'Yes, Frank. He did. My late husband was a good, decent man. He raised Conrad as if he were his own.'
'Does the boy know?'
'No. He doesn't have a clue.'
'Your father had a hand in raising him, didn't he?'
'Quite a bit. He spent a lot of time back east with us. Several years before he died, father was with us almost all the time.'
'Viv, ah ... the boy...' Frank paused and frowned.
'Doesn't fit in out here? I know. He probably never will. He hates the West. He loves to ride. He's really very good. But he won't ride out here.'
'Why not?'
'The way he rides, his manner of dress. He just doesn't fit in.'
'He rides one of those dinky English saddles?'
'Yes.'
'Don't tell me wears one of those silly-looking riding outfits.'
'Yes, he does.'
'I bet he got a laugh from a lot of folks the first time he went out in public, bobbing up and down like a cork with a catfish on it.'
Vivian smiled despite herself. 'I'm afraid he did.'
'I can imagine. Wish I'da seen that myself.'
Viv's smile faded. 'Why'd you come here, Frank? To this town, I mean.'
'Oh, I didn't have anything else to do. Besides, I heard you were in trouble up here. Had a lot of silver to ship, and nobody would take it out for you.'
'Tons of it, Frank. Tons and tons of it. Worth a fortune. But getting it out of these mountains and to a railroad has proven to be quite a chore.'
'How many shipments have been hijacked?'
'Several. You have any ideas on how to get it out?'
'Oh, I imagine I could get some boys in here to take the shipments through. But they don't come cheap.'
'I think I can afford them.'
Frank smiled. 'I 'spect you can, at that.'
'Look into that for me, will you?'
'I sure will. I'll send some wires first thing in the morning.'
'I would appreciate it. Frank? How are we going to handle this? You and I, I mean.'
'How do you want to handle it, Viv?'
'I ... don't know. I'm not sure.'
'Did you love him? Your late husband.'
She averted her eyes for a few seconds and said, 'No. I liked him. But I didn't love him.'
'There has never been another woman for me, Viv.'
'Nor another man for me, Frank. Not really.'
'And there it stands, I suppose.'
'I suppose so, Frank.'
'It would cause talk if I came calling, wouldn't it?'
'If you don't come calling, Frank, I'll have some of my miners come looking for you.'
Frank smiled at her. Vivian had lost none of her beauty. She had matured -- that was all. 'I'll drop by tomorrow, Viv. What time will you be in the office?'
'From seven o'clock on. We'll be working long hours for a while, now that the new strike is in.'
'I'll try to get by at midmorning. You'll be ready for a coffee break by then.'
'I'll be here waiting, Frank. And don't be surprised at how I'm dressed.'
'Oh?'
'I've set many a tongue wagging in this town by occasionally dressing in men's britches.'
'Really?' Frank smiled as he met Viv's eyes. 'Now _that_ I'd like to see.' Viv was a very shapely lady.
Vivian returned his smile. 'Midmorning tomorrow it is, Frank.'
