What a terrible reputation and trust to have saddled upon him! Thrills and strange, heated sensations seemed to rush together inside Jean, forming a hot ball of fire that threatened to explode.

A retreating self made feeble protests.

He saw his own pale face going away from this older, grimmer man.
"Son, if I could have looked forward to anythin' but blood spillin' I'd never have given you such a name to uphold," continued the rancher.
"What I'm goin' to tell you now is my secret.

My other sons an' Ann have never heard it.

Jim Blaisdell suspects there's somethin' strange, but he doesn't know.