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continued to scream. Behind her, Tracker fought for his life.
The slender woman took a step forward. Ari couldn t look away. Sunlight shone off the blonde of her hair, reflected from the blue of her
eyes. Her hair hung in a thick braid down her back. The severe style exposed the perfection of her skin and the fullness of her mouth. She was slender
and short, and she was crying as if her heart was breaking.
 Desi?
 Oh, my God, Ari.
The pain was unbearable. Ari couldn t hold on. Memories she couldn t stop surged forward, riding emotions she didn t want to feel.
Agony. Shame. So much shame. So much harder to bear than the pain. Betrayal.
The ground beneath her shifted. She tumbled forward into the darkness. She didn t fight, didn t resist. There was peace in the darkness. It
didn t demand answers, didn t ask questions.
 Why? she whispered, as Desi s face swirled in and out of the darkness.  Why did you leave me with them?
11
He didn t need this. Tracker stood on the front porch of the small house Desi had built for Ari. No one had argued when she had insisted. Everyone
wanted the miracle of the reunion. Everyone wanted Desi happy. The overhang shielded him from the sun. He wished it would shield him from Desi. The
woman was on a mission and no one could equal her single-mindedness. She d cornered him as soon as he d ridden into the barn, waited impatiently
while he got Buster settled, and then hauled him here. Now, she stood in front of him, arms folded across her chest, toe tapping, ready to explode. The big
redbone hound that followed her everywhere plopped at her side.
 Can I talk yet? she demanded.
 What s stopping you?
 You! You threatened me!
 I said I d kill for a bit of peace.
 And I gave it to you.
 So now I have to listen to you?
 You re being very rude.
Yes, he was, because he didn t want to hear Desi tell him that Ari didn t want to see him anymore. As unrealistic as it was, he wanted to
hold on to the sweet memories a few more hours, before they drowned under the bitterness of hatred. Which only proved he could be as big a fool as
anyone.
 What took you so long to get here? Desi demanded.  We ve been back for two days!
 I had to get my horse.
 We have lots of horses.
He took off his hat and wiped his brow on his sleeve. On top of everything else, he was hot. Zach had had to abandon the extra horses to
escape. There was no way Tracker was going to leave Buster with the Comancheros.  Buster is my horse.
She waved her hand.  Fine. I understand. That whole what s-mine-stays-mine Hell s Eight thing.
He nodded and agreed drily,  Yeah, that. So what are you champing at the bit to tell me?
 It s about Ari.
 Don t worry. He settled his hat back on his head.  I ll steer clear of her.
 No!
He paused, his hand on the brim of his hat.  No?
 You can t do that.
 Zach said her memory came back.
 Yes. At the canyon, in the middle of all that chaos, she remembered.
He slowly lowered his arm.  What more is there to talk about?
 Getting her well!
Son of a bitch. Everything inside Tracker went cold.  Ari s sick?
 She won t talk to me, Tracker, Desi whispered.  She won t talk to anyone.
 Why not?
 I don t know. The only thing she said when she saw me was to ask me why I had left her with them.
The agony in Desi s eyes tore at Tracker s heart.
 I didn t leave her, Tracker. I wouldn t. I chose her, but it was a trick. Tears filled her eyes.  They said they would let her go. I just had to
choose& 
There was nothing to do but pull her into his arms. When it came to Desi, he didn t have much defense. She was too much like Ari. He
patted her back awkwardly.  I told you before, it was just a game to them. They never intended to let either of you go.
 But Ari thinks I left her.
 No, in her heart she doesn t.
 Are you sure?
He wasn t sure of anything, except he knew if it were him and Shadow, he d never be able to believe such a thing for more than the minute
it took to get his head clear.  Yes.
Desi sniffed and rubbed her face in his shirt.  She won t talk to anyone. She won t even let Miguel in.
 She sent him away?
 Well, no. She was so exhausted we thought it best to keep him while she slept.
That sounded reasonable.  So what s the problem?
 I don t know. It was almost a wail. Desi never wailed. She might demand, she might order, but she never wailed. For such a dainty thing, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]