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Page 166
expression was light as he spoke of the tribulations he would face, as if they were the greatest of adventures, and Mariah seemed to hang on his every word.
"Of course there will be Indians," the man said. "But we will treat them as the men they are, and in time they will respect us as well."
"And if they wish their land returned?" Thorn did not conceal his ill humor.
"You managed to keep this area, though I understand not all natives here are welcoming." The man raised his pointed chin and cast a wink at Mariah, who instead of responding with equal lightheartedness, turned away. It was obvious to Thorn that she was thinking of the incident with Nahtana.
He did not deign to explain the manner in which he had bargained with those who would have claimed this property as their own, or the continuous struggles he'd endured to maintain it. His once-burned inn and half-completed palisade told that tale. Not to mention his continued distasteful negotiations with the soldiers from Fort Pitt.
Kerr apologized to Mariah, though he could not have understood her reaction, for she did not explain. He kept up his damned teasing, however, and she eventually responded. As she passed in and out of the common room with her arms laden with food and soiled plates, she beamed and blossomed and traded witticisms with the blasted man as though they had known each other for years.
Happen they did. Perhaps she was here for some unknown purpose that involved this Kerr.
Thorn would find that out. He would trust Mariah Walker no more than she dared trust him.
As Mariah finished clearing the plates before Kerr, she bent over slightly, and Thorn noticed that the man stared brazenly at her bosom. Fortunately, her blouse was modest, buttoned to her lovely throat. But Thorn had seen enough of the man's effrontery. He rose from his chair and approached them as Mariah straightened, her arms filled.
Breathing deeply to quell the urge to grab the man by his neck and drag him outside, he instead took the dirty plates and cups from Mariah. "It is time," he said through gritted

 
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