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“Because now I’ll be i like this,” Lorna ader it would be Now I just want it to be over”

“Coue in mock reproval

“Yes, I am” She didn’t deny it

“Just wait till we get there You’ll find it orth all we’ve been through,” he promised, and pressed his mouth to her temple

The herd crossed the Powder, Puue rivers, and finally, the Yellowstone in the , Benteen cantered his horse back to swing alongside Lorna, riding left flank There was a vital, eager tension about hileamed in his dark eyes when he reined in beside her

“Wanta ride ahead withand flank”

By now the cattle were so well-broken to trail, they’d lost the urge to stray off on their own They traveled as a unit, knohen it was ti and when to start in the afternoon Only the drag riders had trouble yet with the laggards in the herd

“Yes” Lorna sensed soe Benteen had claimed, but she didn’t kno close

Easing away from the herd, they put their horses into a steady lope to make a wide pass of the herd The land rolled out in lirass Its flatness was broken with buttes and gouged with coulees, and dominated by a lonely stretch of sky

A rider was briefly outlined on the crest of a ridge It was the first human Lorna had seen in weeks, outside of the trail crew She pointed out the approaching horse and rider to Benteen, but he’d already seen him Satisfaction settled over the line of his mouth as he slowed his mount to a trot

“It’s Barnie,” he told her

When the rider pulled up to greet them, Lorna expected a boisterous welcoured that was your trail dust Got any cigarette papers? I’m clean out”

Benteen handed him a pack of papers from his vest pocket “Keep it”

“Never did take to chewin’” He shook out some tobacco fro it shut Lighting the cigarette, he sucked in the s moment

“How’s it been? Quiet?” Benteen waited until he’d exhaled to ask