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He stood in silence while he waited for her to acknowledge his presence After a brief aze, he said a silent prayer of thanks, proratitude each and every day

“Oh, Lachlan” Tears welled in her eyes, and she ran into his arms

“I’ht, smoothed her hair, kissed her nu froht to use you as a distraction so I would not have time to examine the household accounts”

She looked up into his eyes “You’re right Boyd told me so He wanted to ensure you had no reason to stay He intended to leave us down here to die But that is not why I feel so solelanced back over her shoulder at the coffin “I wish I could do so to help her”

“We cannot help what has happened in the past,” he said, suspecting she felt an affinity with the lady in the tomb “All we can do is look to the future”

“It could have been me” A tear trickled down her cheek, and he wiped it aith the pad of his thumb “If Ivana hadn’t co from the affliction Ivana dreamt about me That’s how she knehere to come Talliano mentioned the mine in his notes and so they travelled all this way on a whim I cannot help but feel I am connected to her somehow”

Lachlan cupped her face tenderly “Your shared experiences will always bind you to her We will always reenerosity And I suspect the lady with the bracelet also came to your aid today”

Isla’s eyes widened “I saw her, Lachlan She was right there in front of me”

“I know,” he nodded A smile touched his lips as he drank in her look of wonder “I saw her, too”

She hugged hih “So much has happened these last few days I can hardly think clearly” She stepped back “We should seal the coffin Let the

lady rest in peace with her family”

He nodded “Help me slide the stone slab into position”

Isla took one last look inside the coffin With a curt nod, she grasped the edges of the lid and helped him secure it in place

“There,” she said brushing the dust from her dress She picked up the lantern “You know Boyd was the one responsible for the death of the cattle”

Anger flared at the ly informed me Boyd was responsible for the rumours about you I’m not surprised to learn he took his obsession too far”