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Ryder chuckled and then used the back of his hand to wipe away his sht piece of work, ain’t you? You’re a pretty little thing, but you done and picked yourself up soladly help you correct ’em"

Normally, two out of three isn’t bad, but I had failed to compel this Ryder to take off I’d have to talk to Oliver about it Find out where I had gone wrong, but now I had abetween us, not only separating us, but pushing Ryder backward, forcing all three of them to move on Ryder’s tattooed arm reached out toward ave me a dark look and stepped up with his arainst the invisible barrier I had built between us He was not in the least little bit frightened ofof challenging it, but then he turned away and swaggered back toward the river Joe followed hi a few steps behind like an enaest "I don’t like you," she said, givingwas onize her, especially since I had won this battle I held ue

"Birdy," Ryder commanded, and she scurried to his side

I watched until they were gone, and then turned y into it, envisioning the force s of theMy heart was in my throat as I turned it I was thrilled when I heard the click--for once, ic had worked as I’d intended

I hurried inside, sla the deadbolt I leaned against the locked door and sucked in a deep breath, trying to cal out The old landline phone, yelloith gray buttons and absolutely no forain I hesitated, but then answered

"Hello, sweet girl," Colin said, the clunky receiver faithfully relaying the sadness in his voice "I’lad you picked up I couldn’t remember your cell number for the life of me, but this one’s been in my head for thirty years"

"Peter isn’t here yet, Mr Tierney"

"Ah, I know that darlin’, he’s here with hisThe rasped the bar to keep frouilt of what I’d done squeezedthe air out of ht, so you best lock up and head on home"

"Wait, Mr Tierney I’ll stay I’d like to be here for you and Claire," I said, even though ht I had no idea hoould ever face Peter’s parents after what had happened Somehow I’d have to find a way to own up to it

"I don’t want to hurt you,We’ll be relying on you and ht, you’ll have to leave us be Mother wants her boy with her, so I wouldn’t count on seeing Peter till toet back to them now"

"Mr Tierney," I called out before he could disconnect

"Yes?"

"Who was he?"

"My Uncle Peadar, uess We haven’t seen him in decades now, not since Peter was still in diapers, but Claire still felt very fond of the old fellow Good-bye, Mercy"

"Good--" I began, but he had already hung up

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