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Sneak Peak - Once A Vagabond

 

Abby smiled at him. "I said she was the color ribbon in the storm. It's something my mum used to say." She put Mazy down and picked up her lead. "It's getting late. I think we better be getting back. I wouldn't put it pass Mercy to send out a search party for us. At this very minute she's probably wondering which cliff I pushed you off to your early demise," she said laughing.

Her laughter was as easy as a summer breeze and her face had taken on a soft child like wonder. The combination was intoxicating. It was then as he was about to ask her another question, he realized he still didn't know her name. How could that be, Ethan thought? They had had several fights. She had pointed a LOADED gun at him. He had even given her not only flowers - mulled as they may have been - but a dog that she seemed to think the world of. And yet he still only knew her as 'his teacher'.

"Seeing that you know my name. And I did give you an incredible dog. I think it's only just that I know you by something other than teacher. Maybe I should call you red?" he teased easily moving out of her half hearted swing.

"If you must know."

"I must…given Mazy and all," he said grinning.

"My name is Abigail McKee. But I go by Abby."

Ethan stopped. His heart was pounding so hard is chest hurt. Could a man's heart explode from beating so hard? Abby…she said her name was Abby. How many Abbys were there in this world? Abbys with amazing red hair that shimmered like cooper in the sun. Could it be that simple? Could she be his Abby? The Abby he'd searched for in every port and city he'd passed through?

Abby turned back and looked at him. "Something wrong?" There she was Ethan thought. The girl he thought he'd never see again. A girl who had wrapped him around her little finger and stole his young heart in a very short period of time. Her eyes were older. More guarded. But if he looked deeper he could see the striking indigo eyes that haunted his dreams for the past ten years.

 

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