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She sent hi hi to displease hih to reply Belle smiled wryly to herself as she wrote the words She wasn't very good at keeping the twinge of sarcasroaned as he read her note She was getting annoyed, that was clear And how could he blaht of flowers, chocolate, poetry, and then finally passion, she had a right to expect to see him

But what else was he to do? He had received another anonymous note the day after his attack which had simply read, "Next time I won't miss" John had no doubt that Belle would take it upon herself to see to his protection if she knew that so to kill him And as he didn't see how Belle possibly could protect hi hurt

He sighed with despair and let his head fall into his hands Now that happiness was finally within his grasp, how could he spend the rest of his life worrying that a bullet was going to catch hirimaced The words "rest of his life" suddenly took on new , sooner or later he was going to get lucky John was going to have to come up with a plan

But in the meantime, he had to keep Belle at a distance-and away from the bullets that were aimed at his back With an unbearably heavy heart, he picked up a quill and dipped it into an inkpot

Dear Belle,

I will not be able to see you for some time I cannot explain why Please be patient with ht to have sis off, but he just couldn't do it She was the one thing in his life that had brought hi the offending piece of paper as if it ave it to a servant Belle would receive it within the hour

He didn't even want to think about it

Belle's response upon reading his brief letter was to blink This couldn't be real

She blinked again The words did not disappear

Soain She didn't knohy, and she didn't knohy he thought he ht be able to succeed, but she couldn't allow herself to believe that he really didn't want her

How could he not, when she wanted him so badly? God couldn't be so cruel

Belle quickly pushed those depressing thoughts aside She had to trust her instincts, and they told her that John did care for her Very much As much as she cared for him He had said to please be patient with hih whatever problem ailed him He must be in some kind of trouble, and he didn't want to involve her How like hi to learn that loveone's burdens? She crumpled the paper into a hard little ball and flexed her fist around it He was going to get his first lesson that afternoon, because she was going to see hi Herthe past few days She was beginning to shock even herself Belle tossed the note aside and brushed her hands against each other She took a se on hirabbed a warm cloak and stalked off in search of her owns for small rips and tears