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"I was an orphan, Emma Just like you All I had at the tiun I lived by my wits and was determined to have more And I didn't want to have to be a killer to accoold or silver, and that's only a fool's dream"

"Did you live in an orphanage also?"

"Until I was about eleven and ran away"

Shock tightened her throat Of course she knew about the boys that ran away fro better for theirls did it, too But she'd been too scared to try She'd been scared when she had attained her majority and had been forced to leave

"How'd you live? How'd you get a horse?" she asked as she thought of the price of good horseflesh

His eyes caught and held hers and his brows gren in a frown "Fought for it"

"Fought for it?" E he said

"Well, I fought for the fifty dollar purse the winner of the match walked aith"

"You fought so? Physically?" She was horrified and couldn't contain the emotion in her voice

"Yeah, fisticuffs"

"You put down your opponent? At the age of twenty?"

"Yeah, but I was eighteen at the time"

Ee in her mind "You put down your opponent in a hteen? That's just a boy! How'd you e that?"

Luke heard the horror in her voice and realized that although their start in life had probably been much the same, her experience as an orphan was very much different than his had been He tried to take his mind off those pearl buttons that ran down the front of her body and to lace hu a lot, I guess"

Erew even rounder before one side of her rin "And then at twenty you won this ranch?"

"About half of it Since then I've acquired about an equal ara up parcels here and there"

"But the ga someone's home and land?"

"After he had been stupid enough to ga eyes across the table without flinching "If it makes you feel any better, the man was old and had the consu I let him live out his final months in the house, and I stayed in the bunkhouse with the men"

Emma remained mute as the picture of a twenty year old boy with no fas The fact that she herself had sufferedshe even considered as she pondered a youngman stay in his home

"Don't look atI', E from the truth"

E board in front of her, but her o of the picture of that boy alone with nothing but his horse and his wits

Luke moved his hands over the board and Emanificantly

"Game over," he said

"Yes"

"What do I win?" His voice was low, sultry

Eame?"

"Not tonight I've got to get an early start in thecattle"

Branding cattle? Emma's curiosity was peaked "I'd like to see that"

"Maybe day after tomorrow That ankle needs to rest and there are otten to in only one day"

"But, Luke--"

He interrupted her "Let's get you to bed" He lifted her hand and pulled her from her chair