Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

"I watched as she and Phoebe got into it, and even though I couldn't make heads or tails of what the fuss was about, Queena

touched Phoebe's head, and down she went, just like that. I heard them say Phoebe was a goner. It scared the bejesus out of me. I

got to thinking, what if Queena did the sto my dad? Would he drop dead too?"

Abner had his suspicions about Queena, and this little tale piqued his interest.

"Why were they at each other's throats?"

"l ain't got the foggiest. Phoebe was by the window in the Temple family's house, seemed like she saw something that spooked her

good. Then Queena shows up, whispers something, and Phoebe's out cold. I was scared stiff, hid in the bushes, didn't dare make a

peep. I felt like I didn't even know Queena anymore."

Abner fell silent, turning it over in his mind. The Temple family's house? What sort of skeletons were hidden in those closets?

"You mentioned seeing a handsfellow over at Queena's?"

"Ah! Yeah, a real looker."

Abner couldn't put a finger on who it might be, but if Queena was keeping him under wraps, he had to be someone of note.

As Tobias fidgeted, anxious, the sound of Jackson's voice cfrom outside, signaling his return from the Temples’.

Relieved, Tobias was about to head out to greet him when he caught Queena's voice.

"Your injury's nothing to fret over. A few more doses of medicine and you'll be right as rain."

"Queena, I owe you one. Take a fish hwith you for the trouble."

"No trouble at all."

a shiver running down his spine, and quickly ducked into another

no sign of Tobias,

a bench, "Said he was beat, went

"That little rascal tired? That's a first. Queena, I won't

gaze lingering on Abner, who exuded

seize the opportunity to deal

then, I'll be

returned to the

for a card game, as was customary in the village following funerary rites. Swould

night.

her way to the back

on the bed, his head wound

the contours

had to keep him, by any means

a pack of needles, hundreds of them glinting

facility, she had honed her skills

of lan's acupuncture points, but before it could pierce the

her wrist.

cracked, his body weak, only his gaze still held

are you trying

recalled having seen her face at the research base, a fleeting glance he hadn't

curled her lips into

if you don't

don't you think?"

his mouth a

current state, he was at

No use arguing.

his