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Page 235
"Crazy," Mariah amended hastily. She'd have to learn to watch her use of her time's slang.
Holly sat and held Mariah's wrist. "There were times when I was indentured," she said softly, "that I believed I would go . . . bonkers. Without freedom, a soul has nothing, you see. And five years seemed so very long, it did. But then I would seek out Mack, and he would tell me, 'Do you know, Sister, that we have only one thousand ninety-five days' or whatever it wasuntil we are our own people, here, in this new land of opportunity?' Dear Mack was always so cheerful. He was my strength."
It was Mariah's turn to touch Holly sympathetically.
Holly's hazel eyes had filled, but she patted Mariah's hand and smiled. "I did not tell you this to make either of us sad, but to show you how it helps, at times, to talk with someone else. Should you ever wish to tell your 'bonkers' story to me, I would be most"
She was interrupted by footsteps on the stairway at the end of the room. Thorn and René descended. Thorn stopped beside Mariah. "Do you wish to explain your behavior this evening?"
She shrugged at Holly. "I believe Mr. Thorn is out of sorts. What do you think?"
"I think," said René, "that Miss Holly and I have chores elsewhere. Do you not agree, Miss Holly?"
"Most certainly, Mr. Frenchie." Holly rose and curtseyed to the men, winking at Mariah, who scowled at her friend's defection.
"Coward," Mariah muttered under her breath, not sure whether she referred to Holly or herself.
"I beg your pardon, Mariah?"
She knew Thorn was asking her to repeat her words, but instead she smiled sweetly. "How kind of you to beg my pardon for your atrocious behavior."
"My atrocious behavior?" There was a fierce look in his brown eyes that would have made her cringe if she hadn't been expecting it.
"I don't know of anyone else who" She stopped suddenly, sighing. Why get into a fight with him? It wouldn't

 
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