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Page 351

| Ashton let out a loud shout. He grabbed Sasha around the waist and lifted her up in the air, then placed her gingerly back to the floor and enveloped her within his arms. His mouth moved over her lips. He kissed her reverently, then held her at arm's length, beaming with pride as he raked his eyes over her, stopping at her stomach. |

| Sasha placed her hands on her abdomen. "Our child is growing within me, Ashton," she murmured, tears of joy rolling down her cheeks. "Never have I been as happy as now." |

| Ashton's hands trembled as he placed them atop Sasha's. "Our child," he said thickly, then he once again wrapped his arms around Sasha and drew her into his embrace. "Damn this drought. It can't be good for either you or the child. What are we going to do to protect you from it?" He held her away from him again. "Perhaps I should take you to Melbourne, where you can be more comfortable in your pregnancy." |

| Sasha was taken aback by such a suggestion. "Never," she said, squaring her shoulders stubbornly. "I shall stay with you. I belong here. I shall not deprive you of one moment of this pregnancy. I could not bear not to be with you at such a precious time as this." |

| "But the heat" Ashton worried, swinging away from her to go to the open door to stare out at the dry and open spaces again. "Damn this heat." |

| "It will pass, Ashton," Sasha murmured, going to his side. She looked adoringly up at him. "Until it does, I promise not to overtire myself." She took his hand and led him out the door, onto the porch. "Now you go on and see about our sheep. Those |

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