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“You aren’t the only one who has to say good-bye to friends, Lorna” His voice was as flat as his expression “I think mine have been more final than yours”

When he turned and walked away, she felt both pity and guilt He couldn’t show his grief, because that wasn’t part of his code But it was there, she realized Why hadn’t she seen through his closed-in expression?

Breakfast was being dished up when Yates, the horse wrangler, drove more than half the remuda close to camp With fresh horses to ride, there was no ive tired horses a chance to rest Over five hundred head of Longhorns had scattered in the staht back to the main herd There wasn’t time to rest or mourn the dead

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The noon meal was a catch-as-catch-can affair A pot of beans was kept hot, as well as the coffee, for any rider that came in Usually a drover would ride in, wolf down some beans, wash theone in less than fifteen minutes

“It looks like Mr Willis has woken up,” Lorna noticed as the injured cowboy stirred in the shade of the Stanton wagon and attempted to sit up “I’ll take him some food”

After Woolie had passed out, they had carried hian, where he’d slept through theand into early afternoon It was a combination of shock, exhaustion, and alcohol that had kept him out

Mary added some biscuits to the plate of beans Lorna dished up She carried the plate and a cup of coffee over to the wagon Woolie had on wheel for support, but effort had hi in his broken leg There was still a pale cast to his tanned face as his breath came in short pants

“I thought you ry” Lorna bent down to offer him the food and coffee

“Thanks” He took the plate, but aze at the herd “How are the boys doin’? I’ll bet those cattle are scattered all over hell and gone”

“They’ve brought in several bunches already this ,” Lorna assured him

Despite the faint glaze of pain in his eyes, there was a deterain at Lorna “Could you help et to my horse? They’ll be needin’ my help”

“You’re in no condition to ride with that broken leg,” she protested

“You get me in a saddle and I’ll stay there,” he insisted “They’re working shorthanded an’ they’ll be needin’ every rider they can get”

With the loss of Spanish and Dollarhide, there were only six able-bodied riders left, not counting Benteen Two of those had to stay with thecattle