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When they stopped at noon on the fourth day, Lorna felt too weak to clion seat The Arkansas River was still somewhere ahead of the froered, grabbing a wheel ri thethe dust into rivulets of mud

Rusty brought her a cupful of water, and she smiled a weak thank-you Greedily she drank ato make it last He eyed her closely

“You’re lookin’ peaked Better get so white whiskers, grimy noith trail dust

“I will” Her dry throat rasped her voice

It was surprising the difference one drink of water could s were steadier as she crossed the cracked brown grass to the chuck wagon Thein at a time to eat while the rest stayed with the recalcitrant herd The point men, Spanish and Jessie, were the first to co out a tin cup for Rusty to fill with the vile black liquid Both were too tired to eat, waving aside Rusty’s offer of cold beans, to chew listlessly on some jerky

As she licked at soo dreay to take another step or go anothertobacco juice in his eyes, h this hell? The ansas Benteen—and his deterardless of the cost

Suddenly Lorna realized Mary hadn’t joined her She glanced toward the Stanton wagon and saw the woman crouched in the scant shade provided by the rolled canvas roof So Lorna forced her hot, tired body across the space to the Stanton wagon It wasn’t until she was standing beside Mary that she discovered Mary was crying, dry racking sobs shaking her shoulders

It see one She knew about hardship, deprivation, and the lack of creature co could reduce her friend to tears She sank to her knees beside Mary, hesitantly touching her shoulder in concern

“What is it, Mary?” she asked, but Mary only shook her head, unable to talk Lorna was at a loss She glanced at the cup of water she still carried “Have a drink of water,” she urged “You’ll feel better”

She remembered how it had revived her When Mary shook her head to refuse, Lorna forced the issue by pressing the cup to her lips She tipped it, a few drops spilling onto Mary’s dress Her heart twisted at the loss of even those precious drops

“Drink,” Lorna insisted, not wanting any more wasted

Mary ed a couple of sips, then turned her head away The sobs had stopped, but she continued to draw in deep, shuddering breaths Her lips were chapped and cracked from the lack of moisture, as were Lorna’s

“Why are you crying, Mary?” She tried to coax the woument?”

“No” Mary sniffed “I … was just thinking”

When no further as forthco about?”