CHAPTER 4

Mary Jo rode Sweet Sally, the female mule, and Monroe rode Ol' Ned as they headed across the field toward the forest. When they reached the gate, she dismounted so she could open it. She struggled with the stiff wire loop that held the gate pole against the fence post.

Monroe watched her for a moment. “Would you like some help?”

“No, I can get it. I do this all the time.”

It wasn't a complete lie. She had fought with that gate for years, but she usually avoided this route - mostly because she didn't want to fight that gate.

She finally got the wire hoop over the top of the pole and lifted the pole out of the wire loop at the bottom. She led Sweet Sally through the opening and motioned for Monroe to ride Ol' Ned through. After he was through the opening, she reversed the process to shut the gate. She had no trouble putting the post into the bottom wire loop, but she went through the usual struggle to get the wire hoop back over the top of the pole. She shoved and grunted, trying to get the top of the pole close enough to the gate post so that she could get the loop over it.

Monroe guided Ol' Ned next to her and leaned down, pushing the gate pole against the fence post so that she could get the loop over it. His arm came perilously close to a hanging wire.

"Watch out fer that bobwar hangin' down there."

He looked around with a confused expression. "What?"

She rolled her eyes. "That piece of bobwar fence besides your arm. If it'd been a bear, it woulda bit ya."

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He glanced down and saw the wire. "Oh, barbed wire."

“Thanks,” she grumbled as she mounted Sweet Sally.

Monroe lifted a brow, his eyes expressing humor. “You’re welcome.”

She scowled at him. “It takes me a while, but I can do it.”

He started to nod, but stopped and grabbed his head. “I have no doubt of that, but I thought you were in a hurry.”

She avoided his eyes as she turned Sweet Sally down the trail that led into the tall timber. She wasn’t in any hurry, but he probably wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. She looked back to make sure he was following. His face was pale and little beads of sweat had popped out on his forehead. He nudged Ol' Ned forward a few steps before he pulled him to a halt. He sagged forward, burying his head in his hands. Finally he lifted his head and leaned out away from the mule, barfing his breakfast.




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