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"Getting stuck here for the night wasn’t what I planned, either," she re here any more than you want me," she said, and then felt she should explain further "I need to be back in Chicago Sophie will cover for me, but …" She stopped when it was clear he had no interest in listening to her concerns

He paused, glanced up, and said, "You should have considered that earlier"

The wind continued to howl and hiss, re her that it could be days before Saould be able to return This was quickly turning into an unated disaster

She was deep in her worries, and dinner proved to be a miserable affair Finn served the stehich he, thankfully, shared with her The meat didn’t have a familiar taste, and Carrie decided she was better off not knohat it was Bear? Walrus? Mountain goat? For his part, Finn seemed to think if he pretended she was invisible he could conore her He made it clear he wasn’t interested in conversation Carrie took the hint and ate her meal in silence When she’d finished, she politely complimented his efforts and thanked him

Almost immediately after dinner, Finn went into the bedroom and returned a few minutes later with two thick blankets and a pillow Without a word, he handed the theht have the personality of a rattlesnake, but she wasn’t about to let his badto Hennessey, sheit as close to the stove as she dared As soon as she lay down, Hennessey leaped up and snuggled next to her legs Stretching out her arm, she welcomed the canine’s warone to bed since she was a toddler

Although she should be exhausted, Carrie found her iveonto her back and staring up at the log bea

"Maybe I will interview you," she said, and gently petted Hennessey’s head

The dog rested his chin against her knee in a move that both comforted and war with the great Finn Dalton, estee to listen to his answer

"You can’tcountless hours with such a cantankerous owner? I’, you say, and he really isn’t as bad as I assume? Frankly, I find that hard to believe! Oh, I’ht, Finn Dalton can be civil, but unfortunately he sees me as an evil threat and he wants to boot me out of here as fast as he can I know, I know, it’s a sha It’s only a ain she paused as though taking in the dog’s couy, but to ant and a narcissist Oh, sorry, narcissist is a big word Itup on himself"

A loud snort can Finn was listening in on their conversation

"Okay, I realize you have a few questions forbefore she answered "Like I explained earlier, A what they can about the man rote Alone They see Finn as some sort of hero Little do they knohat he’s really like"

She paused and waited for a couple of moments "Oh, you want to knoas able to find him when so many others have failed? Sawyer asked me the same question He told me a handful of reporters have tried to bribe him and a couple of other bush pilots to help locate Finn, but none of Finn’s friends would betray hiht

"Answer the dog’s question" Finn stood in the doorway, holding back the fabric partition "I’m curious to knohat you have for ood friend, and I knoouldn’t be easily swayed"

Carrie sat upright and wrapped her aret the hty Finn to open up "If you must know, it hat I told him about your mother"

"My mother," Finn repeated slowly "What does she have to do with any of this?"

"I found her, and--"

"You searched out led with restraint

"Well, yes So have others, but I was able to convince her to talk to ood chat, and--"

Finn took two steps into the roo at her as if she were the lowest of the low "You actually talked to my mother?"

"I just said asto do with her"

Carrie sighed, feeling wretched for Joan when all she wanted was to connect with her son "She told me that you’d probably react like this the minute I mentioned her to you"

"She walked out on my father and me--"

"Oh, come on, Finn, you have to know it’s more coive her many options"

"Listen, Ms Busybody, this is none of your business, so stay out of it" He marched back to the bedroom and pushed aside the curtain with such force she was surprised it didn’t rip in half

Carrie was ready to wash her hands of this obstinate, unfeeling… and a dozenback down, she stared up at the ceiling Hennessey remained at her side

"He really hasher voice to a whisper

"I heard that"

Carrie ignored hied to pretend she didn’t exist "His heart must be as cold as ice not to care about his own nored that, too