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Page 203

| was standing more at Stanford's side than his back. She felt Ashton's eyes on her, making her feel suddenly awkward and shy. Never had he seen this side of hernor had she, in fact! |

| ''All right, all right," Stanford grumbled. He followed her movements, and as soon as he was free from the threat of the shotgun he fled to his horse and buggy and was soon gone in a fury of uprooted grass beneath the horse's hooves. |

| Heaving a sigh of relief, Ashton rolled over and stretched out on the ground. He looked up at Sasha, his lips tugging into a smile. "Well, now," he said. "Aren't you full of surprises?" |

| "I'm not the only one," Sasha said, dropping the shotgun to the ground. She sat down beside Ashton, still weak from the ordeal. "Where did you come from? I thought you were way out in the pasture." |

| "I was, but when I saw the Syrian hawker riding across the land with his wagon of foolishness, I thought I'd better come to the rescue of our bankroll," Ashton teased. "I know the ribbons and fancy things Jacob sells to the women of the outback. I thought you'd be tempted to buy something pretty for yourself." |

| Sasha combed her hands through her hair, taking it back from her face and shoulders. "Would you believe I found something for you instead?" she murmured, eluding his steady stare, now knowing exactly what she must do. She would no longer deny her love for Ashton! That had made her too miserable! |

| And hadn't she just proven to herself that she would always protect him with her life? |

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