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He dismounted and retrieved the snakes froh to ad it on the sand a few feet away So absorbed was he in torazefascinated by the color of his eyes An idea brought a mischievous smile to her lips "You'd better put your hat back on It would be a shame to ruin those beautiful eyes with this sun"

She felt vindicated by the color that stained his dark cheeks He retrieved his hat and quietly led his horse away

She fed and hobbled the mules and then started a fire to cook supper By the time Bordeaux returned with the cut up snakes, she had lard sizzling in a large skillet She rolled the pieces of meat in flour and fried theood

After supper she cleaned up the ca an armful of the hay they had packed around the supplies in each wagon, she dropped it on the sand and theThe bay wandered up and nibbled at the hay One of the mules bared its teeth at him

"Coon "I'll get you some hay" She pulled a handful of hay froo"

She ran her hand down his sleek neck and hugged him "You're so beautiful If I had a horse like you I wouldn't drag him out in this awful desert"

He nibbled at her shirt and she ran her fingers across his velvety muzzle He nickered softly

A deep voice spoke from behind her

"I didn't know you were so fond of horses"

Bordeaux 's shadowy form materialized out of the darkness

She patted the bay's shoulder and stepped away from it

"I love horses I like to watch them move and listen to theh was soft and low "I knohat you hed "I had a beautiful black once, but I had to sell it" Her voice turned sour "Mom was sick and we needed a doctor Of course, we still had Old Charlie, but he wasn't much account"

"I'm sorry" Bordeaux stepped forward, and before she had time to protest, he swept her up and deposited her on the back of the bay He gazed up at her with a wry smile