“Okay, okay. My superior said we can meet your demands.”

“You weasel!” Sam screeched. “Why didn’t you just okay it when we told you what we wanted.”

“There are procedures. Chain of command. I do not have authority to authorize such silliness. I was just doing my job. So, do we have a deal or not?”

The women nodded. Donovan held out his hand. The women ignored him.

“Well then, ladies, that finishes our business. Get dressed and meet me downstairs. I’ll have coffee ready for you,” Donovan said generously.

Outside the bedroom Poke palmed his Blackberry and typed in a short message. All five cats are in the cradle. He hummed under his breath as he made his way downstairs. He headed straight for the coffeepot. As it was empty, he made himself at home and prepared a fresh pot.

Poke congratulated himself on the deal he’d just made. Little did the women know he had been authorized to give them whatever they wanted, no matter how outrageous their demands.

At this point whenever he was making a deal he always made a bet with himself. Would the recruits ace the year on the mountain or wouldn’t they? He bet yes. These five women were unlike any he had recruited to date. Yes, they would make it. He felt proud of himself.

“Nothing like making yourself at home,” Sam sniped as she entered the kitchen.

“I’m not a male chauvinist, Mrs. Rainford. I never expect a woman to wait on me. Whatever I can do myself, I do.”

Sam looked at the round man over the rim of her coffee cup.

“You all made a very wise decision.” He nodded at the four other women who filed into the kitchen.

The kitchen table wasn’t big enough for all six of them to sit comfortably. Sam and Slick moved over to the window seat that overlooked a summer garden full of colorful flowers. They waited while Donovan poured coffee for the women. Then they waited while he took his sweet time gathering official-looking contracts from his backpack.

When Donovan handed Sam the contract, she read it word for word, then read it a second time. Satisfied that she was indeed signing her life away, she held out her hand for the pen Donovan held toward her. She scribbled her name. Slick was next, followed by the belly dancer. The plumber and the cartoonist followed suit.