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Page 129

| she just might have a woman neighbor with whom to exchange female talk from time to time. She had expected never to see another woman out here in the outback. She had heard the outback referred to as almost exclusively a man's world, lonely and robbing robust men of home, wife, and children. It was said that the outback was no place for women and children, for there was no medical service, schools, or community activities of any kind. |

| But knowing this had not stopped Sasha. She had longed for the adventure, the challenge. |

| "Yes, let's do go and meet those who are soon to be our neighbors," she murmured, then glanced down at her attire and frowned. "Oh, but look at me. Not only am I dressed in men's breeches and shirt, but they are also so dusty and dirty from the long journey." |

| She jerked her hat from her head and thrust it inside her saddlebag, then quickly stroked her slim fingers through her hair. |

| Ashton chuckled. "Sweet darlin', don't fret so over your appearance," he said. "I doubt if it makes much difference at all to these people how you look. Out here at the end of nowhere everyone tends to look the same anyway." |

| Sasha gave him an annoyed look, hoping that he was not sincere in suggesting that she looked no better to him than the men of his acquaintance. She flicked her reins and rode on ahead of him. |

| Lightning following dutifully behind him, Ashton sank his heels into the flanks of his horse and caught up with Sasha. "I hope that soon we can declare peace between us," he said. "There's more to do out here in the outback than to argue. We're partners, |

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