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But after Linda’s testimony, Sam had seen the bastard’s conviction in the jurors’ faces And he wouldn’t live long--not once the other prisoners saw pictures of the sweet-faced college student "Linda held up like a trouper"

"May have less uts than ive up and die

As a light breeze swept the park with the scent of brine, Sa set

"Push o"

He relaxed He’d needed the reminder of happiness "Why the park?"

Nolan jerked his chin to the left "Great scenery"

Saaze Beth, Nolan’s subht yelloers in a newly tilled garden The glint of her red hair reers when he held her shoulders Her hair had grown

Nolan’s contented, possessive sh Sam He’d never had that kind of happiness with a woht of his ex-wife drove ice shards into his gut But he had a good life now Wanting ht her lunch and lanced at Saht?"

"She’s not interested" But da to him said otherwise

"Want to tell ht have advice Didn’t ed Nolan didn’t like to talk Period Sam just didn’t talk about personal shit Too risky Back in ’Nam, trails often held trip wires and mines He’d seen friends blown to bits Then when he married, he’d learned booby traps could be made of confidences Could kill the spirit instead

And wasn’t he a bitter fool on a sunny day? He nodded at the rolled-up sheaf of paper sitting on the table "The plans?"

"Yep If they suit you, I can have the concrete guys start in another week" Nolan spread the paper out on the rough wood "I think you’ll like the suggestions the architectfor this Construction of a new stable would keep him busy for a while Give Linda a chance to settle back into her life

Then he’d see hat

As the breeze off the Gulf toyed with her hair, Linda wiggled her toes in the sand and listened to the hissing of the waves on the shore Coetic Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico onderfully peaceful Yet she felt distant, as if she atching life through a frostedin a frigid alpine castle "Nice place"

Kim was settled in a weathered Adirondack chair with her German shepherd sprawled at her feet "It is I love Raoul’s house, but his beach here is what saved my sanity" Her black hair spilled down her back as she tipped her face up to the sun "Sooo, was Saer felt bottled up "I should wallop you for telling hiether, and then Kim had risked her life to free Linda "Yes, he was at the courthouse"

And he’d beenthan she reain, couldn’t he have been…less? Less strong, less co In the last fewchest?

Or at least been a jerk? Instead, he’d simply held her He’d shown up just to be there for her, and hoas she supposed to deal with that?

"I’ru her toes into the sand and flicked sorumpy than normal Raoul says he hardly leaves his place except for business"

"Place?"

"Bunch of acres A ranch or faruessed When several gulls started bickering in loud screeches over a washed-up fish, the dog raised his head, ears pricked, his whole body tensing He gave Ki look