A note from a pretty woman always is a potential thing, no matter in what humor it may have been received. The possession ; and although the contents may be most exemplary to the eye, the mind is apt to go hay-making between the lines and no intended.  
All the that had led me astray to the of her blue eyes, upon the train and in hollow Benton, surged anew now—perhaps seasoned to present taste by my peppery of Daniel. A man could do no less than a little, under the circumstances; could do no less than challenge the , like Farragut in Mobile Bay. Whether the game was worth the candle, I was not to be out of my privileges by a clown swash-buckler who aped the characteristics of a pouter pigeon.
 
Mr. Jenks was just going to bed under the . With of warming up the coffee I kicked the fire together; while and I managed to unfold the note and read it by the , my back to the camp.
 
All that it said, was:198
 
If you are not disgusted with me I will walk a stretch with you on the trail, during the morning.
 
The engagement sent me to my blanket . When a woman proposes, one never knows the reason. Anyway, I was young enough so to fancy. For a long time I lay outside the , apart in the desert camp, gazing up at the twinkling stars, while the wolves whimpered around, and somewhere she slept beside the gentle Rachael, and somewhere Daniel snored, and here I her face and her words, elatedly finding them very pleasing.
 
Salt Lake was far, the Big Tent farther by perspective if not by miles. I recognized the legal rights of her husband, but no Daniel should quash the undeniable rights of Yours Truly. I indeed felt and passing valorous, with that commonplace note in my pocket.
 
We all broke camp at sunrise. She rode for a distance upon the seat of Daniel’s wagon—he lustily alongside. Then I marked her walking, herself; she had shortened her skirt; and presently lingering by the trail she dropped behind, leaving the wagon to on, with Daniel helplessly turning head over shoulder, .
 
“Bet you the lady up yonder is aimin’ to pay you a visit,” quoth friend Jenks the . “And Dan’l, he don’t cotton to it. You ain’t great shakes with a gun, I reckon?”
 
“I’ve never had use for one,” said I. “But her whereabouts in the train is not a matter of shooting, is it?”
 
“A feller quick on the draw, like him, is alluz wantin’ to practice, to keep his hand in. Anyhow I’d advise you to stay clear of her, else watch him sharp. He’s thinkin’ of takin’ a squaw.”
 
We rolled on, in the dust, while the animals coughed and the teamsters chewed and swore. And next, here she was, idling until our drew .
 
“Mornin’,” Jenks , with a shortness that his ; whereupon he fell back and left us.
 
She smiled at me.
 
“Will you offer me a ride, sir?”
 
My response was instant: a long “Whoa-oa!” in best -whacker. The eight-team hauled , their mulish senses steeped in the of the trail; only the wheel pair inquiring ears. When I hailed again, Jenks came .
 
“What’s the matter hyar?” He ran rapid eye over wagon and animals and saw nothing amiss.
 
“Mrs. Montoyo wishes to ride.”
 
“The hell, man!” He snatched whip and launched it, up the team. The popped an inch above the off lead mule’s haunch twenty feet before. “You can’t stop hyar! Can’t hold the rest of the train. Joe! Baldy! Hep 200with you!” The team straightened out; he restored me the whip. His , for in less dudgeon he addressed her.
 
“Want to ride, do ye?”
 
“I did, sir.”
 
“Wall, in Gawd’s name ride, then. But we don’t stop for passengers.”
 
With that, in another white heat he had picked her up bodily, swung her upon the nearest mule; so that before she knew (she scarce had time to utter an astonished little ejaculation as she yielded to his arms) there she was, perched, breathless, upon the sweaty hide. I awaited results.
 
Jenks .
 
“What you need is an old feller, lady. These young ain’t broke to the feed canvas. Now when you want to get off you call me. You don’t weigh more’n a peck of beans.”
 
With a at me he again fell back. Once more I had been . There should be no third time.
 
My Lady sat clinging, at first angry-eyed, but in a moment by my .
 
“Your partner is rather sudden,” she . “He asked permission of neither me nor the mule.”
 
“He meant well. He isn’t used to women,” I apologized.
 
“More used to , I judge.”
 
“Yes. If he had asked the ............