"Lee?"

"He's my twin," she'd informed him, trying to steady Gallant Red who was anxious to gallop over the hill toward the wash, their usual afternoon excursion. "Listen… our Friday night parties are always the best. Why don't you try to make it, Ron?"

"Okay," he nodded. "I'll try."

His grin was sending the craziest sensations soaring through her.

She couldn't remember when a boy had moved her the way he had. Except, of course, for Danny Farnum, but he was in Tucson, and just a memory now. They'd even stopped writing each other some months past, and it had been two years since Daddy had brought them to Breynar. Two frustrated, unhappy years of discomfort and unwanted new existence.

"There'll be pot!" she heard herself add with a feeling of defiance, while the big horse pivoted in circles, restlessly.

"I'll keep it in mind."

"And I'll be looking for you," she'd advised, offering him a sensuous parting smile. "Nice meeting you, Ron Carter," she gave him a knowing wink. "I'll be back."

But he hadn't, and their party had been a lousy affair without him, at least, for her. Now, she was angry with herself for making such an obvious pass at him.

God, she thought to herself in self-disgust. Could I have made a bigger fool of myself?

Thinking about it, she wasn't surprised that he hadn't showed. He'd probably been afraid of being raped! Damn, nothing seemed to go right anymore, not since Tucson. She had been a wanton little ass throwing herself at him so conspicuously, hadn't she? Well, she wasn't sorry, not really, and she'd do it again. Even more with the right boy, and especially with Ron Carter! She'd had just about all she could stomach of this whole disgusting new existence! What a farce it'd become!