Veronica's face lit up when she saw Emily walk in. She stood, opening her arms and walking around the desk to hug her stepdaughter. Emily returned the... smile, preparing to embrace her stepmother.Emily was just eight years old when her mother died from breast cancer. Her father was devastated and focused mainly on his business ventures for the first year during which he was without his wife.Veronica met him at a business conference she was hosting. He had sought her advice on numerous occasions. . but now we have to decide... the options aren't many." Constance looked at her companions. "Well there aren't any really. I obviously won't send him to jail of course, and the probation services are stretched to capacity and are taking on no more new cases, so there is only the punishment center. If we defer it to the next sessions, they will want to know why... and what can we tell them... that he was utterly contrite?" "I know... it just seems unfair... that we get belligerent,. "Oh no! Not again!" was all she could think. Whoever had grabbed her had one hand around her waist and the other over her mouth. She could make no sound and her assailant was much stronger than she was, stronger even than the man that had attacked her at the hut. Whoever it was, they were pulling her down behind the bar, forcing her first to her knees and then to the floor.Some sort of cloth was over her mouth, she thought at first it was drugged as she gasped trying to catch her breath. In. I can fight no more. Tell Shadow and my sons that my final thoughts were of them and of the happiness that we shared together. I leave you to take over my duties to my sons. Teach them what I would have. Make them welcome at the hunter's fire, and act in my place when it is time for them to bind their wrists and to become members in the tribe. You have always been a good friend to me, and I have enjoyed your company on all of our hunts and journeys." Two Bears was going to make some encouraging.