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Page 366

| along the land that had been left smoldering from the raging fire, which had now moved onward. "We'll wait a while longer, then I think it'll be safe enough to go back to shore." He looked down at Sasha. "It won't be pretty, Sasha." |

| "And poor Cloud," Sasha said, burying her face against Ashton's powerful chest. "Poor, beautiful Cloud." |

| "Cloud?" Ashton said, placing a finger beneath Sasha's chin, urging her eyes to meet his. "Didn't you see? I had time to save your horse. He's in the river with the rest." |

| Sasha stared disbelievingly up at Ashton, then flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Oh, thank you," she cried. "Thank you so very, very much!" |

| "I think we can leave the river now," he said, releasing his hold on Sasha. "Are you up to swimming by yourself, Sasha?" |

| "Yes, I think so," she murmured, the strength having returned to her knees since her initial fear of the fire was past. |

| "Stay close beside me and watch for any falling limbs from the scorched trees," Ashton said, taking long strokes in and out of the water. "And don't despair, darling. I have a plan that could solve all of our problems." |

| Bianca stifled another scream behind her hand as flames shot into the cave entrance, then whipped out again. |

| Stanford held a dampened blanket up to the entrance. "Come on and help hold this in place!" he shouted. "We can't allow the smoke to get in here. |

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