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@emily-waldorf @mamaauthoress What does Ruan look like, again?  I know he has green eyes 🙂

Basil:

“What … happened?”  Quin stiffened.  He shot a glance at the stranger’s wounded leg.  Basil tightened his arms around his knees.  “I apologize,” the man murmured.  He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.  Basil buried his chin in his knees, marinating in the awkward silence.  The tall red-haired man (@mamaauthoress is this right?) slowly reached out and touched Quin’s shoulder.

“Even if you are a murderer,” he murmured, “my understanding is that you want to leave that behind.” His lips twitched into a faint smile as he met Quin’s eyes.  “I might have a hint as to what you are going through … and I want to leave my past behind as well.” Quin shifted uncomfortably.

“I wish I could,” he whispered.  Basil tilted his head, watching the boy intently.  Quin flushed bright red and squirmed.  “People called it an accident,” he said slowly.  He paused.  “It wasn’t.”  He shrank back, tensely glancing between Basil and the other man.

“It was my fault. I was driving, and…and…” His trembled, his shoulders shaking. “I was too…” Quin choked.  He swallowed, his lip trembling. “Too s-scared to…do anything. The wagon crashed. Then everything was blood and sweat and fire–” he paused.

“She was dead,” he whispered.  His glance strayed to his missing leg. “I was…like this.”  He stared off into the distance, eyes vacant.  “I should have died. They wouldn’t miss me like they miss her.”