh Ruadh surviving another twenty minutes at their current rate of attrition, still they've taken down five Coalition Mages, which should allow the rest to escape, should they so desire," Morgana explained.We moved further into the base and used minimal magic in the way of simple aversion spells to keep any wandering.