Page 105 (2/2)

“Thank you, Mr Giles” Elaine glanced at it only to ascertain that it was from her late husband’s cousin in Canada; then she slipped it between the seat cushions “That will be all for now”

After tipping his hat to her, he turned and walked out Benteen shut the door and returned to his seat “I thought he was guiding your English friends”

“I asked him to come to work for me,” she replied

“Why?”

“Because I have a use for hio out alone in this country without a bodyguard or escort of some kind Mr Giles suits my purpose”

“He’s worked for Judd Boston in the past,” Benteen said

“Yes, I know But his loyalties lie elsewhere now,” Elaine assured him “Is there a reason you don’t like him?”

“No” His ansas clipped, which indicated he was concealing so

The Big Dipper inging down to its ht position when Benteen rode into thehouse on the hill was silvered by the ht in this land

A light burned in the cabin, waiting for his return When he left thatA dozen ti his horse back to the ranch There had been a hundred reasons to let his mother wait for hile reason that ht up to the moment he knocked on the door, he hadn’t ain

Doubts, uncertainties, distrust, continued to plague hireed to the proposed partnership in her business venture As far as anyone else was concerned, that was the only connection between the—until he was clear in his mind about this woman who had borne him

25

It was after hours and the bank was closed Judd Boston sat behind the big any desk in his private office and went over the day’s transactions while Loman Janes prowled the room with an animal’s intolerance for confinement Boston peered at him once and continued with his paperwork

“S’pose he don’t come?” Loman finally broke the silence

“He’ll co him, just to hear what I have to say”