"For me, Noah, it's not where, it's who." She smiled when she said, "who," and I smiled back.Marian spoke up, surprising me. "You were forced to marry... us, just like we were forced to marry you. My father didn't give me a choice. He didn't even TELL me until Ruth came to get me ready for the ceremony. I found out he'd given me to you when Ruth handed me the white veils and said to get undressed so she could help me into my ceremony dress."I was scared, Noah. My father is a brute, and if I had. "He kissed her gently and then pulled her into his arms. "I love you," he whispered. "More than anything in the world I love you." He kissed the top of her head. "My little Puss! My precious! My ... my life."Sally purred."I've got something else to tell you," she said. "Mum's found a man and I think they're pretty keen on each other." The one she introduced you to at Christmas?" Yes. He took her to a sheep fair and then she gave him supper and the supper has become a weekly fixture. He's taken. Shepulled herself up to her full height and puffed her chest out as shewalked towards the three orcs, jabbing her finger accusingly. "You thinkyou can just bully your way through life, huh? Well lemme tell yasomething, you big lugs! Gadgetzan won't bend over backwards to yourthuggery! You're going to let my customer here go, and you're going toleave my room and not bother me again. Understand?"The lead orc smirked wide, his large tusks poking into his cheeks. "Isthat so?"One of the other grunts. He let Mary go. What's he going to do to me now? And then she said out loud, "No." No?" Steve hadn't expected that.Kimberly defiantly stared at him, her lips pressed tightly together, her face red with rage.Steve shook his head and clucked his tongue. "Okay, you're free to go." Kimberly was half out of the chair when he added, "HR will contact you Monday morning. Don't be late."The girl froze and then collapsed into the chair. "HR?" Her voice cracked. "Why are they going to call me?" I was told.