e i put up wallpaper and draperies. i'd like a real floor first. please sit down."

from the tin on the shelf she took a few of the sugar cookies she'd baked earlier in the week. it pleased her to be able to offer him a napkin she'd sewed out of scrap material.

"it must be a lonely life for you."

"i haven't had time to be lonely, though i admit it's not what i'd hoped for."

"it's a pity your father never made the mine pay." "it gave him hope." she thought of the journal she was reading. "he was a man who needed hope more than food."

"you're right about that." carlson sipped at the coffee she served him. "you know, i offered to buy this place from him some time back."

"you did?" sarah took the seat across from him.

"whatever for?"

"sentiment." carlson sent her an embarrassed smile. "foolish, really. my grandfather once owned this land. he lost it in a poker game when i was a boy. it always infuriated him." he smiled again and sampled a cookie. "of course, he had the ranch. twelve hundred acres, with the best water that can be had in these parts. but he grumbled about losing that old mine until the day he died."

"there must be something about it that holds a man. it certainly held my father."

"matt bought it from the gambler and dived right in. he always believed he'd find the mother lode, though i don't think there is one. after the old man died and i took over, i.thought it might be fitting somehow for me to bring it back into the family. a tribute. but matt, he wouldn't part with it."

"he had a dream," sarah murmured. "it killed him, eventually."

"i'm sorry. i've upset you. i didn't mean to."

"it's nothing. i still miss him. i suppose i always will."

"it might not be healthy for you to stay here, so close to where he died."

"it's all i have."

carlson reached over to pat her hand. "as i said, you're a sensitive woman. i was willing to buy this place from matt. i'd be willing to buy it from you if you feel you'd like to sell."

"sell?" surprised, she looked over. the sun was streaming through the yellow curtains at the window. it made a stream of gold on the floor. before long, the strength of it would fade the material. "that's very generous of you, mr. carlson."

"i'd be flattered if.you'd call me samuel."

"it's very generous, and very kind, samuel." rising, she walked to the window. yes, the sun would bleach it out, the same way it bleached the land. she touched a hand to the wall. the adobe stayed cool. it was a kind of miracle, she thought. like the endurance that kept men in this place. "i don't think i'm ready to give up here."

"you don't have to decide what you want now."

he rose, as well, and moved over to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. she smiled at the gesture. it was comforting to have friends who cared.

"it's been difficult, adjusting here. yet i feel as though i can't leave, that in leaving i'd be deserting my father."

"i know what it is to lose family. it takes time to think straight again." he turned her to face him. "i can say that i feel i knew matt enough to be sure he'd want the best for you. if you decide you want to let it go, all you have to do is tell me. we'll leave it an open offer."

"thank you." she turned and found herself flustered when he lifted both her hands to his lips.

"i want to help you, sarah. i hope you'll let me."

"miss conway."

she jolted, then sighed when she saw lucius in the doorway. "yes?"

he eyed carlson, then turned his head to spit. "you want me to put this team away?"

"please."

lucius stayed where he was. "how about the extra horse?"

"i'll be riding out. thank you for the company, sarah."

"it was a pleasure."

as they stepped outside, carlson replaced his hat. "i hope you'll let me call again."

"of course." sarah was forced to snatch up the dog when he came toward her guest, snarling and snapping. "goodbye, samuel."

she waited until he'd started out before she put the puppy down and walked over to lucius.

"lucius." she leaned over, to speak to him as he unhitched the horses. "you were quite rude just now."

"if you say so, miss."

"well, i do." frustrated, she ducked under the horses to join him. "mr. carlson was considerate enough to drive me back from town. you looked at him as though you wanted to shoot him in the head." "maybe."

"for heaven's sake. why?"

"some snakes don't rattle."

casting her eyes to the sky, she gave up. instead, she snatched the bottle of whiskey from the wagon and watched his eyes light up. "if you want this, take off your shirt."

his mouth dropped as if she'd hit him with a board.

"beg pardon, ma'am?"

"the pants, too. i want you to strip right down to the skin."

he groped at his neckcloth. "mind if i ask why you'd be wanting me to do that, miss conway?"

"i'm going to wash your clothes. i've tolerated the smell of them-and you-quite long enough. while i'm washing them, you can take that extra cake of soap i bought and do the same with yourself."

"now, miss, i-"

"if, and only if, you're clean, i'll give you this bottle. you get a pail of water and the soap and go into that shed. toss your clothes out."

not sure he cared for the arrangement, lucius shifted his feet. "and if i don't?"

"then i'll pour every drop of this into the dirt."

lucius laid a hand on his heart as she stamped off. he was mortally afraid she'd do it.