"I've never had use for one," said I. "But her whereabouts in the train is not a matter of shooting, is it?" "A feller quick on the draw, like him, is alluz wantin' to practice, to keep his hand in. Anyhow I'd advise you to stay clear of her, else watch him mighty sharp. He's thinkin' of takin' a squaw." We rolled on, in the dust, while the animals coughed and the teamsters chewed and swore. And next, here she was, idling until our outfit drew abreast. "Mornin'," Jenks grunted, with a shortness that bespoke his disapproval; whereupon he fell back and left us. She smiled at me. "Will you offer me a ride, sir?" My response was instant: a long "Whoa-oa!" in best mule-whacker. The eight-team hauled negligent, their mulish senses steeped in the drudgery of the trail; only the wheel pair flopped inquiring ears. When I hailed again, Jenks came puffing. "What's the matter hyar?" He ran rapid eye over wagon and animals and saw nothing amiss. "Mrs. Montoyo wishes to ride." "The hell, man!" He snatched whip and launched it, up the faltering team. The cracker popped an inch above the off lead mule's cringing haunch twenty feet before. "You can't stop hyar! Can't hold the rest of the train. Joe! Baldy! Hep with you!" The team straightened out; he restored me the whip. His wrath subsided, for in less dudgeon he addressed her. "Want to ride, do ye?" "I did, sir." "Wall, in Gawd's name ride, then. But we don't stop for passengers." With that, in another white heat he had picked her up bodily, swung her upon the nearest mule; so that before she knew (she scarce had time to utter an astonished little ejaculation as she yielded to his arms) there she was, perched, breathless, upon the sweaty hide. I awaited results. Jenks chuckled. "What you need is an old feller, lady. These young bucks ain't broke to the feed canvas. Now when you want to get off you call me. You don't weigh more'n a peck of beans." With a bantering wink at me he again fell back. Once more I had been forestalled. There should be no third time. My Lady sat clinging, at first angry-eyed, but in a moment softened by my discomfiture. "Your partner is rather sudden," she averred. "He asked permission of neither me nor the mule." "He meant well. He isn't used to women," I apologized. "More used to mules, I judge." "Yes. If he had asked the mule it would have objected, whereas it's delighted." "Perhaps he knows there's not much difference between a woman and a mule, in that respect," she proffered. "You need not apologize for him." "I apologize for myself," I blurted. "I see I'm a little slow for this country." "You?" She soberly surveyed me as I ploughed through the dust, at her knees. "I think you'll catch up. If you don't object to my company, yourself, occasionally, maybe I can help you." "I certainly cannot object to your company whenever it is available, madam," I assured. "You do not hold your experience in Benton against me?"