we would take them all. Those, added to the six that we rode in on, would allow each of us to switch to fresh mounts and give the tired horses a breather.

"I could do with some chuck," Charley said, looking at Lucio, who himself hadn't eaten anything in two days.

"I will make us all a big supper," he said.

"Anything but Kansas City fish," Bob Makepeace said. "I've put enough salt pork in my gut to last me a while."

"No, señor, I have lots of beef, potatoes, onions, and corn," Lucio said. "Now you are talkin' my lingo," Makepeace said. "I'd sure like to grease my chin with a steak or two and all the fixin's."

As promised, Lucio delivered a generous platter of steaks, eggs, corn, potatoes, an...

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