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Page 171

| "It is Stanford Sidwell's sheep station where I live," Bianca said, her voice shallow. "You know of him?" |

| "Not very well," Sasha said, shrugging. She continued to watch Bianca. "How long have you known him? How long has your husband been in his employ?" |

| Bianca looked away from Sasha, feeling trapped. She started walking toward the riverbank, her hair trailing behind her in the water. "Not long," she said, giving Sasha a quick glance over her shoulder. "But long enough to know that I do not like the man!" |

| "Oh?" Sasha said, watching Bianca leave the water to dry herself off with a towel. Her gaze settled on Bianca's stomach, and an uneasy feeling breezed through her. This woman who was known for prostitution was pregnant! Was that why the sheepherder had married her? To give the child a name? But how would he have known it was his? |

| "Bianca should not have said that," she murmured, lifting her heavy hair and moving a towel over it. "Please never say that I said that about Stanford. He would not like it." |

| A keen wonder filled Sasha, seeing the genuine fear that even speaking Stanford Sidwell's name caused Bianca. Sasha was beginning to have second thoughts about going on an outing with such a man. Well, she would simply not allow him to travel all that far from The Homestead. But she must go with him to prove a point to Ashton! |

| Not wanting to chance losing this newly found friendship, Sasha followed Bianca to the riverbank, wondering why her clothes were on this side of the |

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