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"Your name’s Em? Is that short for E one of his gray T-shirts, washed so oat leather She turned to the woht Ramsey saved ain in that small tired voice, "He saved ets really mad whenever he even thinks about it"
The woman slowly lowered the pistol, but he could tell she didn’t want to "Who are you?"
He picked up Eive out under hi hurts like the devil"
The Detonics pistol jerked up again "Don’t you move, damn you Put her down"
6
HE IGNORED HER She wouldn’t shoot hihter He carried Emma to the sofa and sat down Only then did he say to her, "I’ve got lots to tell you My name’s Rahter Let her go"
He set Emma on her feet, and she ran to her mother The woman came down on her knees He watched her as she crushed Emma to her Tears streaked down her face She kissed E her hands over her hair, squeezing her until she squeaked
Emma finally pulled back She lifted her hand to her htly patted it "I’m okay, Mama, really Ramsey saved me He took care of loves"
The woloves "I’ain and not a soldier" He watched Eh her mother’s He saw the close-clipped nails, several broken off The back of her hands were red and chafed from the cold
He felt incredibly relieved And suddenly very tired He sat back, stretching his leg out in front of hi across froainst her chest, the woman raised her head and said, "Thank you I’m sorry I nearly killed you If I had, it would have been wrong" She sounded onlyof what she’d gone through, what she’d thought
"Yes, very wrong I’otten along just fine She draws really well"
"Why didn’t you say anything, Em?"
She shook her head, then frowned She whispered, "Nothing would coht you’d shoot Ramsey I couldn’t let you shoot Ramsey I didn’t knohat to do so I just talked Ramsey wanted me to write my name but I couldn’t do that either He didn’t think I could write I couldn’t do anything, Mama, except draw pictures"
"You did well," her mother said and kissed her not once, but half a dozen tiain in her lap
"I’lad to see you, Maain until Ramsey found me It was scary, Mama I was so afraid" Em now, deep low sobs that rent the silence
"It’s all right, baby We’re together again It’s all right I’ll never let you go again, I swear it Oh Emma, I love you Oh God, I nearly lost hope"
He turned away, giving the, Eely, deeper than her un to quiet, listened to the sniffs, then tossed her a blanket She pulled it over both of the a ot to buy her some pajamas At least she doesn’t trip over the undershirt"
Ra "Let me lock the door We can’t take any chances"
She didn’t say anything, content to wait, he supposed, since she had her daughter back He knew she watched hih the , then fastened the chain and flipped the dead bolt When he turned, he watched her pull off a close-fitting black knit cap Red curly hair spouted out, most of it in a braid, the rest a riot around her thin face, a pretty face, one that was changing even as he watched The tension was leaving her face, bringing color to her cheeks Her hter even as he stared at her
There was so much to say, so much to ask, but what came out of his mouth was, "Would you like some coffee? It will just take a minute to make We’re really basic here"