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Page 182

| don't make mistakes all that easily. I've heard of you and your kangarooers. The name is Ajax, isn't it?" |

| Ajax shrugged and smiled crookedly down at Ashton. "I don't know what your game is," he said. "If you ain't called by Proffitt these days, how should the likes of me address you?" |

| "The name doesn't matter," Ashton said, his voice drawn. Lightning bounded suddenly to his side and growled as she looked up at Ajax. "What matters, Ajax, is that you and your convict kangaroo hunters get off my land. Your smell might frighten my dingo pup." |

| Ajax leaned his weight against the saddle horn and smiled wickedly down at Lightning. "Your pet, huh?" he said. "Afraid it might get frightened, huh?" His gaze moved slowly to Ashton. "I'd think hard on what might happen to that pup if you don't cooperate with me.'' |

| "I've heard that you're good at making threats," Ashton said, taking a step closer to Ajax's horse. "Well, Ajax, you're threatening the wrong person this time." Ashton placed a hand on one of his holstered revolvers. "Now get out of here. Don't come back." |

| "Ashton, be careful," Sasha whispered, stepping quickly to his side. "He looks so mean." |

| Ajax had heard her. "Ashton, is it?" he said, chuckling. His smile faded. "Aye, most say I do look mean." He focused his eyes on Sasha. "And most know that I am." He looked slowly back at Ashton again. "You know that I'd kill a man as soon as a kangaroo." He laughed again, his eyes gleaming. "Why, only yesterday I strung up a corpse of a man |

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