Seemed like she couldn't stand it, bein' away from the hills or somethin', and she just give up.
I never did rightly know how it was.

We buried her out there, way out on the big plains." "I remember her a little," whispered Sammy.

Jim continued; "Then after a time you and me come back to the old place.

Your mother named you Samantha, girl, but bein' as there wasn't no boy, I always called you Sammy.

It seems right enough that way now, for you've sure been more'n a son to me since we've been alone; and that's one reason why I learned you to ride and shoot with the best of them.
"There's them that says I ain't done right by you, bringing you up without ary woman about the place; and I don't know as I have, but somehow I couldn't never think of no woman as I ought, after living with your mother.