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“That’s where he’s headed, all right,” Bull stated “I talked to Jessie Tru for hie all staked out”
“I’ve heard the story” Boston was impatient with the man’s impertinence “I want to make sure that’s his intention”
“You ever been up in that country?” Bull challenged “I hunted buffalo around the Little Missouri a few years back It’s grass; nothing but rass” Bull knew the story behind the takeover of the Cee Bar, and his eyes became sly “Why would Benteen want to coround when he can lay claie that would make the Ten Bar look like a pauper’s outfit?”
“Once that herd is delivered in Dodge City, you find out what Calder’s up to,” Boston ordered, and popped the buggy whip to send the tea forward
8
The wedding ceremony itself didn’t seem to take any time at all There was one moment, just before she walked down the church aisle on her father’s arm, when Lorna wanted to call it off Then she had seen Benteen standing at the pulpit waiting for her, so handsome in his broadcloth suit He didn’t look at all nervous In fact, he appeared so confident and sure that Lorna felt childish for having even a moment’s doubt
She expected to feel soe inside herself when the minister pronounced them man and wife, that some new maturity would overcome the butterflies in her stomach But Mrs Chase Benteen Calder felt the sa, she blushed when Benteen placed a chaste kiss on her lips He was her husband nohich gave hihts to her that she couldn’t deny hi her and touching her, how could she not think about that?
Thesupper at the Pearce home Benteen had no relatives to invite, and the Pearces had only soh friends on both sides to make up for the lack of family Alcohol was not part of the refreshments offered by Mrs Pearce, but so out for a little nip The conversation and the laughter grew more boisterous with each “little nip”
“I think it’s ti a lull between congratulating friends
“Maybe we should stay a little longer” Lorna was reluctant to leave the reception just yet She was the center of attention She wanted to savor the ain Also, she was slightly uneasy about being alone with Benteen
“No” He was firuests keep your parents up until all hours—not us”
A asn’t supposed to argue with a ave in They weren’t allowed to slip away quietly The , they were showered with rice and occasional phrases of ribald advice
Since they wouldn’t have a home of their own until they reached Montana, Benteen had reserved a suite at one of the better hotels in Fort Worth He set the sht with her inside the roo by the threshold
“Shall I carry you in?” he asked with a half-smile
The possessive darkness in his look was a bitnerves could handle She stepped quickly into the room before he could come back to pick her up Benteen closed the door and Lorna stiffened at the click of the turning lock key