You trusted me, treated me as a friend, almost as an equal.

I loved you then, when we parted on the trail, but I went back to New Mexico to fight fate.

It was such a hopeless dream, yet all summer long I rode with memory tugging at my heart.

I grew to hate myself, but could never forget you." She drew nearer, her hand upon his arm, her face uplifted.
"And you thought I did not care ?" "How could I dream you did ?" almost bitterly.

"You were gracious, kind--but you were a major's daughter, as far away from me as the stars.