“What was it you told me before you crossed back here the last time? Ah, yes. I think it went along the lines of 'geez, Jasper, it's way safer over there than over here!'" His sky blue eyes were filled with amusement. "The last time you crossed, I found you on the verge of being raped. Now this time around, we're here just over amonth and you manage to get held up at knifepoint.”

“We're not arguing about it, Shawn. We're staying."Shawn stared at her with narrowed eyes. Jasper burst out laughing. I elbowed him."What's so funny?""You. Both of you. Do they raise you to be like that? By the moons, I feel sorry for every man that lives over there!”

“I tend to forget how important she is." Jasper looked into his brother's brown eyes and remembered when they had sat and talked when they were young. "I mean, I know how important she is to me. If something were to happen to her, I may as well let the same happen to me. But it's easy to forget why she is here. That she didn't just come back to make me happy.”

“William gave a hard laugh. "Is that how you treat family around here? You kidnap her from her husband, lock her up in a cell then expect her to wipe out everyone she loves because some quack job who isn't even from here thinks he can pay god? I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound very brotherly to me." He gently took my arm and pulled me away from Brice. "Now. I think I heard the lady ask you to leave.”

“I was giddy with relief and I started to giggle again. "If you're sorry, then I'm sorry.""Why would you be sorry? You were upstairs!""Well, they were here for me, weren't they? It's my fault everyone breaks your nose and tries to kill you."He took a deep breath to object and started to laugh. "I'll give you that one. But don't worry, I don't mind.”

“I can't lose you," he whispered. "The thought of you getting hurt, or worse..." His voice caught in his throat. He took a deep breath then turned and looked down at me. "I finally just found you.”

“What's Shlova?"He started behind me. "When did I say that?""This morning, when we started off. Before you got mad at Dodge. You said,'we better get going, Shlova'.""Oh. Well, it means love." His voice was quiet.”