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Page 74

| waters of the river rushing over the bank, swirling and muddy, and grabbing up anything that might be in its way to suck it beneath the water and carry it away. |

| ''Ashton, we're stranded," Sasha said, watching the men as they began gathering beside the river, studying the situation. "At least until the river subsides. It would be too risky to cross it as it is now." |

| "That would mean missing a full day of travel," Ashton said, looking over at Sasha. They knew the risks, and they had known to expect some perils while traveling through land rarely touched by man. "But Sasha, we've waited too long to have our sheep station to let mother nature get in our way." |

| Sasha swallowed hard as she continued watching the raging, swirling waters. "What are you saying, Ashton?" she murmured, wringing out the tail of her shirt. "Though perhaps I don't want to hear." |

| "We're crossing the river today," Ashton said, brushing several damp strands of golden-red hair back from his brow. "As soon as we gather up the blown-away tents and camping paraphernalia, by damn, we're going to cross the river." |

| He raised his voice, drawing the attention of his men. "Did you all hear what I said?" he shouted. "We're going to cross the river. Today!" |

| Sasha began unbraiding her tangled hair. She looked guardedly at the men whose expressions showed that they did not agree with Ashton's decision to tackle a river that seemed to be lashing out at the world with its furious swirlings and thrashings, taking everything within reach into its dark and muddy bowels. The thought of crossing that torrent |

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