am a far cry trom crazy, as you suggested earlier. Like any other human being, I choose my battles. I battle quite a bit-more than most-and usually on the right side. I

battled for Billy Waters and Tyrone Duffy But I do not wish to battle for the Coldrens. That is my choice. You, as my closest friend, should respect that. You should not try , to prod or guilt me into a battle I do not wish to fight."

Myron was not sure what to say. It was scary when he could understand Win's cold logic. "Win?"

Win wrested his gaze from the horse. He looked at Myron.

"I'm in trouble," Myron said, hearing the desperation in his tone. "I need your help."

Win's voice was suddenly soft, his face almost pained.

"If that were true, I'd be there. You know that. But you are not in any trouble from which you cannot easily disentangle.

Just back away, Myron. You have the option of ending your involvement. To draw me into this against my will using our friendship in that way is wrong. Walk away this time." , "You know I can't do that."

Win nodded and headed toward his car. "Like I said, we all choose our battles."

When he entered the guest house, Esperanza was screaming, "Bankrupt! Lose a turn! Bankrupt!"

Myron came up behind her. She was watching Wheel of Fortune. _

"This woman is so greedy," Esperanza said, gesturing at the screen. "She's got over six thousand dollars and she keeps spinning. I hate that."

The wheel stopped, landing on the glittery $1,000.

The woman asked for a B. There were two of them. Esperanza groaned,. "You're back early," she said. "I

thought you were going out to dinner with Linda Coldren."

"It didn't work out."

Esperanza finally turned around and looked at his face. "What happened?"

He told her. Her dark complexion lost a bit of coloralong the way. When he finished, Esperanza said, "You need Win."

"He won't help."

' 'Time to swallow your macho pride and ask him. Beg him if you have to."

"Been there, done that. He's out." On the television, the greedy woman bought a vowel. This always baffled Myron. Why do contestants who clearly know the puzzle's solution still buy vowels? To waste money? To make sure their opponents know the answer too?

"But," he said, "you're here."

Esperanza looked at him. "So?"

It was, he knew, the real reason she had come down in the first place. On the phone she had told him that he didn't work well alone. The words spoke volumes about her true motivation for fleeing the Big Apple.

"Do you want to help?" he asked.

The greedy woman leaned forward, spun the wheel, and then started clapping and shouting, "Come on, a thousand!" Her opponents clapped too. Like they wanted her to do well. Right. +

"What do you want me to do?" Esperanza asked.

"I'll explain on the way. If you want to come."