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Page 41

| eyes still taking her in as though they were drinking her. "Where on earth did you get those clothes? Is that truly you?" A slow smile lifted his lips. "Do I call you Patrick? Or Aaron?" |

| "Do I truly look that horrid?" Sasha gasped, wounded by his reaction. "I kind of . . . like the way I look." She turned and faced the mirror, then spun around, giggling. "I think I like the name Spike better. Would you like to call me Spike, Ashton? Does that fit my appearance well enough?" |

| "Spike?" Ashton said, laughing softly. "I don't know. Perhaps we'd better ask Lightning." He whistled, and Lightning bounded into the room from the corridor. The pup seemed to stop in mid-air when she saw Sasha, then emitted a low snarl, her teeth baring. The pup sidled up next to Ashton's leg, her tail tucked between her leg. |

| "My word," Sasha said, placing a hand to her throat. "She doesn't seem to recognize me at all." |

| Ashton nodded toward the huge hat lying on the bed. "Once you get that damn thing on, nobody'll know you," he said, his eyes dancing. |

| "Good!" Sasha said, grabbing the hat. She plopped it on her head and leaned down into Lightning's face. "Boo!" she teased. |

| Both Sasha and Ashton flew into a fit of laughter when Lightning cowered, dropping to the floor to cover her eyes with her paws, a trick that Ashton had taught the pup. |

| "Well, that's that," Sasha said, removing the hat as her laughter faded. "I've chosen right. Now I can travel with the rest of the men as though I'm one of them. Though those who travel with us will know |

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