Ramil sighed with relief when the talkative landlord finally decided to go, but...

Ramil sighed with relief when the talkative landlord finally decided to go, but he didn't get very far with his supper before Tashi swatted him in the stomach.
"Hot coals? Stringy hair?"
He laughed. "Shh! You know I was only saying what I had to say in front of him."
"But those words occurred to you--you must have thought them!"
Ramil scratched his head, knowing that he was probably damned whatever he said now.
"Well, your eyes can blaze when they're angry. I bet they're blazing now.
And compared to us, your hair is pale--not that it doesn't have a most wonderful color. Um . . . stringy--well, you had been in prison for a while."
"Ram!"
"But you always looked beautiful to me." He put his arm around her. "May I?"he asked.
She nodded, wondering what he was going to do.
He leant forward and sniffed. "Not a hint of brimstone. Just mud and horses."
"What!"
"But I like horses."
"Ram, if you were thinking of making more attempts at winning my affections, I don't think this is the recommended practice in any part of the known world."
"So I still have a chance?" He pulled her snugly against him so she fitted in the crook of his arm.
"Not like this you won't. And don't forget, we are supposed to be brother and sister."
"Ah yes." He dropped his arm. "What a shame