The Runaway Groom

Once Irene opened the door, she found Zachary tiptoeing back to her room.

She called out to him, "Where have you been?"

Zachary turned around and smiled. "Nowhere."

“Did anyone tell you that I called you?" Irene asked him.

An unnatural reaction appeared on Zachary's face, and he somehow looked awkward. "You called me?"

"Yes I did," Irene told him with no uncertainty, "and it was a woman who answered, saying you were taking a shower. I told her to tell you to call me back when you're done. She didn't tell you, did she?"

Zachary chuckled. "Nope, she didn't.”

"Are you serious about her?" Irene asked her.

Zachary walked over and sat on the couch. "What do you mean?" "The woman who answered my call," Irene said.

Zachary appeared nonchalant. "She's just a woman. What's with the seriousness? Just need to satisfy my physical needs."

Irene frowned, speechless. "Giving up on yourself, are you?"

“No, but I'm no saint who's above worldly needs," Zachary said seriously. "Is it really so terrible, sleeping with one?"

Irene certainly

like you?"

before adding, "Isaac doesn't because he's not like most men. He has

snorted. "You're either covering up for him or covering up for

been with him,” Zachary said.

Irene had faith in Isaac. "Just do what you will!" She got up, ready to go back to her

was late, and she needed

"Why did you

could she have forgotten? Turning back toward Zachary, she said, "We're moving back

it safe there?" he

called me, saying that the crisis

I'll make

did not bring much over when they came and therefore did not have much to carry back, aside from personal items and clothing. Since there was no furniture at all, they just

since Pierre would help with everything. Once they returned, Tommy was running around happily in the

to shoot, since he had seen Eagle hit a leaf with a pebble before and was really

his black eyes on him—things had certainly been cordial between

Tommy nodded.

said, "We'll need to get

his little head. "No—you're too