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while Kahlan sat on the bed； watching him； looking slightly unfortable。 Finally； he strode over to her。
〃I can't believe what you did down there。〃
She stood up and looked him in the eyes。 〃The result is what matters； Richard。 If I had let you do what you were about to do； your life would have been at great risk。 For nothing of value。〃
〃But those men think 。 。 。〃
〃And you care what those men think？〃
〃No 。 。 。 but 。 。 。〃 He could feel his face redden。
〃I am sworn to protect the life of the Seeker with my own。 I would do anything required to protect you。〃 She gave him a meaningful look； lifting an eyebrow。 〃Anything。〃
Frustrated； he tried to think how to put into words how angry he was without making it sound as if he was angry with her。 He had been at the brink of lethal mitment。 A brink only one wrong word away。 Pulling back was agonizingly difficult。 He could still feel his blood pounding with the lust for violence。 It was difficult to understand the way the anger twisted his own rationality with hot need； much less explain it to her。 Looking into her green eyes was making him relax； though； cooling his anger
〃Richard； you have 。to keep your mind where it belongs。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Darken Rahl。 That is where your mind belongs。 Those men downstairs are of no concern to us。 We must only get past them； that's all。 Nothing else。 Don't expend your thoughts on them。 It's a waste。 Put your energy to our job。〃
He let out a breath； and nodded。 〃You're right。 I'm sorry。 You did a brave thing tonight。 As much as I didn't like it。〃
She put her arms around him； her head against his chest； and gave him as slow hug。 There was a soft knock at the door。 After assuring himself it was Bill； he opened the door。 The proprietor and his son carried Chase in and laid him carefully on the floor。 When the son； a lanky young man； saw Kahlan； he fell instantly and hopelessly in love。 Richard understood the feeling； nonetheless； he didn't appreciate it。
Bill pointed with his thumb。 〃This is my son； Randy。〃 Randy was in a trance； staring at Kahlan。 Bill turned to Richard； wiping the rain off the top of his head with the rag he kept over his shoulder。 He still had the toothpick in his mouth。
〃You didn't tell me your friend was Dell Brandstone。〃
Richard's caution flared。 〃That a problem？〃
Bill smiled。 〃Not with me。 The warden and me have had our disagreements； but he's a fair man。 He gives me no trouble。 He stays here sometimes when he's in the area on official business。 But the men downstairs would tear him apart if they knew he was up here。〃
〃They might try；〃 Richard corrected。
A slight smile curled the corners of Bill's mouth。 〃We'll get the other one。〃
When they left； Richard gave Kahlan two silver coins。 〃When they e back； give the boy one of these to take the horses to the stables for us and tend to them。 Tell him that if he will spend the night watching them and have them ready for…us at sunrise； you will add the other。〃
〃What makes you think he will do it？〃
Richard gave a short laugh。 〃Don't worry； he'll do it； if you ask。 Just smile。〃
Bill came back carrying Zedd in his husky arms。 Randy followed； carrying most of their packs。 Bill gently laid the old man on the floor next to Chase。 He gave Richard a look from under his curly eyebrows； then turned to his son。
〃Randy； go get this young lady a basin； and a pitcher of water。 And a towel。 A clean towel。 She might like to clean up。〃
Randy backed out of the room； smiling and tripping over his feet as he went。 Bill watched him go； then turned to Richard with an intense look。 He took the toothpick out of his mouth。
〃These two are in bad shape。 I won't ask you what happened to them because a smart fellow wouldn't tell me； and I think you're a smart fellow。 We don't have a healer around here； but there's someone who may be able to help； a woman named Adie。 They call her the bone woman。 Most people are afraid of her。 That bunch downstairs won't go near her place。〃
Richard remembered Chase saying Adie was his friend。 He frowned。 〃Why？〃
Bill glanced to Kahlan； and back to Richard； narrowing his eyes。 〃Because they're superstitious。 They think she's bad luck of some sort； and because she lives near the boundary。 They say that people she doesn't like have a bad habit of dropping dead。 Mind you； I'm not saying it's true。 I don't believe it myself。 I think it's all made up in their own heads。 She's not a healer； but I know of folks she's helped。 She may be able to help your friends。 At least you better hope she can； because they're not going to last much longer without help。〃
Richard bed his fingers through his hair。 〃How do we find this bone woman？〃
〃Turn left down the trail in front of the stables。 It's about a four…hour ride。〃
〃And why are you helping us；〃 Richard asked。
Bill smiled and folded his muscled arms across his chest。 〃Let's just say I'm helping the warden。 He keeps some of my other customers at bay； and the wardens bring me an ine from the government with their business； here and from my dry goods store next door。 If he makes it； you just be sure to tell him it was me that helped save his life。〃 He chuckled。 〃That'll vex him good。〃
Richard smiled。 He understood Bill's meaning。 Chase hated to have anyone help him。 Bill did indeed know Chase。 〃I will be sure to let him know you saved 。his life。〃 The other looked pleased。 〃Now； since this bone woman lives by herself； way out by the boundary； and I'm to ask for her help； I think it would be a good idea if I took her some things。 Can you get together a load of supplies for her？〃
〃Sure。 I'm an approved supplier； I get reimbursed from Hartland。 Of course； that thieving council takes most of it back in taxes。 I can put it in my tally book for the government to pay； if this is official business。〃
〃It is。〃
Randy came back with the basin； water； and towels。 Kahlan put a silver coin in his hand and asked him about caring for the horses。 He looked to his father for approval。 Bill nodded。
〃Just tell me which horse is yours； and I'll take extra good care of it；〃 Randy said with a big grin。
Kahlan smiled back。 〃They are all mine。 Take care with each； my life depends on it。〃
Randy's face turned serious。 〃You can count on me。〃 Unable to decide what to do with his hands； he finally jammed them in his pockets。 〃I won't let anyone near them。〃 He backed toward the door again； and when all but his head was through it； added； 〃I just want you to know I don't believe a word of what those men downstairs are saying about you。 And I told them so。〃
Kahlan smiled in spite of herself。 〃Thank you； but I do not want you to endanger yourself on my account。 Please stay away from those men。 And do not mention that you talked to me； it will only embolden them。〃
Randy grinned and nodded and left。 Bill rolled his eyes and shook his head。 He turned to Kahlan with a smile。
〃You wouldn't consider staying here and marrying the boy； would you？ It would do him good to have a mate。〃
An odd look of pain and panic flashed across Kahlan's eyes。 She sat on the bed； looking down at the floor。
〃Just kidding； girl；〃 Bill said apologetically。 He turned back to Richard。 〃I'll bring you each a plate of supper。 Boiled potatoes and meat。〃
〃Meat？〃 Richard asked suspiciously。
Bill chuckled。 〃Don't worry； I wouldn't dare serve those men bad meat。。 I could lose my head。〃 In a few minutes he returned and set two steaming dishes of food on the table。
〃Thank you for your help；〃 Richard said。
Bill raised an eyebrow。 〃Don't worry； it will all be in my tally book。 I'll bring it …to you in the morning to sign。 There anyone in Hartland who will recognize your signature？〃
Richard smiled。 〃I think so。 My name is Richard Cypher。 My brother is First Councilor。〃
Bill flinched； suddenly shaken。 〃I'm sorry。 Not that your brother is First Councilor。 I mean that I'm sorry I didn't know。 I mean that if I had known； I'd have given you better acmodations。 You can stay at my house。 It's not much but it's better than this。 I'll take your things over right now。 。。：'
〃Bill； it's all right。〃 Richard went to the man and put a hand on his back； reassuring him。 The proprietor looked suddenly less fierce。 〃My brother is First Councilor； I am not。 The room is fine。 Everything is fine。〃
〃You're sure？ Everything？ You're not going to send the army here； are you？〃
〃You've been a big help to us； honest。 I have nothing to do with the army。〃
Bill didn't look convinced。 〃You're with the head of the boundary wardens。〃
Richard smiled warmly。 〃He's a friend of mine。 For many years。 The old man； too。 They're my friends； that's all。〃
Bill's eyes brightened。 〃Well； if that's true； then how about if I add a couple of extra rooms to the tally book？ Seeing as how they won't know you all stayed together。〃
Richard kept… smiling； and patted the man's back。 〃That would be wrong。 I won't put my name to it。〃
Breathing out with a sigh； Bill broke into a big grin。 〃So； you are Chase'