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Page 290

| at the sheep that was now trampled and lifeless. |

| Trying to get her breath, Sasha lay there for a moment on her back, her eyes closed. Then she rolled over to her side to push herself up. And when she did she found herself looking square into the face of another blinded sheep that had wandered aimlessly away from the others, a dreaded crow still perched on his head, pecking away at the hollow, bloody sockets. |

| Sasha heard a blast of gunfire, then saw the crow's head pop from its body. She became aware of hearing someone's terrifying screams, and suddenly realized they were her own. |

| When strong arms circled her waist and drew her up from the groundwhen a voice so familiar and loving came to her through this fog that seemed to have so quickly enveloped her sensesshe grabbed for Ashton and clung to him for dear life. |

| "It's so horrible," she sobbed, pressing her cheek against his chest, her eyes clenched closed. "The poor sheep." |

| "It's over," he said thickly, lovingly caressing her back. "The crows are all dead. Damn them. Damn them all to hell." |

| "I've heard about things like this before butbut I never thought it would happen to our sheep," Sasha cried, still clinging hard to Ashton. |

| Ashton sighed hard. "Sweet darlin', you are just beginning to see the hardships of living in the outback. Nothing comes easy here." He eased her away from him and looked down into her tear-filled eyes. "Are you sorry that you came with me to the outback? Would you rather be back in Melbourne?" |

| She swallowed hard and choked back a sob. She |

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