The youngest son, Jackson, had remained unmarried, preferring to bed the local whores at the two saloons in Elko. He also cut quite a swath through th...e daughters of several of the neighboring ranches and local businessmen. He liked his girls young, enjoyed using them for his pleasure and then discarding them, always returning to the whores. After all, deflowering a virgin was a specific pleasure, but he preferred to bed an experienced woman who knew that it was her job to satisfy his every. .. he offered his."Turning around he saw Amanda and her scrutinizing gaze. "I don't thinkso," she declared a moment later. "Let me look into it or we go back andask Richard. Your choice."They couldn't go back. There was no Richard. Not a normal one. Hecontemplated running away, but how far would he come? In oversizedtrainers and with this alien body it was a miracle that he hadn't fallendown in a heap yet. Reluctantly he let the backpack slide from hisshoulders.Since when had Amanda become so. And Fiona.” He tried to hold the smile, but it broke, and he looked down as Azamel came into his mind again.“They recover, and yet you do not?”“That’s not it. I’m not still mourning her, not really, you know? Just, what she said. Still digs at me.”Antoinette nodded, eyes ahead, thinking. Probably thinking up another way to try and distract him from himself.He was cool with that. He could use the distraction.“I did have fun tonight, Antoinette. And Clara—”“I did not invite Clara.”“You. Please don't tell Scott." Okay," I said. "I won't tell him. Besides, it's not my place to tell him."Walking back to the dorm, I did feel for Hayden. I knew I was very luckyto have Mom accept and love me after I told her. I can't imagine being inHayden's position and having to weave lie after lie to hide the truth. Itbroke my heart for Hayden and could tell he was tormented by it.Privately, he must have really struggled but he was able to be true tohimself with and around us.Back at the room,.