“WHAT! What do you mean you got kidnapped? What happened?” “Calm down, it’s okay. I killed him.”

“Channie laid her head over his heart and closed her eyes. Josh kissed her cheek … and screamed. ~***~ “Josh! What happened?” “My mouth.” He touched his lips and grimaced. “What’s wrong with your mouth?” “It feels like I kissed the inside of an oven. Did I burn you?” “No, not at all.”

“No way. I swear I wasn’t thinking anything … inappropriate.” “Really? What were you thinking?” A faint blush crept into Josh’s cheeks and across the tops of his ears. “I was thinking that I would really like to talk to you again, without worrying about anyone overhearing us.” “That’s all?” “Pretty much.” “That wouldn’t trigger the curse.” Josh’s ears and cheeks went from pink to cherry red. “Well, I might have … sort of … maybe … been thinking that you look really nice today.”

“You have completely captured my heart. I promise to do everything in my power to make you as happy as you’ve already made me. I’d do anything for you, Channie. No sacrifice is too great. Will you accept this ring as a token of that promise?”

“It's not what you do that makes who you are; it's what you eat.”

“See—this is the problem. You don’t even get where this is going. You can’t just ask me to come in, or kiss me, or tell me you want to know what smoking pot feels like. When I’m close to you I feel crazy, okay? When you say my name I feel crazy. It’s not…the right thing for you. I don’t think I can just…be your friend.”

“If those outlaws got a gander at you, they wouldn't let a little thing like your brothers and your pa stand in their way of having you. The less they see of you, the better, especially now.""What do you mean, 'especially now'?""You were always a temptation in them pants but now all gussied up in a dress, you'd tempt angels to jump heaven's ship!”