The stuff was bitter. Foul tasting. She knew what it was now – hyssop, the herb given to prisoners before crucifixion. To lessen the pain they said.... Once, lying on a dining couch, she had wondered idly why they would wish to lessen the pain. The young legate beside her had laughed. Not for mercy, he said. It was simply that the pain of nailing was so great that criminals often fainted when they were put on the cross, and many of them never revived. With the hyssop almost all would survive those. I'm not here forconversational niceties. I'm here because I'm still in love with mywife. After all this time. So I need to know how much or little of herlives within you so I can get over her and move on with my life." You're in love with me?" I can't help but feel my heart skip a beat."Not you!" She's pointed. "Her!" But you never told me." I deflate as rapidly as I escalated."I did. I told you I loved her and that an evil psychiatrist took heraway from me. Dr Black." Oh God!" She hadn't been. Here I imagined the stripping was to stop, but I reckon short; my spark, at the desire of the rest, tenderly begged, that I would not suffer the small remains of a covering to rob them of a full view of my whole person; and for me, who was too flexibly obsequious to dispute any point with them, and who considered the little more that remained as very immaterial, I readily assented to whatever he pleased-In an instant, then, my under petticoat was untied and at my feet, and my shift drawn over. " I'm going to hang out here today Dean. I just need to be away from eyes and..." Cleo trailed off."Sure." Dean said around a mouth full. "Does Jake need you?" No. All the deals were done and Molly told him I wasn't feeling so hot. So he'll hold off unless he really needs me. Speaking of which." Cleo looked to me to take over."Cleo said Jake usually has a July 4th party?" Yeah." Dean said swallowing a gulp of soda. "That's this weekend isn't it?" Great." Muttered Billy. "Means the stables hands.