In three long strides, Pat was there. She knelt down by the wheel chair and put a shaky, cold hand over Caren's where it lay on the wheelchair arm. "Are you okay?"

Tears welled in Caren's eyes and she nodded. "I-I'm the only one who is." Pat leaned forward and hugged her daughter hesitantly, and felt Caren melt into her arms. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Pat held on tight for a second and then looked up into Jean's eyes. She saw love and understanding there. There were tough days ahead, Pat knew, but from now on the four of them would be a family. It was the best Christmas gift anyone could ask for.

A Shepherd's First Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ~Luke 2:8-9

Northern Afghanistan: December 24, 2005

The Earth's vegetation screens the aging of the planet, but in Afghanistan, the scars are visible on the face of the ancient land. The ranges of dry cliffs and hills are pox marked by weather, erosion, settlement, and war. And war. That is the history of this area.

It is inhabited by a tribal people who have scraped a meagre existence from dirt. Not soil, dry dirt. Not farming, but scraping. It is an environment that breeds tough women and hard men. Opportunists. Survivors.

Three thousand years ago, they defended their lands from Alexander the Great. Later, they raided the camel caravans that passed through the range on the veins of the Great Silk Road. Those legendary, spicy trails that led from the heart of China to the belly of Europe.

Islam burned across this rough land, providing a faith that suited the lives and souls of the people at the end of a sword. Then the crusades. The name is spit on the ground. They came in waves, raping, slaughtering, and stealing in the name of their god. Not THE God. Their god, the fundamental god of the ignorant and misinformed.

Then wars, so many wars. Each brought to them from strangers. What is the difference between the Sultan, the British colonial, the Russian, the pipeline company, the drug lord, the Coalition? They are all strangers to the land. They are all fleas that have jumped on to irritate the underbelly of the beast.

The sand, the rock, the sun, the wind are timeless. The people of Afghanistan believe in these and Allah. No one else. You scrape. You endure. You survive.

Erin watched the shadow of the helicopter undulate across the rough terrain below. It was a shadow-bug zipping in and out of the cracks. She glared at the female officer who sat reading a report

across from her. The Major had yet to acknowledge her existence. The Major was angry.

Erin had left the provincial capitol, Kandahar, without permission, travelling north-east in the back of a truck to Gereshk in Hel-mand province and then overland by mule train along the Helmand River valley to Ghorak. There she had replaced a returning paramedic at the medical clinic paid for by a Christian fellowship. She worked there for three months until the Major came to get her. She'd been planning a simple, but special, Christmas for her volunteers before the military helicopter dropped from the skies like a bird of prey and carried her away. She resented greatly leaving her clinic unattended because of a mountain of paper work in Kandahar that prevented her from getting on with her job.

She wondered how much the Major knew about her. She knew a lot about the Major's mission. There are no secrets among tribal people. The word spreads from campfire to campfire, particularly information about foreigners. Officially, the Major had been on a tour of bases, visiting Herat, Shindand, and Farah along the western border with Iran. Not controlling, but checking in with the war lords who still ruled this isolated corner of the world. With the war lords' help, the Major had gone unofficially to Kushka along the north-west border and the gateway to Vozvyshennost, Russia, to broker a deal for some captured servicemen. The Good Shepherd searching for her lost sheep or an agent bringing back her operatives?

Erin leaned back, resenting her confinement and already plotting how she would get back to her clinic.

The first bullet hit. The Major gave an animal cry and grabbed at her foot. Blood ran along the creases of the military boot and dripped on the floor. More bullets bored holes in the metal frame. The copter lurched hard to the right. Smoke billowed around them. They dropped, a wounded bird seeking shelter. Circling, circling. Erin whimpered in fear, clawing at each second of life that fell away from her.

The fall, Erin would never forget. It was burnt with the acid of fear on her memories. She remembered nothing of the crash. It was the sound of hot metal cracking and the stench of oil thickened smoke that brought her to awareness. Someone fumbled at her harness and she gasped in fear. It was the Major. Released, she fell forward, only catching herself in time. She swung from the hot body of the wreckage out onto the dirt, rolling clear before struggling to her feet as the cuts and bruises made themselves known.

A first aid kit flew out of the wreckage and bounced along the ground. Then canteens and ration kits. The Major followed a minute later, not with a swing but a roll and crawl. She lay gasping in pain at Erin's feet. Instinctively, Erin knelt to assess the injury. The bullet had torn through the back of the boot above the heel, ripping the Achilles tendon all to hell as it went and probably shattering the calcaneum, the large heel bone. Erin could feel the bulge of the coiled tendon above the boot.

"Bad?"

"Not good. You're not going to be walking."

"I'm going to have to. Help me up."

With difficulty, Erin helped the tall soldier to her feet.

The soldier groaned in pain. "The pilot is dead. We'll have to leave him. We need to get out of here. The enemy is not far away. I need you to take this plastic bag and wrap my boot in it so I'm not leaving a trail of blood. Then give me the cargo to carry and let me lean on you. We have to find a place to hide."

Erin nodded and did as she was told. There were not many incidences where she could imagine herself taking orders from the Major, but this was one of them. Quickly, she gathered up the items and helped the woman drape the various articles over her shoulders. Then she wrapped her arm around the woman's waist and let the soldier lay her arm over her shoulders.

"Ready?"

"Gotta be."

They hobbled off. Erin wasn't sure how the Major was doing it. She'd seen football players who had torn their Achilles tendon on the field scream in agony. The Major groaned with each hop forward she took on her good leg, but she said nothing. Sweat dripped off her quivering chin, but she kept moving forward, scanning the cliffs around them as they went. Slowly, painfully, they moved on. The canyon was stifling hot. As they got to the edge of the gully, the soldier called a stop.

"Give me a second. Get behind the boulder."

Erin did so and watched the woman pull a grenade out and pull the pin. She lobbed it into the wreckage and then dove behind the rock with Erin. A wall of sound struck them, then burning debris fell all around.

"Shit!"

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not. Come on, get me on my feet."

"Why did you do that?"

"I want them to think no one survived and I don't want them to find anything they can use against us. They'll still look but perhaps not as successfully."

They walked for a little while longer. The woman leaned more and more weight on Erin's shoulder until she was gasping with the effort of keeping the soldier on her feet.

"Up there."

"What?"

"See the crevasse, the shadow in the cliff face?"

Erin squinted her eyes in the sun. "Yes."

"It's not much, probably a shepherd's shelter, but it's going to have to do. I can't go much farther."

Erin looked at the steep bank of loose rock and sandstone ledges. "I can't get you up there."

"I know." The soldier unslung the bags she was carrying and passed them to Erin. "Take these up there. No matter what happens, stay put until help comes. Got it?"

"Yes. What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to crawl up there and join you."

"You can't. You're in no condition to make a climb like that."

"There's no other way." The statement was said in a tone that indicated the discussion was over.

Erin looked at the woman. "What's your name?"

"Toni. Toni Markham."

Erin leaned forward and kissed Toni's dusty, tear-stained cheek. "Good luck, Toni."

Toni didn't smile. "Good luck, Erin."

Erin nodded and then started up the steep and unstable cliff. The cargo she was carrying was making her ascent clumsy and awkward. It was sometime before she made the ledge where the small cave was located. Quickly, she crawled in out of sight, stowed the bags, and then looked out to see where the Major was.

Toni was on her belly using her arms and one good leg to drag herself up the cliff face in slow, painful lurches. She was covered in dust and pebbles knocked loose by Erin's ascent above her.

Erin bit her lip; she wanted to go to the woman and help her, but she knew in doing so she would be endangering both their lives. She watched, feeling the pain of the other. Toni was about two thirds up the climb when male voices echoed down the valley. She froze.

Erin looked to the left. Three men wearing tribal dress and carrying rifles were slipping and sliding down into the canyon from the north side. Another watched from above. All the men were

armed. Erin held up three fingers then pointed down. Then she held up one finger and pointed up. Toni nodded. Erin held her hand like a gun and moved her finger as if she was firing. Toni nodded again.

Erin watched as the three men went to the wreckage and started scavenging for anything useful. Erin waved Toni forward. She saw Toni grit her teeth and push on with renewed energy and speed. Now she was only a few metres away from the cave entrance.

Erin held her hand up for Toni to stop. Up until now Toni's climb had been hidden from sight by a hog's-back ridge of rock, but the last few metres she was going to be out in the open. Erin waited. The three men had to be busy and making some noise and the fourth man had to be looking away from their position before Toni could cover the last few feet.

The wait was long. Erin knew that Toni must be close to sun stroke. She'd been lying for nearly half an hour on a sun scorched rock face in blistering heat. Finally, one of the men by the wreckage yelled up to the fourth to join them. As soon as he started his descent, Erin waved frantically for Toni to cover the last distance.

The Major slid forward and into the small recess. Stones rolled and bounced down the hill. The four men stopped what they were doing and looked their way. Erin started pushing the sand and stones that had drifted into the crevasse during wind storms forward to cover as much of the entrance as possible. Her heart was pounding with fear.

If she and Toni could easily see the crevasse, then so might the men. Had the sun changed the shadows enough that they could no longer be seen? Had the sand she mounded up covered most of the entrance or made their location more obvious? She looked over at Toni. She was barely conscious. Erin opened one of the canteens, wet some gauze from the first aid kit and put it against the Major's parched lips. Then she looked again from her narrow vantage point.

Her heart jumped. The men were right below and looking up at them. One of the men started to climb. Erin reached down slowly and slid Toni's gun from her side holster. She wasn't sure she knew how to use the gun, but she was sure that if she had to she would fight for their lives. The man poked around in some bushes only a few metres from their location. A rabbit scooted out and took off in a zigzag pattern through the rocks. The man raised his gun and fired.

Erin covered her mouth trying not to scream. Toni moaned and moved. Erin slapped a hand over her mouth too and felt Toni freeze. The bullet had hit a rock and the rabbit disappeared over the ridge. The men below laughed and the hunter swore, turned, and slid down into the canyon again. Erin breathed once more, her head pounding from the stress. She thanked the god of rabbits and slid down until she was lying beside Toni. She placed her lips close to her ear.

"They're right below us. Don't move. Don't make a noise."

Toni nodded. They lay side by side for sometime.

Finally, Erin slipped forward again and looked out. The men were back at the smouldering wreckage, picking through the bits of debris.

"They're back at the copter."

"Amateurs."

The single word had taken effort and was filled with the sound of pain.

Erin slipped back to Toni's side and held her head up while she drank some water.

"Drink more. You need it."

"We can't waste it."

"I need to cut your boot. The foot must have swollen considerably. It'll be less painful if I can ease some of the pressure. I don't want you to lose circulation. I'll clean and pack the wound as best I can."

"No. Footwear is essential for survival."

Erin looked into the officer's eyes.

"Major, you are not going to be able to put any weight on that foot until the bones are set and the tendon stapled back in place. Even then you're unlikely to make a complete recovery."

For a split second, Erin thought she saw fear in those dark eyes. Then the Major nodded.

"Go ahead."

"You can't make a noise."

"I know."

Erin tried to be as gentle as she could but the damage was considerable and there was little she could do but try to prevent infection and stem the bleeding. Once finished, she stabilized the foot as best she could. Toni was dripping with sweat and quivering with pain. Tears ran down her face, but she had barely made a sound.

"I'm finished for now."

Toni nodded.

Erin made her as comfortable as she could and then slid up to the entrance to have a look. The four men had piled what they wanted down the canyon a bit and were now squatting in the shade of the cliff, leaning on their rifles as they waited.

"They're waiting down there."

"Not good."

Erin slipped down in the small, confined space. Her fear had now changed to a deep, all consuming depression. She didn't want to die violently at the hands of a group of men. She didn't want to be stuck in here with the emotionless soldier. She wanted to spend Christmas somewhere safe among people who cared about, and understood, the significance of the day.

"It's Christmas Eve."

No answer from the woman beside her. Tears welled in her eyes and rolled down Erin's face. Quietly, she prayed to her God to spare their lives, and to give her courage and understanding of His plan. It calmed her.

She reached out and with a finger she made the sign of a cross in the sand by the edge of their hideout. Then she prayed again. "Blessed is the Lord God. On this night of the Lord Jesus' birth, I give thanks. Peace on earth and good will to all."

She looked back at the soldier lying in the cave. Steel grey eyes were fixed on her. Erin met the gaze.

"You're awake. How do you feel?"

"In pain. You were praying."

"Yes. Don't you believe in God?"

Toni gave a slight shrug. "I never gave it much thought. I don't think that cross in the dirt is going to save us if that's what you mean."

"You might be surprised. That mark represents a great deal of power."

"Maybe on a spiritual level, but I'm just as glad to have my revolver." Toni's hand went to her holster and froze.

"It's here. I borrowed it when I thought they were going to find us."

Toni took the gun back, surprise written in her face.

"I thought you were trusting in your God."

Erin smiled. "The Lord helps those who help themselves."

"Wise decision. A gun is better than that cross any day."

"Oh, no. The cross is better. I was so scared. You were nearly unconscious and one of the men had climbed up here to see why the rocks had bounced down the cliff. We were within a few metres

of being discovered when he flushed out a rabbit from some underbrush. He shot at the poor thing, but it got away."

"A lucky break for us."

"Or the Lord used the rabbit as a diversion because we are to live."

Toni snorted. "Those men are waiting for the rest of their group. When they get here there's a good chance they'll comb these hills and we'll be found. Our only chance is that our guys find us first."

Erin's heart sank. The depression and fear she had pushed back with prayer returned. Gritting her teeth she forced herself to go on.

"Remember Christmas as a kid? They were magical. What did you do for Christmas, Major?"

"Nothing much."

"What?"

Toni sighed. She needed to make an effort. So far the young woman had been a real trooper and she owed her for saving her life. She fought the intense pain and tried to recall past events.

"I was an army brat. Dad was a career soldier and mom a waitress when he met her. We moved from post to post overseas and state side. By the time I was a teen, I'd lived in half a dozen different countries. We'd sometimes have a tree and I'd get some presents. That was about it. Mom died in a car crash when I was seventeen. Dad suggested I enlist when I was eighteen, so I did."

"So you're a career soldier, too?"

Toni shrugged. "I got my education through the military. I need to put in my time. So what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, your Christmases." Erin wiggled in the sand to get more comfortable.

"They were magical. There'd always be a big tree — a real one that the family had gone out and cut at a tree farm. We'd all decorate it together. During that week, we'd all put our presents under the tree. We took great care in wrapping them. By Christmas Eve, the tree would look wonderful.

"Our Christmas stockings were always lying at the foot of our beds in the morning for us to open. My mom was a minister and my dad a teacher. We'd all go to mom's carol service on Christmas Eve and her morning service on Christmas Day. Mom could pack them in. She was a good speaker but, more than that, she always gave a service that was uplifting. People left her church smiling. She said the modern Church couldn't be just about faith, that it

was also about caring for the well-being of people's minds as well as their souls. She said that the Church shouldn't teach people to fear sin but to be happy and confident in their faith and then they wouldn't have any reason to sin.

"We'd have a late brunch and then open our presents. Later that night, our grandparents and any extended family that was around would show up for turkey dinner. It was wonderful. Jim, my brother, is married now and lives out west. Mom and dad are both retired and usually have Christmas with Jim's family. I join them when I can, but usually I volunteer to work so the married members of the team can have Christmas with their families."

"You're not married?"

"I'm a lesbian."

Toni laughed softly for the first time. "That must have been hard for your mom to handle."

Erin sighed. "Yes, I suppose it was, but she never questioned or showed any regret. She gave me a hug and said that God's mansion had many rooms and that the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ was one of love and understanding."

"She's quite the lady."

"Yes."

Their conversation was interrupted by the yell of voices. Once again, Erin crawled forward to look out.

"It's nearly dark. More men have come. Lots of them. It's hard to tell how many. I can only see shadows by the campfire light."

"We'll be okay until morning."

Erin slipped down again, moving close to Toni for warmth and comfort. To her surprise, Toni took her hand in hers.

"Try to sleep. There's still hope, but it probably won't hurt to say a prayer or two just in case."

It was a long time before Erin could sleep. When she did, her dreams were of horrors that haunt all women. When she woke near dawn she found that Toni had slipped forward and was watching from the entrance.

"Toni?"

Toni turned and smiled. There beside her was a dried branch stuck in a pile of dirt. Lifesaver candies decorated the branches and beneath the little Christmas tree was a small package wrapped in some gauze.

"Merry Christmas, Erin."

"Oh, Toni! Thank you."

Tears rolled down Erin's face.

"Well, come on and open your gift."

Erin slid forward and reached for the little package. She unwound it and found a military compass.

Erin looked up with a smile.

"Thank you."

Toni blushed and changed the subject quickly.

"They're searching. This group knows what it's doing. We'll be discovered soon."

"Oh, God."

"I'm going to slip out of here and hide behind some rock. When they get close, I'll open fire. With luck, they might not search this cave and you'll escape. If help doesn't come in three days, head south at night and hide during the day. Understood?"

A look of horror crossed Erin's face.

"You're going to sacrifice yourself to try and save me. They'll kill you for sure."

"I'll take my chances."

"No!" Erin hugged Toni close to her. "I don't want you to die."

Toni looked down at the woman who clung to her. Slowly, her head lowered and she kissed Erin's hair softly. Erin looked up and Toni gratefully captured Erin's lips. There was little time for anything else, but they shared in that one dusty kiss, a promise of passion and need that was very intense.

"Please no."

"I need you to live. I need you to be brave."

"Toni..."

"Shhh. It's my job and my responsibility."

"I can't hide here and watch you die."

"We're both going to die anyway, and probably not nicely. This way, there's a chance you can live. I want you to live. Please."

Erin nodded. She couldn't agree because she wasn't sure she could let it happen.

"After I'm out, move back as far as you can into the shadows and cover yourself and the cargo in dirt."

Toni kissed her again. Erin clung to her until she pulled away. Then slowly, Toni slipped from their hiding place and crawled over to hide behind the ridge of rock that cut vertically up the canyon face.

Erin watched and saw the pain on Toni's face. Her foot was an agonizing wound but there was more than pain written there. There was the determination to protect Erin at all cost.

Erin tried to do as she was told. She buried their equipment but couldn't make herself leave the entrance way. She lay there

watching Toni and praying for a miracle that would save the life of the soldier who was protecting her.

The men had broken up into groups of three and four and were working their way up the canyon. They poked under brush and looked into recesses as they went. Erin looked back at Toni. She had raised up a bit and had her revolver out ready. How many shots would she have? Not many. How long could she last? Probably only minutes. Please God, not Toni.

For a minute, Erin thought that the three men combing their side of the canyon wall would not climb this high and Toni would be spared. They had stopped to take a drink from their sheep skins. Then one of the rough looking men pointed to the ridge where Toni lay and they headed in her direction. Toni's first shot tore through the chest of one of the men. The second wounded the man to the right as they dove for cover.

Down the valley, Erin could hear angry voices yelling and men running towards their position. The two men that remained were already firing on Toni's position with automatic weapons. Erin could barely see Toni for the spray of debris shattered off as the bullets hit the hog's-back ridge.

Toni jerked and her blood splattered out on the rock face, but she took aim and dropped a man who was climbing up to join his comrades in the attack. Erin whimpered in horror.

The roar above her took her totally by surprise. Shadows darkened the ground and a hail of bullets rained in all directions. The men scrambled down off the open canyon walls and ran for cover down the valley. Some of them fell. The three copters circled above — birds of prey clawing at their victims. Toni slid down the rock face leaving a smear of blood. Erin grabbed the first aid kit and ran to her.

The bullet had ripped through her right lung just below her breast. Erin worked feverishly to stop the wound from sucking. She got Toni on her side to try to keep the one good lung clear of blood and each time a copter flew over head she covered Toni with her own body.

Several soldiers dropped down on a line bringing with them a basket stretcher.

"It's Major Toni Markham. She's hurt bad. Please help her."

After that, Erin remembered little clearly. Toni was lifted to the helicopter above and the copter moved off. Erin watched until it was a dot in the distance. Another copter had hoisted her to its belly and she had been flown to Kandahar. All her enquiries into Toni's condition were met with vague answers. The Major was in

critical condition. The Major was stabilized. The Major had been flown to Germany.

After many debriefings, Erin was flown home against her

wishes.

A year passed. Erin set up a small Christmas tree in her bachelor apartment. Below it she placed the compass that Toni had given her. She'd signed up to work again this holiday. She just couldn't face being with family and feeling so alone.

Toni had written several times. Brief notes to let Erin know that she was recovering. Erin had written long letters back offering encouragement and telling Toni all about her life. Toni had promised to visit when she could. Then yesterday a phone call had come. Toni was on her way.

Erin hadn't been able to sleep. In the morning, her heart was pounding so much from excitement she could hardly breathe. She looked at her watch. It was still too early to go to the airport, but she couldn't wait any longer. She grabbed her coat and headed out.

For two hours she paced, waiting by the gate for the woman who had protected her with her life. She'd never felt so nervous. Then there Toni was. She leaned heavily on a walking stick and wore blue jeans and a tailored shirt under an open ski jacket. Toni looked thin, pale, and tired.

Erin went to her arms immediately.

"I've missed you."

"Same here."

Erin laughed nervously. "Silly huh? We don't even know each other."

"We will. You were right about the cross. And I have a feeling that He has a plan for us. Merry Christmas, Erin."

"Merry Christmas, Toni. Let me take you home."

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen... ~Luke 2:20

Christmas Now Past

Nancy sighed as she sat down at the kitchen table of her home and wrapped her hands around the hot mug of coffee. Her feeling of coldness was emotional not physical. Florida this time of year was warm and pleasant. She'd retired here six months ago and loved the warmth and the nearby ocean, but she missed her family, especially this time of year when everyone was busy with Christmas plans.

Neil, her husband, had died suddenly of a heart attack when their three children were still in their teens, and she'd worked hard to be both a provider and a mother to them. Holding the family together had filled her life. They'd been hard times but she'd always made sure that Christmas was special. They might not have had a lot to spare, and the gifts were not plentiful, but they were chosen with special care and a good deal of love.

Nancy smiled. The kids had turned out alright although they'd been a worry at times, as kids will be. Gordon was a high school teacher and was happily married with a little son of his own. He and his wife Angie were enjoying a two year exchange program in Australia. Bill was an engineer and working with a company in Bahrain. And Carol, the baby of the family, was studying overseas. Young people were so eager to travel these days.

So here she was, all alone for Christmas. She downed the last of her coffee and went to the sink to wash her mug out. From the window she saw the woman next door walk by with her dog. Nancy knew her name was Kate Randal or "that lesbian in number 42" as she was often labelled by the small retirement community. They had not talked other than to say hello, usually when Kate was out with her dog, or working in her garden.

Nancy had never met a lesbian before; at least she didn't think she had. Unlike others, she wasn't upset that one was living in the retirement community. Live and let live was her attitude. Besides, Kate Randal's garden was the envy of the neighbourhood. Knowing she'd have a neighbour who took pride in her property was one of the things that had sold Nancy on her house.

Good neighbours were important.

Still, she felt a bit awkward about what to say to the woman. She didn't want to seem standoffish, but she didn't think they could have much in common. It would have been nice to have a neighbour with whom she could have become close friends.

She sighed and went to get her pruners and saw. Today's task was to prune the orange tree outside her front window. She tried to keep busy so she wouldn't dwell on being all alone. At Christmas, family was everything, and hers had grown up and left. A deep sorrow welled in her throat and she fought back the tears. The tree needed pruning.

With grim determination, Nancy headed out to the orange tree. She was soon so absorbed in deciding how to attack the many tangled branches that she jumped when a voice came from behind her.

"Thinking about giving that thorny old thing a hair cut are you?" It was Kate Randal.

"Yes, I'm going to try. I can't say I'm much of a gardener."

"I was a master gardener before I retired. I was in charge of the gardens on city property in this area. Here, you hold Only's leash. He's ugly but friendly. I can have this orange tree looking good in no time."

"Only?"

"Yeah, the only male in my life. No doubt you've heard I'm the queer in 42." Kate laughed.

Nancy blushed. "Well, ahhh..."

"It's okay. I am and I'm proud of it. I look at it as bringing a little cultural diversity to the community. Pruning the tree, by the way, is a neighbourly gesture and not a pass. Besides, I couldn't bear to live next door to a poorly pruned tree."

Nancy laughed. Kate was a really all-together sort of person and so happy. Nancy hadn't expected that. She wasn't sure what she expected actually, but she had rather thought that gay people would probably be strange and unhappy.

Nancy bent to pat Only. "Hello, Only. Are you a good dog?"

"Nope, he's a hellion. But he likes to go for walks, he's a good listener, he doesn't leave hairs in the sink after he shaves, and I don't have to wash his clothes."

"He sounds like the perfect man to me."

"I can't complain, although he doesn't do windows," Kate said, looking down at her dog with affection.

"No one is perfect," Nancy said, joining in on the fun. "I hope he doesn't bring all the other male dogs in to watch Saturday football and drink beer from the dog dish."

"No, he's more of a tennis fan. It's the ball, I think. Mind you, he does have the hots for the little French poodle around the corner."

Nancy looked down at the mutt with sympathy. "It will never work, Only. She'll just break your heart and then head back to Canada as soon as winter is over up there."

Nancy played tug of war with Only until Kate stepped back and looked at her work with a critical eye.

"There. It looks a little cropped at the moment, but I've got rid of the storm damage and dead wood. It's got a good shape now and will branch out nice and thick this coming season."

"Thanks. I'll clean up these branches later this afternoon, but first, how about a cold drink? You've worked hard."

"Thanks, I'd like that. Can I bring Only in?"

"Sure. I like dogs."

Nancy led the way, feeling a little uncomfortable having invited Kate in. What would the neighbours say? It was a small retirement community and everyone knew everyone else's business. She felt she needed to be hospitable when Kate had been so helpful. On the other hand, she didn't want to be the subject of gossip.

They settled on opposite sides of the kitchen table with the cold lemonade that Nancy had provided. Only settled down on the floor with a plain cookie that Nancy had given him.

"Thanks for your help. The tree looks so much better. I could never have done such a good job."

"No problem. You know, what that tree needs now is some Christmas balls."

"I, oh..." Tears ran down Nancy's face and she tried to wipe them away but couldn't.

"Shit! Here." Kate pulled some tissues from a box on the counter and handed them to Nancy. "Look, is there something wrong? Is there anything I can do?"

"No, no. It's nothing really. I woke up this morning with the Christmas blues. My children are all overseas this year and I'll be alone for Christmas."

"Oh. Me, too. My daughter will be having Christmas with her husband's family this year."

"You have a child?" Nancy asked in surprise.

"My partner's daughter actually. We raised her together. My partner of thirty-two years died of cancer two years ago."

"I'm so sorry. Neil, my husband, died of a heart attack when our kids were still teens."

"Never remarried?"

"No. When you're working and raising three kids alone, there's very little time for a social life. Besides, not too many men want to

take on a wife and three kids. Listen I'm sorry for getting upset. I don't want to make you blue as well."

"Hey, it's good to show emotion. If it gets all bottled up inside you're likely to explode. Besides, I rather enjoy being alone at Christmas. I'm 58 and enjoy my life here. When Emma, my daughter, and her family arrive my world spins upside down. I love them all dearly but a visit now and again is about all I can handle." Kate laughed.

"But it's Christmas. It's a time for family," Nancy protested.

"True. When Emma was young and my partner, Sue, was alive, we had wonderful, magical Christmases. I try very hard not to disturb that magic."

"I don't understand."

"I remember the magic of when I was a little girl. It was spiritual and warm. Sue and I did our best to pass the message of peace and good will on to our Emma and to make Christmas just as magical for her. Now I hope she's doing the same for her family. The reason that a family Christmas is so special, outside of its religious significance, is that it doesn't last forever. It's a magical gift your parents give you and you pass on to your kids. At least, that's the way I see it anyway."

Nancy pulled a face. "So I've had my Christmas magic and now I have to do without."

"No way. It's just that the magic has changed. If you accept that, then you can enjoy Christmas in a whole different way."

Nancy looked unsure. "How?"

"By making your own magic. I always decorate the garden for Christmas because it makes people smile when they walk by. I go shopping and buy gifts for the mission to hand out. I have friends in for a party. I go to church on Christmas morning and reconnect with my faith. Then I have adventure week and I don't come back until after the New Year."

"I think I'd like to do some of those things. But what's adventure week?"

Nancy shrugged. "It's part of getting in touch again with this beautiful world. This year, I'm hiking in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Do you want to come?"

"Me?"

"Sure, why not. In fact, come and be part of it all. You clearly need some help in magic making." Kate's eyes sparkled with devilment.

"Ahh, I don't know."

"Sure you do. You're just hesitant because you don't want to be a nuisance, have the neighbours talk, and you're not sure if you'd be giving the wrong signals to a queer."

Nancy blushed. "Oh, I mean..."

"Hey, you're retired. Live a little on the wild side," Kate teased. "You'll undoubtedly meet some of my gay friends. I think you'll find them to be remarkably normal. As for me, I'm willing to be seen with a straight friend. At my age, I don't care what the gay community thinks."

Nancy laughed. Kate's enthusiasm had lifted the depression that she'd been carting around for days. "Can I think this over and get back to you?"

"Sure. I'll just be next door. Come on, Only."

Later that night, Nancy's phone rang.

"Hi, Mom. It's Gordon."

"Gordon! How nice to hear from you."

"I'm just checking up on you. I really feel bad about you being alone and sad for Christmas. I wish you'd come down here. Are you doing okay?"

For a second, Nancy thought about what to say. Then she smiled. "First, answer a question for me. Are you making your Christmas magical?"

"I'm trying. Why?"

"Because you should. I know I am. Tomorrow a friend and I are decorating the yard for Christmas. Then I have some Christmas shopping to do for the kids at the mission. I'm going to have the neighbours in for a party too. Oh and I'm off to Costa Rica after Christmas. I'll send you a post card."

The Bus Ride

I was surprised when the old lady sat down next to me on the bus. First, because there were lots of empty seats on board and, second, because it's been my experience that little old ladies didn't feel comfortable being too close to the tattooed, the pierced, and the spiked haired.

"I do like to have a little conversation on a long trip, don't you dear?" she said, as she handed me a plastic bag. "My knitting. Could you just hold it for me while I make myself comfortable? Thank you."

She got her ample parts all arranged and then took back her bag.

"Well, here we are. Isn't this nice. Going home for Christmas are you, my dear?"

"No. I have a gig in Galveston."

"Yes, we'll all have to go into Galveston first. Now how long have you been away from home?"

I thought for a minute. "It would be about ten years now."

"Dear me, that is a long time, isn't it. I imagine they've changed considerably in all that time."

I had my doubts. I tried to imagine my family, Leave It To Beaver Texas style, as anything but condemning. It was a long reach. Instead of answering, I just smiled and went back to looking out the window. But the little old lady wasn't finished with me yet.

"Christmas shopping does take so much of one's money. I could have gone to the bank, of course, but I don't like to carry a lot of money on me. I barely had enough for my bus ticket."

I smiled. "Same here."

Actually, I was down to my last twelve dollars and sixty-eight cents. This had nothing to do with Christmas shopping and a lot to do with my girlfriend cleaning out our account before she left.

"Yes, well never mind dear. You'll have a regular job soon and a steady income."

I laughed. "That doesn't happen playing guitar and singing in bars."

The old lady had taken out her knitting and was clicking away. She simply smiled.

"Are you going home for Christmas then?" I asked.

"Oh dear, yes. When we all get together it's quite a host."

"Big family, eh?"

"It certainly is. What was your favour part of Christmas when you were a child?"

I thought. It had been a while and the memories came slowly, filling me with kind of a melancholy warmth.

"Lots of things, I guess. Christmas stocking gifts, and laughing with my brother. We got a set of Hot Wheels one year. It was great. The big family dinner. Church. You know, the whole Christmas thing."

"Oh yes, dear, I know."

"Funny, I haven't thought about that in years."

"Your brother must be all grown up by now."

"Yes."

"And your parents old and perhaps a bit wiser."

I laughed. "Why would that be the case?"

"Well, dear, I've noticed that parents appear very stupid to teens but much brighter to people in their twenties. Teens often fight over the silliest things."

"Like loud rock music?"

"Exactly."

We pulled into the terminal at Galveston right on time. The old lady stood to leave and I was surprised to feel a wave of regret. She reached down and placed her hand on my arm.

"Now, dear. That pretty woman up there is going to Mindon, too. She teaches music at the high school there and can be very instrumental, if you'll pardon my pun, in getting you on staff. They have needed someone with your background in contemporary music for some time."

She smiled then and whispered conspiratorially, "I suspect the two of you will become good friends. There now, I must be going. Merry Christmas, Jo."

"Merry Christmas." I smiled. I had kind of come to like the old bat. I grabbed my gear and swung off the bus. The old lady was nowhere to be seen.

Shrugging, I shouldered my gear and headed from the bus bays through to the terminal station where Jinx was supposed to meet me. No Jinx. I waited. Still no Jinx. Several times, I saw the pretty woman. She'd stopped to check the bus times on the electronic board, had a coffee in the station cafeteria and now sat reading a book on one of the plastic chairs. Still no Jinx.

I looked at my watch. Paced and then sat again. The bus ride had brought back a lot of memories. Strange, that I hadn't seen the old woman since she'd said "Merry Christmas, Jo." Actually, I couldn't remember ever telling her my name. I went through the

conversation over and over again. I hadn't told her my name. I checked my bags for tags. No name. How had she known my name? And how had she known my family lived in Mindon? Where had the old lady gone after she'd left the bus? She'd just sort of disappeared.

I went over to the bus ticket counter.

"When is the next bus to Mindon?"

"In about twenty minutes."

"Can I still buy a ticket?"

"Sure can. That will be twelve dollars and sixty-eight cents."

I handed over the money. Weird that. I mean, if it had been a cent more I couldn't have gone. It was like the old lady knew. I turned and walked over to sit beside the pretty woman.

"Excuse me. I'm on my way to apply for a music job at Mindon High School. Someone pointed you out as a teacher there."

The pretty woman looked up in surprise and smiled.

"I didn't even know the job had been posted yet."

"I'm Jo Darmara." I held out my hand. I was going home for Christmas and I had a funny feeling I'd be staying.

The Perfect Stranger

Danika Fenton stuck her hands deeper into her pockets and, head down, hurried up the steps of her condo. It was a beautiful but freezing night. The city block had been mellowed by a fresh layer of snow and the warm glow of old fashioned street lights. Window Christmas lights cheered the weathered brown stone facades and, from up on the main street, Christmas music from one of the stores drifted down to her. Tall, blond, and athletic, normally, she would have enjoyed the walk home but she'd worn a light jacket, not anticipating the cold snap, and felt chilled to the bone.

Danny punched in the code for the main door lock and stepped with relief into the warm lobby. Her apartment was on the top floor of a three story walk up. The climb was worth the effort though. Her place was elegant in an old fashioned way, and she'd had a staircase added and a roof terrace built that allowed her a garden and view of the park in the summer months.

The Victorian brownstone had once been a monument to a business man's success in early American enterprise. Over the years, the neighbourhood had gone down hill, only to be rescued, gentrified, and made into condos some years ago for the new, urban, upper-middle class. An inheritance from a favourite aunt had allowed Danny to buy one such condo in the neighbourhood. Most of the people living on the street were young executives or computer whizzes. Danny was neither. She was a new professor of mediaeval history. She liked the neighbourhood though, because of its age and because it was within walking distance of the university. She couldn't imagine herself living in a high rise. She liked the look and feel of aged brick and the unusual architectural features of older homes. Although lonely at times, especially this close to Christmas, her new home and job were perfect for her.

Ben Cunningham and Anthony Calma lived on the first floor. Ben worked in advertising and Anthony did the window designs for one of the larger department stores. The second floor was empty at the moment and for sale. It was owned by Elaine Bloch, a lesbian, who was in computer programming and who had recently been transferred to the California office. Ben, Andy, and Danny had watched with curiosity and concern whenever the property had been shown. They wanted an occupant they could get along with, and who would take the interest they did in maintaining the place.

So Danny was completely taken by surprise when she reached the second floor landing and found the door open and a woman and child standing in the empty condo. The woman was of average height, fit, and with ash blond hair. Her daughter was a smaller carbon copy.

"Hello."

The mother and child jumped and turned suddenly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Danika Fenton — Danny. I live upstairs. Have you bought the place, then?" The woman was sporting two black eyes and a cut lip.

"No. No. Elaine, the owner, is a friend of mine and she said I could use the place temporarily. I have a letter of permission and the key. I didn't break in."

The woman and child looked frightened out of their wits. Danny smiled to try and put them at ease. "No problem. But didn't Elaine tell you there was no furniture?"

"No."

Danny's eyes took in the one suitcase and small child's knapsack sitting in the hall. These two were on the run, she suspected.

"Had dinner?"

"What?"

"Have you had dinner? I have the ingredients for a pizza upstairs that should do us with a little salad."

The woman instinctively pulled her daughter close. "Thank you for the thought but that's okay. We don't want to impose. We'll find someplace close for a bite to eat."

"Okay. Welcome to the building. Ben and Anthony live downstairs and I'm on the top floor. Just give a holler if you need anything."

"Thanks. There is one thing. Could you show me how to adjust the thermostat? It's cold in here and I can't seem to find anyway to adjust it."

Danny stepped in and walked through to the living room and looked around. The child clung to her mom's side like a barnacle.

"It works on a remote. Ah, here it is on top of the bookcase shelf." Danny held it out and the mother and daughter cautiously approached. The woman reached out to accept it.

"Thanks again."

"No problem." Danny kneeled down to the child's level. "Do you like cats?"

Shy nod.

"I have a big, white Persian called Uther Pendragon. He has

one blue eye and one brown eye. You and your mom will see him about. He thinks he's king of the building."

The child giggled.

Danny stood up and smiled again at the woman. "Sure you—"

"Hey! Who's in here?"

At the sound of the male voice, the small child squealed and literally climbed up Danny's frame. The woman too took a step back and unconsciously stepped behind Danny.

"Hi, Ben. It's okay. It's just me. I was helping the new tenant find the thermostat remote. Ben this is — I'm sorry, I don't know your names."

"I...I'm Jill. My daughter's name is Mia."

Ben's eyes travelled to the woman's beat up face, to the small child sucking her thumb in Danny's arms, to Danny's eyes. The message was unsaid but clear.

Ben backed towards the door. "Sorry to intrude. Nice meeting you. Bye."

Danny looked down at the woman. "Ben and Anthony are good guys. I've known them a long time. You can trust them. You know what, Jill? I really think you should change your mind about dinner at my place. Come on. You'll be safe there and a lot more comfortable. I think Uther Pendragon will enjoy the company, and I'm probably the only person in North America that doesn't like left over pizza."

The woman smiled in relief. "Thanks. I-I'm feeling a bit over whelmed."

"Understandable."

Danny, still carrying Mia, led the way up to her flat. She passed the small child to her mom only when she needed to get her key out and open the door. Then she stepped aside and let Jill and Mia go in first.

Danny was proud of her condo. She'd done much of the work herself and had invested part of her inheritance in it as well. A small lobby led into her living room. In the corner was a fireplace with a marble mantle. The furniture was comfortable, overstuffed leather and the rug Persian. Three windows over looked the small neighbourhood park.

An archway led into a dining room-library. Books lined the walls from ceiling to floor, and standing in the corner was an intricate and beautifully etched suit of armour. The dining room table was an old oak library table that Danny had bought at auction. She

used it as a research desk and only if she had guests for dinner as a dining room table.

Jill looked at Danny in surprise. "Armour?"

"I'm a professor of mediaeval history. I belong to a re-enactment group. Jousting."

"It's a beautiful apartment."

Danny beamed. "Thanks."

But it really wasn't so much that the apartment was a cozy academic's nook that made the place appealing to Jill. It was the Christmas decorations. Danny had carefully decorated for the season with a tasteful array of Victorian elements. A real tree stood in the corner of the living room and was decorated with hand painted wood ornaments, small candle lights, strings of gold beads, and red tartan bows. Greenery also graced the mantle as a bed for a few beautiful, antique, carved wood balls. Ropes of mistletoe and holly hung from the window sills and a tartan Christmas stocking hung from the fireplace.

Danny hung up their coats, turned on the gas fireplace, and slipped a CD of Christmas carols into her stereo. From a shelf, she got down an old, wood Chinese checkers board and left Jill showing Mia how to play.

She slipped into her very modern and well equipped kitchen. The kitchen was Danny's one concession to the modern world. She was a good cook and had planned her kitchen to be efficient and state of the art. She poured Mia a glass of fruit juice and a glass of red wine for Jill and herself and returned to where the mother and child now played with the game on the living room floor.

"Something to sip on while I make the pizza."

"Can I help?"

"No, it won't take long. You two just relax."

Danny returned to the kitchen and took out the dough that she'd made the night before and started to twirl it into shape before adding the various toppings that she had prepared. Then as it cooked, she put together a salad. By the time she had the food on the table, her two guests were laughing and giggling over their game that had been suddenly attacked by Uther Pendragon. It was a good sound. These two needed to laugh, Danny thought.

They ate heartily and laughed some more as Danny told them stories of learning how to joust. It seemed to involve a good deal of landing in various funny positions in the sand. Danny even took down her helmet to let Mia try it on and play with the visor. By the end of the meal, Mia was smiling and relaxed but could barely keep her eyes open.

"The kid needs a good night's sleep and she can't get that on the floor of a cold apartment. I have a spare guest room. It's got a double bed so you'll have to share, but it does have a small private bath and a lock for the door. Why don't you use the place for a few days? You'll be comfortable and safe."

Jill looked down at her plate fighting back tears that welled in her eyes.

"I don't want to impose. Mia and I are going through a bad time at the moment but we'll be okay."

She seemed to be saying this more to convince herself than Danny.

"Yes, you will be okay, but at the moment you seem to be down on your luck. We all need help at times. Let me show you the room at least and then you can decide."

Danny stood, picked up Mia in her arms, and led the way to her spare room. She lowered the child onto the double bed and pulled the eiderdown up to cover her. Curious, Uther Pendragon followed along and jumped up on the bed.

"You have a little nap with Uther Pendragon while your mom and I check out the room, okay Mia?" The cat had already curled up by the child.

"Okay, Sir Danika of Sandbottom," the child said, using the name that Danny had used for herself when telling her stories.

"Thank you, M'lady," said Danny said, bowing to the child. She watched while Jill made sure that Mia was settled and then showed Jill the small bathroom she'd put in and presented her with the skeleton key.

"All these old houses have keys for the bedrooms. I suppose it was because they had servants about."

Again Jill's eyes welled up with tears. "You're a perfect stranger and yet you've been so kind to us. I can't thank you enough."

"Hey, it's Christmas," Danny said. "This is a good building and a nice neighbourhood. I think you'll like it here. But for now, just settle in and take a few days to relax. If you give me your key, I'll go get your bags while you sit with Mia. Then how about you and I get the dishes done and have a cup of tea by the fire?"

Jill smiled. "I'd like that. Thanks."

Danny trotted down to the second floor and stopped dead as she found the condo door open. She was sure they had closed and locked it before leaving. She kept on going down to the first floor and knocked on Ben and Anthony's door.

"Did you let anyone in, Andy?"

"Hi to you too,"the red haired man said.

"I think someone broke in to Elaine's apartment."

"No, it's okay. The guy from the phone company came and I lent him the keys to get in. Ben told me someone's going to sublet the place."

"Did he show you any identification?"

Andy looked worried. "Well no, but he did have a tool kit."

"Is Ben here?"

"Yes."

"I need the two of you to come with me. I'm not feeling good about this."

Andy nodded. "Come in. Ben? We need your help."

The three of them headed quietly up to the second floor apartment. Ben, a big, bulky guy who enjoyed sports, carried his baseball bat and led the way as he pushed the half open door open and looked in. The suitcase and child's knapsack that had been left in the hall had been opened and their contents ripped and thrown about.

"Not good," Ben muttered and the three of them moved forward with caution. The apartment was empty. Angrily, Danny stuffed Jill and Mia's torn things back in their bags and zipped them closed.

"He wanted them to know he'd been here," Ben said seriously.

"Yes. He must be stalking her. Terrorizing her and her child."

"Is he the one that beat her up?"

Danny shrugged. "She hasn't said, but I suspect so. The two of them are terrified of men."

"Hello. Can someone tell me what is going on here?" Andy asked.

Danny picked up the bags. "The new tenant has two black eyes and a cut lip. She and her little girl look stressed and exhausted. When Ben came in to see who was in the apartment, they almost jumped into my pocket they were so scared. I think they're on the run from an abusive partner. I've got them upstairs. They can't stay in Elaine's condo. There's no furniture or food, and whoever he is, he knows they were going to stay here."

Ben looked at Andy and then Danny. "Okay, we have to have a plan."

Andy smiled happily. "Ben is great at planning. They're here for a reason and we need to protect them."

"First, Andy and I will scour the house from attic to basement to make sure he's gone. I'm pretty sure he has but we need to be cautious. Then we need to make sure the doors and windows are

locked at all times. Lastly, we need a cover story in case he comes back."

Danny nodded. "How's this? Someone broke into her new apartment, she decided it wasn't safe, and she packed up and left immediately. We don't know where she went."

"Good," Andy said, and Ben nodded his head in agreement. "I'll be up tomorrow morning with my supplies."

"What?"

Andy put his hand on his hip and looked at Danny in annoyance. "I'll have you know I have watched every crime show there ever was. We have to form our own witness protection program. They'll need to dye their hair, change their clothing style and their names."

"I thought I'd just tell Jill to call the police."

Andy rolled his eyes. "Please. The police never protect the victim. The bad guy always catches them and then they have to be rescued by the handsome rogue who is basically a good guy with a cute tush."

Danny frowned. "This is real life, Andy."

"Andy's right, Danny. He had time to make impressions of the keys. We'll need to get the locks changed after the holiday. In the meantime, we need to take every precaution. Yeah, the police need to know, but we also need to protect them as best we can. The police haven't got the resources to have a guard on this house."

Danny nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Andy. I'll tell them you're coming and they should be ready for you tomorrow."

"As soon as we've searched the house, I'll head out to the second hand stores and buy what they need."

Bat in hand and with Andy following, the two of them headed off to secure doors and windows and check in every nook and cranny. Danny headed back up to her apartment with the bags.

She looked around carefully, before unlocking her door and shutting it quickly and slipping the security chain on as an added precaution. She was glad she'd had a steel door and frame put on the entrance when she'd renovated. It seemed a bit paranoid at the time, but now she was glad of the extra security it provided. She found Jill still sitting on the end of the bed where her daughter slept.

"Is she asleep?" Danny whispered.

"Yes."

"We need to talk."

Jill's smile faded and she followed Danny into the kitchen. The two of them washed and dried dishes as Danny explained what had happened.

Jill sank onto a kitchen stool. "We should leave. I don't want to put you and the guys in danger."

Danny leaned on the counter and looked at Jill. "The way the three of us see it, is that you and Mia ended up here for a reason. We mean to do our best to protect you and give the two of you a good Christmas. That's what it's all about isn't it? Caring for others."

Jill looked up. Tears rolled down her face. Danny knelt down and pulled the woman close letting her cry it out on her shoulder. When the worst of the tears had passed, she pulled back and offered Jill some tissues from the box on the counter.

"Okay, the tears are done. Now we need to have a drink and you can fill me in on what's going on. Are you up to that?"

Jill forced a weak smile. "Yes."

Danny got up and offered Jill her hand pulling the smaller woman to her feet. "I think some mulled wine is just what we need. I'll make a batch up while you put away the dishes in the cupboard over there, okay?"

"Okay. I can't believe you made that pizza from scratch. It was excellent. You should've been a chef not a history professor. Where did you lean to cook?"

"My mom died when I was young, of cancer. My dad, also a history professor by the way, raised me with the help of a woman who came in daily. Edith Warrington is her name and she is wonderful. She taught me everything I needed to know about minding a house and cooking, while caring for our house and raising a family on her own. She is a remarkable woman. Just as well too because dad lived in the 9th century most of the time," Danny laughed. "Edith still cares for dad. They live in the Cape Cod area. Normally, I go home for Christmas, but this year dad and a few of his friends are enjoying a medieval Christmas celebration in France."

"I bet you miss him."

"Very much. But this is home now. I have a good position here and I like my condo."

"It's beautiful."

"You haven't seen the best part yet. I have a roof garden," Danny said with pride. "Here." She passed Jill a goblet of warm, spicy wine and then poured herself one. They went to sit by the fire in the living room, sinking into soft leather chairs.

For a few minutes it was silent as Danny let Jill gather her thoughts. Then Jill sighed and started her tale.

"Elaine and I were friends all the way through school. She had the good sense to come out and make a career for herself. I stayed in the closet and gave into parental pressure and married my dad's junior business partner. We had a huge, splashy wedding and two years later we had Mia. He was cheating on me well before that. He was nine years older than me and controlling. The physical abuse didn't start until three years into the marriage, when I told him I'd leave him if he didn't stop fooling around. A year later, I finally got up the nerve to leave. I didn't ask for any support. I didn't want any contact with him.

"I thought everything would be okay. Then somehow, he found out I'd had a lesbian relationship before our marriage. He showed up at my apartment five days ago and beat the crap out of me. It was Mia who called 911. The poor child was terrified. He said I'd shamed him, that he was a laughing stock and he was going to make me pay forever. I've been on the run ever since."

"Did you call the police?"

Jill nodded, wiping tears from her eyes. "The hospital did. I gave a statement but there wasn't much they could do. Vince had been fired from his job with my dad's firm and sold his condo. No one knows where he is.

"Danny, the guy is acting nuts. He's always been controlling and short tempered, but now he's gone off the deep end. He was spewing all this crap about me being tainted by sin and going to hell, and how Mia's blood was bad as well. He said he was purifying himself by beating me. I-It was awful."

"What do your parents say?"

"First, they said I should go back to Vince for Mia's sake; that I needed to try harder to please my husband. Gradually, they came to accept that I needed a divorce. But when Vince told them I'd had a lesbian relationship, they told me not to come back. That I'd shamed them, too."

Danny jaw tightened. "Homophobic idiots. Look, you and Mia are safe here until we can get this mess sorted out for you. Ben and Andy will understand what you've gone through. They were both tossed out of their homes. Andy has been beaten up, too. I was lucky. My dad accepted the fact I was a lesbian and told me it would not be necessary to burn me on the stake as long as I kept him supplied with good, single malt scotch."

Jill laughed. "Your dad sounds like an amazing man."

"He is."

"You don't have a partner?"

Danny shrugged. "There have been girlfriends but research towards getting my doctorate took up so much of my time. I just wasn't good partner material. Now, I've finally got my degree and a position lecturing, maybe I'll be able to find someone to take a chance on me. Do you have a job?"

"I did. I have a degree in economics and worked writing articles for a financial magazine. But Vince made me quit once I was expecting."

"Well, for now you need to keep a low profile. If Vince shows up, we'll tell him you were afraid to stay here after someone broke in and you left without telling us where you were going. Tomorrow, Andy is going to change your identities. I'm not sure how, but he's bubbling with ideas. Ben and Andy are checking the house to make sure it's secure. I think it wise that you stay up here with me until we can get to the bottom of all this. Tomorrow, you'd better file a police report."

"Okay. Danny, thanks for being so wonderful to us."

Danny smiled. "Life can play hard ball. We need to support each other. I think the wine is having the effect I wanted. Your eyes keep closing. Why don't you head off to bed? No one can get to your window, and the apartment door is metal, locked, and chained. You're safe. Have a good night's sleep."

The next day, Christmas Eve, Andy arrived loaded down like a mule with what he felt he needed to transform Jill and Mia for his own special brand of witness protection program. Danny used the opportunity to slip out and do some last minute Christmas shopping.

She returned to total chaos. The look of total shock and dismay must have shown on her face because Andy stopped dead, raised both hands in defence, and begged, "Please don't kill me. I promise to have everything cleaned up within the hour."

"One hour, then I get my broad sword," Danny muttered. "Where are Jill and Mia?"

"In the bedroom. Wait until you see what I've done."

What Andy had done was turn Jill and Mia into boys. They both wore old blue jeans and baggy sweat shirts. Their long ash-blond hair had become brunette and was now cropped and parted. Jill wore dark framed glasses as well.

"This is Jake Fenton and his kid brother Mike. They're your cousins on your father's side. What do you think?"

Danny shook her head. "From a distance, they don't look a bit like who they were. So what do you think, Mia — I mean Mike?"

"I cried when Uncle Andy cut my hair, but he told me it was going to be a Christmas present for people who lost their hair because they are sick, so then I didn't mind. I got to pick my own name. I'm Sir Mike of Snowy-Street and Mommy is Sir Jake of Rock-Bottom."

Danny laughed. "They're excellent names. Andy, you did a great job."

"Thank you, thank you. As long as Jake remembers to slouch and not thrust, she'll pass for a teen guy just fine."

Andy winked at Jill who seemed a little shaken by the whole experience. "I'm going to miss the thrust."

Jill laughed and blushed. "I feel like it's Hallowe'en, not Christmas."

"Okay, guys help me clean up this mess before the master of the castle runs me through with her spear."

"It's a lance, and that would be far too quick a death for the likes of you."

With much laughter and teasing, Danny helped with the others in the cleaning up. Then they all had lunch. Danny prepared bowls of hot chilli and was pleasantly surprised when Jill quietly helped in the process while Andy and Mia played with Uther Pendragon. Danny discovered that Jill was a good cook herself and that they worked well together.

It was going on two when Andy announced that he'd better get back to his condo before Ben got home. He said his good byes and opened the door. The first blow caught him right in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. The second sent him flat out in the hall.

Danny frantically signalled to Jill to lock Mia and herself in their room as she went to the hall. The man she found there was big and his once well cut clothes had been neglected until they reflected his general appearance of slovenliness. His eyes shone with wild madness and his nose ran. Vince was a crack head as well as a wife abuser, Danny realized.

"Where is she?"

"Who?"

"Don't give me that. I know she's here in this den of iniquity."

"I've never had my home called that before."

"I know you're all a bunch of perverts, just like that Elaine. Abominations before God."

Andy crawled away from Vince and got slowly to his feet with Danny's help.

"I think you'd better leave. Andy, call 911."

A gun came out of Vince's pocket. "Don't move."

"I'm not moving! See my hands are up," Andy babbled.