Deer River,

Gess it’s yur birthday. 18 huh? Good luk with that. When I turnd 18 I got reely, reely drunk n’ I shot sum hoon dawn n’ a gun fite n’ then I got sum trim. Don’t doo th’ ferst too, but celibrate n’ git pursinal with that Feeyeero guy. Best wey too celibrate a birthday is too go a few rounds I alweys say.

Happee Yuletide Too,

Jayne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiyero was worried.

River stood still for the longest time, as if frozen with fear. Going over, he touched her back and nudged her along, knowing that the feds were the nightmare, and the nightmare was coming to her safe haven. Making her reach the bed, he untied her sash, stripped her of her shirt, and made her sit down to take the rest of her clothes off until her undergarments remained. Sliding her under the covers, he did the same to himself, and slipped in with her, Holding the petite frame close, kissing her neck and head, trying to stimulate her from the dark world that consumed her mind.

She shuddered, and began to weep.

“Wo shi yi nin.” He reassured as she gripped his arm. The warm tears hit his skin, and he held on tighter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Draw!”

Simon drew his weapon, and fired.

The preacher nodded his head. “Two seconds, you’re getting better.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bison had been picked up later.

As it had been, Inara and Mal collected Meilin, stayed shortly, but left and headed for the estate.

“It was nothin’, ‘Nara.” Mal objected as they returned to the apartment, he with a slight limp. It was just sprained, nothing too serious.

“Mal, you rode your horse into a stampede.” She went to the bedroom. “How many times must I just say that? You RODE your horse into a shen beipaoqi STAMPEDE.”

“Child’s play. I was doin’ more dangerous houzi lashi when I was a kid.” He unbuttoned the vest, which was destroyed by his tumble, and shucked it onto the floor as Inara set Meilin in the middle of the bed.

“Must I point o