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Hans jerked and cringed but was unable to move with Randy's hands holding him in place, after several long minutes Errol made the last stitch and wiped Hans's cheek clean with a damp cloth, "Good lad, there ye go, let Ellen give ye some warm soup, ye kin stay in tha kitchen tonight," he said gently.

Randy gave Hans a friendly--if not somewhat awkward--smile and a mental feeling of sympathy. He would be sure to make note of the various relationships he'd witnessed when he returned to his room that night.

As Errol guided Hans away Alissa moved closer to Randy and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shirt. She gave a soft sniffle as she let the feelings of dread and despair that had been building finally release themselves, "I wish Winston would go away....he hurts my friends,"

Randy looked down at her and instinctively brushed his fingers over her hair as he might have done with his own child. "I know, dear," he answered softly. "I'd gladly send him off if I could."

"But you can't, you'd get in trouble and then you'd have to go," she sighed, "And I don't want you to leave...." she squeezed him tightly, although she wouldn't say it out loud, she felt almost as if she needed Randy. The past year had been difficult and chaotic with the arrival of Winston into her life and Randy gave her a sense of stability she'd been missing.

"Well, I won't leave you," Randy promised, "but I will at least try to keep an eye on him where I am able..."

"Will you keep Ellen and Hans safe? Errol isn't afraid of him so Winston doesn't pick on him, but the other two aren't as lucky," said Alissa.

"I won't let him touch them so long as I'm around," said Randy.

Alissa gave him a grateful smile and lifted his hand to her lips since his face was too high for her to kiss his cheek.

He smiled back at her. "You're a sweet girl. You don't deserve a Winston in your life."

"Nobody does," she said dryly, "But we'd better go and meet him, mama will be cross if I don't at least say hello,"

"Right, then," Randy uttered with a resigned nod. "I suppose we can't avoid him forever."

Alissa took a deep breath, composed herself and slowly walked to the foyer to meet Winston. The minute he saw her Winston swooped down and pinched her cheeks between his bony fingers, "Eeeeeooooh, if it isn't Alissaaaaah! Yew look seeoh sweet!" he crooned as she grimaced under his touch.

Randy stood close by to watch; as comical as Winston's manner may have been when he wasn't being rude or violent with the help, he didn't trust the man a bit.

Winston gave her cheeks a last pinch and released her, unaware or unconcerned that he had left visible red marks on her skin. Alissa quickly moved away from him and stood next to Randy, looking ruffled and displeased.

Randy gave her an apologetic look. "I believe it's time to continue your studies," he said in hopes of giving her a good excuse to stay away from Winston.