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As she angled across ca Lorna could tell by Benteen’s expression that the subject was a serious one

“Is so?” she asked when she reached them

When Benteen opened his mouth to speak, she kneas about to deny it He held her gaze for a second; then the shutters came down

“So far, the tally is running about five thousand head short,” he admitted

The nuered her She knew the Indians had run off some cattle, but this was more than “some” “Do you think the Indians are responsible?” She was incredulous “But ould they do with that ht they only stole what they needed to eat”

“That’s what they’ve done in the past,” Benteen said

“It’s for sure if they’re stealin’ to sell or trade for goods, somebody’s puttin’ ’em up to it” Ely shook his head “It isn’t like ’es on this kind of scale A dozen head of cattle would keep them supplied with firewater all winter, and probably a couple of warm blankets, too”

“Maybe it isn’t the Indians,” Lorna suggested

“It’s Indian sign we’ve been cuttin’,” Ely said

“Remember when Shorty was delirious fro about a white man”

“I asked hi out, he thought he sa

hite ined it”

“What if he didn’t?” she asked

“What whitewith Indians?” Ely didn’t put much stock in the idea “For that matter, hite man would the Indians let ride with them?”

For a long ht be one,” Benteen offered finally with a thoughtful look