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“I got to shoot hiave us his all”

Loreda stared at Milo, thinking, No So ood memories included Milo…

She re He’ll take care of you, Lolo, trust him Don’t be afraid

Loreda re, Isn’t she too little yet? And Daddy s

Up on Milo’s back, Loreda had conquered fear for the first time I did it, Daddy!

It had been one of the best days of Loreda’s life She’d gone from a walk to a trot in one day, and Daddy had been so proud

For years afterward, Milo had been her best friend on this vast far at her shoulder, bu her for carrots

And now he’d fallen

“Don’t just sit there, do so with tears “He’s suffering”

“I failed at all of it,” Grandpa said

“You didn’t fail,” Mom answered “The land failed you”

“The governreed and bad far, Elsa”

Milo shuddered, wheezed, made a low, desperate moan of pain, and kicked out his fro

nt legs

Loreda walked dully to the workbench and picked up her grandfather’s Colt revolver She checked the chamber, closed it with a snap, and returned to Milo, heezed and snorted at her touch