Sam gratefully accepted the job and was told that he could find a place in the bunk house; supper would be served in 40 minutes.About this time, that ...eautiful woman "happened" to walk up and Bill introduced Sam to Ann. Bill couldn't help chuckling to himself; he could see the attraction sparkle between the two. He also knew that Ann normally had no reason to come to this corral, so she must be here to find out more about the new hand. Therefore, Bill asked Ann to show Sam the way to the. Once the kindly Wanda had been sick and she had spent fourteen days without being allowed out. Anything was better than that - except, perhaps, what was being done to Clarissa who had been standing for two days and looked more dead than alive.She had obviously moved her bowels during the day and the flies were eagerly congregated upon the small heap of faeces that the guards had not seen fit to clear away - as well as on the filth that caked her legs. No doubt Clarissa would have to clean up. There was even one table with a green felt top that was turned over, and there were playing cards lying on the floor along with coins. The one thing that was still there was a sword, and what a sword it was. The double edged blade was a good 2 plus inches wide at the guard and 4 feet long with a blood grove part way down the middle. I was unable to tell how thick it was as it was hanging against the wall behind the bar in the place of honor. The handle was a good 16 inches long above the cross. Was I nuts? Maybe, but I had never been so frightened.We spoke little the following morning. She'd come down and found me still awake, still naked, with bags under my eyes and tried to comfort me, but I pushed her away and went upstairs. She called after me."Rick, it's not a big deal. You have to understand," she said. I didn't even turn around to acknowledge her words. I went into the room and headed for the shower.She went to work and I settled in to brooding about her and this old boyfriend..