“Huh?” said Maurie vaguely. “That so?”
“But you are like your own wild west! with a heart as big as your mountain-desert and as open as your skies!”
The arm of Maurie tightened. She felt his breath coming quickly against her hair, and she thought of the spilled coffee and the “damnation!” of earlier in that same evening. Life was sweet indeed!
“What makes you so unusual, Mr. Gordon?”
Once, twice her lips stirred before the words came.
“It’s a hard life on the range. It takes a strong man to get by.”
“You look strong, Mr. Gordon.”
Laughter makes the voice purr, and there was a caress in the tone of Jacqueline. He stiffened, throwing his shoulders back.
“In a pinch I’ve done a man’s work,” he said modestly.
“I’ve heard about men who can take a steer by the horns and wrestle until they throw the big animal—but I suppose that is just western joking?”