She was also startlingly beautiful."Get over there," the man said, voice shaking, blood dripping from his arm. He gestured with his bayonet, and the g...rl grimaced, elbowed him and twisted away, leaving him with a piece of her homespun dress as she screamed and ran past me, her hair flowing behind her like a cascade. The furious man lunged, and I grabbed his wrist, took his bayonet from his blood-slippery hand and drove it through the middle of his chest, pinning him back to the log wall while. You know that prideful way dogs scratch at the grass with their back legs? No sign of shame or penitence there.I hit the grocery store just before eight, for maximum choice of steaks, and found some great-looking aged-on-the-bone Angus ribeyes. I grabbed a pair for today and another pair as spares or for the freezer. As well as my usual list (some items for Sunday breakfast and lunch doubled, to feed two), I also picked up some condoms, just to be safe if the day developed like I hoped it. That… wasn’t what I meant to say.“I guess,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I won’t stop you next time—next time I’ll throw the first punch for you, how’s that?”Why did I hug him all the sudden? Emily wondered, bewildered by her own actions. The impulsive things she did when her temper got the better of her were usually very straightforward and easy to understand. But this…?Emily didn’t know what to say. She was still angry at him, and also grateful, she wanted to apologize, and thank. ”Gastro admitted, “Same idea, merchant. Do we only call you Hairy? No other name?”“I am happy with Hairy Merchant for now. It gets me recognised, and that helps business.”Gastro frowned as he asked, “Have we met before, merchant? Your voice seems slightly familiar, but distantly so.”Sistero had been standing to one side, near her new husband, and she commented, “It seems that way to me as well, Gastro. Has this merchant been here before? Have you, merchant?”Hairy was quick to say, “Yes. I have.