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Page 344

| Stanford shrugged. "For the most part, yes," he said, kicking tangled weeds away from the cave entrance with the toe of his boot. "But I can recall some moments when you came in right handy." He smiled wickedly over at her. "If you know what I mean." He grabbed her by the wrist. "And I'm only havin' you taggin' along now because I don't trust that mouth of yours. I can't have you runnin' to Sasha about me and my plans.'' |

| "What plans?" Bianca asked shallowly, yet knowing that he wouldn't disclose any of them to her. |

| Stanford ignored her. He released his grip on her wrist and gazed into the distance, his eyes narrowing. "I hope we'll not be stayin' here long," he grumbled. "That bastard Ashton York'll surely decide to go for that chest soon. How could he not? There are riches in it just for the taking!" |

| Bianca paled. She started to question him about what he had just said about a chestand riches. She did not want to remind him that he had spoken out of turn and had perhaps revealed too much to her. Although she was intrigued to the core with what he had said, she now had a vague suspicion of what had been behind everything that Stanford Sidwell had done these past months. He hoped to become wealthy by means other than being a con artist. This time he was going to take what he wanted by forcethe taking most surely endangering not only Ashton, but Sasha! |

| Bianca eyed Stanford's holstered pistols, then smiled to herself. He had been getting careless. He was too trusting of her. Rarely did he hold her at bay anymore with his pistols. And he had somehow forgotten that she still had possession of the knife |

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