“Folks? I was going to call 911.”

It was difficult to tell if she was joking. He grimaced. “I’ll take care of the accident reports too. I’m not an invalid. Once I eat breakfast, I’ll be ready to tackle one of those sway-backed nags of yours. You just lead the way.”

She lifted a brow. “For seven or eight miles?”

He frowned. “I thought you said it was six miles last night.”

“Sure; it’s six miles to the nearest phone, but I wouldn’t be going there unless I was desprit. I’m riding over the hills to Pelsor.”

“I’ll go down there and make the phone call. You just tell me how to get to this wild bunch that has one of those telephone gadgets.”

She shook her head. “No. They’d figure you was a Fed. Worse yet, they’d think I sent you. You don’t have to live up here. I do.”

For a moment he studied her face. He was certain that she was trying to get him to ride with her, but he had no idea why.

He sighed. “All right. Fair enough. But wherever you go, I’m going.”

She gave him a sour smile and when she spoke, her voice fairly dripped with sarcasm. “Ain’t that flatterin'.”

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He was still trying to figure out what she was up to when Ma came in with a platter of food. He swung his legs off the couch and sat up straight, gasping and grabbing his head. He gave Mary Jo a stern look. “And don’t say a word. Nobody said it was going to be pleasant, but I can do it.”

Mary Jo suppressed a smile. He was walking right into her trap. Last night she thought he should hear the night sounds so that he would understand what he was doing to the forest, but today she had the opportunity to lead him through the forest and see the natural beauty first hand. They had a buggy that they used to go to the general store in the tiny town of Pelsor, but she planned to take him across country. It was actually a shorter route, but a lot rougher than the road.

After breakfast she fed and watered both mules and saddled them. She took two canteens from the wall and filled them at the pump. She was leading the mules out of the barn when Monroe came out of the house.




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