A great, broad-shouldered giant he towered above her, yet his voice trembled like that of a frightened child.
"An' d-don't yer say that n-no more," he stuttered in awkwardness.
"Somehow it hurts.

L-Lord! yer don't h-have ter be s-s-so blame good ter be u-up ter my level.

Th-they don't b-breed no a-angels back in ol' M-Missouri, whar I come from.

It's m-mostly mules thar, an' I r-reckon we all g-git a bit mulish an' ornery.

B-but I 'spect I 'm d-decent 'nough ter know the r-right sort o' girl when I s-stack up agin her.