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She had to stay out of sight She couldn’t see quite as much as she would have liked, for she kept hidden behind the brush

She parted the evergreen branches and peeked to see the big burlywoman in a blanket, tie it in place around her, and throw her roughly into the back of the wagon They couldn’t travel far, she thought, not with that old cob So where were they going?

“Right then, ye diet her inside Don’t be dillydallying longer than need be”

Two on seat, and one took up the reins The burly fellow and yet another she had not seen earlier saddled up and rode off

She took a step to follow the wagon, stopped, and rethought her plan Instead, she hurriedly backtracked, took her horse’s reins, and quietly led him deeper into the woods

The wagon was already out of sight, but she stared down the dirt road and took note of the tracks the wheels had made She mounted Whiley and followed the deeply etched tracks until she spied a weathered cottage in a s

Quickly she jureens where a nice patch of grass grew He bent and nibbled happily Good, he was out of sight Slowly, shelow, very low as she approached closer

A skinny lad in a gray knit sweater over a gray cotton shirt stepped onto the cottage’s front and broken wood steps, turned back, and told his couinea or two, don’t ye think, Jackie-boy?”

“Oi then,” said Jackie-boy, co to join him on the steps

“Did ye do whot Styles told ye?”

“Oi did Left the letter at old man Wilson’s house, oi did If he wants her back in one piece he’ll have to pay”

“Whot’s the ray sweater

“Why, Clemmy … do ye have it in mind to bump her one, eh?”

Cleuards, she thought

She was in a pickle How could she leave the girl here with those two? Yet, she et help At least she knew a nahter and they meant to ransom her, she decided as she crouched low and tried toback help