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Abby smiled. "Thank you. You're a dear friend." She hesitated. "You know, of course, that you must grow no flowers in your garden, or at least that you must let others tend it while it is in bloom." |
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"Bees," she explained. "You must do nothing to put yourself in their presence." |
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He laughed, then agreed. "I do not want to tempt the small villains to attack me." |
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While Arlen was at his job that day, Abby visited first the Woolcotts, who had dared to settle at the edge of town despite its reputation, for Jem Woolcoot had opened a tailor shop. They had bought a small adobe house from a man who had gone off to the gold fields, and two large dogs guarded its grounds. |
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Abby felt uncomfortable, as usual, around Emmaline, but she seemed to have recovered from her illusions about Arlen; her new beau was the owner of the dry goods store that sold her father cloth for his tailoring. They had not seen Hunwet, nor did they seem interested in seeing him again. |
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They did tell Abby where others from the wagon train might be found, including some survivors of the group that had splintered off. After leaving the Woolcotts, Abby sipped tea in the hotel restaurant and was grateful when Arlen found time to accompany her for several more visits. No one had seen Hunwet. |
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The sun had dipped low toward the horizon as Abby rode beside Arlen on their way back to the |
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