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Page 331

| He held her away from him and smiled down at her, his eyes gleaming. "Darling, while in Narrung, let's make the celebration complete," he said softly. "Let's look us up a preacher and let him speak words over us that will make us man and wife. That's the sort of partnership I have always wanted with youa total commitment of the heart." |

| Tears flooded Sasha's eyes. Again she flung herself into his arms. "Yes, darling, that is also what I want," she whispered, pressing her cheek against his chest. "It just took a while for me to trust such feelings. Because of Woodrow" |

| Ashton eased her away from him and gently placed a hand over her lips. "Shh," he whispered. "Let's not speak of that man again. From now on it is just the two of usand perhaps one day a daughter in your image, darling." |

| Radiant, Sasha felt tears running down her cheeks. She drew Ashton's mouth to her lips and kissed him with a sweet ardor. |

| His wounded arm limp, his shirt sleeve stained with dried blood, Stanford stumbled into his cabin and collapsed on the bed. Bianca stood back away from him, her hands at her throat, then jumped with alarm as he turned and faced her with utter contempt in his eyes. |

| "Whore, don't just stand there," he said, his voice too weak to shout at her. "See to my wound." He winced as pain stabbed away at his flesh. "Get the bullet out of my arm and be easy while doin' it. I don't like the idea of being scarred anymore than I have to be." |

| Bianca inched toward him, her heart racing. If |

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