“I wouldn’t say it was an’ I wouldn’t say it wasn’t.”

“What does ‘Smooth’ say?”

“He allows they just natch’rally drifted.”

“Are you riding the east range every day, Luke?”

“Most days. Course it takes me nigh onto a week to cover it, an’ oncet in a while ‘Smooth’ sends me som’ers else. Yistiddy, he sent me plumb down to the south ranch—me an’ ‘Kansas.’ ”

“Well, keep your eyes open for that bunch, Luke—they might have drifted.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say they would of and I wouldn’t say they wouldn’t of.”


“How would you like to go home, Nejeunee?”