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Page 224
we wish to enforce the Proclamation Line, to keep more people from settling and getting killed. This warfare with the Indians is inevitable as long as they believe their land is being stolen."
The man appeared to bear no animosity toward the settlers. He was in charge of this troop. Surely the screenplay's soldier attack on homesteaders had been satisfied by the earlier meeting.
As soon as she had a few minutes, Mariah would escape to her room in the stable. She wanted to refresh her memory about what the script indicated might happen next. To the best of her recollection, she realized with dismay, the next event after the settlers' attack consisted of Matilda's capture by Indians when she was away from the inn.
And Mariah was cast in Matilda's role. Did her attempted kidnapping by Nahtana satisfy that scripted prediction?
But she'd thought that had occurred instead of a visit to Thorn by a friendly Indian.
Regardless, to make sure the kidnapping incident couldn't come true, she would stick tight here. No matter what.
In the meantime, she didn't want to hear any more about warfare and fighting. Or, for that matter, events that might be predicted by the screenplay.
There were other things she wanted to hear about, though, and this might be the perfect opportunity.
She wanted to know more about Thorn.
First, she did her rounds as barmaid, quickly refilling cups and laughing with the soldiers, most of whom seemed to be having a good time. That one, thoughthe bearded young manmostly drank and watched and only smiled now and then.
As soon as she could, Mariah ended up behind the bar again. Thorn could return at any moment, and she'd questions to ask first. But she had to approach them subtly. "So," she said to the two officers, "where are you both from originally?"
"England," Ainsley replied. She'd kept his cup filled, and he'd have drunk a lot in a short time. "Thorn and I grew up together. Hasn't he told you?"

 
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