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old,” the girl pouted. “I wanted a new one. Maybe I can have one for the dance.”
    â€œWhat dance?” her father asked.
    â€œThe shindig John Lee is throwing at Crossing,” Gene said. “We heard about it all the way down to Pecos.”
    â€œWe sure won’t be going to that,” Ed said quietly but very firmly. “Besides, I doubt that John Lee will offer any of us invitations.”
    â€œI don’t ever get to go anywhere!” Cindy shouted, her face turning red. She threw down her fork, splattered mashed potatoes on the table, shoved back her chair, and stomped out of the room, swishing her butt like a hurdy-gurdy girl.
    â€œI apologize for her behavior,” Nettie said. “It’s very lonely for her out here.”
    â€œWhy don’t you send her to a finishing school back East?” Sam suggested.
    â€œYou know,” Ed said, laying down his eating utensils. “That’s the odd thing. We were going to do that. Had it all arranged. Then she refused to go. I swear, I don’t know what’s come over this younger generation. I think they’re goin’ to wrack and ruin.”
    â€œYou think I should go talk to her?” Lia asked her mother.
    â€œNo!” Ed said, before the mother could reply. “She’d probably give you a cussin’. That girl’s gettin’ a bad mouth on her. Pass some of them beans, please.”
    Red came into the dining area, hat in hand. “Boss, that girl’s done throwed a saddle on a horse and tooken out. Hiked her dress plumb up to her—” He cleared his throat. “Anyways, she’s gone.”
    Ed waved a hand. “Don’t let it worry you, Red. She’s gone back to the ranch, cuttin’ cross-country. I just hope there ain’t no renegade Comanches roamin’ around this night.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t catch her,” Red said, a mournful expression on his face. “She throwed that saddle on Lightning.”
    â€œThat bitch took my horse!” Lia squalled, jumping up from the table.
    â€œLia!” her mother said, fanning herself vigorously with her napkin.
    â€œYou watch your mouth, young lady!” her father told her.
    â€œWhat’d she call our girl, Mother?” Ed asked, looking a bit confused.
    Lia didn’t pay any of them the slightest bit of attention. She turned to face Red, preparing to let him have ol’ Nick for letting Cindy take Lightning. But Red had seen it coming and had hit the air.
    â€œWe’ll just take our plates and sit out on the porch,” Matt said, both he and Sam rising—quickly—and grabbing another couple of pieces of chicken.
    â€œDid she call our girl a bitch, Mother?” Ed said.
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    Jeff waved Sam and Matt out of the bunkhouse early the next morning. “Lightning didn’t come home last night. Lia loves that damn horse more’un she does me, I think. She and Lisa are having horses saddled up now to go searchin’. You two go with them.” He grinned. “How was your supper last night?”
    â€œExcellent,” Sam said. “Once we got out on the porch.”
    Jeff walked away chuckling.
    The brothers were sitting their saddles when the girls came out. They knew then what those split skirts were for. Riding astride.
    â€œLord have mercy,” Matt said.
    It didn’t bother Sam at all. Indian women always rode astride. But his mother never did. She always rode on a sidesaddle.
    â€œWe don’t need nursemaids!” Lia fired the first salvo. The brothers could tell she was in a dandy mood.
    â€œYour daddy told us to come along, so we’re coming along,” Matt told her.
    â€œWell, you better tell the cook to fix you something to eat in case we have to noon. We only brought enough for the two of us.”
    â€œWe did,” Sam said.
    â€œWell, aren’t you the smart one?” Lisa said, swinging into the saddle.