He gazed at her curiously, looking her up and' down, studying her.
'Jamie believes you. He's come into Indian villages and seen what
certain white men are capable of leaving behind. There are many men in
the cavalry who think that an infant Indian is still an Indian, and that
it will grow to put an arrow in someone's back. There was a lieutenant
who liked to order his soldiers to shoot the women, then bash the
infants' heads together to save bullets.'
'God, how awful.'
'Jamie knows about things like that. God knows, he saw enough of it
during the war.'
'There was nothing like that during the war' -- 'Jamie came from the
Kansas and Missouri border.
There was all kinds of stuff like that.'
'Yes, but the war's over now,' Dolly interrupted mat- ter-of-factly.
'We need to put it behind us. Bless us and save us! It's been five
years!
And Mr. Grant is president now' -- 'Mr. Grant could use some help out
here in the west,' Jon said dryly.
He smiled again at Tess.
'Ever been to London?'
She shook her head.
'I've n~ver be~n out of Texas.'
'Now that is a great loss. A girl like you ought to s~ the world.' Jamie
was heading toward them.
'Miss. Stuart, you ar~ welcome to travel with me at any time, in fact,
I'd consider it quite an honor.'
Jamie was scowling. Tess lowered her lashes, knowing that Jon had said
the words strictly for Jamie's benefit.
Jamie's great roan stallion was prancing around.
'We seem to be clear for quite a while ahead. Jon, want to ride again?
I'll take over the reins for a while.'
'Sure thing.' Jon pulled in on the reins. He started to hop down while
Jamie dismounted from his horse. Tess looked at Jamie.
'I do appreciate your concern, but I've scarcely taken the reins myself'
-- 'Miss. Stuart, I'll drive the wagon for a while now. After all, we
wouldn't want to ruin the hands of a newspaper woman.'
Dolly slapped her on the knee.
'You let him drivel' she said, then she yawned.
'I think I'll ride in back for a while.'
She smiled at Tess like a self-satisfied cat and crawled into the back
of the wagon. Tess watched her stretch out on Uncle Joe's bunk. Jamie
climbed up beside her and took the reins. Jon had untied his pinto from
the back of the wagon.
'I'll ride on ahead,' he said.
Jamie nodded. Tess was left alone beside Jamie, very aware of the heat
of his thigh despite the heat of the day.
They rode in silence, and the silence se~med to stretch on and on.
Finally Jamie drawled out, 'You made it on time this morning. Did you
manage to have a good night's sleep?'
'Yes, I did,' she lied pleasantly. She turned to him with her eyes
