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“Right”

As soon as they had their bundle of loot, the gray-haired Indian and his two braves mounted their horses and waited for Spanish Benteen stayed in caether back to the herd

Rusty walked to the chuck box and reached in a drawer, pulling out a six-shooter “Guess I’d better be keepin’ this within reach,” he said “They just appeared out of nowhere I didn’t have tiet this”

“There wasn’t much you could do with three of theaze travel to Lorna and Mary “Are both of you all right?”

“We’re fine,” Mary replied “They didn’t coave them”

“Do you really care?” Now that it was over, Lorna was starting to treardless of the outcoe” She didn’t believe for a second that he had seriously entertained the idea, but she thought he’d taken a big chance with her life when he had pretended to agree

“You know better than that,” he said tersely “If a situation like this happens again, Lorna, I want you to keep quiet and let ”

“Just tellat him “If Spotted Elk had stae and killed his men?”

“Yes”

A cold shiver danced over her skin She believed him “Why?” she murmured “He didn’t threaten to harm us”

“You don’t understand Indians and the way they think,” Benteen stated “They respect strength I proainst reed to accept five cows, and that’s why his braves won’t staht”

“Cattle” Her voice trembled on the word “That’s all you ever think about You don’t care aboutas those damned cows make it to Montana”

“Those ‘daly emphasized the sord Lorna had used “And, yes, that’s all I care about! You and everyone else should be able to look out for yourselves You aren’t a bunch of duot a mind”

Turning on his heel, Benteen strode to his horse and swung into the saddle

Hot tears elling in Lorna’s eyes “I don’t have to ask where you’re going,” she told hi out to check on the cattle!”