“Y’know, Penny,â€? he paused, “I’d like to get to know you better.â€?

“That’ll be Miss Caldwell to you, Sir.â€?

O’Neil smiled at the way the afternoon sunlight danced on her rich auburn hair, complementing the glint in her indignant eyes. How delicate she was, especially when angry.

“Y’know, ain’t no prettier eyes South o’ The Great Lakes than the ones I’m lookin’ at right now.”

This time, Penelope couldn’t help blushing. But only a_ _little, she told herself. Jake O’Neil was a rough man, well acquainted with her father’s work. She liked him, that was for sure, but there was something, something that prevented her from going beyond guarded smiles and facetious flirting.

“I am not one for heavy courtin’, Sir.â€? Penelope tried to turn away from him but in a sudden array of swirling scenery, found his ruddy, playful face quickly evaporating into a thick dark mist.

“Oh, Jake” she whispered desperately. Nothing.

Opening her eyes, she immediately felt the searing pain at the back of her head.