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Page 424

| was waiting on his instructions even then. No matter how many guards I would have placed around our house, it wouldn't have been enough." |

| "If Silas Howland is responsible for Tobias's disappearance, then surely we don't have to worry about our son's safety," Sasha said softly. "The old man wouldn't harm his own grandson." |

| "That old man is capable of anything at any time," Ashton said, then regretted having said it when he saw fresh tears trickling from Sasha's eyes. |

| The sun was barely creeping up along the horizon. Straight-backed on Cloud, Sasha rode beside Ashton. Her hair was flying in the wind and her riding skirt was hiked up above her knees. |

| She glanced over her shoulder at the men following them. His head bandaged, Crispin was in the lead. |

| Again she looked straight ahead, her heart aching every time she allowed herself even the briefest thought of her beloved Tobias in the arms of that wretched, crippled man. Her lower lip trembled and she fought against crying again. She did not want to upset Ashton any more than he already was. He was grieving as much as she, for he loved his son with the passion that all fathers gave their sonsno matter whether they were of the same blood or not. |

| Ashton suddenly thrust a hand in the air, gesturing for everyone to stop. He leaned over his saddlehorn, peering intently ahead. |

| "What is it, Ashton?" Sasha asked, shielding her eyes from the glare of the morning sun with one hand. "Why did you stop? Do you see something?" |

| Something grabbed at her insides when her gaze |

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