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He had a wide neck and a grim mouth. Here was another one who needed to laugh. "You've been here a few days, Miss Walker. You see that my inn has few guests. I've myself and René to feed, and now you. How can I afford yet another person?" |
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She approached him, though her head came only to that nose of his that would have looked as well on an aristocrat. "You've plenty to eat. There's lots of food in that smokehouse." She looked at him as though they shared some nasty secret about the smokehouse, arousing Holly's curiosity. She'd have to ask Mariah about that, she would. "And you keep bringing in more all the time." She looked pointedly toward the rabbits on the table. |
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"For security," he said. "We never know how many will come for supper or stay the night." |
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Her smile was secretiveagain tickling Holly's interest. "No, I don't suppose you have an 800-number reservation system." Holly felt as puzzled as Thorn appeared. What did that mean? |
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"I will strike a bargain with you," Thorn said. There was a slight but nasty curve to those stem lips of his that Holly did not trust. "If you clean these rabbits, I will hire your friend for a week. Then we will see." |
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Mariah turned as white as the clouds in the summer sky. Poor thing must be a squeamish one. But with no hesitation she said, "All right." |
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Cruel man, Holly thought. She would help Mariah, for such things bothered her not in the least. |
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She noticed from the corner of her eye that Frenchie, too, took a step forward. She turned her head to look at him in surprise. He had a heart after all, that nasty one. |
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But Thorn did not leave Mariah's side. Instead, he handed her a sharp knife and motioned toward the table where the animal carcasses lay. |
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Mariah, bless her, did not hesitate but took the knife and approached the table. She drew in her lips and straightened her arms as though to distance herself from her own hands. |
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"No, Mariah," Holly said. "If you find this so distasteful, it is not fair that" |
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