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Spanish liround, stretching his injured left leg in front of hiainst his saddle

“I swung my loop on a ladino,” Spanish said He used the Mexican word, which has no true equivalent in the A a wild cow that will fight to the death for its freedohten around its neck, he switched ends like a cutting horse That ladino had a horn spread five feet across, edand pushing I never had tiht underneath ood horse” He shook his head briefly “But the ladino, he takes off with my rope”

Horses were ood rope

“Was it a big ole red devil?” Jessie asked

“Sí” Spanish nodded

“I tangled with him a week back That animal isn’t about to be taken Don’t waste your time tryin’ You’re better off shootin’ him”

No one disagreed

Supper consisted of steaks and beans, sopped up with cornbread made out of meal, talloater, and a little salt No one pretended it was delicious It was food that stuck to the ribs and that was the i

After they’d eaten, each man scrubbed his own plate clean with sand Water was too valuable in this country to waste as dishwater There was still some coffee left in the pot Benteen poured soround in the shadowed fringe of the firelight When he took the pouch of Bull Durham tobacco from his pocket, he noticed it was nearly empty

“Hey, Benteen” Shorty broke the weary silence that had settled over the ca?”

“I was thinking about asking all of you to coers tapered off the rolled cigarette

“You serious?” Stretched out on the ground with his saddle for a pillow, Shorty lifted his head to frown narrowly at Benteen

“Sure I’ liarette “Lorna and me could use some help trailin’ that herd up to the Montana Territory”

“Are you takin’ her on the cattle drive?” Jessie Trumbo sounded incredulous

“I’ to marry her and leave her behind,” Benteen replied “The offer stands Any of you wantin’ a job taking these cattle north are welcon on”