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It occurred to hi’s carcass, no more than a few feet fro it noat the Indian

"Ian," he said softly, and a look of incredulous joy blossorass, and blood "Oh, Christ It’s Ian"

109

THE VOICE OF TIME

AS LIZZIE HAD NO MOTHER to see to her proper "fitting out" for ether to provide things like petticoats, nightgowns, and knitted stockings, with a few of thequilt blocks When a quilt-top was co House" to see to the actual quilting--the laborious stitching together of quilt-top and backing, hatever --worn-out blankets, stitched-together rags, or wool-co for warreat patience for sewing generally, but I did have the manual dexterity for se kitchen with good light and enough roo, who kept the quilters well supplied with s of tea and endless plates of apple scones

We were in thea block pattern Mrs Evan Lindsay had pieced out in creams and blues, when Jaht up in an absorbing conversation about the snoring of husbands in general and theirs in particular,the door He seemed not to want to interrupt, or to attract attention, for he didn’t coht ently, and disappeared toward his study

I glanced at Bree, as sitting next to ed I popped the knot--jerking the knotted end of my thread up between the layers of fabric, so it wouldn’t show--stabbedan excuse

"Give hi Mrs Aberfeldy "A great deal of it, and atered That way, he’ll have to wake to piss every half-hour, and can’t get started wi’ the sort of rules loose"

"Oh, aye," Mrs Aberfeldy objected "I tried that But then when he comes back to bed, he’s wantin’ toet less sleep than I do with the snorin’!"

Jarabbed me by the aran, bewildered Then I saw the tall Indian sitting on the edge of the stoop

"What--" I said again, and then he stood up, turned, and s myself into his arms

He was thin and hard as a piece of sun-dried rawhide, and his clothes smelled of wood-damp and earth, with a faint echo of the s edme utter another sht I’d never see you again!" Overcome with emotion, I rubbed his ears madly He uttered a short bark and dropped to his forepaagging equally !" Je as fast as his short legs would carry hi Rollo shot toward hi him over in a flurry of squeals

I had at first feared that Rollo--as, after all, half-wolf--saw Jemmy as prey, but it was ied in mutually ecstatic play Brianna’s h, and she ca to the rass Then Ian stepped forward, took her in his ar circle boiling out onto the porch, in an eruption of questions, exclaeneral excite pandeer, who had appeared froraze across his forehead, a black eye, and a clean shirt I glanced at Jas-on, his face wreathed in a perrin His shirt, by contrast, was not only filthy but ripped down the front, and with an enore sh I didn’t see any fresh blood showing Given Jemmy’s wet hair and clean shirt--not that it was, anyhly suspicious

"What on earth have you lot been doing?" I denify, Sassenach Though I have got a fresh hog for ye to butcher--when ye’ve the time"

I pushed back a lock of hair in exasperation

"Is this the local equivalent of killing the fatted calf in honor of the prodigal’s return?" I asked, nodding at Ian, as by now coed in a tide of wo to one of his arms, her pale face absolutely ablaze with excite it, but pushed it away for the moment