looks away from Margie.

"Talia," Margie implores.

Talia shakes her head as she informs Margie, "He bit my inner thigh. But I'll not have it photographed."

"Talia," Margie says firmly.

"No, Margie," says Cougar. "When the case is closed, everything you gathered and cataloged: statements, evidence like DNA tests results, photographs, all become public knowledge unless the victim was a minor. Let it go."

Margie sighs and nods her agreement, "But Richy better not chew me out over it when he's back on his feet."

"He won't," assures Cougar. They step out of the room they were using for privacy and are met by a small crowd. Margie's heart aches to see Bob standing with Otter under his arm, her belly swelling with his child. She cares greatly for Bob but has been keeping her distance since she learned Otter was pregnant. And because she has been keeping her distance, she misses him greatly. Wildcat gives Margie a nod while Greywolf stands there stoic with his muscular arms folded over his muscular chest.

"Who's with Richy," asks Talia.

"My mother," answers Otter, "along with Roar and Breeze. And of course Eli is there with the baby. I think Windwalker's in the kitchen. He said something about you have to be hungry."

"He doesn't know how to cook in a modern kitchen," states Talia.

"Sounds like he's going to try," comments Uncle Bob.

"Come on, Margie," says Cougar, "I'll walk you out."

Margie watches as Talia slips from under Cougar's arm to under Wildcat's arm. Wildcat asks Talia softly, "Ya alright?"

Talia nods as she responds softly, "I'm fine."

As Margie walks away with Cougar, she glances back in time to see to see Wildcat tip up Talia's chin and devour her mouth passionately. After she and Cougar step outside, Margie turns to Cougar and ask, "How do you do it?"

"Do what," asks Cougar surprised and bewildered.

Margie faces Cougar, "I'm a smart woman. I ain't slow nor dense and I'm observant. The day Talia and Richy got married, she admitted she had three mates, you, Richy and someone else. I know Richy shares her with you even though he doesn't talk about it. And you're all real careful out in public. But I just saw your daddy kiss Talia, and not in a friendly fatherly way. He was trying to eat her alive."

Cougar takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly, "This is just between us.. It's not something domestic folks would understand. And it would ruin her business reputation. Domesticated people wouldn't see her the same if they knew."

"You know me, Cougar. I can keep a secret," Margie reminds him.

Cougar takes another deep breath, "You can't ever even talk to Richy about it. It would really upset him if he knew you knew so much.. For starters, none of us planned to be sharing Talia, least of all, Richy and Talia. They thought they would get to have a more traditional domesticated type of relationship. (Cougar sighs) It's a long story that I won't go into because it's complicated."

"Who all do you share her with besides Richy and your daddy," asks Margie.

"Well, we have ranks," Cougar explains, "As far as mates are concerned, Talia has four. Richy is her first, I'm her second, Dad's her third and Windwalker's her fourth."

"Windwalker," questions Margie.

"Did you see the two platinum blonds when you first got here," asks Cougar.

"Oh yeah," recalls Margie, "the two super tall, super buff, super beautiful guys."

Cougar smiles, "The taller one is Windwalker, the other is his younger brother, Breeze. Breeze is one of Talia's consorts."

"How many consorts does she have," asks Margie.

"Three," answers Cougar, "Breeze, Greywolf and Eli."

"So a total of seven men are sharing Talia," states Margie. "You're sharing her with six other men."

Cougar shrugs it off.

"How do you do it," Margie asks again.

"I love her," states Cougar simple and sincere, "I've always loved her. Sharing her is better than not having her at all. I'm happier with her than without her. Besides, it's about what's best for Talia. Not one of us can protect her properly on our own. Hell, even with seven of us, Tad managed to kidnap her..

Talia's a free female, a valuable free female. There are other free males out there that want her as their mate that would take her from us if they could.. I'm no guardian and neither is my dad. My dad's got the respect of his status as number one elder advisor, but that won't necessarily keep other males from trying something funny. That's how Windwalker added himself as Talia's fourth mate. But Windwalker's a chief which actually works in our favor by providing more protection for Talia. Another chief won't want to step on his toes and possibly cause a tribe war. Plus, we don't have to share her with him full-time. He lives high up in the mountains with his tribe. He comes down once a month for a week to see Talia."

"I still don't know how you and Richy do it," says Margie.

"Like I said," Cougar tells Margie, "It's better to share her than not have her at all. I was miserable without her.. You miss Bob, don't you?"

Margie's face answers the question before her mouth, "Yes.. But I don't think I can do it. I don't think I can ever share him."

Cougar's sad for Margie, "So what's worse? Sharing him? Or living without him?"

Margie doesn't answer. She just says, "I need to go."

"Maybe you could share him on your own terms," suggest Cougar.

Margie pauses and looks back at Cougar.

"Your days off overlap with when he's in Megalopolis for work," Cougar informs Margie, "Otter doesn't go to Megalopolis with him."

"I'll think about it." Then Margie climbs into her sheriff vehicle and pulls away.