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to—”
    Reuben grabbed her by the throat and clamped his strong hands tight limiting the amount of air she could intake.  Clawing at his hands she tried to loosen his hold to no avail.  She could not breathe.  Looking into his dark brown eyes she silently begged for mercy.  There was none.  His fierce eyes held only a look of pure evil.  He was going to kill her.
    “Reuben!” Mary screamed from the hallway.  He loosened his grip just enough for some air to make it down her throat, expanding her lungs.
    The sound of front door slamming echoed down the hall.  Julia struggled to take another breath.  Even through the blur in her vision, she recognized Adam Larson standing in the hallway.  When he cleared his throat to announce his presence, Reuben slowly loosened his fingers from her neck.  Leaning close to her ear, he whispered so only she could hear, “There are ways to cause you pain that are not visible to others.  Make no mistake, you will pay for this.”
    Turning on his heel, he pushed Adam aside as he stormed from her bedroom.  Mary followed him, not even offering to help.  Perhaps she was afraid of suffering the same fate.
    As soon as she was free, Julia crumpled to the floor, her shaky legs no longer able to hold her weight.  Ragged gulps of air failed to soothe the burning in her throat.  Rolling over to all fours, she fought to catch her breath as her eyes refused to focus clearly on anything before her.
    “Are you alright, Miss Colter?” a soft male voice sounded from somewhere above her.
    Her head hurt.  As a gentle hand lay on her shoulder, she remembered Adam was there.
    “Let me help you sit up,” he said, tenderly lifting her to her feet.
    She felt dizzy and her vision blurred as she tried to stand on her own, her breath still short and insufficient.
    “Sit on the bed.”  He continued to speak in soft tones, much as she had seen him do with his horses.
    Just how much had he witnessed?  What would he tell Caroline? 
    As her breathing started to return to normal, her vision cleared in one eye.  The other felt swollen and raw.
    Adam kneeled on the floor in front of her holding her hands.  Concern wrinkled his face.  “Are you hurt?  Do you need to see the doctor?”
    She tried to speak, but her throat burned too much.  She shook her head.  The motion caused her dizziness to return.
    “Can you walk a little, perhaps outside for a bit of fresh air?”
    When she nodded, he put his arm around her shoulders and helped her stand.  After a few steps, she moved away from him, able to continue on her own.  As they walked toward the front door, she heard Mary in the kitchen.
    Mary popped her head out.  “Just so you know, he’s gone to the saloon.”  The words dripped with blame.
    Ignoring her, Julia continued to the front porch and took a seat in her favorite rocking chair, hugging her arms close around her body.  Adam stood across from her, leaning against the rail with his arms crossed over his chest.  When he made eye contact, she averted her gaze.  Several moments passed before either spoke.  Then they spoke at the same time.
    “He’s never…”
    “I think you should…”
    Adam nodded for her to continue.
    “He’s never done that before,” Julia croaked.  It hurt to talk.  She bowed her head.  Staring at her clasped hands, the tears flooded down her swollen cheek.  She was scared.  She never thought Reuben was capable of harming his own sister and she just provoked him to a new level.  If she believed his threat, and she did, he would seek vengeance.  She couldn’t imagine in what way.
    “Julia… Miss Colter.  I think…  I know it is not my place to…  I think you should come stay with our family for a few days.  I don’t think it is safe to leave you here.”
    She still could not look Adam in the eye.
    “What he did was wrong.  No man should ever treat a woman that way, no matter how angry he was.  And most certainly not your brother, your