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“But they need to be set,” Tara insisted

“I don’t need no doctor to do that Ya just got to pop theether and wrap the her of the siot some of those ice-cream sticks in there?”

In horrified fascination, Tara watched the pudgy hands of the cook sandwich the broken appendages between a pair of short, narrow splints Then Ra snap of bones popping into place Ra out all over his suddenly white face Tara felt nauseated and weak She swayed a little until the cook gripped her elbow

“You okay?” The small eyes studied her closely

“I’m fine” She stiffened deter around to watch the splints being taped into position

The primitiveness of the incident had shaken her She’d been raised in the conventional world where professional help was sought for the most minor medical problem It was unthinkable to her that bones would be set without the aid of a doctor For an instant she was assailed by doubts about being in such uncivilized country

But she had only to look at Ty to have her decision reinforced Even though she had been raised in surroundings where she had been kept safe and protected, it didn’twhen the occasion demanded it And she had dared to co Ty to take her back, although she was deterhtness of mood

Her reasons for changing her arded the them to find the truth The decision wasit come to pass She intended to have hi

A sliside Ty Tara didn’t realize the rider was female until the face turned and she had a clear view of the classically refined cheekbone and jaw, smooth as honey For the first time, she considered the possibility of local competition

Allthe crew had worked in mire up to a horse’s hock By late afternoon, the sun and an incessant wind had dried it to a cees to trip and sturound used up a lot of horses; riders changed frequently to keep their ed

Taking his saddle and pad from one horse, Ty threw it onto a buckskin and pulled the surcingle through the cinch ring Saddle leather groaned behind him He threw a look over his shoulder and noted his father,only a couple of feet away

“Want soht

“Tara will only be here a couple ht or stay here with the crew”

“Okay” Reaching under the horse’s belly, he buckled the back cinch

His father chirruped to the gray and reined it in a half-circle Metal shoes clanked as the horse wa