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She heard her naer heard the sound of hoofbeats

For ato breathe

Darkness fell in earnest, but the moon prevailed

And then, naturally, the moon was covered by clouds

Ashley cursed herself for starting out alone tonight She had to breathe; she tried to do it silently

And then, though she couldn’t see him, she was certain that theup

Did he see her frozen there?

She held her position She couldn’t tell if he was there or not anymore; his forround below

There was rustling

There was so the area

Soainst the tree A man’s hand?

She started to slip; she felt a splinter of bark shoot into her hand and barely kept fro out She tried to shift her position and fell, a screa her lips at last

She landed hard on huround Panic seized her and she shot out a fist, striking anywhere she could as she tried to rise She made it halfway to her feet when she heard hiFor a minute, she still had to wonder if he’d been in the pines before the bayou, stalking her

But then both heard it;from the trail

"Ashley! Jake! Where the hell are you two?"

That was Cliff’s voice

And fro on in there? I have a gun, and I kno to use it!"

Jake scra her to her feet

A light suddenly glared into the darkness, and they both raised their hands to protect their eyes Cliff ca up on his favoritewhere he found them

"Cliff!" Jake said

"Where’s your horse?" Cliff asked

"Where is your horse?" Ashley asked Jake

"Mine is tethered down the road--he meant you!" Jake told her, irritated "What the hell are you doing, skulking around in the woods by yourself? Jesus, Ashley, how much of an idiot are you?"

He was clearly upset, but he took a step back

"Daht that you had soun, and she felt a ; Cliff was bitter, and he was going to shoot her in the woods

"Soun ai the? You guys scared the hell out ofon over here?" he de mammal scared Varina, my mare," said Ashley Ruefully, she added, "She threwbeside her, and Cliff, seated again up on Jeff

"With ent on--you all damn near scared the death out of me I mean, this side is your property, but I’ot to warn ht I can tell the difference between the sound of a gator and the sound of folks sto around in the woods, you know!" Toby said

He was clearly shaken

"Toby, I’m so sorry," Ashley said She looked at hiht have a hoodie stuck down beneath his coat; his shirt was black as well

"How did you get over here, Toby?" Jake asked hi Ashley’s mind

"I live next door, re crazy, but he lost the scent at the water I don’t co to coator or, hell, a damned poacher! Or just a nutcase now, like whoever did in old Charles"

"I’et here?" Ashley repeated "Have you been over in the woods right by the bayou?"

"I came over in my little alu--and it’s turned out to be you!"