Darcie dropped her hand, her face flushing. "I... I suppose you've heard about me."
Cassie turned her face to the window. "No," she ground out. She hadn't been given that much consideration.
Darcie leaned back and stared out the window. She dabbed at her eyes with a kerchief. It wasn't Darcie's fault.
"Where is Chauncey?" Cassie asked, trying to make her voice sound friendly.
Darcie glanced at her and frowned. "He didn't tell you? I thought... of all people, he'd tell you his plans."
Cassie laughed without humor. "Oh, he told me part of his plans, all right."
So, Bordeaux had told Darcie about the ranch. The look of pity on Darcie's face was more than Cassie could bear. She shrugged.
"I told him I wasn't going back to the ranch. I can take care of myself. I learned the hard way. If there's one thing I don't need, it's a man telling me how to run my life."
Darcie folded her hands in her lap and stared at them.
"I see. I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. Chauncey seemed so sure... I mean... he rode ahead so he could make arrangements before you arrived."
Cassie made a face. "I'm not changing my mind."
Darcie frowned. "Did you tell him how you feel? I mean... about the ranch - and men?"
Cassie laughed shortly. "Emphatically."
Darcie leaned back in the seat and watched Cassie reflectively for a few minutes. Finally she changed the subject.
"What was it like, traveling across the desert?"
Cassie shrugged. "Hot, exhausting."
Darcie gave her a strange look. "If you felt that way, why did you keep making the trips?"
Of all people, surely Darcie should realize why.
"Money," she said simply. Did Darcie think that she had gone because of Bordeaux?
Darcie nodded. "Money is important... but didn't you find it... exciting?"
Cassie played with a fold in her dress. "It was nice to get away for a while, but the way women acted, you'd think I was romantically involved with every one of the men."
Darcie smiled sweetly. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about the women. They're just jealous."
Cassie stared at her. "Jealous? Why would they be jealous?"
"Because they'd like to be out there running free just like you, only they don't have the courage to do it, so they try to put you down." She shrugged a lovely shoulder. "Women are good at doing that. A woman has no greater enemy than a so-called 'decent' woman."
Cassie couldn't help but smile at the way Darcie described her fellow gender. Many times she had thought the same. She instinctively liked Darcie. Judging by the conversation she had overheard yesterday between Darcie and Bordeaux, the woman had lived through quite an experience of her own. Well, Bordeaux was just the man to help her forget it - if he'd only dedicate his attentions to Darcie. For her sake, she hoped he would.