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helped Travis carry Silas out of the cathouse. Neither of them so much as looked Luke’s way.
    â€˜You handle yourself very well,’ Ned said, sipping his whiskey cautiously.
    â€˜I have brothers of my own. I’ve had practice.’
    â€˜I do wonder how I’ll manage to survive out west,’ the easterner sighed, examining his own slender hands.
    Luke laughed. ‘Oh, it’s not as rough as all that. Not if you’re going to Oregon. We’re mostly a farming people.’
    â€˜You’re a farmer?’ Ned said dubiously.
    â€˜Horse breeder. Although if you talk to my brother, Tom, he’ll tell you we run cattle. And if you ask my brother, Matthew, he’ll say we’re in the lumber business.’
    Ned looked confused.
    â€˜We can’t rightly agree on what we should do with the land. We tried to vote on it, but what we got was one vote for horses, one vote for cattle and one vote for lumber.’
    â€˜Sounds like you might have an empire on your hands.’
    â€˜Either that or a damned failure.’ Luke drained his whiskey. ‘And what do you do, Mr O’Brien?’
    Ned cleared his throat nervously. ‘It’s Dr O’Brien actually.’
    â€˜A doctor? And you’re heading for Oregon? You know we’re in need of a doctor in Utopia. It’s a great little place in the Willamette, green as Eden itself.’
    â€˜I’m not sure if you’re in need of a doctor like me.’
    â€˜Why, what’s wrong with you?’
    â€˜Oh, nothing’s wrong with me. It’s just that I’m not that kind of doctor.’
    â€˜What kind are you? Like a dentist? We need a dentist too.’
    O’Brien laughed awkwardly. ‘I’m afraid I’m not as useful as a dentist. I’m a Doctor of Philosophy.’
    â€˜You’re a philosopher?’
    â€˜English literature. I wrote my thesis on Milton.’
    â€˜Milton?’
    â€˜ Paradise Lost. “Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell . . . And boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain . . .?”’ he quoted, smiling wanly.
    Luke grinned at him. ‘You’re talking to an uneducated man, doc.’
    Ned smiled back. ‘And you are talking to a man “Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself.”’
    Luke gave him a puzzled look and watched as he finished the glassful in one gulp.
    â€˜So what does a doctor of Milton do?’
    â€˜I was teaching at the university back home.’
    â€˜We need a teacher too.’
    â€˜Is there anything you don’t need?’
    â€˜A horse breeder, a cattle rancher and a logger.’
    Ned laughed.
    â€˜Whose party have you joined?’ Luke refilled the doc’s glass.
    â€˜None yet, although I was talking to a Mr Hennick today.’
    â€˜Abel? Ah, don’t go joining up with him, his compass is off. Last year he ended up in California. I know another party you can join. It’s a little more expensive but well worth the price.’
    â€˜Who’s the captain? Would I know of him?’
    â€˜Reckon so.’ Luke gave him a wink. ‘Charming man, and a damn fine horse breeder.’
    Ned looked startled. ‘You?’
    â€˜Ned O’Brien?’ A sultry voice interrupted them and they turned to see a buxom brunette with brightly-rouged lips. Her breasts spilled over the top of her corset.
    Ned flushed scarlet. He cleared his throat again.
    â€˜My wife died last year,’ he said apologetically to Luke.
    â€˜You don’t need to make excuses to him,’ the whore laughed. ‘Luke and I are old friends. Hopefully, he’ll be coming up after you.’
    â€˜I don’t think so,’ another voice disagreed smoothly as a luscious redhead sashayed up to Luke and rested a possessive hand on his neck.
    â€˜Hey, Seline,’ Luke greeted her, hauling her onto his lap. ‘What took you so long?’
    â€˜Honey, if I’d a