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Page 131

| squinted her eyes into the shadowy dusk, at first unable to tell who it was. Then her mouth fell open in astonishment. She knew the man! He was not a stranger at allit was Crispin. |

| But what was he doing at this sheep station? |

| Crispin wheeled his horse to a halt next to Ashton and dismounted. Ashton went to him and shook his hand, then hugged him readily. "Damn good job, Crispin," he said proudly. "I knew I could depend on you." |

| Sasha looked from one to the other, stunned. And then she stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "Is there anyone among you who might let me in on what is going on here?" she snapped. She then narrowed her eyes at Ashton. "Ashton? Do you have anything to say?" |

| Ashton's eyes wavered. He looked at Crispin, hoping that he might intervene and save him. But he was silentsuddenly turned coward before a demanding lady. |

| "Well, it's like this," Ashton finally said, taking Sasha by an elbow and guiding her away from his friend so that any tongue-lashing he might get from Sasha would be in privacy. "I made an advance trip and secrectly marked out this run." |

| "When did you?" Sasha gasped. |

| "Before you and I met," Ashton said, imploring her with his violet eyes. "I bought the pub to earn enough money to eventually stock my land with sheep. I guess I should've told you." |

| "Yes, I would say so," Sasha fumed. "All along I have been told that I would be traveling with you to find appropriate land for our sheep station. Our sheep station, Ashton. Yours and mine! And you |

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