go up for public auction in lieu of being granted to legitimate heirs?"

"Yep, something like that."

"Just like a vulture," Jon commented. "Well, he'll be back," Hank

promised.

"Soon enough.

You'll get to meet him."

Dolly, still on the wagon, cleared her throat.

"Oh, Dolly!" Jamie exclaimed apologetically. He hurried around to help

her down. Dolly smiled and took Hank's hand firmly.

"I'm Dolly Simmons, Hank. Nice to make your acquaintance. And you, too,

young lady. Jane, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"A fine name, a fine name. And I'm mighty parched. Perhaps we could go

inside and have ourselves a sip of something."

"Yes, let's!" Tess said.

She started for the house. Jon dismounted and looped his pinto's reins

around the hitching post in front of the house.

Tess was halfway up the stairs before she realized that Jamie hadn't

moved.

He was still standing with the roan's reins in his hands.

"Jamie, come in, please," she said politely. A bit distantly

perhaps--they were still involved in their fierce, personal battle.

"We'll see to the wagon later. Hank and the boys will help."

He shook his head, looking at Hank, not her.

"That the trail to follow into town?" he asked, pointing toward the

road.

"Yep, that's it."

"Where's the action congregate around here?" Hank was smiling but

curious.

"Why, the Bennington saloon. The best card games in town go on there,

the best whiskey flows there, and the best girls" -- He paused, glancing

quickly toward the ladies.

"Well, Lieutenant, the best entertainment in town can be found there,

too."

Jamie nodded. Smiling at Tess, he told her, "I think that I'll take a

ride in."

"Now?" she demanded. The best entertainment in town! Von Heusen was

expected at the house, and he was about to ride off to enjoy himself

with a dance-hall gift! "No time like the present."

"But von Heusen is going to come here!"

"I don't want to meet Mr. yon Heusen. Not just yet." He swung up on his

horse and glanced at Jon. Tess tried hard to follow his gaze. Something

passed between them, like cons of words, and yet it all happened in a

few seconds.

Jori was staying with her. And still, she was furious. Jamie was

demanding half her land and he wouldn't even stay around to meet his

adversary.

"Lieutenant, if you head into town, perhaps you should stay there for

the night," she snapped. They all stared at her. She had to control her

temper.

She had to quit caring.

He grinned, "Why, Miss. Stuart, do you think there'll be enough there to

keep me occupied all night?"

"I imagine, Lieutenant, that that is entirely up to you. Do what you

feel you must."

She turned her back on him as quickly as she could. He was a free man,

she thought furiously. He could do whatever he wanted to do, drink

himself silly, consort with whores, gamble his life away. He sure as

hell wasn't going to do it on her property, though!

He was going to do it, though. He didn't even enter the house, but

turned and rode away. Tess tried very hard to look back, not to let

anyone see that her eyes had misted with her are and frustration.

Damned Yank. Damned Yank.

"It's a nice place you've got here," Jon complimented as they entered

the house.

"Beautiful!" Dolly exclaimed.

It wasn't exactly beautiful, Tess thought. But it was nice, and it was

livable, too. The parlor into which they entered was vast, and it was

combined with a big dining room that held a heavy carved Mexican table

that could seat fourteen for dinner. To the left of the dining area,

against the rear wall, was the broad staircase that led to the second

floor.

Nearer the door was Joe's desk, on a dais, perched on a cow skin. His

large wing-chair was behind it, and two heavy leather chairs were

situated before it. There was a spittoon in the corner for those who

felt they absolutely must chew tobacco. In the center of the room, on a

beautiful hooked rug, was a. large, soft, brown leather sofa. It sat

next to the fire, with matching chairs across from it and occasional

tables beside it. There were bright Indian flower vases on the tables.

There were flowers in the vases, and Tess smiled. Hank and Jane had kept

up, no matter what.

"Well!" Dolly said.

"Now this is nice! Tess, where would you like us to stay?"

"Oh!" She had forgotten that even though Jamie Slater had ridden away

the moment they arrived, she had other guests to attend to.

"I'msorry. Upstairs, Dolly. Hank, we can wait a while on the other

things, but let's bring up Dolly's trunks. Come up, please!" She urged

Dolly and Jon forward.

When they reached the second-story landing, they looked down a long

hallway with doors on either side and a big-paned window with velvet

draperies at the end.

"There are eight rooms up here," she murmured.

"We shouldn't be wanting."

Jane, who had followed her up the stairs, cleared her throat softly.

"Tess, your room is aired, and Joe's room is 123 aired, and I just

happened to air the back two, but I haven't touched the others yet. I

was getting around to them, but then when we heard ... When we heard

that both you and Joe ... Nothing seemed to make much sense anymore."

"That's all right," Tess said.

"But we'll nee~l linens and all for Mrs. Simmons and Mr. Red Feather.

Can you see to that? We'll put them in those two rooms you aired."

"What about the lieutenant?"

"I believe he's staying in town. And should he wander back, well, he can

wander into the barn."

Jon made a choking sound, then laughed. Dolly gave a little gasp.

Tess didn't care. She walked grandly down the hall.

"Dolly, this room here is more appropriate for a lady, I think.

There's a big dressing table in here, and the light is wonderful in the

morning."

"It is just wonderful!" Dolly said delightedly.

"I love it!" She caught Tess's cheeks between her plump hands and gave

her a kiss on the cheek.

"I am so glad I came. And don't you dare wait on me. I'm here to help.

Jane, you run along and get linens, and I'll get this bed made up, and

then you show me around the house and tell me what I can do!"

' "Dolly, you don't have to do anything but rest. It's been a long trip

" You hush, dear. I'm going to get to know my room!" She stepped inside,

closing the door. Jane hurried down the hall to the little'

linen-storage room.

Tess smiled wryly at Jon.

"She's wonderful, isn't she?"

"Dolly? Yes, she's a wonder."

"I didn't really give her the best room, Jon, both these rooms are big

and have beautiful views. I think you'll be just as happy over here. The

bed is large and firm, and it's very airy."

"I'll be quite comfortable wherever you put me," he sured her.

Smiling, he looked into the room, then backed out again.

"I'll go help Hank with the trunks."

"If you're tired"

"Tess, do I look tired? If yon Heusen is coming back tonight, we want to

look settled in, don't we?"

"It's interesting that you should feel that way. Apparently the

lieutenant wasn't very worried."

"Don't underestimate him, Tess. He knows what he's doing."

"You would defend him no matter what, wouldn't you?"

"Because I know him," Jon said quietly, and he stepped past her, down

the hall and down the stairs. She'd best get moving herself, Tess

decided.

She turned and hurried down the hallway in Jon's wake. While the men

unloaded the wagon, she could see to the horses and the mules.

Then she'd have to find out how many of the ranch hands had stayed

around once they'd heard that von Heusen would be taking over.

And then she'd have to wait. for von Heusen himself.

The town of Wiltshire was not a little hole-in the-wall, Jamie decided

as he rode down the main street. It was really quite sophisticated, with

rows and rows of Victorian houses with their cupolas and gingerbread

lining the roads that ran off the main street. Along the main street

were any number of businesses--two different mercantiles, a barbershop,

a corset shop, a men's wear shop, a cooper, a photographer, a mortician,

a pharmacy, a doctor, two lawyers, a boardinghouse for young ladies and

an inn that boasted a sign, "Perry McCarthy's Shady Rest Hotel--Stop

Here and Dine! We've a Restaurant for Any Respectable Traveler,

Gentleman, Lady or Child."

He wondered how well Perry McCarthy was doing. The streets were very

quiet.

In front of the barbershop a few men sat around and puffed on pipes.

One was missing an arm, another was minus his left foot. A pair of

crutches leaned against the wall behind him.

The men looked at Jamie as he rode by. The 125 war, Jamie thought. These

men had fought in the war.

Southerners, like he'd been. Even if Miss. Stuart was insisting upon

calling him a Yank. Well, he was a Yank. Hell, they were all Yanks now.

Because the damn Yanks had won the war.

"Howdy," he called out to the group.

The fellow with the stump for an arm nodded.