It was a nice quiet ride.  He was glad that no one was being chased . . . or chasing them.  It was pretty flat land for quite aways until the foothills which made it harder to be ambushed.  It was dry too so fast moving riders would send up a plume of dust trailing behind them.<br/><br/>Irene seemed more at peace than when they’d left the cantina.  Sam still was not very clear what had caused her uneasiness but he trusted her instincts.  He grinned at here admission as they paused for a spell.<br/><br/>“Well Darlin we surely both pick a rough country to settle in.  I have no fondness for the scruffy desert and its hard plants and critters.  Up in the north it’s more like you described baby.  We’re new you know . . . like kinda reborn since we’ve tied the knot.  We can go anywhere we have a mind too.  Whatever debts you may owe . . . hell I must owe something . . . we’ve got it covered so we’ll be free and clear.  I just have to let the Judge know and we’ll be free to ride off to wherever suits you.”<br/><br/>Sam chuckled and shook his head at her tease about working.  He took off his hat and wiped his sleeve across his damp brow and pulled out his kerchief and ran it over the band inside his hat.<br/><br/>“We could move away from the heat too.  I’d not mind that at all.”<br/><br/>He put his hat back on and stood in his stirrups and looked around to get his bearings.<br/><br/>“Where’s your ranch from here honey? .  I’d like to give it a little look-see.”<br/>