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"I suppose," Carter said With a shrug he added "I’ll let you ladies play, Murder, She Wrote" He stretched and yawned "If you’ll excuseto head out to play some pool Anyone want to join ht," Clint said

"You sure?" Carter asked "Darcy?"

She shook her head "Thanks Maybe tohed "Carter, you don’t need to look like an old hanged dog I heard that our lovely new young city cos Ah, hm I’ll bet you knew that Makes the Wayside Inn so , huh?"

"She may be there, she may not," Carter said

"Why don’t you just ask her out?" Darcy suggested

"Well, since I’ you around like a coonhound with his tongue on the ground, I ht as well"

Darcy s just a little bit uncomfortable anyway But Carter’s smile deepened and he winked "So I should just ask her out, huh?"

"Sounds like a plan to ht Meanwhile, I’ht, all"

With a wave, he left the rooot to make those fellows help clean up!"

"I’d like a little busywork right now," Darcy told her "We’ll get this all picked up in aplates Clint rose with her "I guess I didn’t run out fast enough," he said,ood for you"

"I’ll have you know that I actually have lots of irons in the fire I’ really sound to say"

Penny eyed him skeptically "Hm" Then she took a casserole plate and moved on into the kitchen

Darcy rinsed dishes while Clint put the a way to break into a song regarding every comment Penny made as she put leftovers into containers and then into the refrigerator

By the ti And yet, Penny was very fond of Clint, and not half as dismayed by his antics as she tried to appear to be

Matt didn’t come back in

When they finished, Darcy excused herself, anxious to get up to the Lee Rooht on as she closed the door behind her She looked around the room, then closed her eyes, and tried to let any sensations ease into her

The room seemed extraordinarily still and quiet And empty

"Arabella?" she murmured softly aloud "If there was an injustice, we can at least let it be known There’s no need to be so hostile We’re trying to help you"

No response No whisper of a breeze, no hint of a voice on the air No coldness Nothing

The ghost was lying dor watched

She hesitated a few ripped the rail, and stared into the night So beautiful Surely, this area of Virginia was blessed

After a few moments, she went back in

She turned on the television, and was surprised to realize that the late-night talk shows had coan to strip down for bed, started to choose a T-shirt for sleep, then hesitated

Matt would conoir

Seated upon the bed, she watched the television for several seconds, waiting But that night, the Lee Roo

"I don’t understand at all," she said out loud "You obviously want help Let ry with the Stones for what happened to you, Arabella, and eager to hurt them? They are not the same people now Matt Stone is not the h, she turned around and curled up with her pillow