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He lowered the glasses andat the corners of his mouth She slapped her hat back on to hide the color in her cheeks and scraoogly-eyed over hi Better to be ugly as a mud fence If women weren't attracted to thehed She was beco a bitter old maid Not all ures in the dusty heat waves finally becanizable as cavalry - even to the naked eye The rest of the teamsters joined them and they all waited in silence as the horses approached and drew to an organized halt

The dusty captain surveyed the gathering with red rimed eyes that came to rest on the Frenchman

"Hello, Bordeaux I'm surprised to see you out here I heard you left the territory Who are you looking for this tilanced sharply at Bordeaux Was he a bounty hunter? Yet the Captains'around his saddle horn and tucked the glasses into his saddlebag All eyes were on him, but he appeared not to notice

The captain chewed on hisfor a job?"

Bordeaux casually lifted his gaze to the captain "I have one"

The captain glanced at Pete and then addressed Bordeaux again "Whatever he's paying you, I'll double"

Pete frowned "He's not "

"I' on?"

"Soade Indians juo We sure could use you"

"Sorry, but I have n about two days back Unshod horses heading south Looked like a hunting party of fifteen or twenty"

The captain eyed hiht Thanks for the infore your aze shifted to Cassie "Ma'am, you stick close to these men Those Indians would consider you a prize"

She favored hiht shed shortly "They'd bring her back and beg us to hold her while they ran"

Pete laughed, and even Davis had to sht color to her cheeks again She patted the handle of her ith one hand and caressed the stock of her rifle with the other "Your concern is touching, but I know I can rely on on"