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Page 227

| one night not long ago. Had that been Bianca? Or had it been an animal in the outback? |

| He hoped for the latter. |

| But right now he was concerned only for Sasha's welfare. |

| "Sasha, I think it's time for you to understand something," Ashton said, taking her hands from her hips and holding them. "I want you to listen and listen good. When I am through you will see why I don't want you to get anywhere near Stanford Sidwell againor anyone associated with him." |

| Sasha tried to free her hands but Ashton's were locked around them too tightly. "Ashton, I . . ." she began to protest, but was interrupted too quickly by him. |

| "Sasha, before Stanford earned the reputation of being a confidence man he was a bushranger, pickpocket, and card sharp," Ashton explained. "For those offenses he got a couple of light prison terms in Melbourne." He hesitated briefly, then continued. "You see, I became acquainted with Stanford when we shared a prison cell." |

| Struck numb by the discovery that Ashton had been in prison, Sasha grew pale. "Ashton, you?" she gasped. "No, Ashton. No." |

| Ashton held more tightly to her hands, afraid that if he released her, she would flee and perhaps never return. The shock was in her eyes, in her voice! Now he wished that he had been truthful with her sooner. They had just made their peace, and how wonderful it had become! To lose her now would be like losing his own soul! |

| "Don't condemn me too soon, Sasha," he said, searching her eyes as he spoke. "Listen carefully to |

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