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“Quite a sight, isn’t it?” Buck remarked

“How come they’re workin’ so late?” That’s what puzzled Culley

“The duchess decided she wants the house done by fall, so she put the construction on a fast track Work goes on twenty-four hours a day And not just here either,” he added “Instead of ferryin’ all the lumber here by chopper, crews in Blue Moon are buildin’ the framework there so it can be flown out in sections and set in place In a couple weeks, they figure to be puttin’ the finishin’ touches on the outside and goin’ full bore on the inside”

Culley frowned “The duchess?”

Buck smiled crookedly “That’s what I call Tara She’s definitely the queen bee around here”

“I heard you orkin’ for her”

“To tell you the truth, O’Rourke, I’v

e never had an easier job or better pay”

Culley continued to scan the area before him, not content until he finally spotted the windht just beyond the reach of the lights His curiosity satisfied, he turned and headed down the slope toward his horse

“You aren’t leavin’ already, are you?” Buck chided

“Already seen what I ca, there was no more reason to stay

“I guess you gotta rush off and report this to Calder” Buck’s voice sounded closer, an indication he had trailed him down the slope

“No need He’ll find out soon enough on his own”

“I reckon he will Don’t you know he’ll beher cross Calder land But it just kicked the duchess into high gear” After a slight break, Buck said, “Still hate him, do you?”

“I let him be, and Calder lets me be,” Culley replied without emotion