13/05/2026 14:27

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Then he turned and saw Clara walk over to Greasy, the mule. On the plains, with nobody in sight, he wasn't reminded so often of how cut off he felt. Inevitably on a trip there were things that needed cutting or skinning or trimming. Gus was trying to be kind, but he wasn't listening.

Gus sometimes laughed until he cried, but he seldom just cried. Anyway, the men were natural rivals in ability and could be expected to puff up at some point. Do you use a lot of pepper in your cooking? he asked. She stood up obediently, like a child.