What a pleasant surprise to see Bree at my door, though her touch, the nearness of her sets me aflame. Even the fact that she has taken to calling my Woody, a long detested, childhood abbreviation of my name, does not seem to bother me. As she plucks dust bits from my hair, I try to keep my blood from pounding overmuch and giving me heart palpitations. I am not very successful.

I agree to escort her on her shopping errands. Of course, I will! I’d have to be dead not to.
“What we are shopping for today, are the ingredients for a small dinner party – three to be exact.” Bree says with a rather sly look on her face. “The three people at this party shall be…” She looks at me from the corner of her eye, “Me, you aaaannnnd, Colin Visigoth!” She finishes with a flourish.

I inadvertently jerk the reins and the horse rears slightly. The move jostles us about and I grab Bree’s thigh rather forcefully to keep her seated. I manage to get the carriage pulled over and out of the flow of traffic.
“I’m terribly sorry, Bree.” I realize my hand is still on her thigh, and that she is looking at me strangely. I cannot remove my hand. I do not want to remove my hand.
She places a hand on top of my own and squeezes gently. “Are you alright? Was it something I said?” Bree takes my hand and moves it a bit further down her leg and squeezes reassuringly.”
I remember now why I almost killed the both of us. “Yes,” I exclaim, “It is!” My voice rising a few decibels. “What in the world would make you think that I would have dinner with you and that man? Bree, he...” I pause, look around. I cannot tell her what I do not know for sure. But I cannot abide Colin Visigoth, ands I suspect that he is not what he appears.
“He what?” She is gripping my hand now – her face anxious. I cannot cause her grief over a mere suspicion, but I also do not want to observe the niceties of dinner with him.
“Bree… Mr. Visigoth and I do not see eye to eye, I’m sure, on any subject. Therefore, I believe a dinner party where he and I are the only guests would be unwise.” I add my other hand to the mix upon her thigh. “Dear Bree, he is not right for you,” I implore her now. “He is... he is not what he appears.” There. I have said it.

“I cannot imagine what you mean, Woody, but I just thought that it would be good for you to have a gentleman friend here in town. I believe Colin is a very kind gentleman. He has always treated me with the utmost respect and...” she sighs, almost sadly. She takes a deep breath and says, “Very well. If you will not come to the dinner party, I cannot force an alliance between you two – and would not dream of doing so. In that case, we shall miss you at the dinner party, but I must still do some shopping, as I do not have all the ingredients for my Italian Extravaganza – don’t you love the name?” She smiles widely at me and moves back to her place on the carriage bench, taking her hand with her.

My mind is working furiously. I did not expect this turn! I bring the carriage back onto the road and continue toward the local farmer’s market. “Italian Extravaganza, did you say?” I smile at her widely. Now, I have a plan. “Why, I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”