Remain.

If I were to return to Madosin proper, it would not be with the man who had not only threatened, but almost cost me, my life.

In the tightest and most polite tone I could muster, I said, "While I thank you for the offer, I think I'd much rather stay a while longer. After all, I do believe I have a debt to Ms. Allison. For her skills and the use of her stock. I could not, in good conscience, merely leave her without compensation."

"Yes, that's... true enough, I suppose," Ms. Allison said, with a few short nods, before looking over to him. "Sorry about taking up your time, Hawk. Thought he'd want to be home as soon as he could."

Mr. Hawk shrugged. "No skin off my nose, Allison." He then gave her a playful wink and a smile. "Just don't hang on to him for too long, yeah? I don't want to have to tell Morris that the lady in the woods has kidnapped his esteemed writer. Who knows what wicked, unimaginable, erotic things she's subjecting him to?"

Ms. Allison's scowl returned, and she struck him in the arm, to which he merely chuckled. Holding out a finger to him, she threatened, "If you go around spreading lies about me again, I swear, I will give your mother the worst case of food poisoning she'll have ever had. And then you will have to deal with her. You know what she's like."

That look of bemusement on his face faded slightly. And I enjoyed watching it do so. "I do indeed Allison. What a cruel woman you are," he replied, with one eyebrow raised, but mockery still in his voice. He shook his head dramatically and tutted again. "To threaten a man's dear sweet mother. That is the lowest of lows."

An annoyed grunt and a head shake was all she made. Taking his arms, she spun him around and pushed him back the way he came. "Shut up and get out of here Hawk! I have things to do, and you're making me waste the cool morning."

As he was being **** away, he looked over his shoulder in my direction and smiled broadly. "Do 'writers' count as 'things' to you, Allison?"

My cheeks grew hot from that, but I was unsure if it was from embarrassment or anger. "Piss off!" Ms. Allison swore before shoving him hard. Laughing, he turned and waved at us one more time, before vanishing into the woods. When she drew close, I noticed that her cheeks were quite red as well. "Sorry about him, Mr. Mckay," she murmured.

I swallowed loudly and took a deep breath. "I do not much care for him," I stated, quite plainly. "Those accusations of you taking advantage of me will not do. Not to mention that it is not a topic to be so lightly discussed when women are present. When I return to Madosin, I will have words with Mr. Gottlieb about him."

She bade me to dismiss that thought with a wave of her hand. "Don't bother yourself. He's in a... playful mood today. Just, just let it be."

"I most certainly will not," I returned sharply, looking at her with eyebrows furrowed. "Playful mood or not, it is not proper to speak about a woman's Virtue like that."

She looked at me evenly, frowned, and put her hands to her hips. "And who are you to speak about my Virtue, Mr. Mckay? For all you know, whatever he's said could be true."

I was taken slightly aback by that, but I matched her gaze. "I know enough, Ms. Allison. After all, you were the one who built the Barricade on the Bed between us."

Her frown slowly softened. "That I did. That I did." Blowing a stray lock of hair away from her face, she shook her head and started walking into the woods, stopping briefly to pick up a Basket. "Speaking of, that's what we're going to be doing today. Come on. Grab the Axe while you're at it."

"What? What are we doing? Where are we going?" I asked, trotting up behind her, axe in hand.

"You take up too much space, so we're going to go find some good material to make you a Bed. After that, you can help pick some Mushrooms for lunch, and then help me weed the Garden, and then you'll build your Bed while I cook," came the simple reply. "I do hope you won't regret your decision to stay here Mr. Mckay, because I am going to put you to work."

"So I gather," I said dryly, steeling myself.

"You will indeed."