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got blackness in my heart, and I've been going to hell since the day I turned fifteen. You don't want this kind of life.
    It don't have nothin' to offer you but pain and misery. And suppose you do find and kill the man who wronged your kin.
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    Abby's Last Stand
    by Michelle Marquis
    Don't you suppose his friends and kin are gonna come looking for you?"
    She broke the thread with her teeth and folded the jeans.
    "They come after me, and I'll kill them, too. Once I know how, I'll kill everyone who so much as thinks about coming after me."
    Bear and Abby were silent for a long time. Abby stood up and paced with her arms folded. Why, oh why, had she told this man so damn much? "Now look what I've gone and done.
    I've told you too much. Now you ain't gonna want to teach me how to shoot."
    Bear stared at her with eyes as cold and dark as midnight.
    "You're wrong there, Abby. You want to learn how to live by the gun? Then Snake and me are just the right boys to teach you."

    * * * *
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    30

    Abby's Last Stand
    by Michelle Marquis

Chapter Six
    When Snake woke up, he was energized. Sharing Abby with Bear had been one of the most exciting things he'd ever done. She'd been so passionate and sensual. He stretched out on the bed, suddenly feeling in the mood for a bath.
    Normally, he wasn't much for bathing, but he wanted to look and smell nice for Abby. There was a bathtub in the middle of the hall for all the rooms to share. Only cost five cents, and that included the water even if you did have to lug the buckets up the steps yourself.
    Abby was seated by a window, and she stared out at the street below. She had a needle in her fingers, and she kept rubbing her thumb up and down over the stem. She seemed to be very far away.
    "Whatcha thinkin' about?" Snake asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
    She gave him a shy, beautiful smile. "Nothing, really. I was just thinking how lucky I was to have met the both of you."
    Snake laughed. "Wait 'til you get to know us." He glanced around the room. "Bear here?"
    "No. He left a few minutes ago to see if there were any rumors about Barker coming into town today."
    Snake nodded, sparing a moment to think about the grim task that awaited him and Bear. Then he slapped the pillow and jumped out of bed buck naked. "Well, I'm of a mind to 31

    Abby's Last Stand
    by Michelle Marquis
    have a bath in that big ole claw-foot tub down the hall. Care to join me?"
    Abby put down the needle and thread. "Sure, but where do we get the water?"
    He winked. "That ain't for the faint of heart. Follow me."
    Snake threw on some clothes and led Abby out of their room and down the stairs. Out back of the hotel there was a water pump and a few buckets stacked inside each other.
    Snake had Abby hold one of them while he pumped water into it. Someone cleared his throat behind them. Snake stopped and turned around. Old man Tucker, the owner of the hotel, was standing there with his arms folded. He squinted at them and wore a crooked frown.
    Snake nodded to him, all friendly like. "Tuck."
    "All buddy, buddy like, are we? What you think you're doing there, Snake?"
    "I'm getting me some water so I can have a bath."
    Tucker snorted. "You and your brother already owe me for the room last night. When am I gonna get paid for that?"
    "Here's a nickel for the water," Snake said as he handed the old man his money. "As for the rest of it, I'll get it to you shortly. What if we did chores for the room?"
    "Ain't nothing needs to be done around here I can't do myself," Tucker insisted. "The one thing I ain't got a lot of is money."
    Abby stepped forward. "I could cook the evening meal. I'm a good cook."
    Snake made a sweeping gesture to Abby. "See? There's one thing you ain't no good at. Abby can cook a fine meal, 32

    Abby's Last Stand
    by Michelle Marquis
    and she's more than willing to for that flea-infested box you call a room."
    "Now, now, Snake. Ain't no cause to get all like that." The old man