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Page 17

| shoes. Those that Woodrow had purchased for her were too fancy to wear while laboring in Ashton's pub. She wanted to split the cost with Ashton as evenly as possible so that she would feel like a true partner. |

| In her heart she had given up hope that Woodrow would return. She was torn as to how to feel about that. Sad that harm may have come to him? Or bitter because he may have chosen to abandon her? |

| Either way, she was near to admitting that her future lay with Ashton Yorkbut not as his wife. Only as a legitimate business partner. She had given her heart to one man. Did she dare to love another? Trust was weakening within her for any man. |

| She would guard her investment, that was for sure! |

| "We're pretty damn close to having everything we need to head for the outback in search of prime land for a sheep station," Ashton said. "But you must rememberfew ways of life demand more financial prudence than stockfarming." |

| He nodded toward the crowd that was swelling in his pub. "There's lots of gold in those pockets tonight, sweet darlin'," he drawled. "Let's work it all out of them. Who knows? Maybe we can leave for the outback tomorrow. Being a squatter has its compensations. We'll awaken every morning breathing the free, open airnot the stench of ale!" |

| And, he thought, he would have Sasha away from the temptation of always being on the lookout for the aristocrat. Once in the outback on their sheep station, Ashton would make sure she never had cause to think about Woodrow Rutherford again! |

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