Well you know... interested, but I wasn't sure. You don't give a good clear signal either way." Well, being married and all man, I can't just very wel...l go around advertising something like that." I know, I was just curious about it." His eyes were locked on mine, waiting for me to say or do something.So here we were, two buddies, and the ball clearly in my court. I stood up and moved around the table toward him closing the distance between us to mere inches. He sat on the edge of the picnic. As you are undoubtedly aware, this community is living from hand to mouth and has been doing so for at least the last twenty years. The problem is that none of us is getting any younger and none of the younger generation seems to want to invest the long hours and risk the uncertainties of the weather to take over the orchards and the farms.”“About a month ago, I was approached by a gentleman from out of the country who wishes to remain anonymous and we had a long conversation about the future. "Sure," I said. "I was just leaving." I stared back at Westy, trying to let him know I was not happy about this situation. "But I'm planning on coming back in about an hour," I said."An hour's plenty of time for us," said Westy, holding on to poor Eleanor. She probably thought he was being protective. I thought he was being possessive. I picked up the letter I was trying to write and left them alone, heading up to Spencer's room.When I got to the sixth floor, the music pumping out of rooms up. Fortescue was a quick eater and adept at pushing her way to the front of the queue. Soon she came and joined Diana, leaping onto her knee and purring loudly."I saw Francine again, darling"Fortescue growled a nasty growl. There was an infinity of feline loathing in that growl. Francine hated cats and Fortescue hated Francine."Francine wants to be a slave, darling Fortescue! Silly old Francine. But you could fix it for her. Couldn't you, sweetie pie?"Fortescue purred for a while and went to.