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He gave her a cold look and reined his horse in a half-circle Her shoulders started shaking, but she wouldn’t cry She glanced at Mary, expecting her sympathy

“That wasn’t fair, Lorna,” Mary said “He does care”

“No, he doesn’t,” she retorted “Not about us Only those animals Those stupid animals”

More than anything, she wanted to crawl into the back of the wagon and have a good cry, but it would be just exactly what Benteen expected her to do She walked stiffly back to the pan of dishes

“Let’s get this cleaned up,” she declared “As ot to move on”

Behind her back, Rusty and Mary exchanged glances but said no more on the subject It was between her and Benteen It never did any good to interfere between a man and his wife, even with the best of intentions

Before they had the last of the gear stoay, Benteen rode back into the noon ca Joe Dollarhide with Lorna’s buckskin in tow She wasn’t in anytreated to an afternoon ride, but she wasn’t given any choice as Joe tied his horse to the back of her wagon and climbed into the seat to take up the reins and drive the tea the sidesaddle on her horse while the other wagons pulled out

“I’ with you,” Lorna stated when he finally looked at her

“Co up” He waited beside her horse until she grudgingly came to him

With the buckskin standing quietly, Benteen linked his fingers together to make a cup of his hand She stepped into it and ht to lift her up to the saddle, then ground her hard-soled shoe into his hands before drawing her foot away

Benteen waited until she was settled comfortably in the sidesaddle and had her skirts adjusted, then mounted his horse “Ready?” His face wore no expression when he looked at her

At Lorna’s stiff nod, he sent his horse forward They cantered parallel with the herd for a short distance, then passed Then Benteen veered his horse to the east and Lorna followed No attempt was made to break the brittle silence between them

After they had traveled several miles and ell away from the herd, Benteen stopped his horse by a stand of oak trees and dis here, so she didn’t alight until Benteen came over to lift her down Under the shade of the trees, she loosened the strings to her bonnet and let it fall down her back

“I suppose there’s a reason for us stopping here,” she challenged, looking around If he intended to apologize and ro to make it easy for him

“Have you ever shot a gun before?” he asked “A rifle or a pistol?”