and had moved here from Casper, so neither of us knew anyone. We became fast friends.”
“Who’s her husband?”
“Andrew Talbot. He’s a banker. His family is building the new Settler’s First bank in Sundance.”
“Competition’s always a good thing. Not that any of them bastards would lend me money.” He took the cups from her and placed them on the sideboard. Then he pulled out a flask and poured amber liquid into both cups, stirring them with the handle end of the spoon, and handed her one.
“Whiskey. On a Sunday afternoon.”
“Whiskey and lemonade on a Sunday afternoon. Try it, you’ll like it.”
“You’ve had it before?”
Silas granted her that devil-may-care grin. “Nope.”
She wasn’t a fan of whiskey, but she swallowed a mouthful anyway.
The lemonade softened the sting of the booze and masked the taste. She drained the entire cup and saw Silas still grinning at her.
“That’s my girl.” Then he drank his down.
“It’s your fault if I get drunk.”
“On that little ol’ snort? Nah. It’ll just soothe you, that’s all, and darlin’, you need it.” He held out his hand. “Hop up.”
After he’d climbed aboard and held the reins, he said, “Where to?”
Dinah took off her hat and tipped her face to the sun. “Just drive, Silas, and get us out of here.”
Chapter Eight
Silas drove until they reached the rise that showcased the Belle Fourche River Valley.
From this vantage point the land spread out in a carpet of green, with towering trees, rolling hills and the snaking curve of the river.
Dinah didn’t say anything for the longest time. Then she sighed. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”
“This is what made me settle here. I don’t foresee a day when I’d ever get tired of callin’ this place home.”
“Where’s your ranch?”
He lifted her left arm up and said, “Point your finger.” Then he maneuvered her arm to the left. “Now look straight down your arm to the tip of your finger. That hill? Is about ten miles as the crow flies. That’s the start of my land.”
“Have you stood on that hill?”
“Yep. Too many trees to give me a view like this one. But that don’t really matter because I know the view is there…if that makes any sense.”
“It does.”
Gave him a warm feeling that he didn’t have to explain it to her beyond that. “If we’re gonna sit here a spell, I need to let my horse graze.”
“I’d like to stay here, if you don’t need to get back.”
“Got all day to spend with you.” He jumped down and winced because once again he’d forgotten about his damn ribs. He removed the harness and tied a lead rope around the horse’s neck, taking him to a grassy spot. The whisper of grass alerted him and he glanced up to see Dinah moving toward him.
“What’s your horse’s name?”
“He don’t have one.”
“Is he new and you haven’t settled on a name yet?”
“Nope.”
She blinked at him. “How long have you had him?”
“Two years.”
“Two years without a name?”
“Well, it ain’t like anyone is ridin’ him but me.”
“Do you have other horses?”
“Yep, and they don’t have names either. Neither do my oxen nor my donkey.” He cocked his head. “I s’ppose your horse has a name.”
“Yes, she does. Although, I didn’t name her. Doc did. Her name is Folly because he thought it foolish for me to buy a horse when I could just borrow his or Mrs. Agnes’s.”
Silas offered her his hand. “Can’t blame you for wantin’ your own ride.”
With her hand clasped in his, he led her to another flat, grassy spot that caught a nice updraft from the valley below. “How’s this?”
“Perfect.” She plopped down and stretched her legs out in front of her, giving him a glimpse of her button-up boots. Fancier than the plain ones she’d worn yesterday.
He settled beside her, close enough to touch her if she gave him a sign his attentions would be welcomed.
Time seemed to slow. Silas let himself be content, letting the guilt that he ought to be working float away on the crisp spring breeze.
Finally, she spoke. “You’ve been a lot of places, haven’t you?”
“Yep. But that don’t mean I remember ’em all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bein’ on a cattle drive…it’s the same thing every day. Up early, ridin’ across dry, dusty land or sloppin’ through a mud bog to find a place where the cattle can graze. Eat, sleep, or try to sleep if I’d been on herd watch the night before, get up and do it again. It’s months of that.”
“But you must’ve