Irene rolled her eyes and shook her head.  "I suppose, if I'd said something sooner, you wouldn't have let me ride at all?"  *riding bareback, by the way*  "I don't know anything for certain, Sam.  I figure going on as normal is the sanest thing to do.  If you don't want to ride out to the ranch, that's fine.  I don't think there are any answers there.  I mean, it's not like Tim grew up there, or there might be a hidden chest with information and gold.  And, I'm pretty sure his daddy came by the land through a card game."  She smiled then.  "And, Tim wasn't any good at cards.  I beat him regular and he hated it something fierce."<br/><br/>She gave Sam's serious countenance a good look and shook her head.  "Men.  Soon's you can't do anything you start giving orders."  But, she smiled as she said it and covered his hand with her free hand.  "Nature is master, Sam.  Or, mistress.  Being as it's called 'Mother Nature.'  What is meant to be will be, I've lived by that and I'm beginning to trust it, now."