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Once more she tried to send him a message. But he grew impatient. "Are you playing with me, Abby?" |
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"No!" She had never wanted to hurt him, to cause him to lose his newfound trust in people, so arduously won. |
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For long minutes, Abby stood staring at the stars, willing them not to return to their usual places in her sky. She sensed the transition of Mike's mood as she had so often while with him. In despair, she tried to send calming, loving thoughts, but she began to receive a jumble of emotions until, finally, he yelled through his thoughts, "Stop this, Abby. Forget the games and come back." |
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"I will," her mind cried. "As soon as I can." |
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But he did not hear. "Damn you!" he shouted, that beloved, hurtful voice inside her head. "Why did I ever think I could trust you?" |
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Abby dropped to the ground in grief. As the stars shifted to their usual position for her time, she bowed her head to sob. |
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Eventually her tears stopped flowing, but her pain did not. Lucy's journal had been accurate so far. Abby had returned to the wagon train. She had saved Arlen's life. She wanted desperately to return to Mike and his time right away. But the journal said she stayed. |
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She would do all she could to make that part of the journal false. But she did not know if she would succeed. Ever. |
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And Mike was furious. He was hurt. Perhaps it would be better for him just to forget her. |
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