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It wasn’t possible, she told herself This couldn’t be Dash Sinclair He couldn’t have really found them Couldn’t have even known they needed help Yet, who else could he be?

He glanced at Elizabeth “Have you eaten?”

She could only shake her head Dear God It couldn’t be It was a trick She picked up the letter from the table and unfolded it

I know you have lots of other little girls to love Momma says you must be married with children and don’t need us But I need you Dash Please help ain

How had Cassieit? She stared at her daughter, barely able to process the fact that she was speaking to the stranger A dangerous, cold-eyed stranger who claimed to be Cassie’s military penpal

Cassie’s cheeks were flushed now Hope radiated fro blue eyes as shock was slowly displaced by happiness

“You ca arainst the htened with some undefined emotion as his arms contracted around her

Dash Sinclair She had loved that name herself, but had pushed it from her mind except for the few times Cassie had written the letters to the wounded soldier That and when he had invaded her dreams She hadn’t shared Cassie’s belief that one day Dash would coh That one day he would protect them both She was an adult She didn’t believe in fairy tales, though she had fought to keep her daughter’s belief alive as long as possible

“Eat, Cassie” He sat Cassie back in her seat, pointing coly at the food

Surprisingly enough, a french fry disappeared into her mouth immediately Then another Despite Elizabeth’s thankfulness that her daughter was eating, she couldn’t halt a small streak of jealously Cassie had refused to eat for her er

“Mac,” he called out the na, rotund er platters, two milks”

Elizabeth shook her head “No…” She knew one of those platters was for her

“Thank you, Dash” Cassie laid her head against his arry She didn’t eat yesterday, either But I knew not to worry I knew you would be here I knew you would, Dash”

Chapter Two

Dash barely stilled his ruainst hi it around the frail shoulders, and star