He had been afraid of himself, and she too had felt afraid.

During these seven days she had rushed recklessly on as though impelled by a fatality, never pausing to consider how near she might be to a precipice.
Whenever possible, she had ridden out with Maule and Ninnis, or with Maule alone.

She found relief from painful thoughts of Colin in the excitement and emotion with which Maule's society provided her.

She went with him on several occasions behind the tailing-mob, though ordinarily, she could not endure being at close quarters with cattle.
But it interested her to see Maule ride after and round up the wild ones that escaped; to watch his splendid horsemanship which had the flamboyant South-American touch--the suggestion of lariat and lasso and ornate equipment, the picturesque element lacking in the Bush--all harmonizing with his deep dark eyes and Southern type of good looks.
To-day, she had preferred to remain at home alone.

She had been pulled up with a startled sense of shock.