When no one spoke for long seconds, she stole a peek at us. "Is that a lot?" she asked meekly."The better part of a million bucks, Willie," I told her...flatly, and when she didn't respond, I sighed. "Yes, that's a lot. Where did it come from?" Rudolph won it in some sort of contest," she said meekly. "Several, actually. Apparently, that was the reason he made me his slave." Slave?" I asked."Contest?" Dee and Brenda asked simultaneously. They looked at each other, then back at Willie. "What kind. " Retrieval?" Mary said."That's what James calls some of the contracts he takes," Deanna said. "He goes in and retrieves someone who has been kidnapped, abducted, or held hostage. That's how I met him. I'm conflicted every time he takes an assignment. If it's a protection contract, he'll most likely be gone for two weeks to two months. One protection gig lasted six months. During a protection contract he keeps someone from harm, sort of like the Secret Service with the President of the United. The thing is that I should have seen it. She’d been one of my best friends for over a decade and for a man of twenty five years of age that is a rather impressive boast. She’d been my friend nearly half of my life and my entire adult life. We’d always joked about finally meeting face to face but it never actually materialized. Suddenly three months after she’s given premature birth to twins she decides seemingly on a whim that now would be the perfect time to come meet me. How much of a sign. "Well, I guess nobody really is. But tell me, do ya love 'im?"Hugh thought of Erin, waiting by the altar, dressed magnificently in a black tuxedo and bow tie. "Yes!" Hugh stated firmly."Well then, you're as ready as you'll ever be." He smiled and held out his hand.This time Hugh slipped his small and elegant hand (Hugh was wearing silk gloves for the occasion) into Mr. O'Neil's larger rough farmer's hands. Mr. O'Neil grasped the hand gently and reassuringly. Stepping forward, he opened the.