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“Lorna, a woman in pants?” Mary was certain she’d taken leave of her senses

“They’ll be too long, but we can roll thenored the shocked remark

Heroff her clothes The pants fit a little snug around the hips, but the shoulder seas up until the toes of her shoes showed The clothes felt very strange, made her feel like she wasn’t really dressed

“Well?” She looked at Mary

“Lorna, those pants show everything It’s scandalous,” her friend declared

“Then I won’t tuck the shirt in” Lorna tried to pretend she didn’t feel self-conscious, that it was all very natural and right

“You’re really going to go through with this, aren’t you?” Mary realized

“Yes”

“What are you going to do for a saddle?”

“Jonesy’s saddle is in the back of the chuck wagon” Lorna had already thought about that “I’ll use it” She picked up her sunbonnet and tied it on her head

Mary laughed, unable to smother it “You look silly in those pants and that bonnet”

Lorna grinned, then laughed, too Both knew the alternative to the sunbonnet was no hat at all, whichKansas sun Which was no alternative

When she swung out of the wagon, unhampered by skirts, Lorna discovered a freedom of movement she’d never known To cover her nervousness, she walked briskly to the chuck wagon and tried to pretend there was nothing strange about the way she was dressed There was a shocked and incredulous look on Rusty’s face It was one of the rare times she’d known him to be speechless

“Would you catchto relieve Mr Tru cattle”

The cook on for a spare rope All the while that he walked out to the re back over his shoulder at Lorna, as if he believed his eyes were playing tricks on him