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"Exactly."
One of the ranchers whistled.
"That's bait."
"Yep."
Hank immediately shook his head.
"No."
I looked at him.
"No?"
"No."
His voice hardened.
"That's my daughter."
"I know."
"She's not bait."
I stepped closer.
"She won't be alone."
The older man studied me.
For a long moment.
"You promise?"
The answer came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without thought.
"With my life."
Silence followed.
The kind that meant everybody had heard exactly what I'd said.
Hank's eyes flickered.
The sheriff noticed.
The ranchers noticed.
Unfortunately.
The Magnolia Ladies noticed too.
Mrs. Jenkins smiled.
