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Page 347
"Then you believed in your failings." Thorn winced at the glee in Ainsley's frail voice. "I achieved what I wished. I worked with the old man, Billy's grandfather, to allow him to take the lad, and did all I could to see it would reflect on you."
"You seduced poor Sally, too," Thorn said.
Ainsley's smile was an ugly grimace. "Yes, and there was more I did and blamed on you. You see, Mary Porter learned of my conspiracy with her father-in-law after the boy was gone. I told her myself, since I wanted her. I said I would help her get the lad back." He moved slightly and winced. He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his words came more slowly and painfully. "She grew hysterical, threatened to tell you. I could not let her do that. I helped her lose her footing at the source waters of the Ohio, held her under for a bit, then made certain her suicide was blamed on you."
Thorn saw a movement from the corner of his eye. Will had rushed toward them and stood looking down at them, tears in his eyes.
"We have avenged your mother's death together," Thorn said to him softly. "I believe it is nearly over." He turned back to the friend of his youth. "Was that all, Ainsley?
"No." The voice was surprisingly loud. "It could never be all. Even when you retreated to the wilderness to be alone, even there you became successful, starting an inn and becoming quite the man of commerce." He began to cough then, a great, hacking sound that made Thorn despair for his life.
"I am sorry, Ainsley, for whatever pain I caused you. It was always unintentional. I considered you my friend."
He heard a sharp intake of breath from Mariah beside him and looked up to see her staring toward the Point. He followed her gazeto find a stooped old man standing in a boat beached upon the muddy shore, surrounded by a mist so thick that it nearly obscured him.
"Grandfather Porter!" exclaimed Will, who stood.
"Pierce," Mariah whispered. "You bastard."
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