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"Should that not depend on what you have to say?" She thought she heard a tinge of amusement in his tone. |
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"No," she said, crumpling inside. He wanted to send her away, but she wouldn't let him. She faced him squarely. "Regardless of what I tell you, I want your guarantee that it won't make a difference." |
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"All right. I promise you can stay, no matter what." |
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Fine, she thought, relief shimmering through her. But what could she tell him? |
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The truth, she supposed. But an abbreviated version. |
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She stopped pacing near his chair, then groped for an approach. She settled on, "I knew about you, Thorn, before I came here." |
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In the dim light, she saw his back grow stiff. "How is that?" |
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His hand reached out in a gesture that appeared pained, and she hurried on. "Not in newspapers here or in the east. Someone has written a story about you. One in which you are a kind, brave, sympathetic figure." She hesitated, then plunged ahead, unable to keep her voice from breaking. "A hero's story, in which you die at the end." |
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He stood so close that his chest nearly touched hers. "And who wrote such a valiant but sad tale?" His voice was mocking, but she could hear his interest. |
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"The man named Pierce, the one I wanted to find at Harrigan's trading post." |
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Thorn was silent for a moment. "I do not recall meeting any Pierce. How did this man know enough to write a story about me?" |
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"I'm not sure. I think he sent me here to change things. He told me to 'right a grievous wrong.'" She stammered a little over the phrase that had haunted her all her life. |
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"And what wrong is that?" |
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Taking a deep breath, she moved away from him. She stopped near the wail that was decorated with his discarded uniform. "In the story, you die in a duel. A soldier named Billy calls you out. I think . . . I'm afraid he's that Will Shepherd." |
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