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She nodded "I understand"

Aaron juon, and his boots landed in thehis finest coat now, having stupidly donned it just to iers of highway travel grew Any appearance of riches could put her at risk

"I do appreciate your help," Patched Coat said, walking him over to the disabled cart "This will take no ti fellow like you? You can lift, and I’ll replace the wheel"

Aaron ducked and took a quick peek under the cart Though the wheel was off the axle, he saw nothing broken or daested this cart hadn’t moved in several hours

"You’ll want to relad to hold it for you"

Of course she would And she’d be glad to strip the contents from every pocket while she was at it

Aaron saw exactly as happening now This couple had probably been sitting by the road all afternoon, taking that cartwheel off and then flagging down passersby for assistance in "repairing" it While the unsuspecting travelers perforood deed, the "missus" would relieve them of their coin

At least these were petty swindlers, not violent highwayh

He played along to a point, dutifully lifting the cart so that Patched Coat could fit the wheel back on the axle Just as he’d probably done four times already today

Aaron tipped his hat to Mrs Patched Coat--whose pregnant belly looked a great deal lumpier than any he’d ever seen--and took his leave "Best of luck to you both"

Find soull

Damn it, the bastard followed him "Say, I wonder if you could spare a blanket or--"

Aaron stopped in his paces and wheeled on him "Not another step"

"Why, I didn’t mean any--"

Aaron lowered his voice to a threat and looon I’ve helped you with your cart If you knohat’s good for you, turn around and walk back"

"Aaron?" Diana called froht?"

He lifted his eyebrows at Patched Coat You tellto be sensible and turn around, slink back to your donkey cart? Or is this going to get ugly?

It got ugly Thehimself out of reach

"That’s a fine lady you have there," thepoint of his blade "I’d i in your wagon aze, Aaron lifted his voice "Diana, drive on Now"

"I can’t," she replied "I’ to leave you here"

"Drive Now"

When several seconds passed and Diana failed to obey his command, a smile spread across Patched Coat’s face He swiveled the blade back and forth, taunting "I think she likesto knock that srind his nose into the gravel His punch connected--but so did Patched Coat’s blade, slashing through the wool of Aaron’s coat sleeve

They reeled apart froain

On soistered the fact that he’d been cut But his mind took the pain and stashed it away for later He could weather far worse--and he would He was the hu him doith that puny blade, he’d have to hack at Aaron all night long

"Diana," he said, keeping his eyes on that glittering, twisting blade "For the last tian to chuckle "See now, my missus always listens to me" He lifted his voice and called to his wife "Search the wagon while I hold him here"

A sound stopped the cocked

"I don’t think so" Diana’s voice, as cool and calm as he’d ever heard it "Step away from hied Damn it all Why had she refused to drive away? This couldn’t end well If she lost her nerve, she could lose her life And if she did shootHe knew Diana Taking a life would weigh heavy on her, even if the act was justified

"Step away froive a third warning

Bang

As the s his right hand in his left The hand didn’t appear to be bleeding, but the knife was gone

Good Lord Aaron realized what had happened She’d shot the thing clean out of his hand And the force of the weapon ripping free ers or his wrist

Good

"Jesus," thehis wounded hand "That sodding bitch"

Aaron had spent a lifeti into red-hot flames And in that moment, he saw shades of red he’d never dreamed existed He whipped a back-handed blow across the rabbed that patched overcoat by the lapels and held the despicable knave close

"I will rip out your tongue," he growled, "and feed it back to you"

He drove his knee into the blackguard’s gut

He wanted to folloith a crushing punch to the jaw Then a kick to the ribs He could have pummeled the bastard into the oogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>