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“If you tell me what you need, ma’am,” Cutter said, “I’ll carry it down there for you”

An uneven click and thud echoed against the rough-healls as she walked across the room toward the table

“Her heel broke off in Tulsa,” Ben said directly to hiht in a knothole on the train platforain yesterday”

Seth didn’t need an explanation; it made little difference Yet because in most instances he did expect full reports from his men, he nodded to Cutter before he asked her, “Don’t you have another pair of boots or shoes?”

The sideways glance she sent his as full of intolerance “Do you honestly think I’d be wearing these if I had another pair?”

That, too, sounded like Rosemary

She lifted the tapestry bag Russ had set on the table “I have day slippers I can wear now, but they wouldn’t have held up while traveling” Turning to Ben, she sht, after you and Mr Winston explained the layout of the fort”

“Here, then,and holding the door ith his other hand

“Thank you” Chin up, she h-low steps—out the door, without a single backward glance

Seth was just fine with that Though he did follow as far as the opening A crowd had formed, which was to be expected The fort was close-knit, more so than some fa right outside the door, atte to hear every word They were off to the sides noatching curiously Only a select nura her arrival, word had spread fast A twinge pulled at his forehead He’d have to tell his mother now, and better send the letter soon If soive him

“Major, sir,” Ralph Winston said, clicking his heels together as he stopped next to the open doorway “Did Ben explain your asn’t hurt, other than a broken heel, when she fell? I did fix her boot, but without the proper tools, it broke again”