The insult loses a little ferocity when it's shouted at a woman who, for better or worse, doesn't know to take it as such.


All Kate has ever wanted to do her whole life is ride like this forever. She lives for it. But, of course, horses have limits same as anybody, and she does let Gene catch up to her (and just barely overtake her  —  he's living the dream, she can give him that much), before a more respectable pace is set for the rest of the ride.

Their changed course sends them right past Mineral City, well before nightfall. They can ride on for a good few hours yet, but it wouldn't hurt to stop and let the horses rest. The town is named for the water, after all. It's said to have mysterious healing properties, which local folk take fairly seriously if the traveling tents set up all along the town borders are any indication.