“All you have to do is act like my loving wife and now look at us” said Inara eyes piercing at Mal.

“Don’t know what you complaining about woman could be worst we aren’t hurt we just smell that’s all” Mal said with that smirk that usually would melt Inara’s heart but not now. She was sitting in a chicken shed smelling of and covered chicken dirt and feathers and tied to a pole yet to Mal she looked liked a crown jewel.

Mal looked at Inara and looked at the ground before commenting “Inara quite complaining fact of the matter is since Miranda work had not been so forthcoming so I have to take all the jobs I can, we need to eat, Serenity needs fuel and I have folks depending on me.”

“Who would have thought it” laughing to himself and then he stopped.

“Who would have thought what?” Inara asked somewhat solemnly.

“Well a registered companion top of the guild’s list stuck in a chicken shed with a petty thief” he quirked laughing away to himself “What would the guild think?

Inara has still been on Serenity since Miranda and had not made any decision about returning to the Training House. Mal had not asked afraid that he might not like her answer. She also hadn’t been entertaining any clients since her shuttle didn’t have many fancy trimmings like before and also because part of her didn’t want too. Since Miranda she had been waived by many admirers.

“When I get out of this Malcolm Reynolds you are will” Inara snapped back but then the door to the shed opened a strong able man came and looked at both Mal and Inara.

Amos Holmes was very large man could be because he was champion pie eater in that moon and he sure did show the signs of it.

So you two tried to trick me so I take ye are not married? Amos asked looking quizzly at both Mal and Inara.

“We are married and we didn’t try to trick you, it just that we did the job and expected the agreed payment but you seem to go back on your word and now here we are all smelling of roses if you pardon the pun literally the smell here is getting a mite sickening might die from it ain’t that so Mrs. Reynolds” Mal said smirkly looking at Inara and then Amos.

Amos left the shed and closed the door firmly behind him.

“What a great way to get us out of here anger the man even more, you really are a genius Mal I’m surprised you didn’t offer him a pie and or make a remark about his weight? Inara said looking at Mal and then at the door.

Mal and Inara never would keep eye contact with each other for long period afraid of what the other might see yet they had no problem doing it when they were trying to best each other.

Jayne and Zoe had decided to not go on this job and stay with Serenity instead. They figured it wouldn’t involve that much unpleasantries since it was a farming moon called Lyrcires and the fella only liked dealing with married folk.

It had been about ten minutes before anyone spoke when finally Inara spoke lowly and softly “I stay on Serenity for this a chicken run”.