When Paula ventured a comment on his mood, he looked daggers at her, but didn't reply. Helen guessed that Paula had been close to another punishment t...hen.Later that day, Frank explained that he had heard that Karl was angry at the loss of a miner and a woman he had bought, and had hoped to keep for a while."What do you mean, loss?" asked Helen."She is to be executed in public this afternoon, and he will die."Helen wondered how that came about, but asked, "Why is she to be executed? Do you often. When I woke up this morning in this very bed, I was still 49% terrified of losing you, but the 49% of me madly in love was joined by the 2% of you saying ‘Yes, I’m willing to give our love another shot.’ So maybe the better question is: What changed for you? Why did you immediately say ‘yes’?”I gave her a helpless look. “Isn’t it obvious? You asked. You could ask a hundred things of me and I’m bound to say ‘yes’ to all of them just because you’re you.”Dawn’s eyebrows rose. “You could ask a. He had to be drooling when he saw her, but I'm not a woman so I have no idea how Nancy saw him. I still don't think we have any business meddling." Rob needs to come out of his shell. He needs to get over Grace and Nancy needs some one to help her put Stan behind her and I think she and Rob would make a great couple." Well I got him here and I introduced them and that is as far as I'm going to go. We have other guests so we need to get back out there."I went outside and got another beer out of. I cursed as another growl escaped my gut, and looked again at the smoke. I found myself, drawn nearly against my will, walking forward. I pulled the hood of my long coat forward, settling it over my compact horns. I found myself gripping the wire hilt of my knife; a large dagger with a wicked curve, my only possession of worth. It was. . . comforting.It only took an hour to reach the source of the smoke, a lone cottage surrounded by a fence. A barn stood nearby, and I could smell the tell-tale.