"I'm not running this horse in this heat, Sam Markham," Irene scolded.  "And, we'll have to do a bit of digging for the water."  She turned Freckles down to the creekbed.  The horse was native enough to beging digging with a hoof, revealing mud below the dry gravel and sand.<br/><br/>Irene slid from his back and began digging in a lower spot, using the heel of her boot to kick a hole in the ground.  She dropped to her knees and used her hands when the moist ground was revealed and soon there was a small bowl of water.  She cupped it in her hands for Freckles, untying the kerchief from around her neck to press into the bowl, filtering the water some.  She bent low and drank, then moved back to show Sam and let him get a drink.<br/><br/>Irene removed her kerchief and dug a little deeper, pressing her kerchief in to then gather water into her hands and let Diablo have a bit and Freckles a bit more.  Done, she tied the damp kerchief around her neck, shivering slightly as some water trailed down her chest.<br/><br/>"Back to the brothel?" she asked.