Copyright � 1999, Kellis
�Losing a babe is hard, Jill.� How can you bear up so well?�
The two women were standing at the foot of the sickbed.� Enough light leaked around the cloistering drapes for them to see each other without disturbing the sleep of the convalescent patriarch.
The speaker patted the other�s arm in sympathy.
Jill shrugged, pushing back a strand of chestnut hair that had escaped her bun.� ��Bear up,� Martha?� As if one had a choice!�
The dark brunette continued earnestly, �I lost one myself, and it nearly ripped out my heart.� I think it�s wonderful that you can be so fatalistic.�
�But your little girl was almost five.� In my case �� You knew my first babe died, didn�t you?�
�No, I didn�t.� You�ve lost two?�
�At five your poor daughter was a person, but my two boys were still babes.� Andy was only two months.� So many babies die in the first year.� I�ve learned to hold some part of my feelings back at least until they can talk.�� She smiled slightly.� �Fortunately I have two talkers running over the hills with your Bob as we speak.� They talk enough for four.�
Martha smiled more indulgently.� �Girls though they are, I doubt they outtalk my Bob.� It�s interesting, don�t you think, that only your girls have survived and only my boy?�
�So far.� If this war ever ends we�ll both make more, I expect.�
Martha glanced at the recumbent figure.� He had ceased to snore some time ago but the heavy breathing was regular.� �Do you � enjoy that, Jill?�
The chestnut�s eyes flashed.� �Should I know what you mean, Martha?�
The brunette recognized a twinkle and licked her lips.� �I heard James and you in the summer house one evening last June � mostly you.�
�Did you!� I think that�s when I conceived poor Andy.� If you heard me, you know the answer to your question.�
�I�m so glad for you �� Though at the time I thought you in agony at first.�
�That, too, Martha!� Have you heard it expressed that a �man possesses his woman?��
�I believe so.�
�That�s how it was.� James possessed me, every part of me.� My only wish was to help him do what he wanted, get what he needed, give all he had.� Such times are the most wonderful experience in life.�
Martha�s eyes widened.� She took a deep breath.� �You speak as if they were common.�
�No, not common.� �Twere common, they could hardly be wonderful.� Surely you know them, too!�
�Well, I � know of it.� In the summertime I�ve overheard the serving women through open windows.�
�Here at Georgewood?�
�Yes, in my youth.� I shouldn�t tell you this, but it�s not so bad to hear of a boy.� Our mother whispered that James caused most of that noise.�
�I don�t doubt it.�� Jill grinned.� �If we were cattle, he�d be a prize bull.�
Martha sniffed past her smile.� �My brother, the bull!�
Jill remarked complaisantly, �I�m certain he put the babe in my maidservant, though she won�t admit it.�
�My god!� You don�t mind?�
�Not really.� He�ll not run off with a servant.� And he doesn�t neglect me.� Four babes in five years is my evidence.�
The brunette shook her head.� �You�re such a strong person, Jill.� I admire strength.� You�re the right wife for James.�
�Thank you, Martha.� You�re a dear sister.�
�In-law,� the brunette corrected.� �James is strong, too.� Far stronger than I.�
�Of course.�
�I refer to his personality in this case.�
�Are you so weak?�
�In comparison.� Though I am a year older, he pestered me as a child until I gave in to his demands.�
Chestnut eyebrows rose.� ��Demands,� Martha?�
The brunette smiled self-consciously.� �Not as bad as that, Jill.� Fortunately we were too young.�� The smile vanished.� �Else he might have been just that bad.�
�How bad was he?�
�I permitted him to compare us intimately.�
Jill studied her sister-in-law.� Slowly she smiled.� �How old were you?�
�Ten and eleven.� Of course we were still ignorant as babes.� I didn�t appreciate the significance of what happened until much later.�
�What happened?�
�His thing � stuck straight out.�
�And you touched it, of course.�
�I �� Jill, I have never spoken with anyone of this, not even James.�
�What did you do?�
�We did a most thorough comparison.� In fact � your analogy of cattle is singularly appropriate.� I played ��
The chestnut�s blue eyes definitely twinkled now.� �His calf?�
The brunette flushed, nodding.
The twinkle became a chuckle.� �He still loves that game.�
�Does he!� Do you mean that you ��
�Routinely.�
�But � he is hardly a child!�
The chestnut chuckled.� �Hardly.�
�But a grown man makes such ��
After a moment the chestnut asked, �Were you about to say �an effusion?��
The brunette retorted dryly, �I was about to say �a mess!��
�It can be done tidily.�� Jill cocked an eyebrow at her sister-in-law.� �I don�t believe you never served a grown man so.�
�Well, of course �� I suppose that every husband demands it.�
The chestnut grunted.� �Who waits for a demand?�
Martha�s eyebrows rose.� �Do you mean that you initiate it?�
�Why not?� It causes him to return the favor immediately.�
��Return the ��� Oh!�
�James has admitted making the servants squeal thus.�� The chestnut smiled reminiscently.� �Heavens, he makes me squeal!� He�s learned to wield his wicked tongue just �� But this is interesting, Martha.� Thank you for your disclosure.� I begin to believe that incest is common in all families.�
The brunette studied her companion.� �Including yours?� But you had no siblings.�
�Perhaps not, but my father�s sister bore eight, four after the death of her husband.�
�I knew that.� Are you suggesting ��
�Why do you think there was no scandal?� My father simply wouldn�t permit it.� He raised Aunt Vera�s children as his own along with me.� As well he might.�
�I admired your father.� There was a strong man!�
�Yes.� Unfortunately not stronger than a cannon shell.�
�This damnable war!�
�Do you have any news beyond the battle for Peregrine?�
�Only that our losses were frightful, and when the fighting ��
�Lula!�� A husky voice rose weakly from the far end of the huge bed.
Martha broke off in the middle of her sentence and hurried forward to lean over the recumbent form.� She spoke in soothing tones, �Lula is ill, Father, and can�t come.�
Toward her on the fluffy pillow turned a curly white beard, parchment skin with patchworks of wrinkles at eyes and forehead, and watery blue irises set in unblemished whites beneath incongruously black eyebrows.� A thinning mane of white hair spread around the face.
�Ill?� the quavering old voice repeated.� �How can she be ill?� She wath thpry enough thith morning.�
Martha glanced at Jill and sighed.� �I told you he�d not understand.�� Back to the old man she continued patiently, �She suffered an accident that seems to have hurt her back.� She won�t leave her bed.�
�If I don�t underthtand it�th becauthe you tell me nothing.� What kind of accident?�
�A � fall, I believe.�
The old man grunted contemptuously.� �Clumthy wench!� You muth call on Clemmie.�
�Clemmie?�
�Before I have an acthident!�
�Clemmie was sent to the village, Father.� She�ll be gone another hour.�
The old eyes glared.� �I cannot wait an hour � nor even ten minuth.�
Martha squared her shoulders and raised her chin.� �Father, I�ll do it.�
�You will not!�
�I�m sorry, Father.�� She sighed heavily.� �If you miss the jar, you can hardly lie in � it until Clemmie returns.� It is I who must sponge you off and replace the sheet and your night shirt.� Please don�t balk me on this.�
The old man grunted again but said nothing further.� The woman retrieved a quart mason jar from the floor, clambered onto the high bed and worked it under the covers toward his midsection.� After a moment�s fumbling she came to rest, kneeling, both hands under the covers.� She blew a fallen strand of dark hair from her eyes and shook her head in mild exasperation at Jill.� �All right,� she announced.� �It�s ready.�
�I felt you!� the old man confirmed testily.� A moment later he breathed a long sigh of relief.� His eyes drifted closed and many wrinkles smoothed as tension left his face.� Martha said conversationally to Jill, �Mr. Mason�s invention has many uses, but a tin cup might serve better for this.�
�Why?� asked the chestnut.
�Because one could hear the progress.�
�But with a glass jar you can see it!�
�Oh, Father would never allow that!�
The old eyes flew open again and peered toward the foot of the bed.� �Who�th there?�
Martha rolled her eyes.� �Father, this is James� wife, Jill.� You�ve known her for years.� She�s come to stay with us while James is away.�
�Jill,� muttered the old man, staring at the chestnut woman, who curtsied and intoned, �At your service, Father Westry.�
The old lips stretched in an attempted smile.� �Tho Jameth had the thenthe to marry a looker!�
�Father,� exclaimed the daughter in tones of disgust, �don�t pretend you never saw her before!�
�How can I tell if I ever thaw her before?�
�Well, of course ��
�Thith room ith too dark to thee my own hand if I could raith it.�
Martha�s lip curled.� �It�s light enough for you to admire her looks.� Are you quite finished?�
The old eyes, previously fixed upon Jill, seemed to turn inward.� �Almoth �� One more squirt.� There!� And don�t forget to shake it off.�
The woman�s eyes grew round.� �Shake it off?�
�Work the forethkin.� You muth watch when Lula doeth it.�
Jill grinned slightly.� Even in the dim light a flush had appeared on her sister-in-law�s face.
Martha demanded, �Is that enough?�
The old man�s eyes had returned to Jill.� A matching grin was evident behind the beard.� �Do it more,� he ordered.
Martha sniffed.� �I cannot believe you need it more!�
But she remained in position.� The bedcovers trembled.� The old eyes glittered on Jill�s.
Suddenly Martha snatched one hand away.� �That is enough!� she cried, glaring at the old man�s face.� She brought the mason jar forth more carefully and held it up for inspection.� It was nearly a quarter full of urine.� �You did well, Father,� she conceded.
�Told you it wath urgent,� he said, still grinning.
Martha got down from the bed, careful of the jar, found the lid and breathed easier when it was screwed down tightly.� She stood beside the bed, contemplating her patient.� �It�s almost time for luncheon, Father.� Will you eat a bowl of broth?�
�No.� Bring me a glath of port.�
�Have you forgotten?� The doctor permits you to have port only at night.�
�Damn the doctor!� He�th the reathon thith room ith clothed up dark ath midnight.� Jill, open thoth drapeth!�
�It�s dark so you can sleep,� Martha protested.
�Thleep!� I�ll thoon thleep forever.� Jill, open them, pleath.� Thath a good girl.�
The chestnut shrugged.� �Obviously you�re not sleepy.�� She went to the nearest window and threw back the heavy drapes.� A bar of brilliant spring sunlight fell across the bed, making all eyes blink.� Jill returned, now to the opposite bedside from Martha.� The old man cocked his head up at her.� The bright backlight turned the hair that escaped her bun to reddish gold, reflecting on the creamy skin above her low cut summer gown.
His eyes narrowed.� �I do remember you.�
�Of course you do, Father Westry.� You and I opened the reel Christmas last.�
�That we did!� How lightly you danced!� How thweetly you kith�t!� I wath jealouth when you left with Jameth.�
The woman laughed.� �Tell no one of that!�
Martha cocked her head.� �What does he mean?�
�I�m afraid I teased my father-in-law,� Jill admitted.� �I always wanted to be an old man�s darling.�
The old face sagged.� �Now I�m jealouth of anyone who can dance with you.�
Martha nodded.� �Of anyone who can dance, you mean.�
�Yeth.�
�Father, the challenge now is not to dance;� it is to live.� You must tell me what you will eat.�
The old man sighed.� �Bring whatever you have.� It�th all only thalt-water anyway.�
�You liked the honey and cider.� Will you try that after the broth?�
�You are out of honey.�
�Oh, that�s right.� The cider, then?�
�Bring it.�
She raised her face to the backlit chestnut.� �Will you keep him company?�
�Of course.�
�I appreciate it.� I must empty this and make a tray.� I am learning just how much we depended on Lula.�
She came around the bed and hugged the chestnut with her free arm.� �We are so fortunate that you could visit.�
�I�m glad that you need me, Martha.�
The brunette turned away and crossed the large room, bearing the mason jar.� Hinges squealed as she opened the door.� When it had thumped shut, Jill sat down on the edge of the bed, concentrating on the haggard face before her.
She asked, �What in the world happened to you, Milton?�
�What have they told you?�
�Of course James and I heard of the fall from your horse and the broken leg, but this ��� Her gaze upon him, propped up on pillows, cover raised to his shoulders, conveyed her astonishment eloquently.� �Your hair and beard are snow white in less than two years.�
He nodded.� �They didn�t tell you the wortht.� I broke my fool neck.�
�Your neck!� But isn�t that ��
�Fatal?� Usually.� If you believe the doctor, I�m a very lucky man.� I�m paralythed from the neck down, with no feeling in armth and legth, but at leath I�m thtill here!�
�Oh, Milton.� How terrible!�� Her cool hand reached out and stroked his forehead.� �Cut down in your prime!� What do they say?� Will you recover?�
�They thay I�m too old.�
�How old is that?�
�Thikthty.�
She repeated his word exactly.� ��Thikthty.�� Does a broken neck cause such a terrible lisp?�
�Not directly.� That part ith funny.� My falth teeth fell out and the horth thtepped on them.�
�Stepped on them!�� She covered her mouth.
�Ith all right!� Go ahead and laugh.� God knowth, I do!�
�Why haven�t you bought another set?�
�Did buy them!� Can�t thtand to wear them.� Only dethent dentith in the county�th gone to war.�
�To war!� she snarled.� �How I hate that word!� Does that bear on the reason James and I weren�t told of your ill luck?�
�I would not dithtract him, Jill.� What he doeth ith too important.�
�His family is very important to James!�
�Egthactly.�
She nodded.� �I see.� Very well.� I know about it now, and I can help you.� Your new teeth need to be ground to fit.� You may find this hard to believe, but I can do that.� My father was older than you.� I helped him with his false teeth.� I�ll send for the tools today.�
His eyes lit.� �That would be wonderful!� If I could eat a dethent meal ��
�What are you eating?�
�You heard Martha.� Broth, thtrained thoup, thalt-water.� I love honey, but ith not yet in theathon.�
�I can help you there, too.� Milton ��� She took a deep breath.� Her eyes narrowed purposefully and she added almost under her breath, �James always says, �Damn the conventions.��
�Perhapth a little too readily?�
�I don�t think so.� His string of victories suggests otherwise.�
�Yeth, but don�t dithcount luck.�
�He believes in making his own luck.�� She cocked her head at him.� �Martha says you�re dying.� She�s resigned to it.� The doctor gives you a couple of months.� You certainly will if you don�t eat.�
�When you fikth my teeth ��
�We daren�t wait for that.� Milton, why didn�t you possess me Christmas last?�
He stared at her.� His eyes softened.� �Becauth you were my thon�th wife.� I couldn�t betray him.�
She nodded.� �We thought that was it.�
��We?��
�James remembered us together before he passed out.� He asked me what happened.� I told him.�
�You told him!� Everything?�
�Everything:� where you put your hands, where I put mine.�
�Good god, Jill!� What did he thay?� Should I fear hith homecoming?�
�He actually sympathized with me.� He accused me of cold feet.�
�Accuthed you?�
�He claims that in gentle company the woman controls subsequent events once they have gone so far.�
The old man stared at her and slowly shook his head.� �It wath hard, but I wath the one who walked away.�
�Because I let you.�
�You let me?�
�I sensed your embarrassment.�
�My god!�� The old eyes burned upon hers.� �He taunted you with it?�
�Taunted?� Not at all.� He knows my lustful nature very well, Milton.�
She took a deep breath and seemed to change the subject.� �My fourth child, your third grandson, Andrew Currin Westry, died just five days ago.�
�I�m thorry, Jill.� I hadn�t heard.�
�I suppose not.� He only lived seven weeks and I�m sure Martha wishes to spare you ill news.� I�m telling you so that you�ll see how you and I can do ourselves a favor.�
The old eyes narrowed.� �How did he die, Jill?�
She sighed.� �I don�t know.� He developed a high fever in the evening and was dead in the morning.� Our doctor is of course gone to war.� At least he might have put a name on it.� I brought my girls here in hope of avoiding the infection, if any should arise.�
�Thith wath four dayth ago?�
�Yes.�
�Then your � breath muth be killing you.�
Her eyebrows rose.� �My breath?�
�Damn teeth!� I mean your bubbith.�
�Oh, god, they are!� I have bound them up, but they ache terribly.� I�ve not had a good night�s sleep since �� Can you � will you help me with them, Milton?�
The man�s mouth fell open, exposing a pink orifice in the midst of white beard.� She chuckled slightly.� �Now, Milton, are you truly so shocked as that?�
His tongue appeared, licking his lips.� �What I am ith drowning.�
�Drowning?�
�In thaliva.� I know the thweet flavor of human milk.�
Her eyes sparkled.� �Then you are hungry!�
�Thtarving!�
She nodded.� �I suspect that is only too literally true.�� She sat up stiffly.� Deft hands behind her opened the buttons of her dark gown, which fell to her waist.� A camisole went over her head.� She untied two tag ends on her chest and unwound the binding linens, letting them fall to the bed.� Her breasts appeared at last, heavy and full, thickly veined, thin beads of milk already standing out on the freed nipples.� She spun around on the bed, settling her back against the pillows beside and above the man�s head, presenting the nearer nipple to his mouth.� He closed on it avidly.
The flowing milk actually hummed as it departed her.� She grimaced at the exhibited power, so much greater than a babe�s mouth, but within moments her expression relaxed into the sag of relief.� �Oh, god, Milton!� she breathed.� �You can never know how good this feels.�
After a bit she giggled.� He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
�When James does this, he cannot resist biting just enough to annoy me.� It may be unconscious;� more likely he does it in the belief that it titillates me despite my protests.� You demonstrate that the absence of teeth can be an advantage.� Not so a beard.� It tickles!�
They lay in quiet contact until he had drained the one breast.� She said, �I hope you�re still hungry, Milton.� I have another that aches just as bad.�
�Oh, god, oh, yeth!� Jill, you marvelouth creature!�� He licked stray drops from his beard.
Chuckling, she rose up and crawled across him, assuming a similar position to present the other.� He attacked it with equal vigor.
She frowned.� Her hand went to his forehead.� �You�re perspiring, you poor thing!� This is a warm day in May but they have you covered for January.�
She pulled off the blankets, leaving only the top sheet in place over his body.� �There, isn�t that better?� Hold!� What�s this?�
Her hand slipped under the sheet to a tented peak previously covered with blankets.� She felt him quiver at her touch.� She said wonderingly, �I thought you could feel nothing from the neck down.� No!� That�s right.� You told Martha �� She grasped you here, didn�t she?�
The bearded head nodded without releasing her.� �My god, Milton, you are certainly still a man in this part!� Can you � feel with it in the normal way?�
Again he nodded.
�How interesting!� she breathed.� �Though how can you be sure?� When you have emptied me, perhaps we can find a way to test it.� That is, if you wish.�
He nodded vigorously, causing her to laugh.
They enjoyed their very companionable silence only another minute before the squeaking door hinges announced Martha�s re-entry.� �I�m sorry I took so long �� she began but broke off upon approaching the tableau on the bed.� Both man and woman had twitched at the first squeak, but neither had man relaxed his mouth nor woman the arch of her back.
Jill forced a smile.� �As you see, we found a way to pass the time.�
Martha stood at the foot of the bed, eyes wide.� A hand rose to her mouth.� �You � you�re ��
�Feeding Father Westry,� Jill finished for her.
The brunette hurried around the bed and clambered to her sister-in-law�s side, hugging her about the waist, laying head on her bare shoulder.� �Oh, Jill, I�m so glad!�
�G-glad?�
�I wanted to ask you to do it.� I knew your breasts were hurting you.� I just couldn�t find a way �� Oh, Jill, I love you!�
Jill withdrew the arm that had been fondling the man beneath the sheet and hugged the brunette in return.� �And love your father, too, I see.�
�Oh, yes,� Martha declared.� She raised up to study the man beyond the swollen breast.� �Is he taking it well?�
�He has nearly emptied the both.�
�Oh, good!� Oh, this is wonderful!�
Jill chuckled slightly but her face showed curiosity.� �You wanted me to suckle him?�
�I know about wet nurses.� I have even served as one.�
�Have you indeed!� Who was the man?�
Martha shook her head.� �I�m not brave as you, Jill.� It was an old woman who had served my grandmother.� I fed her several times after the loss of my girl.�� She smiled indulgently at the watching man.� �How is this meal, Father?� Does it compare to the sexton�s honey?�
The man closed his eyes blissfully.� His mouth continued to work.� She reached out and stroked his cheek tenderly.� �My big babe,� she murmured, �how sweetly you must suckle!�
�This is no babe!� Jill declared.
�His mouth is larger, I admit,� Martha responded fondly.
�And this, too, belongs to no babe,� Jill added, slipping her arm between them to pull the sheet below the man�s hips.� He was still erect, foreskin withdrawn from the crimson head.
�Oh, Lula takes care of that,� Martha retorted after a single glance.
�Lula!� Jill repeated, cocking her head to stare at the man.
�Yes, Lula!�� Martha�s tone expressed vexation.� �Too well.� That�s what took so long.� I got the truth out of her.�
The man released the nipple at last.� �What did she thay?� he demanded.
�It�s her back, all right, and front, too.� She�s missed her courses twice.�� Martha sat up in the bed, eyes narrowed on the man.� �I don�t suppose you noticed if she douched, did you?�
�Douched?�
Jill�s hand clasped the erect organ gently.� �Still a man where it counts, Father Westry!�
�That�s the strange part,� Martha continued.� �She claims Father had nothing to do with it.�
The man spoke up.� �Did she thay who ith the thire?�
�One of the lieutenants we boarded in February.�
�Hith name, daughter!�
�Ah, Ellington, I believe.� Harry mentioned that he was killed before Peregrine.�
�Good!�
�Father!�
�I mean, ith good becauth the bathtard of a war hero dethervth rethpect.�
Jill glowered, �And the man who falls in battle is automatically a hero.�
�Ith true!�
The brunette took a deep breath.� �Father, respect or not, I must know if the child could be ours.�
�Athk her again.�
�I � wish to ask you.�
�How can I know, when you�ve given her to passing soldiers?�
�I said �could be.�� Did you usually ��
The passage of time had moved the bar of sunlight across their bodies.� The brunette�s blush flared like a flame in the brilliant light.
The man demanded, �Did I what?�
�Ejaculate within her?�
�Ha!�� He stared into the distance.� �Within her, yeth, but not to make a babe.�
Jill smiled as Martha�s eyes widened.� �What do you mean?�
�After the firth time, when you watched to thee me not hurt, I cannot recall another dithcharge into her quim.�
�Well, if not � where ��
The man frowned.� �Where do you think?� In her mouth, of courth.�
Martha sighed.� �Well, then, I guess �� The first time was too long ago.�
Jill glanced at her curiously.� �You sound disappointed.�
�I am.�� Her eyes fell.� �I had hoped �� Father was such a fine man ��� She glowered at him.� �Why always in her mouth?� Have you no further use for women?�
He shook his head.� �It wath her choith.� I wath grateful for any attention whatever.�
�But I know she is a lustful woman!�
�She ith,� the old man agreed, smiling.� �If you notith, my tongue altho workth well, and Lula ith even lathier than she ith luthful.�
�Lazier!� You mean she reversed herself on you ��
�Egthactly.� We tried oneth with me on top, but she had then to work even harder.�
Martha snorted.� �I have taken my station outside this door numberless times to give you privacy with her.�� She glared at him before swinging passionately to Jill.� �How I wish that a lady might curse!�
The chestnut laughed.� �A lady can do anything she wishes.� But before you waste ingenuity in devising acceptable oaths, let me make a suggestion.�
Martha had sat up, releasing her embrace of her sister-in-law.� She shook her head.� �It seems too late.� Clemmie�s belly is too old.�
Jill�s hand reached out and raised the half-wilted organ.� �But this article isn�t.�� Her eyes burned into Martha�s.� �Have you considered that you have two other bellies available to you and still potent?�
�Two other ��
�With advantages that not even Lula had.� These bellies pregnant would produce no comment, being the property of husbands who take frequent leave, as neither would a resemblance to Father Westry among their fruit.�
Martha�s face paled as she stared into Jill�s eyes, her own eyes shifting from one to the other.� Jill inclined her head toward the extended hand.� �You have touched this fine article barely enough to feel it stir.� Did you never want it all over you, inside you?�
�I ��� Martha�s pallor vanished before an infusion of pink.� Her eyes turned to the indicated article, already stiffening.
�Wait a minute!� the old man cried.� �What ith thith propothition?�
Jill smiled dreamily at him.� �A reason for you to live, Milton, and the means:� mother�s milk for the fortnight until your teeth are fitted and beyond if you wish, and two eager houris to beguile your waking hours.�
Martha�s hand joined the chestnut�s.� �I�ve always wanted �� she murmured, voice trailing off in evident fascination.
�Of course you have,� the chestnut asserted.� �You�ve loved and admired him all your life.� You�ve squirmed in his lap to feel this very same staff rise under your bottom.�
�You know that, too!�
�We all do it.�� She chuckled.� �Fathers think of it as their guilty secret!�
�But I�m his full daughter.�
�Which makes it all the sweeter for you.�
�About to betray her husband.�
�Men define betrayal differently.� Attendance on your father will hardly reduce availability to your husband, especially when he�s gone six weeks out of seven.� And when it�s needed, I�ll jigger for you and you for me.�
�What if they take leave together?�
�Then Lula can resume with her mouth.�
�My god!� Martha breathed, her eyes shining.� �My god, it�ll work!�
�My god indeed!� the old man said dryly.� �Do I get no thay?�
�Of course you do, Milton,� retorted Jill fondly.� �I depend on you to say, �This one is empty.��
Martha had leaned forward, holding the plum-headed staff now in both hands.� She glanced away from it long enough to suggest, �Or �slip down just a little.��
Both women laughed heartily.� After a moment the man contributed a contented smile while his tongue searched for a last drop of milk in his beard.