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“Bull is my boss and my friend,” Jasper said “I can’t keep this fro to be madder than hell And it won’t just be Bull Every rancher in the county hates sheep on the rangeland Once words gets around, you’ll ht now”

“You’re saying I could be in danger? I can’t believe that, Jasper This is the twentieth century, not the Old West”

“All I’et rid of these lambs—any way you can—the better off you’ll be If you need to earn money, talk to Bull He can find some work for you on the Ri et the coop finished so I can bring the chickens over for you”

They finished the work in tense silence Fortunately there wasn’tthe round, and attaching the door

Was Jasper right? Rose wondered Could she really be in danger? Ezra Perkins hadlambs for years, but he’d done it on his fareland Maybe the laood idea after all But never h water, she was determined to make her plan work

They finished the coop, and Jasper put his tools in the truck

“When are you going to tell Bull?” Rose asked

“As soon as I see hi you’ll take o bad between you and Bull, or for you to come to any harm”

Rose watched him drive away Jasper meant well, she told herself But as he’d made clear, his first loyalty was to Bull If she clashed with the boss of the Rimrock, she could expect no help from the man she considered her most steadfast friend

By the tiive the la Rose was inside the trailer preparing four bottles of milk replacement for up outside the gate Leaving the bottles on the counter, she went outside to meet him

This time Jasper hadn’t come alone The back of his truck held baskets and crates, containing the proer door of the truck opened, two sures tumbled out and raced across the yard

“Jasper says you’ve got baby lambs!” Beau was breathless with excitement

“We want to see them,” said Will

As Jasper caotten myself into a peck of trouble,” he said

“Did you tell Bull about the lambs?” Rose asked