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Here, if they even had chickens, they'd probably have to start with killing and cleaning one. And they might be as precious as pen and paper. Quail soup, maybe? |
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René's toad eyes narrowed in concentration. ''Turkey," he said finally. |
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"Sure." Did they have wild turkeys wandering around like wolves? Maybe they'd domesticated some, though she hadn't noticed any. |
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"I will see what I can do," the Frenchman said. |
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Their injured guest didn't regain full consciousness that day, though they were able now and then to get her to sip water. But that evening, Mariah was just coming into her bedroom to spell René, who'd taken turns keeping an eye on the woman, when she heard raised voicesa male and a female. |
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She threw open her door to find René glaring at the woman in the bed, who glared right back at him. Her wheatlight hair was pulled away from her face and she sat up, blankets propping her back. She looked like a Jack Russell terrier, with a pronounced overbite and the bruise ringing her eye. "The French are as savage as the Indians who fought with 'em," the woman spat at René. She seemed to have little strength to hold up her body, but her voice wasn't weak. She'd a strong accent Mariah couldn't quite place, though it sounded more or less British. |
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"Anglaise," growled René, as though it were the most vile swear word he could imagine. |
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"Hey, break it up," Mariah commanded. |
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They both turned their glares on her. |
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"Glad to see you're awake." Mariah approached her charge and held out her hand. |
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The woman leaned forward. Her grip was weak but not flaccid. "If you're Mariah, Reenee here" She pronounced René's name oddly, and Mariah wondered if it was on purpose. "says I have you to thank for my rescue." |
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"No need to thank me," Mariah said. "And you're . . . ?" |
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"My name's Holly. Holly Smith." The introduction |
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