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Cole

She'd taken the bait.

She'd gone.

If she returned on her own, there would be no punishment. She was my property. I didn't mark my property for no reason.

If she had to be brought back, her life would change tremendously.

I stood in one of the upstairs rooms and watched her run. Even after she stopped and turned the lime green slicker inside out, I kept my eyes fixed on the moving figure, gray now against the grayish green sage, running toward the city.