If you want, I can leave some small firewood pieces here in easy reach so you can keep this little fire going." No. I'd worry the wind might come up i...n the canyon, and it would get out of hand. I'll be fine. These wool blankets are good. They remind me of good woven blankets I had once, in the desert. You've done all you can for me, so you'd best douse that fire now, and get down to Jim's."It was five miles down to the forks and another five to the trailhead at the edge of Brightman's ranch.. Even if they didn’t dislocate, they would still hurt like shit. And once done. I could do nothing about it. Without the ladder, there was no way on earth I was going to get free.I did consider walking down the steps of the ladder before kicking it away, to lessen the impact, but what the hell. The plan was to challenge myself as much as I could.Five. I began to steel my mind for what was coming. Four. Second thoughts, but I knew that would not stop me. It never did.Three. Damn, I should have. If they dodged.Camels spilled to the ground, screaming in pain, throwing their riders to the sand. The unfortunate guards fell in bloody spurts, their life soaking into the sand as the final rays of the sun winked out and night settled.I set my shield as the second wave charged in.Thrak“Save me some,” I grinned at Faoril as she lifted her arms, wiggling them, her robes sliding down to her elbows.“And risk you getting your head cut off?” Faoril asked.I snorted. “By them.”The raiders charged down. ’ ‘Then I must pay you.’ That began a bit of a verbal tussle but I finally got it through to her I did not want paying. This led on to further cross purpose talk since Jessica insisted she must reward me, the reward offered being that me and my wife have dinner with her one evening. I had to point out that I was a widower, and she said it was because I was still wearing a wedding ring she thought I must have a wife. Jessica went on to say that, ‘I too have been alone for two years.’ I jokingly.