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Page 132

| already had the land." She swallowed hard. "Just what other secrets have you held from me, Ashton?" She eyed the scar with flashing eyes. "What terrible secret even lies beneath that scar on your face?" |

| Ashton's hand went to his scar and traced its outline. Stung by her words, he stared at her for a moment longer, then swung himself into his saddle. |

| "I want to see everything," he shouted at Crispin. "Take me to Rufus. I'd like to see just how he's taken to sheepherding." He gave Sasha a brooding look, then rode on past her. |

| Lightning came to Sasha and offered her a paw. Choked with confusion, Sasha bent to one knee and took the pup into her arms. "I've done it again, Lightning," she whispered. "Why can't I control my temper?" She swallowed back a rising lump in her throat. "But why can't Ashton be totally truthful with me? I do fear so much what he has not yet told me!" |

| She waited until the long line of men, packhorses, and dray and bullocks moved past her through the gate, then went to her horse and drew herself up into the saddle and rode in a lope along the land. |

| At first her ride was a dispirited one, but the farther she rode across land that she knew was part hers, and saw exactly what some of her hard-earned money had purchased, pride began to swell within her. It was even possible to forget why she had been angry at Ashton. Even though he had lied to her about many things, she knew that everything he had done was for her benefitto make things easier on her once they arrived at their new home in the outback. |

| The house came suddenly into view. It was set off |

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