,,*APT] ,,XIII
  ,ANO!R ,SUN"D MAN & HORSE & DOG ROV$ !
,PI$MONT HILLS4 ,& AG ,"DLI<T & ,DEDE
RODE TGR4 ,B ? "T H] SURPRISE AT MEET+
HM 0 T9CTUR$ ) SUSPICION2 OR R1 H]
SURPRISE 0 ( ANO!R ORD]4 ,! PREVI\S
,SUN"D _H BE5 Q A3ID5TAL1 B 8 APPE>+ A
SECOND "T AM;G H] FAVORITE HAUNTS H9T$ (
M ?AN ! =TUIT\S4 ,"DLI<T 0 MADE 6FEEL T
%E SUSPECT$ HM1 & HE1 REMEMB]+ T HE _H
SE5 A BIG ROCK QU>RY NE> ,BLAIR ,P>K1
/AT$ (FH& T HE 0 ?9K+ ( BUY+ X4 ,8 "O-"T
9VE/;T 9 A BRICKY>D _H PUT ! IDEA 96HIS
H1D--AN IDEA T HE DECID$ 0 A GD "O1 = X
5A#D HM 6SU7E/ T %E RIDE AL;G ) HM
69SPECT ! QU>RY4
  ,S S"EAL H\RS HE SP5T 9 H] -PANY1 9 :
%E 0 M* ! SAME GIRL Z 2F1 NATURAL1
UNA6ECT$1 LI<THE>T$1 SMIL+ & LAU<+1 A GD
FELL[1 TALK+ HORSES ) UNFLA7+ 5?USIASM1
MAK+ FRS )! CRU/Y-TEMP]$ ,WOLF1 &
EXPRESS+ ! DESIRE 6RIDE ,BOB1 :OM %E
DCLD %E 0 M 9 LOVE ) ?AN "E4 ,AT ? LA/
,"DLI<T DEMURR$4 ,BOB 0 FULL ( DANG]\S
TRICKS1 & HE WDN'T TRU/ ANY "O ON HM
EXCEPT 8 WOR/ 5EMY4
  8,Y ?9K1 2C ,I'M A GIRL1 T ,I DON'T "K
ANY?+ AB HORSES10 %E FLA%$ BACK4 8,B
,I'VE BE5 ?R[N (F & BUCK$ (F 5 N 6BE
OV]-3FID5T4 ,& ,I'M N A FOOL4 ,I WDN'T
GET ON A BUCK+ HORSE4 ,I'VE LE>N$ BETT]4
,& ,I'M N AFRAID ( ANY O!R K9D4 ,& Y SAY
YRF T ,BOB DOESN'T BUCK40

8,B Y'VE N"E SE5 HM CUTT+ UP DIDOES10
  ,"DLI<T

  8,B Y M/ REMEMB] ,I'VE SE5 A FEW O!RS1
& ,I'VE BE5 ON S"EAL ( !M MYF4 ,I BR"\
,MAB "H 6ELECTRIC C>S1 LOCOMOTIVES1 &
AUTOMOBILES4 ,%E 0 A RAW RANGE COLT :5
%E CAME 6ME4 ,BROK5 6SA4LE T 0 ALL4
,2SS1 ,I WON'T HURT YR HORSE40
  ,AG/ 8 BETT] JUDG;T1 ,"DLI<T GAVE IN1
&1 ON AN UNFREQU5T$ /RET* ( ROAD1 *ANG$
SA4LES & BRIDLES4
  8,REMEMB]1 HE'S GR1S$ LI<TN+10 HE
W>N$1 Z HE HELP$ H] 6M.T4
  ,%E NO4$1 :ILE ,BOB PRICK$ UP 8 E>S 6!
K T HE _H A /RANGE RID] ON 8 BACK4 ,!
FUN CAME QKLY 5\<--TOO QKLY = ,DEDE1 :O
F.D H]F AG/ ,BOB'S NECK Z HE PIVOT$ >.D
& BOLT$ ! O!R WAY4 ,"DLI<T FOLL[$ ON H]
HORSE & WAT*$4 ,HE SAW H] *ECK ! ANIMAL
QKLY 6A /&/ILL1 & IMMLY1 ) RE9 ACR NECK
&A DECISIVE PROD (! LEFT SPUR1 :IRL HM
BACK ! WAY HE _H -E & ALM Z SWIFTLY4
  8,GET R1DY 6GIVE HM ! QUIRT ON !
NOSE10 ,"DLI<T CALL$4
  ,B1 TOO QKLY = H]1 ,BOB :IRL$ AG1 ?\<
? "T1 0A SEV]E EF=T1 %E SAV$ H]F F !
UNDIGNIFI$ POSI;N AG/ 8 NECK4 ,8 BOLT 0
M DET]M9$1 B %E PULL$ HM 96A PRANC+
WALK1 & TURN$ HM R\<LY BACK ) H] SPURR$
HEEL4 ,"! 0 NO?+ FEM99E 9 ! WAY %E H&L$
HM2 H] ME?OD 0 IMP]ATIVE & MASCUL9E4 ,_H
? N BE5 S1 ,"DLI<T WD H EXPECT$ H] 6SAY
%E _H _H 5\<4 ,B T LL PRELIM9>Y EXHIBI;N
_H TAU<T HM "S?+ ( ,DEDE'S QUAL;Y4 ,& IF
X _H N1 A GL.E AT H] GRAY EYES1 J
P]CEPTIBLY ANGRY ) H]F1 & AT H] FIRM-SET
M\?1 WD H TOLD HM ! SAME ?+4 ,"DLI<T DID
N SU7E/ ANY?+1 :ILE HE HUNG ALM GLEE;LLY
^U H] AC;NS 9 ANTICIP,N ( :AT ! FRACTI\S
,BOB 0 GO+ 6GET4 ,& ,BOB GOT X1 ON 8
NEXT :IRL1 OR ATTEMPT1 R1 = HE 0 NO M
?AN HALFWAY >.D :5 ! QUIRT MET HM SMACK
ON 8 T5D] NOSE4 ,"! & !N1 9 8 2WILD];T1
SURPRISE1 & PA91 8 =E FEET1 J SKIMM+ ABV
! ROAD1 DROPP$ D[N4
  8,GRT60 ,"DLI<T APPLAUD$4 8,A C\PLE M
W FIX HM4 ,HE'S TOO SM>T N 6"K :5 HE'S
B1T540
  ,AG ,BOB TRI$4 ,B ? "T HE 0 B>ELY
QU>T] >.D :5 ! D\#D QUIRT ON 8 NOSE
-PELL$ HM 6DROP 8 =E FEET 6! ROAD4 ,!N1
) NEI RE9 NOR SPUR1 B 0! M]E ?R1T (!
QUIRT1 %E /RAI<T5$ HM \4
  ,DEDE LOOK$ TRIUMPHANTLY AT ,"DLI<T4
  8,LET ME GIVE HM A RUN80 %E ASK$4
  ,"DLI<T NO4$1 & %E %OT D[N ! ROAD4 ,HE
WAT*$ H] \ ( SI<T >.D ! B5D1 & WAT*$
TILL %E CAME 96SI<T RETURN+4 ,%E C]TA9LY
CD SIT H] HORSE1 0 8 ?"\1 & %E 0 A SURE
5 HUMM]4 ,GOD1 %E 0 ! WIFE =A MAN6 ,MADE
MO/ ( !M LOOK PRETTY SLIM4 ,& 6?9K ( H]
HAMM]+ ALL WEEK AT A TYPEWRIT]4 ,T 0 NO
PLACE = H]4 ,%E %D 2 A MAN'S WIFE1 TAK+
X EASY1 ) SILKS & SAT9S & DIAMONDS 7HIS
FRONTI] NO;N ( :AT 2FITT$ A WIFE 2LOV$71
& DOGS1 & HORSES1 & S* ?+S--8,& WE'LL
SEE1 ,MR4 ,BURN+ ,"DLI<T1 :AT Y & ME C D
AB X10 HE MURMUR$ 6HMF6 & AL\D 6H]3--
  8,Y'LL D1 ,MISS ,MASON2 Y'LL D4 ,"!'S
NO?+ TOO GD 9 HORSEFLE% Y DON'T DES]VE1
A WOMAN :O C RIDE L T4 ,NO2 /AY ) HM1 &
WE'LL JOG AL;G 6! QU>RY40 ,HE *UCKL$4
8,SAY1 HE ACTU,Y GAVE J ! L1/ MITE (A
GROAN T LA/ "T Y FET*$ HM4 ,DID Y HE> X8
,& DID Y SEE ! WAY HE DROPP$ 8 FEET 6!
ROAD--J L HE'D /RUCK A /"O WALL4 ,& HE'S
GOT SAVVEE 5 6"K F N[ ON T T SAME /"O
WALL W 2 ALW "! R1DY = HM 6LAM 9TO40
  ,:5 HE "P$ F H] T AFN1 AT ! GATE (!
ROAD T L$ 6,B]KELEY1 HE DREW (F 6! $GE
(! 9T]V5+ CLUMP ( TREES1 ":1 UNOBS]V$1
HE WAT*$ H] \ ( SI<T4 ,!N1 TURN+ 6RIDE
BACK 96,OAKL&1 A ?"\ CAME 6HM T MADE HM
GR9 RUE;LLY Z HE MUTT]$3 8,& N[ X'S UP
6ME 6MAKE GD & BUY T BLAM$ QU>RY4 ,NO?+
LESS ?AN T C GIVE ME AN EXCUSE = SNOOP+
>.D ^! HILLS40
  ,B ! QU>RY 0 DOOM$ 6PASS \ ( 8 PLANS
=A "T1 = ON ! FOLL[+ ,SUN"D HE RODE
AL"O4 ,NO ,DEDE ON A *E/NUT SORREL CAME
ACR ! BACK-ROAD F ,B]KELEY T "D1 NOR !
"D A WEEK LAT]4 ,"DLI<T 0 2S HMF )
IMPATI;E & APPREH5.N1 ?\< 9 ! (FICE HE
3TA9$ HMF4 ,HE NOT$ NO *ANGE 9 H]1 &
/ROVE 6LET N"O %[ 9 HMF4 ,! SAME OLD
MONOTON\S R\T9E W5T ON1 ?\< N[ X 0
IRRITAT+ & MA45+4 ,"DLI<T F.D A BIG
QU>REL ON 8 H&S )A _W T WDN'T LET A MAN
2HAVE T[>D 8 /5OGRAPH] AF ! WAY ( ALL M5
& WOM54 ,:AT 0 ! GD ( [N+ MILLIONS
ANYWAY8 HE DEM&$ "O "D (! DESK-CAL5D>1 Z
%E PASS$ \ AF RCVG 8 DICT,N4
  ,Z ! ?IRD WEEK DREW 6A CLOSE & ANO!R
DESOLATE ,SUN"D 3FRONT$ HM1 ,"DLI<T
RESOLV$ 6SP1K1 (FICE OR NO (FICE4 ,& Z 0
8 NATURE1 HE W5T SIMPLY & DIRECTLY 6!
PO9T ,%E _H F9I%$ H] "W ) HM1 & 0 GA!R+
H] NOTE PAD & P5CILS TGR 6DE"P1 :5 HE
SD3--
  8,OH1 "O ?+ M1 ,MISS ,MASON1 & ,I HOPE
Y WON'T M9D MY 2+ FRANK & /RAI<T \4
,Y'VE /RUCK ME "R AL;G Z A S5SI#-M9D$
GIRL1 & ,I DON'T ?9K Y'LL TAKE (F;E AT
:AT ,I'M GO+ 6SAY4 ,Y "K H[ L;G Y'VE BE5
9 ! (FICE--X'S YE>S1 N[1 S"EAL ( !M1
ANYWAY2 & Y "K ,I'VE ALW BE5 /RAI<T &
ABVBO>D ) Y4 ,I'VE N"E :AT Y CALL--
PRESUM$4 ,2C Y 7 9 MY (FICE ,I'VE TRI$
6BE M C>E;L ?AN IF--IF Y WASN'T 9 MY
(FICE--Y "U/&4 ,B J ! SAME1 X DON'T MAKE
ME ANY ! LESS HUMAN4 ,I'M A L"OLY SORT
(A FELL[--DON'T TAKE T Z A BID = K9D;S4
,:AT ,I M1N 0X IS 6TRY & TELL Y J H[ M*
^? TWO RIDES ) Y H M1NT4 ,& N[ ,I HOPE Y
WON'T M9D MY J ASK+ :Y Y HAV5'T BE5 \
RID+ ! LA/ TWO ,SUN"DS80
  ,HE CAME 6A /OP & WAIT$1 FEEL+ V W>M &
AWKW>D1 ! P]SPIR,N />T+ 9 T9Y B1DS ON 8
=EH1D4 ,%E DID N SP1K IMMLY1 & HE /EPP$
ACR ! ROOM & RAIS$ ! W9D[ HI<]4
  8,I H BE5 RID+10 %E ANSW]$2 8IN O!R
DIREC;NS40
  8,B :Y'''80 ,HE FAIL$ "SH[ 6-PLETE !
"Q4 8,G AH1D & 2 FRANK ) ME10 HE URG$4
8,J Z FRANK Z ,I AM ) Y4 ,:Y DIDN'T Y
RIDE 9 ! ,PI$MONT HILLS8 ,I HUNT$ = Y
"EY":4
  8,& T IS J :Y40 ,%E SMIL$1 & LOOK$ HM
/RAI<T 9 ! EYES =A MO;T1 !N DROPP$ H]
[N4 8,SURELY1 Y "U/&1 ,MR4 ,H>NI%40
  ,HE %OOK 8 H1D GLUMLY4
  8,I D1 & ,I DON'T4 ,I A9'T US$ 6C;Y
WAYS 0A L;G %OT4 ,"!'S ?+S "O M/N'T D1 :
,I DON'T M9D Z L;G Z ,I DON'T WANT 6D
!M40
  8,B :5 Y D80 %E ASK$ QKLY4
  8,!N ,I D !M40 ,8 LIPS _H DRAWN FIRMLY
) ? A6IRM,N ( W1 B ! NEXT 9/ANT HE 0
AM5D+ ! /ATE;T 8,T IS1 ,I MO/LY D4 ,B
:AT GETS ME IS ! ?+S Y M/N'T D :5 !Y'RE
N WR;G & !Y WON'T HURT ANYBODY--? RID+1
= 9/.E40
  ,%E PLAY$ N]V\SLY )A P5CIL =A "T1 Z IF
DEBAT+ H] REPLY1 :ILE HE WAIT$ PATI5TLY4
  8,? RID+10 %E 2GAN2 8X'S N :AT !Y CALL
! "R ?+4 ,I L1VE X 6Y4 ,Y "K ! _W4 ,Y >E
,MR4 ,H>NI%1 ! MILLIONAIRE-0

8,GAM#R10 HE BROKE 9 H>%LY

  ,%E NO4$ A3EPT.E ( 8 T]M & W5T ON4
  8,& ,I'M A /5OGRAPH] 9 YR (FICE--0
  8,Y'RE A ?\S& "TS BETT] ?AN ME--0 HE
ATTEMPT$ 69T]POLATE1 B 0 9 TURN
9T]RUPT$4
  8,X ISN'T A "Q ( S* ?+S4 ,X'S A SIMPLE
& FAIRLY -MON SITU,N T M/ 2 3SID]$4 ,I
"W = Y4 ,& X ISN'T :AT Y OR ,I MI<T ?9K1
B :AT O!R P]SONS W ?9K4 ,& Y DON'T NE$
6BE TOLD ANY M AB T4 ,Y "K YRF40
  ,H] COOL1 MATT]-(-FACT SPEE* 2LI$ H]--
OR S ,"DLI<T ?"\1 LOOK+ AT H] P]TURB$
FEM99E;S1 AT ! R.D$ L9ES ( H] FIGURE1 !
BR1/ T DEEPLY ROSE & FELL1 & AT ! COLOR
T 0 N[ EXCIT$ 9 H] *EEKS4
  8,I'M SORRY ,I F"R5$ Y \ ( YR FAVORITE
/AMP+ GR.D10 HE SD R AIM.SLY4
  8,Y DIDN'T F"R5 ME10 %E RETORT$1 )A
T\* ( FIRE4 8,I'M N A SILLY SEM9>Y GIRL4
,I'VE TAK5 C>E ( MYF =A L;G "T N[1 &
,I'VE D"O X )\T 2+ F"R5$4 ,WE 7 TGR TWO
,SUN"DS1 & ,I'M SURE ,I WASN'T F"R5$ (
,BOB1 OR Y4 ,X ISN'T T4 ,I H NO FE>S (
TAK+ C>E ( MYF1 B ! _W 9SI/S ON TAK+ C>E
( "O Z WELL4 ,T'S ! TR\#4 ,X'S :AT ! _W
WD H 6SAY AB ME & MY EMPLOY] MEET+
REGUL>LY & RID+ 9 ! HILLS ON ,SUN"DS4
,X'S FUNNY1 B X'S S4 ,I CD RIDE ) "O (!
CL]KS )\T REM>K1 B ) Y--NO40
  8,B ! _W DON'T "K & DON'T NE$ 6"K10 HE
CRI$4
  8,: MAKES X WORSE1 9 A WAY1 FEEL+
GUILTY ( NO?+ & YET SN1K+ >.D BACK-ROADS
) ALL ! FEEL+ ( DO+ "S?+ WR;G4 ,X WD 2
F9] & BRAV] = ME PUBLICLY'''0
  8,6G 6LUN* ) ME ON A WEEK-"D10 ,"DLI<T
SD1 DIV9+ ! DRIFT ( H] UNCOMPLET$ >GU;T4
  ,%E NO4$4
  8,I DIDN'T H T Q 9 M9D1 B X W D4 ,I'D
PREF] DO+ ! BRAZ5 ?+ & HAV+ "EYBODY "K
X1 6DO+ ! FURTIVE ?+ & 2+ F.D \4 ,N T
,I'M ASK+ 6BE 9VIT$ 6LUN*10 %E A4$1 )A
SMILE2 8B ,I'M SURE Y "U/& MY POSI;N40
  8,!N :Y N RIDE OP5 & ABVBO>D ) ME 9 !
HILLS80 HE URG$4
  ,%E %OOK H] H1D ) :AT HE IMAG9$ 0 J !
FA9TE/ H9T ( REGRET1 & HE W5T SU45LY &
ALM MA45+LY HUNGRY = H]4
  8,LOOK "H1 ,MISS ,MASON1 ,I "K Y DON'T
L ? TALK+ OV] ( ?+S 9 ! (FICE4 ,NEI D
,I4 ,X'S "P (! :OLE ?+1 ,I GUESS2 A MAN
A9'T SUPPOS$ 6TALK ANY?+ B BUSI;S ) 8
/5OGRAPH]4 ,W Y RIDE ) ME NEXT ,SUN"D1 &
WE C TALK X OV] ?OR\<LY !N & R1* "S SORT
(A 3CLU.N4 ,\ 9 ! HILLS IS ! PLACE ": Y
C TALK "S?+ 2SS BUSI;S4 ,I GUESS Y'VE
SE5 5 ( ME 6"K ,I'M PRETTY SQU>E4 ,I-,I
D HONOR & RESPECT Y1 &''' & ALL T1 & ,I
440 ,HE 0 2G9N+ 6FL.D]1 &! H& T RE/$ ON
! DESK BLOTT] 0 VISIBLY TREMBL+4 ,HE
/ROVE 6PULL HMF TGR4 8,I J WANT 6H>D]
?AN ANY?+ "E 9 MY LIFE 2F4 ,I-,I-,I C'T
EXPLA9 MYF1 B ,I D1 T'S ALL4 ,W Y8--,J
NEXT ,SUN"D8 ,TM80
  ,NOR DID HE DR1M T H] L[ ACQUIESC;E 0
DUE1 Z M* Z ANY?+ ELSE1 6! B1DS ( SW1T
ON 8 =EH1D1 8 TREMBL+ H&1 & 8 ALL TOO-
EVID5T G5]AL 4TRESS4