"I love you too, Hank!"

They lay quietly embracing for some time, until at last harsh reality interrupted. "Oh Hank, I've got to get up. My ass hurts like crazy!"

He grinned at the blazing red welts on her round ripe ass-cheeks. He pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly on her tender buttocks. "There. That'll make it go away."

She smiled down at him. "I'm not so sure I want it to go away. Already it's turning me on again. It makes me think of what you were just doing to me."

She warmed up two turkey pies for dinner. They ate naked on cushions around the coffee table. They had never been more close. When Ellie brought in the dessert, Hank brought out his own surprise. "Champagne! Tonight we're celebrating, baby!"

Her blue eyes beamed with excitement. She liked to see Hank so animated. Often, after a long day at work, he was tired and discouraged. She knew he wasn't satisfied with his job. "What are we celebrating, Hank?" She held up her glass to toast. "To the start of a new life!"

She stared at him dumbfounded as he drained his glass and poured himself another glassful of bubbly. Her own champagne remained untouched. "What is it, Hank? That sounds pretty heavy!"

"It is, baby! Wait'll you hear! You remember Greg Bantam? I told you him and me were best buddies in college?"

"Oh yeah. You wanted him to be our best man, but he couldn't because he was out hunting seals in Alaska or some place." Ellie was still wary. She was normally an optimistic, cheerful person. But, like any animal, she couldn't help getting uneasy when she was told her whole life was about to change. She had kind of liked things the way they were.

"That's the guy! Old Greg and me used to have some great times! Anyway, I got a letter from him today, and guess what?"

"What?" Ellie felt a cold chill run down her spine. She took a long swallow of her champagne.

"He's just staked a mining claim up in Northern California. He needs someone to help him dredge for gold! Can you imagine that, honey? Gold! He wants me to go work with him. And you know what? I'm going to do it!"